It was already 2:00 p.m. when students were allowed to go home, but the rain still hadn't stopped. Most of them decided to stay at school for a while, including Kala's group, who were gathered at their basecamp. Dion suggested watching a movie together, saying it was a "secret" movie –so it would be safer to watch it at the basecamp rather than anywhere on school grounds.
Melvin arrived first with Dion. When they opened the storage room, they found another student already inside, sitting nervously while glancing around.
"Oh, you're here already," the student said.
"You've been waiting for us?" Melvin asked.
"Yeah. You probably don't know me since I'm new here," the student replied.
Dion glanced at the name tag pinned to the student's blazer.
"Lyo Aksara. Why are you waiting for us?" Dion asked.
Lyo scratched his elbow awkwardly. "Uh—I'm sorry. I accidentally overheard your conversation earlier when I came here. When I realized you'd already left, I decided to come back after class. I was sure you'd gather here again."
Dion smiled faintly. "I see. I don't really care what you want, but we're busy right now. Come back another time."
Melvin was slightly surprised by how politely yet firmly Dion brushed Lyo off. Still, he understood—Dion was uncomfortable with a stranger, especially one who openly admitted to eavesdropping and waiting for them.
"I need your help," Lyo said.
"We can talk about this later. For now, it'd be better if you left," Melvin added.
Not long after, Yoan and the others arrived, also surprised by Lyo's presence.
"Whoa, bro. Who's this?" Yoan teased.
"My name's Lyo. I transferred here a few days ago," Lyo said.
"Oh, the new kid. No wonder you didn't know this place is already our basecamp," Yoga said.
"No, he overheard our conversation earlier and came back to wait for us," Dion said dryly.
"Why were you waiting for us?" Hasta asked.
"I want to ask for your help," Lyo pleaded.
"After eavesdropping, you want our help?" Yoan scoffed.
Gantha stayed silent, observing the situation. Something about Lyo's overly friendly attitude felt off—almost forced.
"What do you think, Kal?" he whispered to Kala, who was standing beside him.
"Suspicious. I saw him wandering around the infirmary earlier, and he was near the lockers when everyone was ordered to stay in class," Kala whispered back.
Back in the discussion, Lyo continued begging for their help.
"I just want to find my girlfriend's missing diary. I promise I won't tell anyone about Kaze," Lyo said.
"Are you threatening us?!" Yoan snapped.
"N-no, I didn't mean it like that!" Lyo stammered.
He pulled out a piece of paper with a phone number on it. "Sorry if I'm being pushy, but I really need your help."
Lyo placed the paper on the floor and left.
~~~~~~
Kala was having a meal at a restaurant with his friend Kyungmin. They had just gone out together to buy a gift for a friend.
"Do you think the shoe size will fit? I'm worried it might be too small," Kyungmin said.
"You can always exchange it, Kyung. Or just bring Jihan here and have her try it on," Kala replied.
"That's true. I'm just not sure she'll like the design," Kyungmin said.
"By the way, was that necklace your gift for Jihan?" Kyungmin asked.
"Hm? Why?" Kala replied.
"I heard you already bought a sweater. Can I see it?" Kyungmin asked.
"Something came up, so I canceled using it as a gift," Kala said.
"Oh," Kyungmin replied briefly.
The clinking of forks and spoons filled the silence. By chance, Kala glanced out the restaurant window.
"That guy…"
Kala saw Lyo walking home alone through the crowd of people about to cross the street.
"I knew it. He's lost."
Kyungmin paused mid-bite when he noticed Kala zoning out while staring outside.
"What's wrong, Kal?"
"Oh—nothing," Kala replied, sounding slightly flustered.
"It looks like it's going to rain again soon. We should head back quickly," he added, changing the subject.
~~~~~~~~
The moon had risen, illuminating the quiet street Kala was walking through. Beneath the dim glow of park lights, he saw someone sitting on a bench, head lowered, playing with an orange cat.
Kala hesitated, then approached and sat beside Lyo.
"You hang out with this cat a lot," Kala said, petting the cat and noticing the necklace around its neck that read 'Miko'.
"Yeah. He's my only friend," Lyo said softly. "You already know I'm dead, right?"
"Hm. You must've realized I'm an esper," Kala replied.
"Are your friends scared of me?" Lyo asked.
Kala laughed. "I can't exactly tell them you're a ghost. They don't even know I'm an esper."
"They don't know? But they're your friends," Lyo said.
"Even so, I hesitate to tell them. I'm afraid they'll think I'm weird—especially since Dion and Yoga love horror stories," Kala explained.
"Ghosts are usually villains in horror stories. You're scared they'll see you that way?" Lyo asked.
"Not that extreme, but I know their view of me would change—for better or worse," Kala said.
They fell silent, watching Miko act adorably, which made both beings from different worlds smile.
In that warm moment, Lyo looked at Kala with fear, unsettled by how normal Kala seemed.
"Kal… was I that suspicious earlier? Is that why your friends chased me away?" Lyo asked.
"It's nothing new. This isn't my first time meeting a lonely ghost like you," Kala replied.
Lyo chuckled softly. "I've been alone for so long, I forgot how to act around people."
"The diary—it's what's keeping you restless, right?" Kala guessed.
Lyo broke down in tears, reminded of the reason he was still wandering this world.
"What should I do, Kala?"
"Let go of your pain," Kala said.
"That day, my girlfriend and I had an accident after leaving a villa. She survived and is happy with someone else now, while I was trapped alone in a ravine. Do I really have to forget all that?" Lyo asked.
"Do you want your ex to suffer?" Kala asked.
Lyo froze.
"Fate already separated you. And deep down, she still remembers you—she visited your grave before her wedding," Kala said.
"Have I been selfish all this time?" Lyo asked quietly.
"You just need to let go, Lyo. Your world is different now. You can't come back here," Kala said.
Lyo stayed silent, guilt weighing on him. Even when Kala stood up to leave, Lyo didn't move. Kala felt a pang of pity—but still left, giving the ghost time to reflect alone.
On his way home through the empty streets, Kala stopped at a vending machine. While he was deciding what to buy, a voice suddenly startled him from behind.
"Voodoo."
Kala turned around irritably and reflexively smacked his friend's arm.
"Damn it, you scared me."
"You take forever just choosing a drink," the red-haired boy said, pressing a button. A can dropped into the tray.
"Thanks, bro. Appreciate the help," Kala said, picking up the soda.
The boy didn't reply and turned to leave, but Kala called out.
"Why are you near my place?" Kala asked.
"Bought some chicken," the boy replied curtly before walking away.
Kala watched his back disappear, smiling as he shook his head.
"Gantha Ghanta… you really suck at lying."