The office was buzzing with chatter, keyboards clacking, and people bragging about their love lives again. I should've been worrying about deadlines, but instead, I was worrying about something far more terrifying:
How the hell did Elena sneak a kitchen knife into an office without anyone noticing?
This morning was already a disaster, and somehow it got worse. I'd left her under Cupp's care before coming here. Which, in hindsight, was like asking a raccoon to guard your fridge.
[Earlier that Day – My Apartment]
"Hey, Cupp. Do me a favor—watch her while I'm gone, alright?" I pointed at Elena, who was currently digging through my drawers like a raccoon in a garbage dump.
Cupp, slouched on my beanbag, slurping instant ramen like he owned the place, didn't even look up.
"Sure, man. But it'll cost you."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Alright. What do you want this time?"
He didn't answer. He just lazily pointed one chopstick toward the corner of the room. I followed the direction—
...a cheap newspaper insert. A flashy red-and-yellow advertisement.
"'Limited Offer: Head-Massager Hat—Order Now!'" I read out loud.
"You can't be serious."
"I'm dead serious." He slurped another noodle. "My godly scalp deserves luxury."
I groaned, already picturing my paycheck crying in agony. "Fine. I'll get it. Just... don't let her out of the room, okay?"
Elena peeked out of the drawer with socks in her hair, waving at me like nothing was wrong. Cupp gave me a lazy thumbs-up.
I should've known that was the equivalent of a death sentence.
[Present Time – The Office]
Now, back at work, Elena was clinging onto my left arm like a needy kitten. She had that too-perfect, too-innocent smile plastered across her face—the kind that screamed, "I'm about to cause you problems."
Every time I typed, she giggled and rested her chin on my shoulder. I kept my expression neutral, but inside I was screaming.
"Wait till I get home..." I muttered under my breath, teeth clenched.
Cupp, today is your last day of freeloading.
I swear it.
Suddenly, a familiar noise came from behind me. The clack of shoes. The sigh of a man who was way too chill for his own good.
It was Shin.
He stared at me for a moment... then at my left arm.
"...Why is there a teenage girl glued to you?"
I froze. My heart jumped. The color drained from my face.
Nope. Nope nope nope. That wasn't supposed to happen.
Without a word, I grabbed Shin by the wrist and dragged him straight into the men's restroom like a man possessed.
"Bro—what the hell—this is the men's—"
"Shut up!" I hissed, slamming the door behind us.
I checked the stalls. Empty. Good. I turned to Shin, whisper-shouting like a man hiding contraband.
"You... can SEE her?!"
Shin blinked at me like I was the crazy one.
"...Yeah? So what? Isn't she visible to everyone?"
My brain short-circuited. Visible... to everyone? Wait, no. No way.
"Elena!" I barked.
Sure enough, she popped out from behind the restroom stall, holding a roll of toilet paper like it was a spy gadget. She'd been spying on us. In the men's bathroom.
I nearly collapsed. "Do you have no shame?!"
She tilted her head innocently, twirling the roll like a baton.
"Hehe~ I was just curious ♥."
"Forget that!" I yanked her in front of the restroom mirror, pointing at her reflection—or rather, the lack of one. The glass was blank. Just me, Shin, and nothing else.
"See?! She's a ghost, Shin! A full-blown, clingy, ramen-stealing, bath-spying GHOST!"
Elena puffed her cheeks, stomping her foot. "Mou~ don't say it like that! I'm your soulmate, not some... some horror movie reject!"
Shin's eyes narrowed, finally serious for once. He looked at the mirror, then at me, then at Elena... who was still trying to stick herself to my back like a human sticker.
"...Well, Isaac," Shin muttered, adjusting his tie, "looks like you're cursed."
Shin's voice echoed in the restroom, louder than I'd like.
"WHY IS THERE A GHOST WITH YOU AND WHY CAN I SEE THEM?!"
I snapped back instantly, finger jabbing at him.
"THAT'S MY QUESTION!!"
Elena, meanwhile, was busy poking the hand dryer like it was a futuristic artifact. Not helping.
I dragged my hand down my face and sighed.
"...Okay, fine. Long story short—she's been with me for thirteen years, she's apparently my soulmate, and thanks to Cupp—yes, the ramen-thieving god roommate—I can see her now."
Shin blinked. Twice. His face didn't change, but his eyebrow twitched.
"...You know, most people just download a dating app."
"Shut UP, and u do realise i am banned in most dating apps."
He leaned against the sink, thinking. "But seriously. How can I see her? I shouldn't be able to. Ghosts don't just... appear to everyone."
That stopped me.
"...Wait. You're right. How CAN you see her?"
Shin rubbed the back of his neck, looking almost... embarrassed.
"I dunno, maybe it's because of my grandparents? My family's been, uh... mediators for generations. We deal with spirits and stuff."
I gawked at him.
"...Mediators. Like, 'I see dead people' mediators?"
"...Pretty much."
I slapped my forehead. "Of COURSE my best friend just happens to be from some mystical ghost-whispering clan. Why wouldn't he be? That's my life now."
Meanwhile, Elena cheerfully waved at Shin.
"Hi~! Nice to meet you! Don't tell Isaac about the time he—"
"SHUT UP!" I barked, covering her mouth before she exposed more of my embarrassing history.
Then a idea sparked in my head after a long time.
"Hey Shin if u are also a mediator you can help me find why is she not resting in peace or something"
"....I dont know man my life is hard right now ad i am not a mediator my grand parents are so Ciao..."
(....So Shin you really dont want this limited edition tentacle mangawhich i found at your house...)
Then, an idea sparked in my brain for the first time in... forever.
I spun around dramatically, finger pointed at Shin like I'd just solved a murder case.
"Hey, Shin! If you're also a mediator, then you can help me figure out why Elena isn't resting in peace or something!"
Shin blinked once, expression flat as a printer error.
"...I don't know, man. My life's hard right now. Rent's due, my boss is insane, and for the record, I'm not a mediator—my grandparents were. Not me. So... ciao."
He turned to leave.
But I smirked.
"...So, Shin. You really don't want that limited edition tentacle manga I found hidden under your kotatsu at home?"
Shin froze mid-step. The color drained from his face like a photocopy running out of ink.
"You—You wouldn't."
"Oh, I would."
"...You absolute demon."
Elena tilted her head, confused.
"What's tentacle manga?"
"NOTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW," Shin and I shouted in unison, both of us red in the face.
Shin groaned, burying his face in his hands. "...Fine. I'll help you. Just don't... don't ever mention that again."
I gave him a thumbs up. "Deal. Welcome to the ghost-hunting squad, partner!"
"...I hate my life," Shin muttered.
Thanks For Reading chapter 2 of my LN or my Webnovel