Our attention snapped away when footsteps approached. It was Aiden, strolling in with some snacks. Like the usual bros we were, I immediately grabbed a pack from his hands.
"I was hungry—how'd you know?" I teased, taking a big bite of my burger.
"I just know u too well." Aiden chuckled, settling down beside me on my left. Ashvian hovered on my right, and I couldn't help but notice his mood darkening the instant Aiden sat close.
"Anyway, finished your notes?" Aiden asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, the questions were tricky, but fun to work through."
We started chatting about bites, snacks, and random stuff, which helped me distract my pounding heart from Ashvian's sour vibe. He rested his face lazily on his palm, watching us with eyes darkening almost possessively, silently demanding my attention.
Clearly done watching, Ashvian leaned closer and whispered into my ear, "Watching you eat is indecent. You've got such a sinful, sexy mouth, especially those plum lips."
My eyes shot wide open. I choked violently on my burger, my face heating up as I hurriedly covered my ear and turned toward him, wide-eyed. Ashvian smirked, clearly pleased to have captured my full attention.
Meanwhile, Aiden looked confused. "What happened, Karl? You good?"
I laughed awkwardly. "Yeah.. I just ate the wrong way." Ashvian chuckled softly, then shot Aiden a long, serious stare. There was something more behind that look—something I couldn't quite place.
Later, after Aiden left, I asked Ashvian about it. He shrugged. "I don't know. He seems familiar, but not. Maybe I've known him before. But honestly, I don't like how close you are with him—it's more than with the others."
I fixed him with a long stare. "You're.. sometimes too weird about this." I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.
"Why don't you like me getting close to others?" Ashvian's voice dropped, calm but serious. "Because you're the only one who can see me. So I've decided—you're mine now."
His eyes held a strange intensity, like something old and deep beneath the surface. "Though, honestly, these feelings for you..they're stronger than I thought. Maybe we're connected from long before. Who knows."
My face flushed, heat rising fast like a pressure cooker ready to blow. My eyes widened, and my heart did crazy flips.
Suddenly, loud footsteps and chatter echoed nearby. A few classmates were walking past, their voices carrying just enough for me to hear.
"Look at him—talking to thin air again."
"He keeps doing that like he's some kind of freak craving attention. How pathetic." Their judgmental eyes rolled over me, but I was used to it. People always noticed my weird habit of talking to no one visible. I'd learned to live with it. "Let's get going." I muttered, but then froze—Ashvian wasn't beside me.
Where the hell did he go?
I spotted him suddenly, rushing toward the guys who were whispering about me. Before I could react, something strange happened. The two guys stopped dead in their tracks, as if frozen by a sudden, icy wind that slammed into their chests.
"Ah—what was that?!" one gasped, clutching his heart.
Then, both let out terrified screams, their faces twisted in horror as if they saw something unimaginable. Without hesitation, they bolted, fleeing in blind panic and leaving me standing there, stunned. Ashvian appeared beside me, looking smug as ever.
"What did you do?" I asked, half shocked, half impressed.
"Just gave them a little lesson for talking about my human like that," he said, voice serious and unwavering.
I couldn't help but chuckle. "Your human? What do you mean by that?"
His eyes locked onto mine, narrowing playfully. "Keep laughing. Why'd you stop? It's cute." My face flamed again.
"Stop calling everything cute," I snapped, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably. "I don't—I say it to you because it's true," he said solemnly, like it was the most important fact in the universe. "If only you could see yourself through my eyes.. damn, you'd get sick of me. Because I swear, I find you cute every single second."
His gaze felt like it was peeling back every layer of me, and I felt heat rushing through my veins like I was floating.
"Shut-shut up!" I stammered, grabbing my bag and running away, desperate not to face him or let him see my tomato-red, burning face.
That day, we didn't make it to the place where Ashvian first found himself, deciding to postpone it until tomorrow instead.
The others were outside, so it was just the two of us. I was watching a drama on my phone, trying to ignore the ghosts fluttering around—some circling my head, others quietly watching with me. Ashvian sat beside me on my bunk bed, eyes on the screen but lost in thought.
"Do you think I'm a student too?" he asked suddenly.
I glanced at him as he continued, "Who knows? Maybe I'm in the same college as you."
"Maybe." I shifted my focus back to the screen. "Oh, by the way.. we were supposed to have another dormmate. Supposed to be five of us, but he had an accident the day he was meant to move in. It's sad.. I wonder how he's doing."
I paused, lowering my voice. "I heard rumors he was close to Aiden, but I never asked."
Ashvian's eyes narrowed, curious. "Why didn't you ask?"
I smacked his head lightly with the chip packet. "I forgot.. and honestly, I was too lazy. Now shut up and let me watch." I didn't notice when I slowly drifted to sleep, still sitting up. Ashvian was gentle—careful—silencing the other ghosts, laying my phone aside, and quietly settling me down on the bed. He pulled a blanket over me, then rested his head on his fist, eyes fixed on me as I slept.
The door creaked open as the others returned to the dorm.
"Karl, you here?" Drake called out, collapsing onto his bed, clearly exhausted.
"Maybe he's already asleep," Jason said, changing clothes and freshening up.
Aiden set his bag and books down, then climbed up to check on me. "Yep, he's out—tucked in and looking cute," Aiden smiled softly, reaching out to brush a stray hair from my forehead.
But his hand suddenly met an invisible, harsh gust of cold wind.
"Don't come near him," a deep voice warned, echoing quietly in the room.
Aiden froze, rubbing his ear and glancing around in confusion.
"What's wrong?" Drake asked, crunching on chips.
"I thought I heard someone speaking,"
Aiden said, scanning the room.
"Who? One of us?" Jason asked, leaping on Drake to steal some chips.
"No, it wasn't any of your voices.. though it sounded.. familiar," Aiden muttered.
"Then who was it? It's just us here," Jason said, puzzled.
"Right.." Aiden shrugged, unsettled.
"Anyway, what were you saying?" Drake asked, eyes on his chips.
"Nothing. Karl's just fast asleep, looking cute as ever," Aiden smiled.
"Of course, he always is," Drake laughed.
"If only he was a girl, I'd date him for real," Jason joked.
"Seriously, he's cuter than most girls," Aiden added with a grin, settling at his desk with a book. Ashvian had been watching quietly with a poker face, but hearing their careless chatter only darkened his mood further. Protectively, he pulled the blanket tighter around me, wrapping me up like a burrito and pulling me close against his chest.
His anger and jealousy simmered beneath the surface, and with a flick of his fingers, the lights in the room began to flicker—making Drake, Jason, and Aiden exchange confused, slightly creeped-out glances. He intended to spook them more, to warn them off, but then I stirred in his arms, snuggling closer in my sleep, murmuring softly, "Hot."
A chuckle escaped him, his stern expression softening instantly.
Gently, he pulled the blanket back just enough to let me cool down, letting me nestle comfortably in his arms, a silent promise of warmth and protection.
The next morning, I woke up tangled in his arms, his fingers gently playing with my hair.
"Good morning, lil sunshine," Ashvian whispered, a soft smile lighting up his face. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I jolted awake, blinking around the room and rubbing my hair nervously.
"Y-You took advantage of me. Who said you could hug me?" I stammered.
He grinned, fingers teasingly tapping the tip of my nose. "You're the one who snuggled up first—looking all soft and cute. How could I say no to that, hmm?"
I swallowed hard and pushed his hand away. "Whatever."
I dashed to the bathroom, slamming the door shut and leaning against it, trying to steady my wildly beating heart.
I skipped classes that day to follow Ashvian as he led me to the place he said he first woke up. We walked the whole way, chatting casually. He flitted about, invisible to everyone else, poking a kid's cheek or jumping around without a care—untouchable and unseen by all but me. I sighed and chuckled to myself, amazed and a little amused by his carefree antics.
After the long walk, I stopped for a coffee. The barista — handsome and a bit flirty — caught my eye and smiled as he took my order. Before I knew it, Ashvian's sour expression appeared out of nowhere, darkening the whole café atmosphere. The poor barista suddenly dropped a cup, the coffee machine sputtered and glitched, and the lights flickered, leaving everyone startled and confused. The barista looked terrified.
"No one flirts with my human," Ashvian muttered under his breath, shaking his head. I shot him a sharp glare. He immediately froze, putting on an innocent, 'good boy' act.
Feeling bad for the barista, I ordered an extra slice of strawberry cake to go with my coffee.
"That looks good. If only I could eat it," Ashvian said, eyeing the cake longingly.
"Finally, something to tease you about," I said, deliberately taking a slow, show-off bite. He pouted adorably, like a puppy.
Soon we found ourselves on an ordinary road, but the weight of the moment made it feel anything but ordinary.
Ashvian led me to the exact spot where he first woke up as a ghost.
I scanned the surroundings. "Maybe you had a car accident here," I muttered.
He just shrugged.
Curious, I noticed a small shop nearby and hurried inside to ask if there had been any accidents recently.
The shop lady shook her head but mentioned there was a car accident about half a year ago. That matched what Ashvian had said — he'd been wandering alone as a ghost for about six months.
Could it be connected? Could that accident be his? My mind raced with questions. How could I find out for sure? How could I unravel the mystery behind Ashvian's lost past?
The puzzle was pulling me deeper, and I was more determined than ever to uncover the truth.
By evening, we returned to the dorm.
I felt disappointed—of course I hadn't found anything new. We'd asked around, roamed the streets, but no one had any answers or clues. Ashvian tried to lighten the mood with his usual jokes, but I just sulked in silence, feeling heavier with every passing minute.
I thought about him—how he should be the one weighed down by sadness, but instead, he was trying to cheer me up.
The thought made my chest tighten. He'd been so alone for so long—lost, without memories, invisible to everyone around him. The crushing weight of that realization must have hit him like a storm when he first woke as a ghost.
Imagining his pain made my heart ache. I couldn't bear it anymore.
Without thinking, I grabbed his wrist and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Wow, this is the first time you actually tried to touch me. We're getting freaky now, huh?" Ashvian teased, his voice light and flirty. But seeing the seriousness in my grip and silence, he stopped joking and simply hugged me back. I felt myself melt into his embrace, letting the sadness slip away—just for a moment.
Then, the door opened and my dormmates came back. I quickly broke the hug and tried to act cool.
Ashvian muttered curses under his breath about them ruining our moment, which made me chuckle quietly. He was adorably grumpy.
Aiden immediately came over the moment he saw me.
"Karl, where were you? Why'd you skip classes?"
"I wasn't feeling well," I replied.
"Oh man, I missed everything." I said acting normal.
"It's okay, also The professor already paired us for the next project due next week," he said, making me sigh.
"I get it, but honestly, I'm too tired and bored to think about projects right now," I admitted. All I really wanted was to stay close to Ashvian and figure out his mystery.
"I know how you feel, but we don't have a choice. We need to start soon. Let me know when you're free. I was thinking of doing it at my place—too noisy here with those two," Aiden said, nodding toward Jason and Drake, who were once again loudly arguing over games.
I chuckled and nodded casually. "Sure, no problem."
"Good. Then let's get started tomorrow," Aiden said, heading off to freshen up.
That's when I caught Ashvian shooting me a sharp glare. "What?" I asked.
"You're going to another guy's home together? That's cheating," he said dramatically. I laughed. "I'm not cheating, okay? Now be a good boy and stop being mad." I ruffled his hair like a puppy, and for a moment, Ashvian looked just like one—grinning wide, his invisible tail probably wagging.
The next day, as planned, Aiden and I took leave to his house to work on the project. Ashvian kept weaving between us, invisible to Aiden but somehow present enough that Aiden seemed to sense a weight, staying just out of reach.
We chatted about materials and the project as we walked, but something about the route felt strangely familiar. I stopped abruptly when we reached the road Ashvian had taken me to just the day before. Aiden noticed the change in my expression.
"Karl, what's wrong?"
I glanced at Ashvian, then back to Aiden.
"You, live here?"
"No, a few minutes further down. Why?"
I didn't answer, just exchanged a look with Ashvian before following him toward a large mansion nearby—luxurious, with manicured gardens and a sparkling fountain. I knew Ashvian was wealthy, but this level of luxury surprised me.
"Don't worry, my parents aren't home right now. It's just us," Aiden whispered. "They're never home, honestly."
I nodded, understanding he probably had parents always busy with work or traveling. As we stepped into the garden near the entrance, a small puppy suddenly appeared. It barked sharply at Ashvian at first, sensing something unseen, before falling silent as if it recognized him.
Both Ashvian and I were surprised.
"I feel like I know him." Ashvian murmured, gently patting the puppy's head.
I felt my anxiety rise with every step as I followed Aiden into his room. My eyes darted around suspiciously, my thoughts racing—just one small clue, anything, could clear my doubts.
"Feel at home. Sit here, I'll bring some drinks," Aiden said, disappearing briefly. Left alone, I scanned the neat, spacious room for any sign. "Does this room feel familiar to you?" I asked Ashvian, who surprisingly nodded.
"It does...even the air. Like I've been here before I lost my memories," he murmured, awkwardly running a hand through his hair.
My gaze then landed on a photo frame lying face down on the study table. I felt an inexplicable urge to see it.
Before I could reach for it, Aiden returned with cold glasses of juice. I thanked him, sipping nervously while still fixated on the frame. Just as I prepared to ask about it, Aiden quietly sat down and picked up the frame. He wiped off the dust and set it right-side up.
My glass nearly slipped from my hand. Ashvian's silence matched mine.
"Aiden" My voice faltered. "Who's...who's that?" I asked, pointing at the photo.
The picture showed two guys—Aiden and another, it was ashvian, smiling wide, arms casually slung over each other's shoulders.
They looked inseparable.
"That's my brother, Ashvian," Aiden said softly, a shadow of pain flickering in his voice.
Curiosity pulled me closer. I acted casual as if my mind wasn't going crazy by the shocking, unexpected revelation, "Really? Like, your real brother? How come I didn't know?"
Aiden seemed taken aback. "Karl, I mentioned him before... maybe you don't remember. He was supposed to be our fifth dormmate, remember?"
I was speechless.
"But the day before we moved in..he got into an accident," Aiden's voice cracked slightly.
I blinked, stunned. Ashvian, who had been unusually quiet, stood beside me, staring at the photo and then around the room. "No wonder this feels familiar.. this is my own house. Wow, I'm damn rich, but this guy is my brother? Damn, no wonder he's good looking but that doesn't justify I'd let him flirt with you, my sunshine," he joked, trying to lighten the mood. But the tension lingered.
"So, where is he now, Aiden? What happened?" I asked, heart pounding.
"He's been in a coma for half a year," Aiden replied quietly. Suddenly, everything clicked.
No wonder Ashvian was different from other ghosts—he wasn't really dead yet. He was trapped somewhere between, caught in that coma.
I'd had enough and didn't want to waste a second. I stood up abruptly. "Aiden, please take me to where he is."
"Huh?" Aiden looked confused, but I didn't give him time to question further.
"Take me to Ashvian first. Then I'll explain everything. Right now, I just need to see him." My voice was heavy, serious, and urgent.
Aiden blinked, then nodded. He called one of his drivers to take us to the hospital where Ashvian was receiving treatment.
Sitting in the car, my body trembled and a pounding headache settled in my skull.
"Calm down. Don't stress too much. Isn't it good I'm still alive?" Ashvian's voice was gentle and teasing, but I wasn't in the mood for jokes.
When we arrived, the hospital loomed large and sterile, the air thick with the sharp scent of medicine and antiseptic. Ghosts floated here and there—patients who had passed or spirits bound to this place. I ignored them all and followed Aiden to the treatment room.
Then a sudden chill washed over me, like a cold wave crashing down my spine.
There, lying on the bed, hooked up to oxygen masks and wires, was a figure so pale, so still, it seemed lifeless, a bandage around his forehead. But his hair—bright pink and unmistakable.
His face—the same handsome, familiar face I'd come to know. It was him—Ashvian.
Ashvian stayed quiet, staring at his own lifeless body on the bed. Then he glanced down at his ghostly hands and body. "Well.. now it really feels like I'm a ghost. But hey, I'm still handsome, right?" he joked, looking at me with that familiar smirk. But I couldn't hold back the tears that welled in my eyes. I didn't understand why, but seeing him like that—so fragile, so gone—hit me harder than I expected.
Aiden looked at me, confused. "Karl.. do you know Ashvian? I thought only he's met you. Right?"
His question confused me even more.
"We've met before?" I asked, glancing at Ashvian. He shrugged casually. "I don't remember, but I was right. This feeling we have—it's real. We did know each other before I ended up like this. Weird, huh?" I ignored his nonsense and turned to Aiden, who was waiting for answers. I told him everything—about seeing Ashvian, the strange connection, how he'd been with me for the whole week.
"I know it sounds crazy, but please believe me." I started.
Aiden cut me off, his voice serious and complex. "I trust you. This isn't something to joke about."
"So, he's been with you for an entire week now?" I nodded.
"Even now?"."Yeah. He's right here, grinning like an idiot." I pointed to Ashvian.
Aiden chuckled, even though he couldn't see him. "So that voice I heard that night was real.. I thought I was imagining things."
"What voice?" I asked sharply, shooting a glare at Ashvian, who just whistled innocently.
I sighed and asked, "How long has the treatment been going on? Is there any chance he'll wake up?"
Aiden's expression grew serious. "He's been here for a long time. The doctors are doing their best—giving him doses meant to stimulate his body and mind. Maybe this week will be the last chance."
I furrowed my brows, heart heavy with worry and hope.
Just then, the door opened and a nurse followed by a doctor stepped inside.
"Oh, Mr. Aiden, you're here," the doctor, a middle-aged man with a calm demeanor, greeted warmly. Aiden nodded in return, exchanging a few words about Ashvian's condition.
The doctor explained, "His body has responded well so far. Today's the last day for administering this dose, which should help him regain energy and hopefully wake up." He carefully prepared the injection.
I exchanged a nervous glance with Aiden, then looked toward Ashvian — and my eyes went wide. His spirit seemed to be slowly fading, becoming translucent.
"Ashvian, what's happening to you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, shocked and confused. He looked down at his hands.
"I don't know..It feels like a tight string is wrapped around my head, pulling. It hurts," he muttered, clutching his temple. From the corner of the room, an old ghost with crossed arms whispered, "It's the dose working.. it's affecting his body. Since his soul is close, it's starting to reconnect."
I was speechless, my gaze flickering between Ashvian's fading form and the doctor and nurse tending to the body.
Sensing my worry, Aiden quietly took the doctor and nurse outside to discuss something, giving me the alone time I needed.
I approached Ashvian gently, who was now on his knees, clutching his hair in pain. "Ashvian.. calm down. Slow down. It's okay, everything will be fine," I soothed softly.
He muttered, voice strained, "It's so strange..like something is soaking into me.. pulling me back in…"
I didn't know what to do, so I sank down beside him and wrapped my arms around him tightly.
"It's okay everything will be fine," I whispered, trying to steady both of us.
Ashvian trembled against me, his voice barely steady as he spoke, "Do you... do you think I'll disappear? What if, what if I can't be with you anymore if I get better?" He searched my eyes, vulnerable.
"I don't want to leave..I don't want to go anywhere without you."
My heart ached hearing him like this.
"It's okay. You're not going anywhere," I said firmly, gently stroking his hair. "Even if you get better, we'll still be together. I won't let you leave me. So stop overthinking, okay?"
He shook his head, panic creeping back. "But what if it all goes wrong? What if the dose doesn't work and I end up.. gone for real? What if I disappear..."
I couldn't take it. I silenced his fears by pressing my lips firmly to his—cutting off his words and the ache behind them.
His eyes widened in surprise, matching the shock I felt myself. But I couldn't bear his doubt; it hurt too much. So I held the kiss longer, letting it drown out the fear and silence the pain. When I slowly pulled away, I whispered softly,
"Now be good. No more scary thoughts, okay? Everything will be fine."
I hugged him tighter, gently patting his hair and back, feeling him finally relax into the quiet.
My trick worked — Ashvian stayed silent, completely still, like a breath held.