Since I was a child, I see things that are beyond the living things in the world. I was so innocent and dumb that I didn't know I am already risking my life to them. I am actually seeing ghosts.
I once gave my life in danger because of talking to one them. She is so nice and kind that people think she is my imaginary friend. They did not know that I am actually seeing her with my both eyes.
"Do you need me to help you in swimming?" she asked.
"Okay," I agreed.
"But first, close your eyes," she commanded and I followed.
I didn't know what happened but when I opened my eyes, I saw people around me and they all look worried. I also cough a lot of water and it wondered me why.
My grandma who said she saw the whole thing told me what really happened.
"You are possessed," she told me.
I don't even know what "possessed" mean.
"That ghost is trying to control your body. But don't worry...I already stopped her and I'll make sure that she will not follow," she said. In that way, I now understand what possessed mean. I never see her again after that.
As I grow up, I am experiencing a lot of it because I'm talking to a lot of ghosts too. Some are okay to me while some are worst. When I got to back senses, I either see people smile or people who are trying to kill me. With that, I learned that no matter how kind they are to me, I won't talk to them anymore.
There are still ghosts that are bothering me while I am high school and college. Honestly, they are all scary and I can't handle some of them. I just shut my eyes whenever they are around and I pretend that they are not around. I started to hate the ability that I have.
All is well after I graduated college. I worked in a company that has great benefits but it is a little bit toxic. When my grandma heard it, she offered me a job in her company and a house to live in. I quickly accepted it for it is a good opportunity for me.
Right after I accepted her offer, she told me to come with her so I can see the house. Actually, it is quite big and luxurious. It is old but it is still beautiful. I fell in love with the house but I am feeling something strange. I just ignored it for I know that grandma knows my ability and she doesn't want me to be near the ghosts.
"I'll not stay for so long since Mr. Kim already called me. Take care here," she bid me a goodbye.
I quickly go to the bedroom to rest since I am tired. I saw a man beside me in the bed and I quickly poke him so he could know that I'm here but...my hands travel towards him. That is when I knew that he is a ghost. He turned and I quickly shut my eyes so I can't see him.
"I know you can see me. It's been a long time since someone lives here and...thanks for being here with me," I can hear him but I decided to ignore him. I can't let things to happen just like what happened before. And since I was tired, I fell asleep in that bed.
I woke up at exactly 3 pm. My body is heavy and I am still in bed. I look around to see if it was just a dream but I can't see him. I suddenly feel relieved.
"I will just do advance designs so I could present to grandma this week," I told myself.
I draw my design for our new building. Architecture is what I finished on college and drawing is my passion. Honestly, I am now living my dreams and I kind of like it.
"You should raise the window a little bit. It's better if the building is also this thick," a voice beside me said.
I looked at my side and I was startled when I saw him again.
"I know you can see me," he smirked.
"Please. I won't do you a favor. Don't use my body or I will call an exorcist," I warned him.
"No, I am not like that. I am just happy that you are here," he smiled again.
This ghost is good-looking and I can say that he has the most beautiful smile that I've ever seen. I blushed as he gets closer to me. I know I shouldn't have closed my eyes but I did. Then I remember...he can't touch me at all.
"No signs here. Put the logo there," he commanded and I follow. We are like that the whole night and I can say that my design is getting better and better as he tells me the things that I will do. I feel happy and contented.
"You seem tired now. Go to sleep," he said.
"Thank you," I said then smiled. He just stared at me without blinking his eyes. "What?"
"It's my first time hearing those words," he said.
I just ignored the fact that the ghost hears this word for the very first time. It feels strange but I'm satisfied at the same time.
"How can I feel so comfortable easily with this one? What's in him that makes me so light?" I thought to myself. Anyways, I am supposed to go to sleep now so I did.
I woke up ahead of my alarm because I don't want to be late on the first day of my job. I do things quickly because I am also excited to see grandma in her company.
"Take care," he screamed. I smiled as I hear his voice and it encourages me a lot. I'm very thankful that he helped me last night and make my design better.
I arrived at the company and I am glad that I still look presentable even though I'm rushing awhile ago. I quickly went to my grandma to present her my designs. It turned out that I will show it to the board members too. At first, I thought that they will not like it but unexpectedly, they all rate my design 10/10.
"Since our architect is done and this will be our final design, we will make this one," my grandma proclaimed. "You may now go back to your offices and please stay here, apo," she said and I followed her.
"Yes grandma?," I said.
"It's your first project and you already impressed us. I think this will be easy with you. Since your next project will be next month, please rest for now," she said.
"So that is my job?" I asked.
"Your job will be a hell job if only you did wrong but things are just easy for you so this is your treat," she said again then leave.
I went home so happy and when I open the door, I saw him. I jumped and I tried to hug him but then I remember that I can't touch him at all. I sit on the sofa and gestured him to sit with me and he did. I told him everything and his face lightens up.
"I'm glad it went well," he said.
"Yeah. Thanks," I smiled and he smiled too. I suddenly feel my cheeks heating up and I tried to look away.
"So...May I ask what's your name?" I asked him.
"I don't know..." he said. "I didn't know what happened since the day I die."
"Then how did you die?" I hesitate to ask.
"I don't know also," he said again.
It's quite surprising to see a ghost who can't even see his past or can't remember how he died. Most of the ghosts that I have talked to before are really wanting to change their past by taking a revenge. But this guy, he is not even blaming someone. He just don't know him. That's all.
"Hmmm...I should give you a name. I guess I will call you 'spooky', 'tricky' or 'Luke.'? These names come from my dogs that died, (and the only names that I am thinking right now)" I asked.
"I'm okay with Luke," he said. "May I know your name?"
"Lide. Just call me Lide," I offered my hand and he pretended to shake it. We just laugh at each other's silliness.
"How does it feel to hug a person?" He asked.
"Well... if you hug a person, you can either feel his/her fluffiness or his bones. It depends on their body. Also, you can smell if they take a bath once you hug them," I laughed as I absurdly described the feeling of being hug to him.
"How about you? How does it feel to hug you?" he asked curiously.
His eyes lock mine and I can feel my heart beating so fast. I am distracted for a while but then, I came back to my senses as I realized his question.
"Well, I think I'm fluffy because I am chubby and you can smell me so nice because I always take a bath," I laugh.
"I see," he said. "May I pretend to hug you?"
"Sure."
I can see him hugging me but I can't feel it. It's so strange to have a ghost hugging me at this moment and I just feel okay about it. Am I crazy now?
"Auch!" he said that made me surprised. He is holding his chest.
"Do ghosts experience hurt?" I asked.
"You just see it right now," he sarcastically said.
"How and why?" I curiously ask.
"Your grandma said that when I get it hurt, it means that something is reminding me of the way I die," he said.
So my grandma knew him all this time. I don't know but I feel the urge him to help him. I decided to call grandma and invited her here but I didn't tell her the reason why.
After 3 hours, she arrived...
"What happened?" she asked.
"Do you want to explain him to me?" I asked her.
"Oh, the ghost! You already see him. Why is he holding his chest?" she asked.
"It hurts when he hugged me. I think it reminded him of his past," I explained to her.
"Hug? Did you suffocate because of a hug?" she asked him that made me facepalm.
"I don't know but when my heart hurt, a memory flashes in my head. I was drinking a wine while a girl is hugging me," he said.
"A girl? Do you clearly remember her face?" I asked.
"Yes," he said.
"Then it is now easy to determine how did you die," my grandma said. "For now, why don't you both rest? It's getting late right now.
I assisted her on her way to her car. I bid her goodbye and I quickly looked at Luke.
"Don't worry. Make that picture stay in your mind and we will find her to know the truth," I tried to comfort him.
He just smiled and he sits on the sofa. I stared at him and he looks so worried. I headed to my room so I could sleep.
I'll do everything tomorrow, Luke. I really will.
*kringggg*
I hate waking up this early if I don't have a job. I forgot to turn it off yesterday and it's bothering me now.
"Are you awake?" Luke asked.
"I guess, yes." I smiled. "Do you want coffee?"
"I can't," he said innocently.
"I know," I smirked and I heard him laugh.
"I will jog outside," I said to him.
"May I come?" he asked.
"Of course. Why? Aren't you going out of this house?" I asked.
"Actually no. I'm afraid of other ghosts," he said that I laugh.
A ghost that is afraid of ghost. It's very weird, huh?
I jog around the streets and I saw a lot of ghosts. I can't stop laughing while running because Luke is more scared than me. I tried to tease him by pretending to talk to other ghosts and ask them to hold him. He is just snorting and he is slapping me but I can't feel it. I just laughed at him.
I stop for a break and he stops too. I see his eyes staring at a girl walking at the park and he is looking at her sadly.
"Why?" I asked.
"She's that girl," he said.
And with that, I quickly chase the girl and hold her hand.
"Can we talk?" I asked.
"Talk about what?" she asked.
"Do you happen to have a past lover or a friend who died?" I hesitated to ask but I needed it.
"Y-yes. Why?" she said that made her almost cry.
"May we talk about it in a cafe?" I offered.
"I am not sure but okay," she said.
We headed to the cafe with Luke at my side. It is important for him to know the reason and I will do my best to know the truth.
We sat at the corner of the cafe. I opened my phone to sketch Luke's face so that I can ask her if it is really him.
"Is it him?" I asked.
"Y-yes," she is now crying. "How do you know him?"
"It doesn't matter but who are you to him?" I asked.
"I'm his girlfriend," she said that breaks my heart.
"O-oh, so how did he die?" I asked while I'm trying to hold back my tears.
"I poisoned him," she said.
"You what?" I am surprised at what she said.
"I p-poisoned him. I'm sorry," she repeats again.
"But why?" I am now crying.
"I have another man but I love him also. I am so guilty for loving them both so I planned a thing that could take away my guilt. I plan of killing one of them..." she is now crying loudly that makes us the center of attention in the cafe. "Sadly, I killed Jin."
I can't believe her for doing that thing.
"Guilty?! Aren't you more guilty right now?! What have you done?" I screamed at her.
"Yes! That's why I turned myself into police and spent my 5 years there. If only I could talk to him right now, I will apologize," she continues to cry.
"What if I tell he is here and he is listening right now?" I tell her.
"Do you have third-eye?" she asked.
"Yes. Now, he wants to hear you," I said while looking at Luke, I mean Jin. He is now crying too.
"Jin. I'm very sorry for not being loyal and for killing you. I want you to know that you became the best boyfriend to me and I'll do anything so I can pay all my sins to you. I hate myself for choosing that bastard over you. You are the one who more understands me and cares for me more than him. I still love you," she said while crying.
"Sam... I now remember you," he said.
"He said he nows remember you," I repeated him.
"I'm glad that you sent yourself to prison and you did not escape your sins. I want you to know that I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed but I forgive you. And also...I'm glad you love me but I'm sorry if I am not feeling the love to you anymore. See this girl, I am feeling it at her," he said.
"Sam, he said that he is glad that you put yourself to prison and you did not escape it. He is not mad but he is disappointed. And, he forgives you," I repeated it except for the last sentence.
"Thank you. Thank you, Jin. I'm very sorry..." she continues to apologize.
"Uhmm... thank you for admitting your sin too. I know it is not that easy. So... you heard Jin. He forgives you right now. I guess it removes a thorn in your heart, right? I said.
"Yes. You're right," she smiled.
We got a little chitchat about how her life is doing right now, how Jin is as a boyfriend and how her life change after that. It's a good talk with a person who once holds Jin's heart. I realize that she is a precious person too. It's not easy to tell a stranger that you have done wrong in the past and to prove to them that you have changed now. It is quite awkward. But for Sam, I think she is one of the bravest people that I know.
We bid goodbyes at each other and we both headed to our home. I forgot that Jin is still beside me. I turned to look at him.
"So Jin is your name?" I giggled.
"I guess. Yes," he looks cute while is scratching his nape.
"You already know how you die. How do you feel," I asked him?
"I'm happy. Thank you," he said sincerely.
Half of his body turns out to be half invisible for it can still be seen.
"What's happening?" I asked.
"Your grandma said that this will happen if I already completed my unfinished mission here on Earth...but I will not go completely to heaven is there is still one mission that I need to accomplish. I guess, I still have one," he explained.
"So your mission is to know the truth. What is the other one?" I asked curiously.
"Well..." he looked at my toes forehead then my lips. "I guess I know," he smiled.
He leaned closer and I'm about to close my eyes again but I didn't because I know what will happen. I will not feel it and he will just pretend to kiss me.
He put his hand on my back and I was surprised to...feel his hand. I really feel it but it made me more surprise when I felt his lips on mine. He kisses me slowly then passionately. As I put my hands on his cheek, I felt his tears running down his face. He pulled us apart and he smiled at me.
"I guess my second mission is to find true love..." and he disappeared.
I cried as I saw his soul ascending to heaven. This is my first time feeling this yet it is taken from me by death himself.
I know this feeling is unrealistic but I felt it. Honestly, I can't wait for the day that you and I will be together. Someday, I'll be there too, Jin.