Ephemeral

My old roommate and I had a dispute recently and in the end, I was the one kicked to the curb. I had come home to our apartment one day to see a letter bound to my door telling me I had to move out within the next month. There was no explanation as to why she wanted me out. When I do recall our argument it was over a guy. I know it sounds like a ridiculous reason to end our relationship, but it seemed that I was somehow flirting with the boy she liked when I only worked with him.

I never talked to the guy unless it was work-related. It was etched into my mind that I go to work to get paid, not create friendships. After searching around for a new apartment within my price range, I found my new home within three weeks. It was arduous and exhausting. On the bright side, it was only ₩1,000,000 since it was “haunted,” which to me makes it more worth living there. The apartment was 621sqft, a one-bedroom, one bath with a huge dining and living space.

-

Placing my bags on the counter filled with new groceries I look to my best friend who sighed behind me. “Y/n...I still believe you’re crazy for moving in here.” Jay comments. I shrug my shoulders and sneer. “Of course only crazy people want to live here and I might as well be.” I hear her grumble under her breath as I put the food away.

“If you happen to disappear because the spirit took you I’m not saving you.” I scrunch my nose at the unnecessary words. “Yeah, I know Jay. You’re the biggest coward I know.” I look up to see her glaring at me from the couch. I might be a human pincushion. I look away and sigh to myself. “Don’t you think the place is nice? It was originally over ₩1,600,000 until people started saying it was haunted.” She looked around, checking all the rooms and the amazing terrace view. “It’s pretty cheap for such a nice area in Seoul,” Jay stated. I knew she can’t ignore the facts for long.

Jay had stayed over for dinner and movies but the last thing she would do was spend the night. It was around 10 p.m when she left. I had gone to the bathroom to remove my makeup. I splashed my face with cold water. When I looked up I saw another reflection in the mirror. I turned behind me to see nothing but the wall. Once my eyes looked back it was my reflection.

Even though it was a split second I remember the face of the so-called spirit. He was tall with light brown hair and a fit body. He had doe eyes with an innocent-looking face. The more and more I replay it in my mind the more perplexed I grow. Who was he and why was I seeing him? On top of it all, did he have to be shirtless because those abs are mighty fine.

I crawled into bed pulling my blankets over my face. The sunlight shall not wake me tomorrow!! It’s the weekend, I deserve to sleep in on a Sunday morning. In the middle of the night, I felt something grab my waist tightly. My eyes shot open. I grabbed my phone making the light shine on my bed. There I found the guy from earlier.

I kicked him off the bed causing a loud thud. My hands gripped the edge of my bed as I leaned forward to look more at this guy. When I shined my flashlight on him he was still sleeping. I got one of my pillows and threw it at him. “W-Who are you?” I asked him.

His eyes fluttered open as he raised his hand to block the light. Once he collected his thoughts he stood up towering over me. I gulped as my eyes met with those perfect abs again. He panicked and ran out of my room. “Hey! Wait!” I struggled to get out of bed. My legs were tangled in the sheets making me almost fall on my face.

I chased him out to my living room and grabbed his wrist as he looked at me confused. “Who-” Before I could ask my question he was disappearing within thin air. I stood there motionless. “What the hell? This better is some crazy dream.” I amble back to bed.

-

I rub my eyes as I wake. That dream about the boy I imagined in the bathroom...he’s too hot to be real. I roll over and check my phone, as expected, I don’t have any notifications. “What am I even expecting? Someone, to ask how I’m doing?” I laughed at myself before sitting up and stretching my limbs.

Walking to my bathroom a pout was on my lips. Sometimes it’d be nice to wake up to a good morning text but sadly I don’t have anyone to do so. I looked into the mirror and gasped. “Oh my lord! My hair!!” I hurried to get a brush through the rats’ nest. It really looked like I was attacked by a swarm of birds.

After getting my hair under control I had thought as I brushed my teeth. There’s definitely no way I could have imagined someone that good looking! I had to have seen him somewhere and I there’s plenty of good looking men around...which is the exact reason I’m single—I can’t get a guy for the best of me.

I cried out before finishing getting ready. I spun around the living room humming before landing on the couch. “What to do...” I laid there for a solid 30 minutes debating if I wanted to go out or not. Of course, I chose not to. “I should draw him before I forget the details!!” I scramble for my sketchbook and pencils.

“Ahh, damn. Too bad he isn’t real.” I looked at the drawing before me. “If he was there’s no way he doesn’t have tons of people drooling over him. For one I’d definitely be guilty.” I laughed as I spoke to myself. I’m so lonely. Maybe I should get a friend? I smiled before grabbing my things and heading out.

I went to the pet store looking for a new companion. I would have gotten a dog or cat but they were too expensive so I got a ₩1,700 hamster. “I declare you as Hammy...” I spoke softly as I peered into the box my new friend was in. He was the last available hamster and all the tubes you could buy for the cage—I might have bought a lot but it was all worth it.

-

“Hammy? I need to get you back in your cage, where did you run off to this time?” I called out looking for him. My apartment was big but he couldn’t have gone that far. I sigh in frustration and sit on the couch waiting in silence to hear his ball collide with an object. Out of the past few weeks of having him, I figured that this was the easiest tactic for finding him.

I hear his ball hit a door and I rush to my room. “Aha! Found you.” I opened my bedroom door and saw that Hammy was being held by...that guy?! The one I drew. My eyebrows knit together as I walked over to him. “Excuse me? Can you put my hamster back in his ball? I can’t lose him.” I say. I can hear everything he says. “How did you get here? You’re so tiny.” He giggles. “Hey!” I yell.

There’s still no reaction from the guy. I touch his arm and he started disappearing again. Hammy drops from his grasp and I fall to the floor to catch him before he falls to his death. “What is going on. He can’t hear me but he can pick up objects...is he some kind of special ghost?

-

“If a hot ghost came with my apartment I wouldn’t be complaining...” Jay says as she sips her tea. “Still!! He’s invading my privacy.” I say back. Jay raises her eyebrows at me. “Are you sure it’s not the other way around? You’ve told me about how this boy has a full-on sixpack.” I bite my lower lip while avoiding eye contact. “Can ghost even take off their clothes?” Jay inquires. I shrug, “How would I know? The way ghosts are in movies is only fake. Who knows the truth.”

Jay was in the kitchen sitting at the island on her phone. I made my way to the living room to see my TV turned on with OverWatch displayed on the screen. I could have sworn I turned this off before letting Jay in. “You okay?” I look up to Jay walking over to me. “Did I leave the tv on?” She nods her head. “Yeah, you need to stop playing video games all the time and get a serious job,” Jay comments before slouching on the couch.

“I thought you liked coming to see me at work while you were on a break!!” I fake yell. Jay cocks her eyebrows. “You’re freaking beautiful and creeps come to the comic book café just to hit on you. You can apply for something better.” I bite my lower lip while running my hand through my hair frustratedly.

“No. I’ve been working there since high school and I make a good amount of money for a part-time job. I’ll just try to apply at the convenience store down the street for some extra money.” Jay sighs at me. I glare at her while I hear water running somewhere. “Do you hear that?” I ask.

“Hear what?”

I walk to the bathroom while Jay follows. “Do you have a guy over?!” She whispers yells. I slap her arm to stop her from thinking of me like that. “No—there’s no way,” The bathroom door opens while I’m looking over at Jay. I see her jaw drop and she squeezes my shoulders.