The room was quiet in that soft, late-night way where everything feels slower than it really is.
I was still sitting on the bed, the penguin plush resting in my lap like it belonged there more than I did.
Niran was standing near the window again, like he always did when he got quiet.
Too quiet.
Which meant something was coming.
"You were confident today," he said suddenly.
I didn't look up.
"…With her?"
He nodded once.
I shrugged.
"…She's just easy to talk to."
"Mm."
A pause.
Then—
"Don't get carried away."
I frowned slightly.
"I'm not."
He glanced at me.
"You are."
I sighed.
"…I said I'm not interested like that."
He tilted his head.
"Then what are you interested in?"
I didn't even think.
"…Cute girls."
Silence.
Then he laughed.
Not loud.
Just enough to be annoying.
"Cute?" he repeated.
I glared at him.
"What?"
"You're unbelievable."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing," he said, still amused. "It's just funny."
—
Then his tone changed a little.
More… serious.
"You know," he said, "not everyone gets what they want."
I looked at him.
He didn't look at me.
"People want different things from you than you think," he added. "Some want maturity. Some want stability. Some want someone they can lean on."
I leaned back slightly.
"…And I'm not that?"
He finally looked at me.
"You are," he said simply. "Just… not the way you think."
That made me quiet.
For a second too long.
—
Then I held up the penguin slightly.
"…This guy is more stable than me, apparently."
He snorted.
"Debatable."
Time passed without either of us saying much.
Then I stretched.
"…I'm tired."
He nodded.
"Good."
I frowned.
"…Why is that good?"
"Because you'll finally sleep."
I looked at him sideways.
"…You don't even sleep."
"I can."
"That's not an answer."
"It is for me."
—
We both lay down eventually.
Me on the bed.
Properly this time.
The penguin got pulled into my chest like it was a normal thing to do.
I didn't even question it anymore.
Just… held it.
"…Still don't know why you're a ghost," I muttered.
He didn't answer immediately.
Then:
"You'll figure it out."
I sighed.
"…That's not comforting."
"It's honest."
A pause.
Then quietly—
"…You'll help me sleep," he said.
I turned my head slightly.
"…What?"
He was looking away.
Like it didn't matter.
But it did.
"…I mean," he corrected, "you'll visit my parents."
That made me sit up a little.
"…Really?"
He nodded once.
I blinked.
"…Yeah. I can do that."
Silence.
Then I smiled a little.
"…Tomorrow?"
"If you want."
"I want."
He looked at me then.
"…You're sure? What about your mom?"
I shrugged.
"…She doesn't care. I'll just tell Mrs. Hana and go."
He studied me for a second.
Then nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
A pause.
"…Tomorrow."
I lay back down.
Penguin still in my arms.
He shifted slightly.
Then, casually—
"If you hug that plushie… can I hug you instead?"
I immediately turned my head.
"…No."
He chuckled.
"Worth a try."
Then he turned away.
"Good night, Min-Jun."
I stared at the ceiling.
"…Good night, blood-stained-face ghost."
He paused.
"…That's my official title now?"
"Yeah."
"…Horrible."
"Sleep."
He sighed.
"…Fine."
And just like that—
the room went quiet again.
This time, it actually felt like sleep came easier.