Morning came too fast.
I was already downstairs, half awake, standing in front of Mrs. Hana while she looked at me like she was trying to decide if I was serious or not.
"I'm going out," I said.
She blinked.
"…Out where?"
I hesitated.
"…To visit someone important."
That sounded better in my head.
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"And who is this 'someone important'?"
I paused.
"…Private matter."
That did not help.
Behind her, I could already feel the silence getting louder.
So I quickly added,
"It's not dangerous."
That also did not help much.
She sighed.
"…Young master."
I lowered my voice.
"Please. Just cover for me."
She stared at me for a long second.
Then finally—
"…Fine."
I exhaled.
"Thank you."
—
I had already told Ara.
And seo-yeon too.
Not where I was going.
Just that I was going out.
Which technically wasn't lying.
Just… incomplete truth.
—
My outfit today wasn't school-normal.
It was me normal.
Black hoodie layered under a light jacket, slightly loose jeans, clean sneakers. Nothing loud. Nothing fancy. Just comfortable.
I even fixed my hair properly for once.
Not too much.
Just enough to look like I tried without looking like I tried.
—
The driver, Min-hyuk, was already waiting outside the car.
He saw me and immediately sighed.
"…Don't tell me you're sneaking out again."
"I'm not sneaking," I said quickly. "I'm informing you."
"That's the same thing."
"It's different."
He opened the door halfway.
"I shouldn't be doing this."
I leaned slightly.
"Please."
A long pause.
Then he muttered,
"…I'm only agreeing because I like you."
I nodded immediately.
"I appreciate your kindness."
He sighed again and handed me the address.
—
The ride started quiet.
I stared out the window, holding my phone loosely.
Then—
"You're late."
I froze.
Slowly turned my head.
Niran was sitting right next to me.
Like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"…How are you in the car?" I asked.
He shrugged.
"I'm always with you."
"That's not an answer."
"It is for ghosts."
I sighed.
"…You're going to give me a headache."
"You already have one."
—
He leaned back casually.
"Just tell my mom you're the boy I did that project with."
I blinked.
"…That's your plan?"
"It works."
"It sounds suspicious."
"It's simple."
"It's weird."
"It's effective."
I leaned my head back.
"…Why can't you just go yourself?"
He went quiet for a second.
Then said—
"I told you. I can't."
I frowned.
"Why?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"…We're connected."
I stared at him.
"…So?"
He sighed like I was the slow one.
"Anywhere you go, I go."
I paused.
"…That's creepy."
"It's convenient."
"…That's not comforting."
"It's not supposed to be."
—
I rubbed my face slightly.
"…Sheesh. Okay."
He smirked faintly.
"Good. Karen."
I shot him a look.
"…Don't call me that."
"You complain too much."
"You're literally haunting me."
"And yet you're still alive."
"…That's not reassuring."
He leaned closer slightly.
"Relax. This will be easy."
I looked out the window again.
"…Easy for you to say."
He smiled.
"Good. Then let's go meet my mother."
The car stopped in front of a modest house.
It wasn't big.
Not the kind of house people stared at.
But it didn't feel empty either.
It felt… lived in.
Like someone still waited for someone who might not come home on time.
I stepped out slowly.
"Thank you," I said to Min-hyuk.
He looked at me for a second too long.
"…Don't get into trouble," he muttered.
"I won't."
He didn't look convinced.
But he drove off anyway.
I stood there for a moment.
Then walked up to the gate.
Niran was already beside me.
Of course he was.
He didn't say anything this time.
Just… quiet.
Different quiet.
I knocked.
Once.
Then again.
A pause.
Footsteps.
The door opened.
An old woman stood there.
Small frame, silver hair tied neatly, eyes sharp but kind in a way that felt like it had seen too much life and still chose softness.
Behind her, I could hear movement inside.
She looked at me.
"…Yes?"
I swallowed slightly.
"Good afternoon," I said politely. "My name is Min-Jun. I came… to visit the Wongchai family."
A pause.
Then her face softened immediately.
"Oh."
That one word changed everything.
She smiled.
Not big.
Just warm.
"You're him."
I blinked.
"…Him?"
She stepped closer.
"The boy Niran mentioned."
Before I could even respond, she reached out and gently pulled me inside.
"Come in. Come in."
I hesitated—
but followed.
The house opened into a living room that felt surprisingly full.
Not crowded.
Just… occupied.
Like life had already chosen to stay here.
There were four people inside.
All of them looked up when I entered.
The air changed instantly.
A man on the couch—calm posture, steady eyes.
A woman beside him—soft face, tired warmth in her expression.
A teenage girl sitting cross-legged on the floor, scrolling her phone.
And a younger boy near the armrest, swinging his legs slightly.
They were speaking in Thai before I entered.
Now they all paused.
The old woman turned slightly.
"This is Min-Jun," she said.
I bowed slightly.
"…Hello. I'm Min-Jun."
A beat.
Then smiles.
Immediate.
Warm.
Welcoming.
The man stood first.
He gave a small nod.
The woman followed, smiling gently.
The girl tilted her head curiously.
The boy whispered something quickly to her.
I didn't understand any of it.
Not the language.
But I understood the tone.
They were kind.
The woman stepped forward first.
"My name is Mrs. Wongchai," she said carefully in English.
The man added, "Mr. Wongchai."
The girl pointed to herself with a small grin.
"Lara."
Then the boy.
"Ken."
I nodded quickly, a little awkward.
"Nice to meet you."
Mrs. Wongchai suddenly looked at me closer.
"Oh… you're very polite."
I blinked.
"…Thank you."
She smiled softly.
"We thought you would be… different."
"Different?"
She glanced at the others.
Then back at me.
"Rich kids usually are."
I froze slightly.
"…I'm not— I mean— I just—"
Lara laughed quietly.
That broke the tension.
They immediately offered me a drink.
I accepted it quickly.
Hands slightly stiff.
Niran was still beside me.
Silent.
Watching.
"I did a school project with Niran," I said suddenly, trying to explain my presence better. "A… debate presentation."
Mrs. Wongchai's expression softened again.
"Oh. Yes. He mentioned that."
The father nodded once.
"He said you helped him."
I blinked.
"…He did?"
Lara smiled.
"He doesn't talk much about school."
That hit something quietly.
Mrs. Wongchai lowered her gaze slightly.
"…He doesn't talk much at home either."
The room softened.
Even the air felt slower.
I looked down at my drink.
Niran didn't move.
But I could feel him change.
"He's always in his room," she continued.
Her voice cracked slightly.
Just a little.
Like she was trying not to let it break fully.
"He eats. Sleeps. Studies. That's it."
Silence.
I didn't know what to say.
So I didn't say anything.
Then—
Niran moved.
Not physically.
But closer.
He sat beside her.
Right next to his mother.
She didn't see him.
Of course she didn't.
But he leaned forward anyway.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Then rested his head gently on her lap.
Like he used to.
Her hand moved instinctively.
Almost.
Then stopped.
Mid-air.
Confused.
Like her body remembered something her mind couldn't explain.
"…Niran," she whispered.
Her voice broke completely this time.
"I just wish you would talk to me more."
I looked away.
My grip tightened slightly on the cup.
Niran didn't speak.
But his expression changed.
Something softer.
Something quieter.
He lifted his hand slightly.
As if he could hold hers.
But his fingers passed through.
Like air pretending to be memory.
Mrs. Wongchai wiped her face quickly.
Then forced a smile.
"…Sorry."
She shook her head.
"No. It's okay."
But it wasn't.
Not really.
Lara suddenly stood up.
"Min-Jun," she said lightly, trying to shift the mood. "I'll show you Niran's room."
I looked up.
"…Okay."
As I stood, I glanced back once.
Niran was still there.
Sitting beside his mother.
Silent.
Not moving.
But not gone either.
And for the first time since I met him—
I understood why he never left.