Something hits my mattress.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
I don't open my eyes.
Because if I don't acknowledge it, it's not real.
Right?
Bounce.
"…go away," I mumble into my pillow.
Bounce.
"…I said go—"
Bounce.
I groan and flip over—
—and immediately freeze.
Niran is sitting on me.
Casually.
Like this is completely normal.
"…why are you on my body," I say, voice flat.
"You weren't waking up," he replies.
"So your solution was… violence?"
"I call it persistence."
I stare at him.
Then slowly close my eyes again.
"…I'm going back to sleep."
Big mistake.
He leans down and taps my cheek.
Light.
Annoying.
Again.
Again.
"Wake up."
"…stop touching my face."
"Then wake up."
"…no."
He grabs my collar.
I don't even react at first.
Because I assume he won't actually—
He pulls.
Hard.
I slide across the bed like a lifeless object.
"—NIRAN—!"
"Stand up."
"I just woke up!"
"Then you're already halfway there."
"I HATE YOU."
"Not important."
He drags me off the bed completely.
My feet barely touch the ground.
I'm holding my penguin.
Why am I holding my penguin?
"…why is this still in my hand," I mutter.
"Emotional support," he says.
"Shut up."
He pulls me toward the door anyway.
I stumble after him, half-asleep, half-dead, fully confused.
"Niran—where are we going—"
"Out."
"That's not helpful."
"It's enough."
He opens the door.
Drags me into the hallway—
—and I stop.
Ara is there.
Leaning slightly against the wall.
Watching.
Calm.
Too calm.
Her eyes flick from me…
to Niran's hand gripping my collar…
then back to me.
"…morning," she says softly.
I blink.
"…morning."
She tilts her head slightly.
"…rough wake-up?"
I glance at Niran.
Still dragging me.
Still shameless.
"…you could say that."
Niran smirks.
Ara sighs lightly, like she's already used to this.
"…he looks proud of himself," she adds.
"He is," I reply.
"I can hear you," Niran says.
"Good."
Ara's lips twitch slightly.
But before she says anything else—
movement at the end of the hallway.
We all look.
Seo-Yeon.
In uniform.
Suitcase beside her.
My brain wakes up instantly.
"…why are you dressed like that?" I ask.
She looks at me.
Her expression is… different.
Not sharp.
Not sarcastic.
Just tired.
"I'm leaving," she says.
Ara straightens slightly.
"What?"
Seo-Yeon grips the handle of her suitcase tighter.
"I can't stay here," she continues quietly. "Not after everything."
The air shifts.
Niran's grip on my collar tightens.
Subtle.
But I feel it.
"I'm scared," she says. "And I feel… guilty."
My chest tightens.
Guilty.
Niran leans closer to me slightly.
"…that's not normal," he murmurs.
I swallow.
"I don't think I can stay in this house anymore," Seo-Yeon finishes. "It doesn't feel right."
She looks at me.
Holds my gaze for a second.
"…I'll see you at school."
Then she turns.
Walks away.
Suitcase rolling behind her.
The sound echoes down the hall.
I don't move.
But Niran does.
Immediately.
He yanks my collar.
"Follow her."
I stumble forward.
"Wait—why—"
"We need to find out if she pushed me."
I freeze mid-step.
"…you think it's her?"
"I think she knows something," he replies.
That's enough.
I start moving.
Faster.
Ara watches us.
Then quietly says—
"…be careful."
I glance at her.
She's not joking.
Not teasing.
Just… serious.
Niran doesn't even slow down.
"Come on," he mutters.
"I'm coming!"
"You're slow."
"I JUST WOKE UP!"
"You've been awake for two minutes."
"THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO SOLVE A MURDER!"
He huffs.
Still dragging me anyway.
I'm still holding the penguin.
I don't question it anymore.
We reach the stairs.
I almost trip.
"Careful," Ara calls calmly behind us.
"I am being kidnapped!" I reply.
"By a ghost," she says.
"THANK YOU FOR NOTICING."
Niran laughs.
Actually laughs.
And somehow—
despite everything—
despite the tension
despite the suspicion
despite the fact that we might be chasing the person who pushed him—
this still feels like us.
Chaotic.
Annoying.
Too close.
Too real.
"Move faster," he says again.
I roll my eyes.
"…you're impossible."
"And you're slow."
"…I regret saying you're my best friend."
"You said it. Too late."
"…I can take it back."
"No, you can't."
And somehow—
I don't try to.
I catch up to her just before the front doors.
Barefoot.
Half-awake.
Still in pink silk pajamas.
Still holding a penguin.
…this is not how I planned to confront a possible suspect.
"Seo-Yeon—wait."
She stops.
Slowly.
Doesn't turn immediately.
Then she does.
And for a second—
it feels… quiet.
Not tense.
Not sharp like usual.
Just… soft.
Like something is already ending.
Her eyes move over me—my hair, my pajamas, the penguin—
and for once, she doesn't comment on it.
"…you ran out like that?" she asks quietly.
I glance down at myself.
"…I didn't have time to change."
Behind me, I can feel Niran.
Close.
Watching.
Waiting.
I take a small breath.
"Don't go."
The words come out simpler than I expected.
Seo-Yeon's expression shifts slightly.
Not surprised.
Just… tired.
"I have to," she says.
"You came here because of nightmares, right?" I continue. "You said you couldn't sleep at your house."
She looks at me properly now.
"…I did."
"Then stay," I say. "You're safer here."
A pause.
The air holds.
For a second, I almost think she'll say yes.
But then she shakes her head.
"…that's exactly why I can't stay."
My brows pull together.
"What?"
She exhales slowly.
"You're a nice person, Min-Jun."
That already sounds bad.
"But this…" she gestures lightly between us, the house, everything "…won't work out."
The words land heavier than they should.
Not loud.
Just… final.
I don't answer immediately.
Because I don't know what this is supposed to be.
A rejection?
A warning?
A goodbye?
"…you're leaving because of me?" I ask quietly.
She hesitates.
That's enough of an answer.
I let out a small breath.
"…right."
Behind me, Niran shifts slightly.
I can almost hear the annoyed sigh without turning.
Seo-Yeon grips her suitcase again.
"…I'll see you at school."
And then she turns.
Walks out.
Just like that.
No drama.
No looking back.
The doors close softly behind her.
And it's over.
I stand there for a second.
Just watching the space she left.
"…everything happens in this house," I mutter under my breath.
A pause.
"…and I can't even tell my mom."
Silence.
Then—
a soft sigh behind me.
Not mine.
Niran's.
Half annoyed.
Half disappointed.
I feel his hand rest lightly on my shoulder.
Cold.
Steady.
I don't move.
I just turn my head slightly.
And look at him.
He's already looking at me.
Close.
Too close.
Red eyes steady.
Expression unreadable for once.
We stay like that for a moment.
Just staring.
Something unspoken sitting between us.
Then—
at the exact same time—
"You're useless."
"You're annoying."
We both stop.
Blink.
Ara, standing a few steps behind us, blinks too.
"…what just happened," she murmurs.
I look back at Niran.
He looks back at me.
A second passes.
Then—
"…you started it," I say.
"I didn't," he replies immediately.
"You literally dragged me here."
"And you did nothing when you got here."
"I was talking!"
"You were failing."
I stare at him.
He stares back.
Ara exhales quietly.
"…you two are impossible."
"Not important," Niran says.
"Very important," I say at the same time.
We pause.
Then glare at each other again.
And somehow—
even after everything—
even after she left
even after the tension
even after the suspicion—
this still feels normal.
Chaotic.
Annoying.
Too close.
"…go change," Niran mutters, glancing at my pajamas.
"No."
"You look ridiculous."
"I am ridiculous."
"…that's not something to be proud of."
Ara sighs again.
"…I'm going back inside."
"Good idea," I say.
"Take him with you," she adds.
"No," Niran replies.
"Yes," I reply at the same time.
She walks away anyway.
Leaving us there.
Still arguing.
Still standing too close.
Still… not letting go of the moment completely.
And I don't say it out loud—
but something about the way Niran's hand stayed on my shoulder just a second longer than usual…
felt like he wasn't disappointed about Seo-Yeon.
He was just…
watching me.