ten

Time passed faster than Soonyoung realized and when he lifted himself from the ground, the sun was already high in the sky. He wiped the stray tears from his face and slowly made his way to the only other place he knew to seek refuge, Jihoon's apartment. He was delighted to find he could enter with no trouble but didn't count on Jihoon having company. On the couch was Jihoon sitting closely with Wonwoo. They were talking softly as they watched a show that Soonyoung figured out to be about ghost hunting. He laughed to himself at the irony. Why did he do things like that to himself? Jihoon was an interesting human.

"So, do you think ghosts can really communicate with humans?" Wonwoo asked.

Jihoon looked visibly nervous by the question but managed to keep his composure and a stable expression.

"Sometimes. It depends on the level of energy they contain. Because humans and ghosts exist on two different planes of existence, it's difficult to form a stable connection without there being some kind of middle ground. There has to be the right amount of energy."

It took the kind of energy Jihoon contained. You couldn't make it. You had to be born with it, but Jihoon couldn't explain that to Wonwoo without sounding completely insane. So, he left it there. Thankfully, Wonwoo seemed more impressed than anything.

"You really know a lot about ghosts." He noted.

Jihoon shrugged it off, trying to play it cool, but Soonyoung could see the hint of pink painting his cheeks. Soonyoung smiled to himself. He was happy to see Jihoon getting along with a fellow human. Jihoon was probably happy too which was why Soonyoung planned to leave, but his eyes locked with Jihoon's before he could turn.

"Oh, you're back." He said out loud.

Wonwoo looked at him, confused. "What?"

Jihoon's cheeks turned a deeper pink. "Don't you need to be getting back?" He tried. "You've spent most of the morning with me."

Wonwoo gave him a gentle smile. "And I've enjoyed every minute of it, but I do have a meeting soon. I probably should get going." He lifted himself off the couch and Jihoon followed, walking him to the door.

"Thanks for inviting me over today. I had fun." Wonwoo told him.

A shy smile graced Jihoon's face. "I did too." He replied.

"I'll text you later," Wonwoo promised as he closed the door behind him.

Soonyoung was waiting near the wall. "You like him." He observed.

Jihoon scoffed as moved away from the door. "No way! He's my friend and editor." He protested.

Soonyoung shrugged. "And you like him." He insisted. "It's cool, he likes you too. I can tell."

Jihoon shook his head and sighed. "Whatever. What happened with Gyeongsuk?"

Soonyoung's expression faltered. "She's moved on."

Jihoon took note of the ghost's current mood. "Are you okay?" He asked softly.

"I don't know." He admitted. "I'm happy for her, but I also miss her already. She was the closest thing to family that I had these days."

"That's understandable," Jihoon replied with a sympathetic tone. "How about we take a break from investigating today and just hang out?" He suggested.

Soonyoung brightened a bit. "I'd like that."

Both of them sat on the couch, the ghost hunting show still playing on the television. Soonyoung let out a laugh and Jihoon turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

"What's so funny?"

"You. You deal with this every day, but here you are, watching it in your free time. You're so strange."

Jihoon shrugged in a defensive manner. "It's entertaining and fake, unlike my own life."

Finding the answer acceptable, Soonyoung said nothing else and they fell into a comfortable silence. However, the ghost's mind was racing. He was thinking through recent events and something that Gyeongsuk had said stuck out to him.

"Jihoon," Soonyoung said suddenly.

"Hmm?" Jihoon hummed, not looking away from the television.

"What causes a spirit's power?"

The question captured Jihoon's attention and he finally looked at Soonyoung.

"You don't know?"

Soonyoung shook his head.

"Emotion-driven adrenaline," Jihoon answered. "When a spirit has strong emotions connected to the events of their death, their powers are stronger." He explained.

Completely entranced, Soonyoung leaned closer. "What kind of emotions?"

"Rage, sadness, but the strongest is betrayal. Spirits who were betrayed are usually the strongest and most terrifying. They can do anything they want at will."

Jihoon paused momentarily as if he had just thought of something. His eyes met Soonyoung's.

"Just like you can." He finished.

*

Soonyoung walked to the funeral hall with a clouded mind. Nothing was making sense. His powers were strong because he was betrayed? That was ridicoulous. Who would even betray him? He was just a normal guy. How did he manage to get such a complicated afterlife? He was starting to think Jihoon was wrong about everything. First, he had said he may have been murdered, and now betrayed. That felt unlikely. Soonyoung still believed wholeheartedly that he had an asthma attack and it was just one of life's unfortunate circumstances. However, he couldn't explain why his inhaler had been under Minghao's bed nor could he explain the looming shadow, but he chose to ignore it. He didn't think his heart could handle the truth.

Instead, he turned his focus to his other friends. He still had three other ghosts to help and he intended to do just that. His case could wait. Upon his arrival, the first thing he noticed was Seokmin's worried and scared expression. Instantly concerned, Soonyoung approached him.

"What's wrong? Did you remember something?"

Seokmin shook his head. "No, it's nothing like that."

"What is it then?"

Seokmin looked a bit reluctant, but when Soonyoung gave him a nod of encouragement, he took a deep breath.

"It's Seungcheol and Chan. They're upset because Gyeongsuk is gone and the fact that you're interfering with their afterlives."

Soonyoung resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He had a feeling a time like this would come. He knew the moment he suggested it that the two would constantly be fighting him, especially Sungcheol. He was most against it and Soonyoung had yet to understand why.

"I'll take care of it," Soonyoung reassured as he entered the room they occupied.

There, at one end of the table sat Chan who seemed to want to be as far away from Seungcheol as possible. At the other end, sat an angry Seungcheol. Soonyoung quietly entered and sat next to Chan, leaving Seokmin to be brave and sit next to Seungcheol.

"I'm back!" Soonyoung cheered loudly.

Seungcheol rolled his eyes but otherwise ignored him. Chan didn't even bother looking up and kept his eyes on the table instead. Despite the lack of response, Soonyoung refused to give up. He was too tired to be scared of Seungcheol or play Chan's games.

"So, what have I missed?" He asked. Once again, he received no response. He shrugged it off.

"Whatever. We have work to do." He looked between them. "Which one of you wants to go next?"

Seungcheol slammed his fist against the table as he glared at Soonyoung. "None of us asked for your help. You were just supposed to go to Jihoon and cross over. Why did you have to drag us into it as well? Why can't you leave well enough alone? Gyeongsuk is gone now. It isn't right." He lectured.

Soonyoung scoffed. "Isn't right? Gyeongsuk is at peace now. You should have seen how happy she was. You should should be happy for her. Even if you don't want it, you shouldn't stop someone else. I did a good thing and I don't regret it." He retaliated stubbornly.

He then leaned over, remembering what Gyeongsuk told him. "You can be helped too." He said in a quieter tone. "You don't have to suffer anymore"

"I don't care what you do, just leave me out of it." He said firmly.

Soonyoung felt defeated but left it alone for the meantime. He would just have to find another way to convince him. He turned his attention to Chan. Chan was younger and tended to follow the influence of others. If he did it right, he could convince the younger to accept his help.

"Chan, what about you?"

The younger ghost didn't look at him. He only shook his head. Soonyoung didn't back down. He felt he was close. He just needed to push a bit further.

"Look at me." He ordered softly.

Slowly, Chan lifted his head and met the other's eyes. Soonyoung felt saddened as he saw the pain shining in the younger's eyes. He swallowed down the lump in his throat.

"I know it's painful and traumatic to think about your death, but don't you want peace?" He scooted closer and placed a hand on the other's arm. "Aren't you tired?" He asked, echoing his conversation with Gyeongsuk.

Soonyoung couldn't explain it, but he felt the most pity for Chan whenever he looked at him. He looked so young and so sad. Whatever happened to him must have been awful. He wanted to help him find peace. He didn't want him to be miserable anymore.

Silently, Chan nodded his reply. Soonyoung felt hopeful as it seemed he was making progress. He just needed one last push.

"You don't have to suffer anymore. Do you think your family would be okay if they knew how much you were suffering in the afterlife?"

He knew the route was risky, but it was worth a shot. To his luck, it seemed to be working as the younger ghost had tears brimming his eyes, threatening to spill.

"Do you think I could be helped?" He asked.

"Of course! Jihoon is the best." He praised. "Do you remember anything about your death or the events leading up to it?" Soonyoung asked, finally happy to be getting somewhere.

When the younger remained silent, Soonyoung gave him a nudge of encouragement. "It's okay if you don't. Gyeongsuk didn't remember much either, but after some research, she remembered it all. I'm sure it'll be that way for you too." He reassured.

Chan shook his head. "That's not it. I remember what happened. I remember everything." He admitted. He then looked up at Soonyoung with so much sadness and intensity. "Could I still be helped even if I'm part of the problem?"