chapter eight            

the week progressed relatively slowly, and the girls started hanging out together after school. minah stayed distant, however, leaving the dormitory early in the morning and only returning sometime before lights-out. busy with schoolwork, her class president duties and managing the girls in general, ji-ae had not had a chance to approach minah. "should we watch a movie this weekend?" kymin drawled as they walked back from assembly. hyusu responded animatedly while chaebyul and eunji thought for a moment. ji-ae nudged them lightly. "you both should go too; you have worked hard these few days. both of you are too reserved for your own good!" she turned to kymin. "you should be the one staying back and spending more time on your studies. I know that school has just started, but haven't you had any homework at all?" kymin gave a grimace as she waved the elder away. "I did them in class!"

chaebyul and eunji beamed as they excused themselves to the library.  ji-ae headed off to the supermarket herself, realizing that they were short on market supplies. kymin turned to hyusu, about to ask her if she wanted to go to the mess hall (lunch room), when a lanky boy galloped up to them and snatched the former away. "hey!" kymin shouted after her. hyusu was half-dragged out of the school gates as the guy promised to bring her back before lights-out. what good friends I have. shrugging, kymin decided to go to dance class early. it wasn't her idea to join the activity but she needed the boost points; she didn't have enough accolades to join the school - they would only accept her if she contributed in three other after-school activities. kymin, being a rather unladylike girl, chose to invest in taekwondo and shooting. the only other option that she was offered was dance, and so that was it. 

back at the library, chaebyul and eunji had barely sat down when a dark-haired boy in a hoodie approached them - eunji, to be specific. "I'm sorry to interrupt.." he started, but can I steal eunji for awhile?" he smiled kindly at chaebyul. stunned, the latter looked to eunji for permission as she nodded, "I'll be right back!" chaebyul watched them leave the library, trying to remember where she had seen the boy before. the one who liked breadstuff - jungkook or something. chaebyul was jolted out of her musing as somebody brushed against her elbow. she looked up in astonishment. at the see-through image of a guy. she immediately looked back down at her books, trying to ignore the fear that was coursing through her veins. she had done so well up till now - and now this was going to ruin everything. all the bad memories she had suppressed  since the day she found her dead grandparents hanging off a cliff flooded back into her mind. she sobbed quietly, wishing that the spirit would leave her alone. it was not to be. chaebyul risked a peek to her right after a few tense moments. the ghost was still there, seated respectfully with his arms out on the table. (attached to his shoulders, no worries.) 

"c-can you p-please leave me a-alone?" chaebyul pleaded with her head still down, eyes trained on the cover of her calculus book. the spectre shifted in his seat, turning towards chaebyul as she flinched away. "don't worry. I'm not going to harm you." he sounded uncertain. "I just - I just don't feel like living anymore" chaebyul, despite being frightened, gave a baffled gasp. "aren't you already d-dead?" the guy shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know what's happening to me either. I need help." he bent down and met chaebyul at eye level. chaebyul staggered back and almost fell off her chair if not for the apparition holding on to her. "will you help me.. please?" chaebyul leaned away from the figure, and as the figure loosened his grip on her arm, she sprinted away from the spectre, leaving her books and stationery on the table in her hurry. the ghost stayed where he was, looking at her escaping form forlornly.

in the snowy streets outside, ji-ae plodded along the road with the loot from the supermarket. she was passing a bus stop when she noticed a young-looking spectre gazing despondently at a girl. as if the ghost could hear her thoughts, he promptly made eye contact with her and made a move to approach her. ji-ae felt herself involuntarily gravitating towards the spirit. "tell me." ji-ae found her motherly instinct kick in as she started comforting the apparition while he blurted out his worries. 

"noona.. I had a sister once.." he confided. "I was supposed to go to her audition and cheer her on, but - but I got into a car accident. my sister has been living unhappily for the past two years. can- can you help me tell her that I'm sorry for not being there for her, and that it - wasn't her fault?" his voice broke as he recounted the incident to ji-ae. she nodded sympathetically, agreeing to help if he would show her the way. it was not like ji-ae to turn down anyone in need of help. grateful, the ghost, who introduced himself as baro, took her hand in his and led her along the houses by the side of the road. "here." he pointed dejectedly at the rundown apartment. ji-ae bobbed her head as she made her way down the cobbled pathway. she rang the door-bell and waited.

a brown-haired girl, looking slightly younger than ji-ae herself, came to the door. after a brief introduction, ji-ae proceeded to slowly break the news to her. "you had a brother, right?" ji-ae looked on as baro's spirit hugged his sister. "he's here, now." the girl's eyes flashed and she was about to slam the door when ji-ae put her palm against the wood. "no, wait. listen to me. your brother.. he wants you to know something.." the girl stopped struggling to close the door, suddenly looking around her, her eyes settling down on the spot that baro was standing at. he ruffled her hair, and she seemed to have felt that too. "look - he said for me to tell you that he's sorry for not being there for you these past few years. he loves you and wishes for you to move on. he wants to tell you that it wasn't your fault, and he misses you alot." the girl sniffled and rubbed the back of her hands across her eyes. 

"tell him - tell him that I'm sorry.. and - and I love him too. I miss him so much.." the girl bit her lip as she turned away abashed. "he can hear you. he's right beside you now." ji-ae smiled. "I'm sorry that this is all that I can do, but he's happy, and he wants you to be too." the girl nodded amidst tears, thanking ji-ae profusely. "I'll be happy.. knowing that he is happy.." ji-ae embraced the girl before leaving the two of them to enjoy their moment together.

as she walked back through the cobblestone path, she breathed out a sigh and watched as the mist disappeared in the cold. she was glad to have helped a person in need, but she couldn't help feeling sad knowing that the girl couldn't see her brother again. her Ability allowed her to see more tragedies than she would like. gazing back at the rundown house, she made her way back to the dormitory. 

kymin spent the afternoon in the dance studio continuing her crime thriller as students filed in and out, warming up and practicing choreography. it was only until an hour later, at 4pm, that the dance instructor came in. kymin widened her eyes as she saw the girl who followed in.

minah. 

co-author's note:     heyyyy we've finally met some spirits other than younju and tiffany (named ones at least) ^^ I think I'm getting the feel back hehheh and I'm thinking of authoring an idolgroup applyfic /shot