Eternal life

Chapter 24

Even though Young Saeng thought, that the sleep wouldn't come back, eventually it hit him and he fall asleep sitting. 

He woke up with sore neck. Firstly he massaged it and then the reality hit him – he rapidly stood up and looked around. It was bright outside and he was only person inside the house. He sat down, realising a huge sigh, but then again he heard voice.

'Please, don't be scared, it's really me...' Aeri appeared from behind the corner, peeking at him, trying to not scare him.

Instead he froze and grabbed his hair, as he started to sob. 'I'm getting crazy...'

'God, it breaks my heart seeing you weeping so hard... But I promise you, it's the real me! One and only!' She slowly approached him, like a wounded animal.

'You aren't real, it's just my conscience...'

She tilted her head, as she was near him. She even bit her lip, as she usually did. 'It's me! How can I prove it to you...'

'Whatever you'll say it'll be nothing else from that I knew about you. You're the creation of my imagination...'

'No! How about that? As a kid I had a turtle...'

'A lot of people had turtles... Why I'm even talking with you...'

'Listen! Its name was 'Fluffly'! Call Jisoo, she knows about it, because it bit her elbow and she has a scar there! Tell her that!' Young Saeng finally looked at her, tears streaming on his face. 'Please, I beg you! At least try.'

'It's madness...'

'No, it's not! Do it!' She waved her hands at him, to show he should stand up.

He was rather pessimistic about it, but he stood up and carefully, not turning his gaze away from Aeri, he went to the kitchen, where on the table was his phone. He had many unanswered calls as he shut himself from the world and didn't want to talk to anyone. He dialled Jisoo number and waited. She picked up.

'Young Saeng? Why you're calling? You thought about the flat out?'

'Umm, it may sound weird, but can you answer on one question of mine?'

'What is it about?'

'Did Aeri had a turtle?'

'What? How did you-'

'Its name was 'Fluffy'? And it bit you, so now you have a scar?'

Jisoo went quiet for a minute. 'She told you that? Why do you remembered it now? Hello?' She kept talking but Young Saeng slowly put down his hand and gone silent. She at last hang up.

He intensively looked at Aeri, as he didn't want to lose her form his sight. 'But...'

She smiled instead. 'It is me. Really.'

'How? Why?' He started to walk towards her, slowly accelerating his speed. He wanted to hug her strongly, but his hands went through her, causing him losing his balance and falling onto his face.

She raised and shoulders, as Young Saeng hit the floor. 'I'm not alive, though, I'm still dead. I'm a ghost.'

***

Young Saeng was sitting down at the table, putting an ice pack to his nose. He had his eyes closed, his face was covered in blood from his nose. Aeri sat in front of him, engulfing him with her worried eyes.

'You should go to the hospital with that. It might be broken.' But he didn't answer, just shushed her with his hand, that swollen and bruised one.

'And what's that?!' She wanted to grab that hand, but again her hand just went through it. 'I keep forgetting...'