Baek Eun-Seong was just an extra villain in the drama Please, Obsession.
The man’s lack of response made me flinch.
‘Wait… was that a spoiler?’
But the drama already ended, didn’t it? It was popular, too, and Baek Eun-Seong’s death happened early on, so it shouldn’t even count as a spoiler.
‘Maybe he’s a fan of Moon Hyun-Jun (the actor who played Baek Eun-Seong).’
For an extra villain, he did act really well. Still, Moon Hyun-Jun went on to land lead roles afterward, so I hoped this man wasn’t too crushed. I did feel bad for accidentally spoiling a show he seemed to care about, though…
So I offered an apology disguised as comfort.
“Dying was better.”
“…Better?”
“(Because that’s what the audience wanted) of course it was.”
At my words, his expression stiffened. Clearly, he didn’t like what I said. His devotion to Moon Hyun-Jun was intense enough to see, and for all his harsh tone, he seemed surprisingly sensitive.
While he stared at me, he suddenly snatched up my wrist and demanded,
“Why would that be ‘of course’?”
So his admiration ran even deeper than I thought. He looked angry, but his eyes trembled faintly.
To see such a serious face show such confusion—it didn’t seem like it would suit him, and yet it did. That’s how pure a fan’s devotion could be.
I thought carefully about how to respond without trampling on that sincerity.
“(Because the writer) decided it that way, and people forget quickly anyway.”
I gave him a bright, encouraging smile.
“So, that’s why—”
Before I could finish urging him to move on and watch Moon Hyun-Jun’s lead dramas, he tightened his grip and yanked me closer. Right up to my face, his voice came out like a beast baring its teeth.
“I don’t forget. Once I’ve laid eyes on something, not even in death.”
…Even villains, huh.
“That’s… a painfully beautiful thing to say.”
He frowned. But I meant it as a compliment.
“You…”
He seemed about to continue, but instead, a sharp cracking sound filled the air. Not sure where it came from, I looked around—only to see him pick up the bowl from the tray and scoop a spoonful of porridge toward me.
So he was going to feed me again, like with the water. When he brought the spoon near, I obediently opened my mouth. Sure enough, the porridge slipped in. He said nothing as he fed me spoon after spoon, and I quietly accepted each bite.
When I was done, he took the empty bowl and left the room without a word.
“…Is he mad?”
What if he started demanding a higher rent? After I paid tuition, there’d barely be anything left from my part-time wages… I felt guilty, like a parasite, but if I got kicked out, I really would be sleeping in the department lounge—or worse, outside. Picking up another job wasn’t possible either, not with the night shifts I was already barely managing.
Fretting, I spotted the cup on the nightstand.
‘The dishes! If I offer to wash the dishes, maybe it’ll help!’
If I volunteered to do all the housework, maybe he’d soften. Then even if he charged me rent, he might go easier on me.
I hurriedly grabbed the cup and stood up. My body lagged behind my thoughts, so I leaned against the wall as I headed for the door—when something caught my eye. A human figure.
Chills raced down my spine. A ghost?
When I looked straight at it, terror froze me, and I collapsed. The cup slipped from my hands and shattered.
‘What the hell was that just now?’
A shard nicked my wrist, drawing blood, but I ignored it and gathered the pieces. Even then, I couldn’t bring myself to glance back at what I’d seen.
Then the door slammed open. Just as I was picking up shards, my wrist was yanked upward.
“What the hell are you—!”
Behind him, reflected in the mirror, I saw a stranger’s face staring straight at me. My blood drained cold. The world went dark.
* * *
When I came to, the man’s face loomed over me. Relief and terror hit me at once, making me tremble.
“Try something like that again and I’ll tie you—”
“Hhh—hhhic.”
I had definitely seen a ghost. Never in my life had I seen one, yet there it was—clear as day.
The figure in the mirror was horrifyingly pale. Striking features, sure, but that wasn’t the issue. It was a ghost.
Just remembering it squeezed my chest. I couldn’t breathe. My vision spun, and I nearly collapsed backward from lack of air.
He realized something was wrong and grabbed my shoulders.
“Breathe. Breathe.”
He shoved his fingers into my mouth, forcing it open.
“Ghhk, hhhk—ugh—”
“Damn it.”
Cursing, he pulled his hand out, then cradled the back of my head and neck—before pressing his lips to mine.
The unexpected kiss sent me reeling. I tried to push him away, but my wrist throbbed too much to put any strength in it. In that time, he pressed deeper, swallowing my breath.
I don’t know how long it lasted, but when he finally bit lightly at my lip and pulled away, I could breathe evenly again. The pain in my chest had vanished. My mind cleared—just enough for shock to set in. I had kissed someone.
No—it was CPR. Artificial respiration. That was it.
Clinging to that explanation, I tried to calm down. But then his hand slid along my jaw, tugging lightly, pulling me closer again. Was he really going to do it again?
“I… I can breathe now.”
“……”
He stopped, then slowly pulled back. I covered my mouth and sat up. My arm ached sharply. Looking down, I saw bandages wound tightly around my wrist.
‘Ah. From when the cup broke.’
I’d been trying to help with chores, and ended up breaking something instead. That was hardly a good impression.
“…You cleaned it up for me.”
He scowled, furious. I winced. Yeah… maybe I really couldn’t stay here after all.
“…I’ll leave.”
“I told you, didn’t I? I’m not letting you go.”
“…What?”
“You can’t leave.”
So… he forgave me? Even after I broke his cup?
At least I wouldn’t be homeless. Overjoyed, I almost smiled—until I remembered what I’d seen. That ghost.
“If you’ve got nothing more to say, don’t try anything stupid. Next time I really will tie you—”
“Um… could we maybe share a room?”
“……”
Had I crossed the line as a freeloader?
“…Actually, that might be better.”
“…Huh?”
“Stay beside me.”
Was he secretly a saint? Whatever the reason, I nodded quickly before he could change his mind.
His room was much bigger and nicer than mine had been. The bed alone could fit four adults with space to spare. If lying beside him was too awkward, I figured I could take the sofa. That thought barely formed when I saw it—again.
The pale figure in the mirror hanging on the wall.
I froze, startled, and he approached.
“What is it?”
I raised a shaking finger to the mirror. He followed my gaze, then tilted his head.
“What’s there?”
“…You don’t see it?”
“……?”
He looked again, but nothing registered on his face. Was it really only visible to me?
“The only reflections are you and me. What else do you think is there?”
“…What?”
Then I realized something I had forgotten.
Why wasn’t my reflection there at all?
My hair stood on end. Goosebumps prickled across my skin. I couldn’t faint here, not again. But I was too terrified to hold it in. Clinging to him, I whispered,
“I… I see something.”
“What do you see?”
“A gh—”
I dropped my voice to a whisper, afraid the ghost might hear.
“…A ghost.”
“……”
His expression was unreadable. But seeing how badly I was shaking, he started toward the mirror.
“No!”
I grabbed him, shaking my head frantically.
‘What if it comes out of the mirror?!’
Images of every horror movie I’d ever seen played in my head. I didn’t want him to end up like the doomed characters. Desperate, I clung to him, but he dragged me along anyway until we stood before the mirror.
“See? No ghost.”
“Eeek?!”
He lifted the mirror clean off the wall and showed it to me. And there—clear as ever—the pale ghost met my gaze.
My legs gave out. Foam nearly bubbled at my lips. He caught me before I collapsed completely, shouting for someone.
People in white coats rushed in, checking me as he laid me on the bed.
“He said he saw something in the mirror, then ended up like this.”
“He needs hospitalization.”
“Is that necessary?”
“If he’s hallucinating and even harming himself, waiting it out won’t help.”
“…I’ll consider it.”