Lucas carefully gathered all the papers scattered across the desk and placed them neatly together.
The old cottage was silent except for the faint sound of rain tapping against the windows.
Then Lucas walked toward the wooden locker near the corner wall.
He entered the password without hesitation and opened it.
Kai frowned immediately.
“Wait… how do you know Mom’s locker password?”
Lucas quietly placed the papers safely inside before answering.
“Because idiot… I probably know more about Aunt Lily than you do.”
Kai instantly looked offended.
“Oh wow. Amazing. Should I announce this to the whole world, too? ‘Breaking News: Mother loved adopted son more than actual son.'”
Lucas rolled his eyes.
“You’re so dramatic.”
“You literally just insulted my existence.”
“I said she loved me, too. Not more than you.”
“Big difference.”
Lucas closed the locker gently.
“She loved you the most, Kai.”
Kai folded his arms stubbornly.
“Proof?”
Lucas looked at him for a second before speaking softly.
“The locker password is your birthday.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Kai’s expression froze.
The sarcastic comeback sitting on the tip of his tongue disappeared immediately.
“Oh.”
That was it.
Just one tiny word.
But suddenly the entire cottage felt heavier.
Warmer.
Sadder.
Kai slowly looked at the locker again.
His mom’s locker.
Has his birthday as a code.
And for the first time that night, his eyes softened.
Lucas smiled faintly.
“Told you.”
Kai quickly looked away before emotions could publicly embarrass him.
Then after a few seconds, he quietly asked,
“Lucas… do you miss your mom?”
Lucas answer in a voice which was softer than before.
“Of course, I miss her and also Aunt Lily too.”
Kai nodded slowly and placed a hand on Lucas’s shoulder.
“Our moms were the best.”
Lucas nodded softly.
“The absolute best.”
Then—
“Okay, enough emotions,” Kay suddenly said.
“I’m getting uncomfortable.”
“Same.”
“Cool.”
“Cool.”
Two emotionally constipated boys successfully avoided vulnerability once again.
Because boys in emotional scenes apparently share one universal weakness:
Feelings.
They switched off the cottage lights, locked the door, and walked through the narrow back path toward home.
Since their houses stood opposite each other, they stopped in the middle of the road.
“See you tomorrow,” Lucas said.
“Yeah.”
“AND PLEASE COME ON TIME.”
Kai looked offended.
“Wow. You wound me.”
“You were two hours late last time.”
“That clock was emotionally against me.”
“You literally overslept.”
“Technical details.”
Lucas sighed.
“Kai. Important meeting. Morning.”
Kai placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
“I swear upon my beautiful face, I shall arrive on time.”
“That’s exactly why I don’t trust you.”
Kai grinned.
“Don’t worry, darling. I won’t make you wait.”
Lucas physically recoiled.
“You seriously never improve.”
“Improvement is for weak people.”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart.”
“SHUT UP.”
Both boys laughed before heading in opposite directions toward their homes.
Meanwhile…
Hidden behind a tree like two unemployed detectives…
Meena and Lily watched everything silently.
“Aww… our sons are growing up.”
Meena deadpanned.
“They’re literally idiots.”
“Emotionally beautiful idiots.”
“Still idiots.”
Then suddenly Lily looked around nervously.
“Hey… do ghosts actually exist yes like… professional ghosts that we see in movie.”
Meena sighed.
“Yes Lily. I did a PhD in ghost studies. My thesis was ‘What Ghosts Eat for Breakfast.'”
Lily glared.
“You didn’t need to say that sarcastically.”
Meena folded her arms.
“And you don’t need to breathe loudly like an angry vacuum cleaner.”
“I DON’T BREATHE!”
“Exactly. Yet somehow you still sound annoying.”
And just like that—
They started fighting.
Again.
Because apparently death could not cure stupidity.
Suddenly—
“OH MY GOD WOULD YOU TWO SHUT UP?!”
Both froze.
A ghost floated nearby looking sleep-deprived.
“You’re disturbing the peace.”
Then he looked behind himself.
“I mean… ALL our peace.”
Lily and Meena slowly looked up.
And froze.
Ghosts.
Lots of ghosts.
Not thousands or hundreds.
Let’s calm down.
Maybe twenty.
Thirty max.
Nobody was counting.
This isn’t a zoo survey.
Some ghosts floated casually.
Some are just staring.
One looked like he still had unresolved tax issues.
Another looked like he died while watching daily soap dramas.
Lily screamed.
“THERE ARE SO MANY GHOSTS!”
One ghost blinked.
“…You’re ghosts too.”
Lily pointed at herself proudly.
“Actually we were humans first.”
Another ghost whispered to his friend,
“I’m not taking her into the council.”
“Same. She talks too much.”
Lily gasped dramatically.
“EXCUSE ME?!”
Meena immediately stepped away from her.
“I don’t know this woman.”
“MEENA!”
A ghost sighed.
“The boys are honestly more peaceful than you two.”
“RUDE,” Lily said.
“Accurate,” Meena corrected.
Then another ghost floated forward.
“Anyway. Are you joining the council?”
Lily blinked.
“…Council?”
“The Ghost Council.”
Lily ” do they really exist?”
The ghost looked offended.
“Of course there is. What did you think? We just float around saying ‘boo’ full-time?”
“…Yes?” Lily answered honestly.
The ghost looked tired already.
“Our Head called you. New members need orientation.”
“Orientation?” Lily whispered.
“Do we get welcome kits?”
“No.”
“T-shirts?”
“No.”
“Welcome party?”
“Maybe.”
The ghosts led them deeper into the hidden ghost district.
And honestly?
It looked INSANELY luxurious.
Like a five-star hotel mixed with ancient palace aesthetics.
One ghost even zoomed past on what looked like a ghost scooter.
Lily’s jaw dropped.
“THIS is the Ghost Council?!”
Meena looked equally shocked.
“Bro we died and upgraded financially.”
One ghost nodded proudly.
“After death, no taxes.”
As they approached the entrance, another ghost suddenly stopped them.
“Wait. New members can’t enter directly.”
Lily crossed her arms.
“Why? Is there a membership card?”
“There’s a procedure.”
Every other ghost entered the building while one ghost stayed behind to explain.
“Listen carefully. You must knock three times and say—”
He cleared his throat dramatically.
“‘I am a ghost. I am a ghost. I am a ghost. May I enter?'”
Lily stared blankly.
“…That’s the official password?”
“Yes.”
“Who made this? A kindergarten spirit?”
The ghost ignored her.
“If you hear a bell sound, you may enter.”
“And if we hear nothing?”
“Then entry denied.”
” And yes please don’t fight with the dogs in the street ”
Lily ” do we look like idiot to you?”
The ghost nodded seriously and continued.
“We maintain peaceful diplomatic relations with animals.”
“…WHAT?”
“Animals can see ghosts.”
Meena gasped.
“THAT’S WHY DOGS BARK AT NIGHT?!”
“Yes. Usually at new ghosts.”
Lily looked horrified.
“SO ALL THIS TIME DOGS WEREN’T CRAZY?!”
“No. But humans are.”
“…Fair point.”
The ghost continued,
“So yes. Be respectful to animals.”
Meena nodded seriously like a student attending an important lecture.
“I understand.”
The ghost turned toward Lily.
“And you?”
Lily proudly extended her hand.
“My name is Lily Verma. I’m actually a writer and—”
“Didn’t ask.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Your biography can wait.”
Meena almost died laughing.
Then realized she was already dead.
Which somehow made it funnier.
The ghost sighed.
“Just follow the instructions.”
As he turned to leave, Lily muttered under her breath,
“This ghost has been eating my brain since morning.”
The ghost instantly turned around.
“I HEARD THAT.”
Lily jumped.
“YOU CAN HEAR THAT?!”
“We have enhanced hearing.”
“Oh great. Even dead people have better hearing than my relatives.”
The ghost adjusted his collar proudly.
“I am a senior in this field.”
Lily blinked.
“…Field?”
“Yes.”
“…Ghosting?”
“…Just knock on the door.”
Finally the ghost disappeared inside.
Silence.
Lily and Meena stood before the massive council doors.
Both exchanged nervous looks.
Then together—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
“I am a ghost.”
“I am a ghost.”
“I am a ghost.”
“May we enter?”
Silence.
Then suddenly—
TINGGGGG.
A soft bell echoed from inside.
The massive doors slowly creaked open.
Cold wind rushed past them dramatically.
Lily swallowed hard.
Meena whispered,
“Okay… this is either very cool…”
“…or we’re about to get murdered again.”
To Be Contined:
A Huge Council of Ghost in the Society.