Enigma Stigma (ONC 2023 Entry)

9.

"You seem happier today."

Looking across the aisle of the bus, Constance nodded her head as she stared at Beom. She had had a hard time sleeping the night before as she thought over all the events of the day that had been brought her way. This was the first time in a long time that she felt excited about her job instead of dreading it with every fiber of her being. She had been so excited about the new job that she boarded the bus still stuck in her own head.

"Did my suggestion pan out then?" he asked as she nodded her head again.

"I would thank you, but I feel that would just go to your head."

Beom turned his head away as she said those words, but she could see his ghostly thin smile in the reflection of the window he was seated beside.

"I'm heading to my first day of work now," Constance continued as she turned away from him. "What are you doing with your day? Do you have a job?"

"You're the only one who can see me. What makes you think I have a job?"

"So, you're telling me that you just wander the streets every day like a ghost even though you aren't one yet? That's depressing."

A small scowl came to his face as they both turned their heads to look at one another again. Constance frowned when she saw that look on his face.

"You helped me the other day so let me help you today," persisted Constance as the scowl slipped away from his face to be replaced by a look of perplexment.

"What do you mean?"

"You spend all this time alone and unseen. You can't tell me that you don't hate it once in a while. I mean, what was yesterday?"

"Yesterday?"

Constance nodded.

"Don't play stupid all of a sudden. You didn't have to follow me and help me with my Wi-Fi situation or with a job suggestion, but you did."

"You bugged me the day before about my name, so I thought it was only fair that it was my turn to bug you," Beom tried to reason as Constance let out a small snort, rolling her eyes.

"Well - regardless of what you say your reason is for helping me out yesterday- I did appreciate it."

"That's nice you appreciated it, but there really isn't anything you can do to help me out."

"That's not true. There is something that I can do for you."

"And what might that be?"

"After I get off work today, lets hang out."

Beom didn't say anything to Constance's suggestion at first. Constance feared for a split second that Beom was going to treat her like he had on the first day and ignore her existence again. She was relieved though when he finally nodded his head.

"Fine. Do you have something I could write an address on?"

"Just tell me. I won't forget."

"You forgot to pay your Wi-Fi bill. I feel like the address - which is way more insignificant - will definitely be forgotten."

"That's mean," she said as she heard Beom let out a chuckle.

Constance had brought her messenger bag with her and her writing notebook in case she was able to squeeze in a bit of writing time during her break. She took her writing notebook and her lucky pen out before handing it across the aisle to him when she felt like no one was looking. Beom took it in his hands to scribble down an address before handing the notebook and pen back over to her when the coast was clear once again.