The Ghost of Joseon and the Moon Rabbit

An Entire Agenda

"You're not offering anything new, I've promised to spend the day with my mother."

"Is that so? Already today?" he quizzed.

I paid his question no mind and started heading towards my room. As predictably as day turns into night, he followed. I tried to slam the door shut behind me, but he was quick to intercept it, slipping in before it closed. Once inside, he flung himself onto my bed again.

"What is it with you and other people's beds?" I grumbled, throwing him a perplexed look.

"If you had lived in Joseon, you'd be just as bed-obsessed as me," he retorted, settling more comfortably onto the mattress, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

He began to bounce lightly on the bed, eyes locking onto me with a sly invitation. "Care to join me?"

"Absolutely not," I responded, holding up my hands defensively.

I stopped in front of my wardrobe, hesitation creeping in. How was I supposed to change with this bounder hanging around?

"Do you plan on staying for long?" I asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.

"I can only leave when my mission is completed," he replied, the vagueness of his answer only adding to my annoyance.

I let out a sigh, pushing my hair back from my face. "Right, this mission thing again. How about this, take a trip to Europe at Spring so you can go bunny and egg hunting."

He only sprawled himself further on my bed, his brows arched. "You're not a morning person, are you?"

I spun around, my glare fixating on him. "It just so happens I have plans today."

He turned his head towards me, the burgeoning light of dawn delicately illuminating his handsome features. "Cancel them, spend the day with me. We can catch a rabbit, then make a lantern, and perhaps even watch a ssireum match."

I blinked, shaking his angelic image from my retinas before turning my back on him, hurriedly selecting clothes from my wardrobe.

"Really? And what do you know about ssireum?" I challenged, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I know everything," he replied nonchalantly from behind me.

I rolled my eyes. This ludicrous situation was surely giving me a mental breakdown.

"You should stop rolling your eyes like that," he advised, amusement tingeing his voice. "You might get stuck that way, and it won't be a pretty sight."

"Are you a mind-reader now, too?" I snapped back.

"No, but it's clear to see when you're irritated, even from behind. It's almost cute," he commented, his voice carrying a note of laughter.

Cute? Was he joking?

"Look, I need to take a shower and get dressed. Are you going to leave me alone, or will you stick around for that too?" I asked, turning back to him sharply.

A teasing smile appeared on his lips. "Is that an invitation?"

In a burst of annoyance, I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. "You're infuriating!"

"Alright," he responded, his tone unperturbed as he straightened up on the bed, reaching for my geomungo. "You have no idea what you're missing."

"Sure," I muttered under my breath as I made a beeline for the bathroom. "How's your ego doing?"

Half an hour later, I emerged from the bathroom, my clothing thrown together — the consequence of a hasty selection under nerve-wracking conditions.

"Wow! We don't need a lantern now, you've become one," he exclaimed as he laid his eyes on me.

His eyes roved over my oversized canary-yellow woolen sweater, the striking red puffball skirt, and the green stockings. "You're a walking palanquin crash with those colors."

Ignoring his comment, I grabbed my bag and flung open the apartment door. But before I could even step out, he shouted, "Hey! I'm coming with you!"

I slammed the door right in his face. "Then teleport!" I retorted.