Friend {SoonHoon}

five

"Jihoon, please don't do this." Wonwoo's voice pleaded from Jihoon's phone. "You have a lot of potential. Don't give up now."

After Soonyoung had vanished to go investigate, Jihoon busied himself by calling Wonwoo. He needed to break the news to him that he was taking a hiatus. Between helping Soonyoung and getting his manuscripts constantly rejected, he was getting burnt out. A hiatus would take some of the pressure off, but he knew Wonwoo wouldn't be happy about it. As usual, he was right.

"I'm not giving up. I just need some time to myself and away from writing." Jihoon explained. "I'll be sending you a manuscript from last year that follows their formula. When they decide to publish it, it should give me enough money to live on until I decide to return."

"I'm not saying this as your editor, but as your friend," Wonwoo started. "Don't comply with them. You have a talent that opens people's eyes to a different reality. Fight for it." He encouraged.

Jihoon found himself smiling. He was happy to know that someone believed in him that much, but it didn't change his mind. He couldn't write and help Soonyoung at the same time. They both required a great deal of attention that couldn't be split down the middle. Besides, he was beginning to experience the onslaught of writer's block anyway. It was going to happen with or without Soonyoung being a constant nuisance in his life.

"I appreciate it, Wonwoo, I really do, but I promise you, I'm not giving up, nor am I complying. As I said, I need some time to myself. I promise to come back with a novel that will blow the board and everyone else away."

At that, Wonwoo finally gave in. "Fine. I understand where you're coming from. I'll be sure to send them that manuscript and I'll keep in touch. I'll be waiting for your comeback."

"Thank you for understanding."

They hung up and Jihoon turned to check the time. He was surprised to see it was nearly midnight. Soonyoung had disappeared mid-afternoon. What was taking him so long? Jihoon forced himself not to worry about it. The ghost had been wandering around unharmed for a year. He would be fine. In his absence, Jihoon would enjoy the peace and quiet by going to bed. He was almost asleep when he felt a shift in the energy of his room. Soonyoung must have been back. Jihoon, frustrated that he couldn't sleep, but curious about what Soonyoung found, sat up in bed. He was prepared to see the bubbly spirit that had been plaguing him but was instead greeted by a dark and faceless shadow. Jihoon narrowed his eyes.

"Who are you?" Jihoon demanded.

The shadow remained silent, making his suspicion and fear grow. He had never encountered a presence such as this one. All the ones that came to him were human in appearance. Whatever this shadow spirit was, Jihoon knew one thing deep down, it wasn't good. In all of his time dealing with the afterlife, no spirit had ever made him feel as unsettled as he currently felt.

"What do you want?" He tried asking.

Again, the shadow was silent. Jihoon was about to curse it when it disappeared and Soonyoung appeared in its place.

"Oh good, you're still awake." He noted.

Jihoon cleared his throat and decided to act normal, not wanting to discuss the unsettling encounter he just had. He had to focus on Soonyoung so he could properly help.

"Did you find anything that could have led to your death?" He asked the ghost.

Soonyoung shook his head. "No. It was almost as if I had never even lived there. My room was empty and I would have been convinced they had forgotten about me if it hadn't been for a picture of the three of us in their room."

"Maybe your death really affected them and it was too painful for them to have too many reminders of you." Jihoon tried.

"Maybe." The ghost sat himself on the bed next to Jihoon. "Can I stay here for a bit? I don't really feel like going anywhere right now."

Jihoon huffed and laid back down, pulling the covers over his head. "Whatever. As long as you're quiet and let me sleep."

"Deal!" The ghost cheered.

True to his word, Soonyoung stayed quiet and peacefully stared out the window. Jihoon was one to break the silence.

"Soonyoung, what were you like when you were alive?"

In the past, Jihoon would help ghosts knowing little to nothing about them. He felt guilty for that fact. Spirits that came to him had lost stories to tell. They needed someone to listen to them and Jihoon never did. He was selfish and wanted them to go away as fast as possible. He never realized the potential of his ability. It may have been a curse to him, but it was a gift for others. It gave the voiceless and voice and a chance for justice. Of course, Jihoon was only starting to realize that when it was almost too late.

Soonyoung smiled to himself. "I was a carefree idiot. I never paid any attention in school and only loved dance. Now that I'm dead, I wish I would have cared about more things. I wish I could have made an impact on someone or something. It feels like I wasted everything."

"Your life wasn't wasted if you were happy." Jihoon softly told him. "So many live their lives too seriously wishing they would have had more fun. I'm sure you did have an impact on someone. You made someone happy. Someone's life was better because you were in it."

"Perhaps."

It was silent once more as Jihoon settled back under the covers. Soonyoung looked around, occupying himself as Jihoon tried to sleep. His eyes landed on the many talismans that surround the place like paintings. He laughed to himself when he saw the one that was still upside down. His laughter was caught in his throat when he was reminded of something.

"Jihoon,"

"Hmm?" Came a hum from the bundle of blankets.

"You should probably keep the talismans activated so no one can come in." He suggested.

"Then you couldn't enter anymore." Jihoon pointed out sleepily.

"I know, but maybe it's for the best. I saw something when I was looking around my old apartment."

He wasn't going to say anything, but the longer he thought about it, the more he worried about Jihoon. Because of his ability, he was more sensitive and prone to all kinds of entities. Soonyoung didn't want him to suffer because of him.

"A dark and creepy shadow? Yeah, he already paid me a visit." Jihoon said nonchalantly.

Soonyoung was shocked as well as worried. "It did? Do you have any idea what it is?"

"I've dealt with many different kinds of spirits in all my years of doing this job, but I've never encountered something so odd and dark. It could only be one thing."

Soonyoung's eyes widened as he started to follow along with Jihoon's thinking.

"No way...a demon?"