Ghostly Affairs

Chapter 13

The morning sun streamed into Lin's office, casting long shadows on the polished wooden desk. Lin sat across from her client, a middle-aged man dressed in a sharp suit, nervously shifting in his seat. His hands rested on the legal documents in front of him, the weight of the situation apparent in the way he fidgeted.

"So, Ms. Lin," the client began, his voice strained, "what are my options if we can't settle this dispute out of court?"

Lin's focus sharpened as she leaned forward, her professional demeanor taking over. "If a settlement isn't reached, we'll need to prepare for litigation. I'll gather all the necessary evidence, including testimonies and financial records. I recommend we aim for an agreement before it reaches that stage, but if we need to, I'll make sure your case is airtight."

The client nodded, visibly relieved by her confidence. "Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without your help."

Lin smiled reassuringly. "You're in good hands. Let's focus on getting you through this as smoothly as possible."

Just as she was about to continue, she noticed a shift in the air. A familiar presence had entered the room. Lin's eyes flicked to the window where May stood, silently watching. The tension that had been gnawing at her all night resurfaced.

"I'll get back to you with the next steps," Lin said, standing up to shake the client's hand. "We'll handle this one step at a time."

The client thanked her and left the office, leaving Lin standing by the door, her gaze immediately shifting to May, who hadn't moved from her spot.

"May," Lin began, her voice soft but filled with concern, "where have you been?"

May remained by the window, her posture relaxed, though there was a distance in her demeanor that Lin couldn't ignore. "I'm a ghost, Lin. I can wander wherever I want."

Lin frowned, stepping closer. "I know you can, but you didn't come back last night. I was worried."

May turned slowly, her expression unreadable at first, then a small, teasing smile tugged at her lips. "Worried about me? Looked like you were busy with your... girlfriend."

Lin blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. "Girlfriend? You mean Riri?" She sighed, shaking her head. "May, Riri's not my girlfriend."

May shrugged, but there was something behind her casual stance that Lin recognized—something unspoken. "Could've fooled me. She's pretty attached."

Lin studied her, sensing the tension that May was trying to hide. May had never openly expressed how she felt about Riri, but Lin could feel the subtle discomfort in her whenever the subject came up. May avoided Lin's gaze, her arms crossed, the teasing tone barely masking her unease.

Lin stepped a bit closer, her voice softening. "What's really going on, May? You don't usually seem bothered by things like this."

May's posture stiffened, her eyes narrowing just slightly as she tried to maintain her aloofness. "I'm not bothered. Why would I be?" She scoffed lightly, but there was a bitter edge to her words. "It's not like I can be jealous, right? I'm a ghost. It's not like I can date you in real life anyway."

The words came out harsher than she intended, but they carried the truth of her frustration. May hated feeling this way—like she was stuck in between. Riri was alive, a real possibility for Lin, while May was just... there, hovering on the edges of Lin's life.

"If my body ever wakes up, maybe that's a different story." May tried to sound nonchalant, but Lin could hear the strain beneath her attempt at humor.

Lin's expression softened, her concern deepening as she took another step toward her. "May... you don't have to be jealous."