Ghostly Affairs

Chapter 14

The room felt too quiet as Lin stood by the window, her thoughts heavy with the complexities of the last few days. Riri was now staying with her for protection, and while Lin knew it was the right decision, the emotional tension was becoming more difficult to ignore. The person occupying her mind the most, however, wasn't Riri. It was May.

Lin's feelings for May had grown into something complicated, something she hadn't allowed herself to fully acknowledge. Was it just her responsibility as a lawyer, or was it something deeper?

As if summoned by Lin's thoughts, the air shifted around her. Slowly, Lin turned, and there was May, shimmering softly in the dim light of the room. But tonight, May's presence felt heavier, more intense.

"May," Lin whispered, her voice gentle, a mix of surprise and something more unspoken.

May stepped closer, her gaze steady, though Lin could sense the storm of emotions behind her eyes. "I've been thinking about you and Riri," May started, her voice soft but filled with tension. "Seeing the two of you together... it scared me."

Lin's heart clenched. She had known May was watching, but she hadn't realized the depth of how it was affecting her.

"It scared me because I realized... I might lose you," May confessed, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm stuck here as a ghost, watching from the sidelines, and there's nothing I can do about it. You're still alive, and I... I don't know if I'll ever wake up."

Lin opened her mouth to respond, but May shook her head. "I know Riri's staying with you for protection, but it made me realize something I can't ignore." May paused, as if gathering the courage to continue. "I've been trying to tell myself that it doesn't matter, that what I feel is just because you've been helping me... but it's more than that."

Lin stayed silent, her heart pounding as she listened. The tension between them had been building for so long, but now, it felt like the dam was finally breaking.

"I know I shouldn't feel this way," May continued, her voice trembling with vulnerability. "I'm a ghost. I shouldn't... I shouldn't have these kinds of feelings, especially for someone who's still living." May's gaze flickered with uncertainty. "It's selfish of me, Lin. I know that. But I can't help it. Being around you... it made me feel alive again."

Lin's breath caught in her throat. She had sensed the unspoken connection between them, but hearing May admit it—especially with the weight of her ghostly existence hanging over them—made it all too real.

"I've been watching my body, still struggling to wake up," May continued, her voice soft but filled with hope. "And it's given me a small bit of hope... that maybe one day I'll wake up, and things will be different. That I won't just be a ghost who fell for someone I can't have."

Lin's heart ached at the rawness in May's voice. She could feel the fear, the longing, and the hope all intertwined in her words.

"If I do wake up," May whispered, "I want to tell you properly. I want to tell you how I feel... as a living person. And I hope... maybe you'll feel the same."

The silence between them was thick with emotion, and Lin found herself grappling with her own feelings. She had always told herself that her connection to May was purely professional—that her need to protect May and find justice was all there was. But now, standing here, the depth of her feelings became undeniable.

"I don't know, May," Lin admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I care about you, but I don't know if it's because I'm supposed to protect you... or if there's more to it."

May gave a small, sad smile. "I understand," she said gently. "I don't need you to have all the answers right now. I just needed to say it... because if I don't, I might never get the chance."