The Next Life (다음 생에 만날래)

The Coworker

As my senses returned to me, I found myself standing atop a balcony, the remnants of a soft crack echoing in my ears. I looked out at the city off in the distance, the orange sun peeking through buildings as it prepared to set. Turning back to face the ghost who had brought me there, she looked up at me with expectant eyes.

"It is beautiful, is it not?"

"Have to admit, yeah." I walked towards the edge of the balcony, placing my hands on the worn yet sturdy wooden railings. "Is this still part of the mansion?"

"It is." Jisoo joined me in front of the railing, staring out at the city. "I come here at times, to clear my mind, or merely to escape the horrendous acoustics of the interior. Chaeyoung plays the piano a lot, were you aware?"

I nodded, looking in the same direction she was. "Walked in on her once."

For the first time since meeting her, there was a comfortable silence between us. For once, she wasn't speaking as if threatening to hurt everything I held dear, and I didn't feel like I was walking on eggshells. For once, we were just existing in the moment, soaking it in as the orange rays hit our faces.

The silence was short-lived, however, as Jisoo once again spoke up. "If I may ask, why did you save me yesterday?"

"Hm?" My attention turned back to her. She looked me right in the eye, something that didn't happen often other than the few moments of genuine emotion I've seen from her.

"Yesterday, when I had been in a quarrel with the winter spirit. Had it not been for you, I might have met the fate she met in my stead."

I could've chosen to come up with some snarky remark, or to go all "I didn't do it for you, don't get me wrong". But I chose to instead maintain this unexpected moment of peace; it was nice. I shrugged. "Don't know. Just a reaction, I guess."

"The winter spirit's soul would have been a great deal more valuable than my own." She gave a bitter scoff. "Nothing but an ancient vengeful spirit evading judgement merely to exact revenge."

"You're more than that, Jisoo," I said, looking her in the eyes. "I don't know what this feeling is that I get when I look at you, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be there if that's all you were."

Not breaking eye contact, Jisoo questioned, "What are you?"

I furrowed my brows. "I'm sorry?"

"Your ability to see ghosts, your strange feelings towards me, the weird sensation I experienced when I first met you..." She squinted at me. "Are you an incubus?"

"An incub– what?"

"Tell me, Jang Y/N, is your intention to seduce me, to make me lower my guard and have your way?"

"No?!"

Breaking the facade, a smile formed on her face. A smile that instantly made me think of that dream, her lips curling to look similar to a heart shape. My heart skipped a beat as she let out a laugh. A genuine, non-malicious laugh.

"The look on your face was the most amusing thing I've seen all decade."

She continued to laugh at my expense as I sighed. "If anything, you're the one seducing me."

She shook her head in disapproval. "My, my, it seems your way of thinking is set all the way back in Goryeo. Watch your tongue, mortal." Despite her words, her smile didn't leave her face. Caving, I eventually joined her laughter, at my own expense. "It is no wonder you have been unable to find a companion for the entirety of your short life."

"Hey, that's not true," I rebutted.

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow. "So you do have one?"

I winced as the words died in my throat. "Had."