With A Ghost

7. Secrets

Sean

"Where's our cute little manager?" I asked when I entered my condo and didn't see Sang anywhere.

"She had a family emergency," Kota said as he carried a chair to the corner of the living space to stand on it and reach a camera.

I was disappointed. When I saw that the boys were already here, I was excited to see Sang. I really did want to see her. I wonder what her family emergency was about. Hopefully nothing serious.

Fine, I did take the liberty of running away and immersing myself in work at the hospital at first, but that was because the idea of anyone else sticking to me for a few weeks exhausted me and reminded me of the other times we were assigned managers. It was nothing personal against the Academy managers or anyone from another team. It was like how you go to school and meet new people. You may like someone as a person, but you don't him to be hanging out with you and your friends for a long time. But I didn't meet Sang before. What prompted me to go see her was that nobody had anything to say. No complaint whatsoever. When Owen asked how the team was coping, they all said that they were great. The manager did her work quietly and didn't bother them, and they didn't mind her presence at all. That obviously got me curious. When Victor sent me that video of Sang and Silas together, I had to see this girl. Was I disappointed? Not at all. She was intriguing. There was just something about her, and I don't mean her clothes or her hair. She was just very likeable even without saying a word. Maybe I'll ask her out on a date after her managing period is over.

The day ended with me exhausted from another busy day at the hospital. The boys completed replacing all of the cameras. Must have been tiring for them. I couldn't help but be proud. Hard working boys.

The next day, I was humming as Owen drove.
"What is it?" Owen asked, not looking at me.
"What?" I asked, trying not to laugh. I knew what he meant. And he knew that I knew what he meant.
"You're happy," he said, sighing.
"And you're not happy that I'm happy," I said.
"I am not inclined to be happy when you are happy," was his reply.
"But happiness is contagious. " And I really am happy.
"I like to stay away from contamination."
"You like to stay away from happiness."
"I am happy when I'm not with you." Ah, the good old days when we were always at it.
"Like when you get to see Sang after wanting to for the whole of the previous day?"
"So it's Miss Sorenson that put you in this happy bubble."
"Just the thought of seeing her," I grinned. He raised an eyebrow.

As we neared Nathan's house, we saw a black SUV parked outside, one that didn't belong to anyone from our family. Owen and I shared a look.

We entered the house expecting a visitor, but there was no one other than Nathan, Kota and Sang. Kota and Nathan were discussing something in the kitchen while Sang was typing on her phone.
"Good morning, Miss Sorenson," Owen greeted.
"Good morning," Sang said, standing up to greet us, "Mr. Blackbourne, Dr. Green." Her hair covered almost her entire face, and I wanted to move it away to take a peek. I wondered how Gabriel managed to stay sane. Then again, he only really cared about what we were wearing, not anyone outside the family.
"Morning, Sang," I said, smiling wide, stepping closer to pat her head on the spot her hair clip didn't invade. I was surprised at how soft her hair felt. It didn't feel the way it looked. I could not help myself and brushed her hair with my fingertips. This caused her long front-bangs to move aside a little, and she stiffened. Sensing her discomfort, I withdrew my hand gently and smiled down at her to ease her down. "Drove here today?" I asked.
"Yes," she said, looking downwards. I wondered at her reservedness. Was she uncomfortable or insecure? I had a feeling it was something else, which made me refrain from prying. It could be Academy stuff. I knew Owen was also refraining from digging. We had to trust the Academy and it didn't look nice to push another member for information, or to ask for files about her.
"You don't look like the type to drive a black car," I joked.
Her head shot up, a smile playing at her lips. Okay, now, that was alluring. "It belongs to someone in my family," she said. It felt really affectionate. Someone she really likes. Must be a big sister figure. Lucky family member whoever she is.

After the family meeting that, of course, excluded Sang, I went to the hospital. It was a calm day, so when Owen texted me asking whether I wanted to have lunch at Nathan's place, I readily agreed. They didn't serve anything I liked at the hospital cafeteria today anyway.

I was pleasantly surprised seeing that Sang had decided to join us this time. I heard that she had to be with her family for meals, which I found to be really sweet. They must be a tight-knit group.

Nathan's dining table accommodated six people, so we all decided to just eat in the living room.

"How many does your family consist of, Sang?" Silas asked. He was sitting opposite of her.
She stiffened. Her fingers on her fork tightened. Looks were exchanged not to ask about her family.
Kota was about to say something to change the topic, but she answered, "There are three of us." She smiled, definitely to ease the tension, and it worked in another way. They all just stared at her for a second. Who could blame them? Even Owen wasn't expecting that.
"Do you like reading?" Kota asked her. "Of course," she said, earning a smile from him. She gazed at him for a while. Something passed between themselves before she asked him the same question.

This led to a series of light questions and small discussions. Victor and Owen were definitely impressed when they learned that Sang liked classical music along with other types of music as well.
"I think I'm sitting on something," Gabriel said after moving a little on the couch to sit more comfortably. He reached down behind him and looked for whatever he was sitting on. "Got it," he said, taking it out for everyone to see -
A phone.
Silver casing.
With a cracked screen.