Ghostly Relationships

Part Five: A Way

Day after day, I keep receiving texts from Hanbin.

It's so difficult, but I can't reply to him.

My phone beeps and I look down at the screen while lying down on my bed back at the Sleep Forum (the same building as the Food Forum, but instead has beds that ghosts can sleep on). It's Hanbin. I unlock my phone and look at the text: 'if you don't reply, I'll begin assuming things, Min Hyo'. Ah, no. I can't have him assuming ... but I also can't begin a text conversation that just causes both of us to feel even more pain.

I hold the power button down and switch off my phone, instantly feeling my relationship with Hanbin shutting down. What have I done? I've completely ruined everything.

I hear a knock on my door and a 'can I come in please'. I grunt, pushing my face into the pillow. The door opens and someone walks along the carpet. They sit down on the bed next to me.

"Ya, Min Hyo, don't you go ignoring me." They hit the back of my head and I flap my arms around and sit up.

"Solar! Oh, sorry, didn't know it was you." I say, and bite my lip and look down.

Solar ducks her head under mine. "Mm? You okay?"

I sigh and nod; fake smile. "Um, sure. Yeah, yeah."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Of course." I laugh quietly. "What is it?"

She claps her hands together. "Well, you'll be excited to know something."

"Mm?"

"iKON's releasing a new single in a month!" She bounces up and down on my bed.

All those emotions of pain and sorrow come rushing back as she says this once sentence.

Then I realise someone shaking my shoulders. I look up and see Solar, looking very concerned. "What is with you today Min Hyo? You've been acting strange ever since I came in. Especially when I told you about iKON. I thought you'd be pleased ... um, since you know B.I and everything."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me, Solar. I'm just ... tired, that's all." I say, rubbing my eyes. I hate lying to her so much, but I can't tell her about Hanbin, otherwise she'll say 'I told you so'.

Solar tuts at me. "Min Hyo! How dare you!" She tickles me.

I giggle. "What?"

"You're lying to me!" She stops tickling me and holds my hands. "You need to take what I'm about to say seriously."

I squint at her. "Oooookay ..."

"What's wrong?"

"Are you serious?" I slap her arm and she laughs. "Alright."

Solar claps her hands. "Whoop!"

"Okay, well, today Hanbin confessed to me."

She stops smiling. "What? As in ... love?"

"Yeah."

Her eyes widen. "Well? What did you say?!"

"I ... I said no. I can't love him. I told him to ask people who know me to find out, I just couldn't bring myself to tell him." I say and shake my head. "I'm ashamed of myself."

"Wait."

I look up and she Solar tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Do you love him back truly?"

"Well ... for the first time, I actually think I do." I mumble. "Which makes it even worse..."

"Yes! Actually.. there is a way ..." And she leans forward and whispers in my ear.