She always remembered Jackie as a talkative person—someone who radiated light and joy wherever he went. But ever since they had reconnected, he had barely spoken. She had initially chalked it up to memory loss, but even after leaving the room, his silence persisted. Neither of them pressed the issue. Now, as they drove back to Seoul, the silence weighed heavily on her. As if she weren't already a naturally anxious person.
"Now that you remember, there's something you need to help me with." She could've left him to his own thoughts, but her aunt had been clear—she needed to stay physically close to his body. She hoped Jackie would have an idea.
He blinked and turned toward her. "Sorry, what did you say?"
"To reunite your soul with your body, we need to be physically close. Do you have any idea how we can manage that?"
"You could apply for a job."
"I've already checked the listings. There are no openings."
"Hmm..."
She wanted to scream. Was that really his only response? Just hmm? She pressed her foot on the gas. The sooner they got home, the better. Maybe a freezing shower would jolt her brain into better functionality.
A short while later, Jackie suddenly yelled, "I got it!" She slammed on the brakes in shock. If it weren't for the seatbelt, she might have flown straight through the windshield.
"What?"
"They're thinking of forming a new girl group."
She stared at him, unamused. "And?"
"If you audition, you could get into the company. It's the easiest way."
"Me? An idol? No. Find another way."
Jackie gave her a slow once-over. "It's a hard path, but we don't have any other option."
She restarted the car and drove on. "I can't sing, and I definitely can't dance. We'll think of something else."
That wasn't entirely true. She could sing, and she did love dancing—at least, she used to. Back in high school, after everyone left, she would sneak into the gym and dance. It was one of the rare moments she felt free. But eventually, a group of students caught her. They bullied her so badly that she gave it up. She had always been a weak person, quick to give up. Quitting was the only way she knew to protect herself.
They didn't talk for the rest of the drive, but she could feel Jackie watching her from time to time. When they finally arrived at her house—her safe zone—she rushed inside.
"Do whatever you want," she mumbled. "I need to clear my head." She darted to the bathroom. A long shower, followed by immediate sleep. She queued her music, placed her headphones in, and tried to calm her thoughts. She had attempted this many times, but it never seemed possible with others around. Jackie's situation was terrifying, sure, but so was hers.
...
For once, she woke up feeling refreshed.
"A good breakfast," she muttered to herself, "and then I'll figure out how to help Jackie."
She walked into the kitchen and saw Jackie using her laptop.
"Morning. What are you doing?"
"Good morning," he replied without looking up. "I'm researching how you can get into Lotus Company."
She leaned on the counter. "Find anything?"
He sighed and shut the laptop, placing it on the table.
"No. I thought about sneaking into my apartment, but if security catches you, you'll be mistaken for a thief. The only viable plan is for you to attend the audition."
She turned her back on him and started fiddling with breakfast.
"That's not going to happen. I've told you—I can't dance or sing."
He got up and walked over.
"I remember you, Aera."
The glass in her hand slipped and shattered on the floor. She immediately crouched to clean it up, while Jackie continued.
"After school one day, I realized I had left my watch in the gym. When I came back, I saw you dancing. You looked happy. It shocked me, because you were always so timid during the day. That was the first time I saw a different side of you. After that, I started watching you dance every day."
She froze. He had noticed her. All those days, he had been watching her. Her heart wanted to scream in joy. But then the memory surfaced—the one where she'd been humiliated in front of her classmates while dancing. Jackie had seen that too. She had liked him, and he had just watched it all happen.
She stood and angrily dumped the broken pieces in the trash. Her voice was ice. "You're only saying this because you need me. I know you need my help, but it's not going to work."
"I get why you're angry. And yes, I need your help. But I also know you have talent."
"I... I don't want to talk about this. I forgot—I have something to do." Without letting him respond, she stormed out of the house.
She ended up sitting in a nearby park, watching people who looked normal and happy. She sat there for hours, trying to calm down, until she checked the time and panicked. Her fridge was empty—she needed to get groceries. She hurried to the market.
It was a large store, and the vegetable section was right next to the storage room. Storage rooms were often haunted. She tried not to look around too much, just wanted to get what she needed and leave. But suddenly, something grabbed her ankle.
She screamed. Everyone turned. But she didn't care. A ghost with a twisted neck was dragging her by the leg. The more she looked, the more terrified she became. Security finally intervened, and the ghost disappeared—but she had made a mess. Despite offering to pay for the damages, they still looked at her like she was insane.
She sat in the back room, waiting to be released. But when she heard her mother's voice outside the door, her anxiety turned into full-blown dread. This was her life. Constant fear.
The police entered with her mother and half-sister. Her mother gave her a look of disgust, while her sister grinned mockingly. The officers showed her mother the footage, while her sister filmed the whole thing.
Furious, she reached for the phone. "What the hell are you doing?"
Her sister yanked it back, and her mother exploded. "After all this, you're bothering your sister too? I'm done. I wanted you to live peacefully, and look at you. This is the last time I'll help you. Next time, you're on your own."
Without letting her reply, her mother apologized to the police and paid for the damages, then walked out, leaving her behind.
She cried all the way home. When she opened the door, Jackie was waiting.
"I know I pushed you," he started, then paused. "Wait… are you crying? Did I hurt you that badly? I'm sorry. What can I do to make you feel better?"
She sniffled. "Just leave me alone. I want to be alone."
He shook his head. "Not anymore. I'm not leaving. Tell me what's hurting you. Please."
Hearing those words made her cry even harder. She collapsed to the floor. She was crying like a child—because her heart was shattered, because she had no one, because she would never have a normal life. She would always hide in the shadows. Jackie sat next to her, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
"You're not alone anymore," he whispered. "I'm here. Cry as much as you want."
As she sobbed, he began to hum her favorite song. Slowly, her eyes began to close from exhaustion. Before drifting off, she mumbled something almost inaudible.
"You were my most impossible dream… and now you're here."
She hadn't thought he'd hear, but Jackie turned and stared at her in wonder. "What do you mean?"
But she had already fallen asleep. And even if she heard herself, she knew—by morning, she wouldn't remember saying it.