Astray in love

In same world

The moment Haliana opened her eyes, she realized something was wrong.

She wasn’t in her room.

She wasn’t in class either.

She was sitting inside an empty bus.

A cold shiver ran through her body.

The bus was silent except for the faint humming of the engine. Outside the windows stretched a long, endless road surrounded by massive dark trees on both sides. Evening shadows covered everything in a strange gray-blue light.

The bus kept moving.

And moving.

And moving.

There was no one inside except the driver.

Haliana swallowed nervously and looked outside again. Nothing looked familiar. The atmosphere felt heavy… unnatural.

Fear slowly crawled into her chest.

“Is this a nightmare…?”

But everything felt too real.

Then her eyes landed on the bus driver.

He was eating a strawberry candy.

The exact same strawberry candy Azriyal always carried.

Her eyes widened.

A sudden thought struck her mind.

Wait… am I stupid?

How could I believe spirits can’t be evil? That woman warned me clearly. This must be Azriyal’s trap. He manipulated me, and I actually believed him…

Her heart pounded harder.

The moment he told me to lean on his shoulder and close my eyes, I should’ve known something was wrong. I always wake up by myself…

Haliana clenched her fists.

This is definitely his doing.

Trying to stay calm, she slowly walked toward the driver.

Every step felt heavier than the last.

“E-Excuse me… where am I?”

The moment the words left her mouth, regret hit her.

Why was she talking to a stranger in a place like this?

She slowly stepped back.

Too late.

The driver suddenly stopped the bus.

The sound echoed through the empty silence.

Then he stood up.

Haliana froze.

The man slowly turned around.

He looked around forty or forty-five years old… but his eyes were gone.

There were only two empty black holes.

And then—

He smiled.

Haliana screamed.

She immediately ran toward the back door, desperately trying to open it, but it wouldn’t move.

Her breathing became uneven.

Her hands shook violently.

The man slowly started walking toward her.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Haliana hid behind the seats, tears filling her eyes.

In her heart, she cursed Azriyal.

I knew it… I knew he was dangerous…

The footsteps suddenly stopped.

Haliana slowly looked up—

And froze.

Azriyal was standing there.

His expression was colder than she had ever seen before.

One hand held the creature up in the air by its throat.

The man struggled violently, unable to breathe.

Azriyal’s sharp eyes darkened.

“Did you really dare touch what belongs to me?”

The creature tried to speak but couldn’t.

Then Azriyal moved his fingers slightly.

And in an instant—

The creature disappeared into thin air.

Silence filled the bus again.

Haliana stared at him in shock, her entire body trembling.

Azriyal walked toward her and slowly knelt down.

His expression softened immediately.

He gently wiped her tears.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “I’m here.”

Haliana pushed his hand away weakly, still confused and afraid.

Azriyal sighed softly.

“Don’t think I did this,” he said quietly. “I would never harm you.”

Then he gently pulled her into his arms.

“It’s okay now,” he murmured. “No one can touch you while I’m here.”

Haliana’s mind felt overwhelmed.

Fear.

Confusion.

Relief.

Everything mixed together.

And before she realized it—

She fainted.

Azriyal caught her carefully.

A strange glow surrounded Haliana’s body before she disappeared from the bus completely.

This time, she had already returned to the human world.

Azriyal stood there silently, his sharp gaze darkening.

Someone had targeted her.

And now…

He could no longer leave her alone.

Without hesitation, he stepped into the human world as well.

The next morning, Haliana woke up in her room.

For a moment, relief washed over her.

Then last night’s memories returned instantly.

She sat up slowly.

“Was Azriyal really trying to help me…?” she whispered to herself.

Maybe everyone misunderstood him.

Maybe he wasn’t as dangerous as they claimed.

But doubt still remained in her heart.

She shook her head quickly.

“No. I shouldn’t trust him so easily.”

After getting ready for school, she stood in front of the mirror.

Without realizing it, her fingers touched the same spot on her cheek where Azriyal had wiped away her tears.

Her expression softened for a second.

Then she immediately snapped out of it.

“What am I even thinking…?”

Embarrassed, she rushed downstairs.

Everything looked normal.

Too normal.

Her mother was in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

But someone else was sitting at the table.

The person’s face was hidden behind a magazine.

Haliana frowned.

“Mom… who’s sitting there?”

Her mother looked confused.

“What are you talking about? Your dad already left, and Allen’s upstairs.”

Haliana slowly looked back toward the chair.

The figure was still there.

“…There’s someone sitting there.”

Her mother sighed tiredly.

“Haliana, there’s literally nobody there.”

They both walked toward the table.

Her mother looked around.

“See? Nobody.”

Haliana stayed silent.

Because she could still see him.

A chill ran down her spine.

Then suddenly—

The figure lowered the magazine.

Azriyal smiled brightly.

“Hi.”

Haliana’s eyes widened.

“What the—?!”

Azriyal leaned against the chair casually.

“I’m glad to see you,” he said. “I missed you.”

Haliana rolled her eyes and sat as far away from him as possible.

“It hasn’t even been a day.”

In the next second—

He suddenly appeared sitting right beside her.

Haliana nearly jumped.

Azriyal looked at her quietly.

“For me,” he said softly, “it felt much longer than that.”

Their faces were only inches apart.

Haliana quickly looked away.

“I have questions first.”

“As you wish, my soul.”

She ignored the nickname immediately.

“You said if I ignored spirits, I’d be safe. Then how did I end up there? And are you seriously saying it wasn’t you?”

Azriyal’s expression became serious.

“I was surprised too. There are only two possible reasons.”

Haliana crossed her arms.

“And those are?”

“First… you already interacted with a spirit before.”

He paused.

“And second?”

Azriyal looked directly into her eyes.

“…An evil spirit may have been near you this entire time.”

Haliana’s heartbeat stopped for a second.

“What do you mean?”

“It could’ve attached itself to you already.”

Silence filled the room.

“But honestly,” he continued, “the first possibility is more likely. Spirits rarely act this aggressively without contact first.”

Haliana tried thinking carefully.

“I don’t really interact with people…”

Then suddenly she remembered something.

“…I did help a kitten recently.”

Azriyal nodded slowly.

“That could’ve been a spirit.”

Haliana stared at him.

“How can you say that so confidently?”

“Because spirits don’t only exist in human form,” he explained calmly. “They can exist as any living being.”

Haliana suddenly felt uneasy.

“So what do I do now?”

“You stay careful,” he said immediately. “They’ve already interacted with you twice. Avoid strangers whenever possible. Spirits can easily disguise themselves as humans.”

Before Haliana could ask another question—

Allen walked downstairs.

The moment he saw her talking to empty air again, he stared.

“…Okay. I officially think my sister has gone insane.”

Haliana glared at him.

Allen laughed while grabbing a chair.

“You seriously need friends.”

He was about to sit beside her—

But Haliana suddenly pushed him away.

Allen blinked.

“Excuse me?!”

“Sit somewhere else.”

Allen looked offended.

“Ohhh, I get it. Your imaginary friend is sitting here?”

Azriyal burst into laughter.

Haliana immediately shot him a death glare.

“Shut up.”

Allen sat in another chair while muttering about therapists.

Meanwhile, Azriyal kept smiling.

“What’s wrong with you?” Haliana whispered angrily.

Azriyal leaned closer.

“I was just thinking about how annoying my future brother-in-law is.”

Haliana nearly choked.

“WHAT?!”

Allen looked confused.

“…Why are you yelling at your cereal?”

Haliana buried her face in her hands.

This was becoming a disaster.

A few moments later, Azriyal quietly watched them eat.

Then Haliana noticed him staring at the food.

“…Do you want some?”

“Even if I wanted to,” he replied dramatically, “I can’t.”

Haliana smirked.

“Wow. Imagine being a spirit with food allergies.”

She purposely took another bite.

Azriyal narrowed his eyes.

Then suddenly—

He grabbed her wrist gently and guided the fork toward himself.

He ate the apple slice directly from her fork.

Haliana froze completely.

“…Wait. You CAN eat?!”

“I can,” he admitted calmly. “I’m just not supposed to.”

“And what happens if you do?”

Before he could answer—

His body suddenly stiffened.

Azriyal immediately started scratching his arms.

Haliana burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha! Who told you to eat it?!”

Allen slowly looked between her and the empty air.

“…Nah. My sister is definitely possessed.”

Haliana immediately threw a fork at him.

“JUST EAT YOUR BREAKFAST!”

A little later, she grabbed her school bag.

“The bus is coming. I’m leaving.”

Allen followed behind her while putting on his headphones.

Azriyal casually walked beside Haliana like he belonged there.

She glanced at him suspiciously.

“So… when exactly are you leaving?”

Azriyal smiled.

“I’m not.”

“…What?”

“It’s dangerous now,” he said simply. “I’ll basically stay with you for 24/7.”

Haliana nearly stopped walking.

“I do NOT need a bodyguard.”

Azriyal laughed softly.

“Really? Because last night says otherwise.”

Haliana sighed dramatically.

“…Fine.”

Then she pointed at him.

“But if you’re staying, you’re helping me figure out who’s human and who’s spirit.”

Azriyal grinned.

“Exactly my plan.”

Meanwhile, Allen walked ahead while listening to music.

Though deep inside…

He genuinely started wondering if his sister needed therapy.