Ghost Allergy

Chapter 3: Searching [M/TW]

Jennie woke up and the first thing she thought was Lisa. She looked around but she forgot that she couldn’t see her. But she couldn’t hear her either so she thought maybe the ghost left her, or maybe she finally woke up from the nightmare. She smiled and stretched her arms. She went out of her room with a big smile on her face and Rosé and Jisoo turned their heads to Jennie with a surprised look, the two were studying on their couch.

“Got the sleep you needed?” Jisoo asked.

“Oh yes, thanks for asking.” Jennie said and sat comfortably on the couch. “I can’t believe you’re studying, Jisoo. That’s new.” Jennie joked.

“I can’t believe you’re not studying. Wait, why am I even surprised, that’s not even new.” Jisoo countered and she gained a glare from Jennie.

“I just got the sleep that I needed and you’re gonna treat me like that? I hate you.”

“Since you’re not doing anything, why don’t you buy us something to eat for dinner?” Rosé suggested.

“What do you all want for dinner?” Jennie asked.

“I want to eat Chinese food.” Jisoo said.

“Oh yeah, I want too.” Rosé seconded.

“Alright, Chinese food it is.” Jennie said and the two gave her money.

Jennie changed her clothes first before heading out. As she got outside and started walking, she thought of Lisa again. She was wondering where the ghost was now. Did she find her way back home on her own? Even though they just met that day, she already miss her. She’d admit that it’s cool to have a ghost friend because she hasn’t had one before even though it’s kind of creepy for her. Or maybe she already left because she made her upset by treating her badly? That saddened Jennie but she shook that thought away when she realized she just arrived at the Chinese restaurant.

After she got her order and left the restaurant, she started to sneeze again.

“Ugh, for real?” Jennie said to herself.

“Jennie!” Jennie heard Lisa’s voice and she sneezed again. “Oh, you go ahead. I’ll see you later.” Lisa said to the little girl that was with her and the little girl ran away and Jennie stopped sneezing. “Sorry about that, I took that ghost kid out so she won’t disturb you in your sleep. But I made her go now.” Lisa explained.

“Oh. I thought you left already.” Jennie said but she didn’t show how happy she was feeling when she heard Lisa’s voice.

“I told you already, I’m not leaving.” Lisa said and Jennie started walking. “I just found out that that kid’s name is So-won and she started following you around because she finds you funny.” Lisa shared.

“I’m...funny?” Jennie asked, kind of offended. “She finds my miserable life funny?!”

“She had to distract herself from the sadness she was feeling so she followed you. Her story was really sad though.” Lisa said.

“Why, what’s her story?” Jennie got curious.

“She shared to me that she didn’t really get to experience childhood since her father always force her to do chores and he would beat her up whenever her father would come home drunk. Her mother died giving birth to her so it was just her and her father. Then one night when her father was asleep, she escaped their house. She didn’t care if it was snowing heavily and she was freezing, all she wanted was to escape from her abusive father. When she was crossing the road, a car hit her due to slippery road. It was too late for her to react when she saw the car running towards her. She saw her own body on the road, her face was covered in her own blood. It traumatized her, until she saw you holding a bunch of books and she found it funny because you can’t seem to hold them all properly.” Lisa told her.

“Oh God, that’s really bad and sad to hear.” Jennie said as she frown. “I want to talk to her when we get home.”

“But you’d sneeze again if she’s near you. How are you going to communicate if you keep sneezing?” Lisa asked.

“I don’t care. I feel bad for her.” Jennie said.

“So um, any updates on how you’re going to help me?” Lisa asked.

“Nope, but I’m going to ask my roommates if they know anyone who named Lisa.” Jennie said.

***

The three were just silently eating their dinner. Lisa was waiting for Jennie to ask Jisoo and Rosé about her but she seemed to forget. Lisa looked at So-won who was standing by the maindoor and the little girl tilted her head in confusion, Lisa shrugged and put her attention back to Jennie.

“Um, I think you’re forgetting something.” Lisa spoke and Jennie almost jumped in shock and she dropped her chopsticks that startled Jisoo and Rosé.

“Everything okay?” Rosé asked.

“Y-yeah. I’m good. Don’t mind me.” Jennie said with a forced smiled.

“Aren’t you going to ask about me?” Lisa said in Jennie’s ear and the latter was startled again.

Jennie sighed and cleared her throat, making Rosé and Jisoo looked at her.

“Um, do you guys know anyone named Lisa?” Jennie started, the two exchanged looks and shook their heads.

“Why?” Jisoo asked.

“Nothing. I’m just helping someone.” Jennie dismissively said.

“Tell them to ask around if they know someone named Lisa who recently died.” Lisa commanded to Jennie.

“Can you help me ask around if they know someone named Lisa who recently died?” Jennie said to her roommates.

“Who is this Lisa anyway?” Jisoo asked.

“Um...” Jennie hesitated but she sighed and gave in. “Okay, I’m going to tell you the truth. I can hear the voice of the souls and this ghost named Lisa is asking for my help to get her home.” Jennie shared. “So please, if you ever know anyone that knows her, please let me know.”

“Wait, is she around here?” Rosé timidly asked as she looked around her.

“Yeah, she’s here but I don’t know where she is exactly since I can’t see her.” Jennie deadpanned.

“Tell her I’m standing beside her.” Lisa told Jennie.

“You seriously want me to say that?” Jennie furrowed her eyebrows.

“Now who are you talking to?” Jisoo asked.

“I’m talking to her.” Jennie pointed at Rosé’s side and Rosé threw her arms around Jisoo in fright, her body started shaking in fear. Jennie heard Lisa laughed.

“Wait, I thought you can’t see her?” Jisoo asked in confusion.

“She told me she was standing beside Chaeng.” Jennie answered.

“Why is she scaring me?” Rosé asked, still shaking.

“Tell her I’m sorry, that was really bad of me.” Lisa said to Jennie.

“She’s apologizing to you, Chaeng.” Jennie said.

“Um... I’m going to accept your apology if you’re not going to scare me again.” Rosé said.

“Deal.” Lisa said.

“She says deal.” Jennie repeated.

“Good...ghost.” Rosé said as she bowed her head.

“Wait, I’m curious. When did this started?” Jisoo asked.

“I just found out this morning when I was walking my way back here when my boss told me to take a day off.” Jennie said. “I thought someone was calling me but I didn’t see anyone, then Lisa told me she was just in front of me. I got scared so I walked away ignoring her and I plugged my earphones in so I wouldn’t hear her.” She continued. "And I also just found out the cause of my allergy. Lisa told me there’s another ghost here who followed me and whenever she’s around I always sneeze.”

“So...you mean to say this dorm is...haunted?!” Rosé yelped and trembled.

“Calm down okay? After I help Lisa, this dorm will be in peace.” Jennie assured them.

“But what about the other ghost? Did she leave already?” Jisoo asked.

“I don’t know. Where’s So-won, Lisa?” Jennie asked and the three suddenly felt cold and Jennie started to sneeze. “There she is.” Jennie sneezed again and she heard a giggled, she was guessing it was So-won.

“Okay, now go back to your spot.” Lisa softly said to So-won while pointing at the maindoor. So-won went back to her spot and Jennie had stopped sneezing.

“So...you’re basically allergic to ghosts then?” Jisoo asked.

“I don’t know, maybe? Or I’m just allergic to that kid, I don’t sneeze when Lisa’s around. Um, no offense So-won.” Jennie slightly bowed her head.

“I understand.” So-won answered back.

“So the other ghost here is a kid?” Jisoo said.

“Yeah, Lisa told me she started following me because she finds me funny.” Jennie said and Jisoo burst laughing. “So-won, please hug Jisoo in her sleep will you?” Jennie said while glaring at Jisoo.

“Whoa, sorry for laughing okay.” Jisoo said, her laugh dying down. “But seriously, don’t do that So-won.” Jisoo seriously said while pointing anywhere. “I don’t where you are but please don’t.”

Jennie heard So-won’s laugh that also made her laugh.

“She’s laughing at you.” Jennie said.

“Hey! Not funny!” Jisoo exclaimed.

***

After they had their dinner, Jennie went to her room and she opened her laptop. Lisa was peeking behind her.

“What are you doing?” Lisa asked and Jennie was startled yet again.

“I’m going to try search you on the internet.” Jennie said and focused on her laptop.

She typed Lisa’s name on the search engine but she felt stupid because she didn’t know what exactly she was looking for.

“Ugh, this is hopeless.” Jennie sighed.

“How about try seaeching on f******k?” Lisa suggested and Jennie did what she has told. She typed once again her name but as expected, many account popped up.

“Okay, so what’s your last name?” Jennie asked.

“I uh...I can’t remember.” Lisa said and Jennie groaned.

“Seriously?!”

“But there are pictures, maybe you could see my picture.” Lisa said, not losing hope.

“Can you describe yourself?”

“Hmm, I have long brown hair and I have full bangs and I’m tall. I think I have full lips too.” Lisa described.

Jennie stayed focus on searching Lisa’s account for an hour but she gave up when she saw so many accounts with profile pictures just like she had described about herself.

“I swear to God, this is hopeless. There are so many accounts and you’re not even telling me if I found yours yet.” Jennie sighed.

“Keep searching.” Lisa said.

“Maybe I’ll continue some other day. My eyes are tired.” Jennie massaged her eyes.

“Oh, okay then. Thanks for trying though, I appreciate it.” Lisa sighed.

“Hey, this may seem hopeless but I will still help you no matter what.” Jennie half-smiled. “Where’s So-won by the way?”

“She’s outside, she doesn’t want to disturb you.” Lisa answered.

“Tell her to come in but don’t come any closer.”

Lisa passed through the door to call So-won. Jennie was just silently waiting in her room and when she felt her room getting cold, she grabbed her blanket and put it around her.

“I’m guessing So-won’s here already.” Jennie softly chuckled.

“I’m here at the corner.” So-won informed.

“So um, I just wanted to say that I could at least make you smile by just being the usual me. I really feel sorry for what happened to you, you’re too young to leave this precious world and there’s just so many things for you to experience if only you’re still living.” Jennie sighed and smiled. “But hey, at least you’re not suffering under your dad’s hand, right? You’re free to go and do whatever you want, like scare him or something.” Jennie giggled, trying to make the atmosphere light. “Have visited your father after...you know...you died?”

“No, I don’t ever want to go back in that house. It brings so much bad memories. I haven’t smiled for years until I saw you.” So-won smiled, and even though Jennie couldn’t see it she could feel she was smiling to say the least.

“Hey, he might have been a bad father to you, but he’s still you dad. Lisa told me your story. He’s probably missing your mom that’s why he’s always out drinking...except the part where he always beats you. Maybe the reason you’re still here is that you haven’t said goodbye and forgive the person that means the most to you. I know he still loves you and he would do anything just to get you back. And you know, some fathers aren’t really the kind of parent that shows their love to their kids because need to look tough. It’s kind of their thing because some dads that I know are like that but I know they love their kids.” Jennie chuckled but she heard So-won sobbed. “I didn’t mean those to make you cry, I’m sorry.”

“No, you were right I think. Thanks for saying those, it made me realize some things I didn’t realize before.” So-won sniffed.

“You were a tough and brave kid, So-won.” Jennie smiled.

“Thank you for the laughs and smiles, Jennie.” So-won said as if saying goodbye.

“I don’t really know what to say really, you’re welcome I guess.” Jennie sheepishly chuckled as she scratched her head.

Without saying a word, So-won passed through the wall.

“Wait, So-won! Where are you going?” Lisa asked.

“I’m going to say goodbye to my dad. It’s about time to leave I guess.” The little girl answered with a warm smile.