Ghost Allergy

Chapter 4: Unseen Knight In Shining Armor

Jennie has never felt so good waking up in the morning since she had an “allergy”. She had a very good night sleep. No ghost bothered her last night, not even Lisa.

She stretched out her arms and opened her window to let the air come in her room. She knew So-won left their dorm last night but she didn’t know if the little girl was going to come back or has she left for good. Either way, she felt good for having a talk with So-won last night. She felt somehow useful and she hoped she would be fine wherever she was now.

“Lisa?” Jennie tried to call the ghost but no one answered.

Jennie just shrugged, thinking maybe it was Lisa’s thing to not be around every time she wakes up. She didn’t know but it doesn’t bother her that Lisa was not around unlike yesterday, maybe it’s because she knew the ghost would come back and would never really leave just like what she promised.

She walked out of her room and made a coffee for herself, Jisoo and Rosé was nowhere to be found. Probably still asleep in their room. She checked the time and it was just 7:30 in the morning. It was unusual for her to be up early, but it seems to feel right.

Few minutes later, Jennie saw the two groggily walking out of their room, their hair was still a mess and Jennie had an idea. She hid somewhere where she wouldn’t be found.

Jisoo yawned and stretched her arms as she walked to the table. She saw a mug of coffee and she frowned.

“Is Jennie awake already?” Jisoo asked Rosé, the latter looked around to see if Jennie was to be seen but she was never found.

“Nope, why?” Rosé asked as she yawned.

“If she’s still asleep, then why is there a coffee on the table?”

“Are you sure? Maybe you left it there last night.” Rosé went to the fridge to get herself a lemon juice.

“Why would I even drink coffee at night?” Jisoo scoffed and she touched the mug to see if it’s hot. “And this mug is hot.” Jisoo said and Rosé touched to mug as well to see for herself.

“Maybe the ghost had coffee?” Rosé shrugged.

“Why in the world would a ghost have coffee?”

Jennie tried to keep her laugh silent as she was watching the two being confused.

“Psst!” Jennie called and the two startled.

“Did you hear that?” Jisoo asked, being cautious.

“I did.” Rosé said, looking around.

“Psst!” Jennie called again.

“Hey, whoever you are, show yourself and fight me!” Jisoo shouted even though her knees had started to tremble.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Rosé whisper-shouted as she clung onto Jisoo’s arm.

“That ghost needs to know I’m the boss here.” Jisoo bravely said even though her hands were starting to shake as well.

Jennie couldn’t keep her laugh anymore, she revealed herself to Jisoo and Rosé while she was laughing like there was no tomorrow.

“What the hell, it was you?!” Jisoo exclaimed and went to slap Jennie repeatedly on her arm. “It's not even funny at all!”

“You should’ve seen your faces! I can’t!” Jennie laughed.

“You really scared us!” Rosé ended up laughing as well while shaking her head. “It‘s not cool, don’t ever do it again.” Rosé went to get a slice of bread and put it in the toaster. “Why are you up so early?”

“I don’t know, good night sleep I guess.” Jennie shrugged and got her coffee on the table.

“Wow, good for you then.„ Jisoo said and got herself a bowl, milk, and a box of cereal. “Where are your friends?”

“I don’t know, they haven’t talked to me since I woke up.” Jennie shrugged.

“Oh, you’re already up.” Jennie heard Lisa. “I just witnessed a movie-like father and daughter interaction last night. It was the sweetest thing ever, I shed a tear.”

“Oh, Lisa’s here.” Jennie said. “Wait, where’s So-won?” She asked Lisa.

“Oh um...she left for good. She’s an angel now.” Lisa sadly smiled.

“Really? Good for her.” Jennie sadly smiled.

“Wait, what are we missing?” Jisoo asked as she shove a spoonful of cereal in her mouth.

“Remember So-won? She went to heaven now.” Jennie said.

“Aw, she must be a sweet kid if only she’s still alive and breathing.” Rosé said.

“Yeah, I bet she was too.” Jennie agreed.

“But you know what Jennie, you should stop talking to a ghost. No offense Lisa. I mean, you look like you’re crazy because it looks like you’re just talking to yourself.” Jisoo said.

“Yeah, I just realized that too.” Jennie nodded. “But don’t worry Lisa, I will still talk to you, but only in private.” Jennie grinned.

“I appreciate it.” Lisa said.

“So, you’re going back to work?” Rosé asked Jennie.

“Yup. Since So-won’s in better place now, I’m better now too. No more sneezing and hello work.” Jennie enthusiastically said with a smile on her smile.

“Yes girl, that’s our Nini.” Jisoo smiled and patted Jennie’s head.

After Jennie ate her breakfast and dressed up herself for work, she said her goodbyes to her roommates. Jennie told Lisa to just stay in the dorm and wait for her until she gets back but Lisa insisted. Jennie just sighed and let Lisa tag along with her.

“What are you even going to do while I work? Annoy the hell out of me?” Jennie groaned while they were walking.

“Hmm, thanks for the idea.” Lisa said.

“Don’t you even dare do that. I don’t want to lose my job.”

“Why are you even working anyway? Shouldn’t your parents send you money while you’re here?” Lisa asked.

“Parent actually, I didn’t get to see my dad while growing up. Mom wouldn’t even talk about it whenever I ask so I just didn’t care where he is. And this is actually my idea. I want to be independent.” Jennie smiled.

“Wow, strong and independent woman. I like it.” Lisa joked and Jennie laughed.

“How old do you think you are?” Jennie asked.

“Hmm, I don’t really remember. But if I’m still only alive and breathing, I want to be like you.” Lisa said that made Jennie smile again.

The two walked in silence until that silence got broken when Jennie heard voices and started to sneeze.

“Can you hear me too?”

“Help me, please!”

“Please, you have to help me! I don’t have much time left!”

Those were the voices that Jennie could hear. The sneezing was already making it hard for her to breathe. She began to feel cold when the ghosts started to touch her.

“No...stop...please!” Jennie begged between her sneezes.

“Get away from her!” Lisa tried to pry the ghost away from Jennie.

“So...cold.” Jennie weakly said after she sneezed.

“All of you, stop!” Lisa yelled but the ghosts didn’t seem to hear her. Jennie covered her ears and Lisa could see the people eyeing her with a displeased look. Lisa was already panicking and she couldn’t think of anything to make the ghosts go away from Jennie.

“Lisa...?” Jennie weakly called.

“Uh, yeah! I’m just here! Um...ugh! Just hold on!” Lisa panicked and there’s just one thing on her mind that could make the ghosts go away. “Um, I don’t know if this would work but I’m sorry if this is going to hurt.” Lisa said and rolled up her sleeves and prepared herself to throw some punches at the ghosts.

That “street fight” took a while before the ghosts decided to leave them alone. Jennie’s sneezing died down while Lisa was panting.

“You okay?” Lisa asked.

“Are you?” Jennie asked back.

“I’m good.” Lisa answered. “How are you feeling?”

“Still a little bit cold.” Jennie said while rubbing her arms.

“I guess you should always bring scarf with you. You’ll never know if they'd come back.” Lisa suggested.

“Whatever you did, thanks for that.” Jennie sincerely said.

“You’re doing me a favor so I think it’s just right to at least do something in return.” Lisa chuckled.

“What did you even do to make them go away?” Jennie asked.

“I beat them up and I’m surprised it worked. Well I think they won’t come back if they see me tagging along with you.”

“You...beat them up?” Jennie scoffed and giggled. “Okay, I shouldn’t laugh but thank you.”

“No big deal.” Lisa dismissively said.

“Are you hurt though?”

“I’m perfectly fine.” Lisa said and they continued to walk when Jennie accidentally brushed Lisa’s arm with hers (because she couldn’t see her obviously) and the latter winced in pain and Jennie almost jumped because of Lisa’s reaction.

“What happened?” Jennie asked.

“No, don’t mind me. It’s nothing.” Lisa said as she rubbed her arm.

“You’re hurt, aren’t you?” Jennie said. “But wait, how is that even possible? I mean, can ghost feel pain?”

“Yeah, I guess. And I have no idea either.” Lisa said and Jennie sighed.

“I think I’m the unluckiest person ever.”

“Why would you say that?”

“I grew up without a dad, my roommates are a bit crazy especially Jisoo, and I have this stupid allergy when ghosts are around me. Can my life get any worse than this?”

“Aren’t you thankful that I shoo those ghosts away?”

“I’m thankful for you okay. It’s just that why me of all people?” Jennie complained and she saw a person glared at her as if they were judging her. “Now they’re thinking I’m crazy because I’m talking to no one.”

Lisa didn’t continue their conversation and just walked silently until they reached that restaurant that Jennie was working at. Jennie went to the locker room and get changed into her working attire while Lisa just stood at the corner in silence. She felt guilty for causing Jennie inconvenience. After hearing Jennie’s thought when they were walking, she began to think of leaving Jennie’s side. It’s what she wanted, right? Maybe another person could help her, perhaps there are other people who has the same ability as Jennie.

Jennie on the other hand worked her butt all throughout her shift. She was thankful there were no ghosts around or else she would get fired, she didn’t want that to happen. She thought maybe Lisa was doing something to make the ghosts go away. She smiled as she thought Lisa could come in handy and it wasn’t really that bad to have her with her. Besides, she was beginning to feel comfortable whenever she could hear Lisa and she’s beginning to just ignore what or how people see her as a crazy person who’s talking to an imaginary friend.

After her shift was done, she changed back to her regular clothes and she walked back to her dorm. She could feel Lisa was just on her side.

“Are you okay?” Jennie asked.

“Of course.” Lisa answered.

“You’re strangely silent.” Jennie chuckled.

“Am I? Sorry.” Lisa chuckled as well.

“Something on your mind? You can tell me, it’s okay. I mean I’m the only one who can hear you so.”

Lisa paused for a second. Maybe this was her chance to tell Jennie her thoughts. “Um, Jennie?”

“Yes?”

“I just wanted to apologize for the disturbance and trouble that I caused. Hearing me was already a great help to me and I really appreciate it but I guess this is goodbye. You can live your normal life again so...yay.” Lisa halfheartedly chuckled, Jennie stopped in her tracks and frown.

“Wait, what?” Jennie said. “You’re leaving?”

“Yeah.”

“You know where your home is already?”

“Uh...no—”

“Then no, you’re not leaving until we find where your home is okay? A promise is a promise anyway.” Jennie said and Lisa sadly smile.

“Really? You really mean it?”

Jennie smiled and nodded. “Of course I do. I consider you as my ghost friend okay? And besides, we’re just helping each other, thanks for keeping me safe.”

Lisa just smiled and the two continued to walk to Jennie’s dorm.