Ghost Allergy

Chapter 5: Stay

“Good morning, Jennie!” Lisa beamed when she saw Jennie fluttered her eyes open as she stretched her arms.

“What time is it?” Jennie yawned as she rubbed her eyes.

“It’s 9 in the morning!” Lisa giddily said and Jennie swore she could imagine her jumping in happiness.

“Ugh, why are you being so loud at this hour?” Jennie groaned and sat on the edge of her bed.

“Because we shouldn’t waste time, have you forgotten?”

“Hearing you won’t let me forget okay? And I have other things to do other than looking for your so-called home.” Jennie said with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

“Like?”

“I have to study.” Jennie deadpanned and Lisa sighed.

“Fine. After you study we’ll continue the search, deal?”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever.” Jennie stood up and went outside her room. She saw Rosé cleaning their dorm by herself, Jisoo was nowhere to be seen. “Where’s Jisoo?”

“She went out jogging outside.” Rosé casually answered and she looked at Jennie’s miserable face. She held back her laugh. “Bad morning? What happened to your face?”

“Lisa happened.” Jennie answered and walked towards the bathroom.

“What did I do?” Lisa asked.

“She disturbed you in your sleep?” Rosé asked.

“I’m in the middle of my dream when this ghost started being so loud and hyper like a kid who ate a bunch of sweets.” Jennie said before washing her face.

“Oh, thank God I can’t hear ghosts. I would’ve died at an early age if I could.” Rosé joked.

Lisa just chuckled and just waited for Jennie to finish what she had to do for that day. While Jennie was studying in her room, Lisa observed Jisoo and Rosé messing around on the couch as they were watching a movie, merely paying attention to the movie they’re watching.

Hours of waiting felt like years already for Lisa. Jennie hasn’t come out of her room yet and it was already nightfall. Lisa sighed and peeked her head through Jennie’s room to see what she was up to only to find out her head was burried on her study table. Lisa chuckled and shook her head as she walked inside and stood beside Jennie. Lisa lowered her head to study Jennie’s face. Lisa smiled, Jennie looked like an angel when she’s sleeping yet when she’s awake she look and act the opposite. Lisa lightly tapped Jennie’s shoulder to wake her up.

“Jennie.” Lisa softly said in Jennie’s ear.

“Hmm.”

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping in bed?”

Jennie lifted her head massaged her sore neck. “I fell asleep?”

“Yeah, you did.” Lisa chuckled. “You should rest.”

“Wait, but I promised you something.”

“You looked tired already.”

“I got bored that’s why I fell asleep.” Jennie reasoned and sighed heavily. “And besides, you’ve been insisting me to help you for the past days instead of doing important things.” Jennie mumbled.

“I’m sorry if I’m pressuring you. It’s just that I—”

“You want to go home, I know.” Jennie unenthusiastically said as she looked down.

“I don’t want to disturb you anymore. And try to think this way, if I finally found my way back home then there wouldn’t be a loud ghost tagging along with you. You’ll be finally at peace and you won’t hear me again. It’s just a win-win situation.” Lisa halfheartedly chuckled.

“The thing is...I don’t want really want you to go just yet. I mean having you around could be sometimes annoying but...you make me feel safe when I hear you.” Jennie sighed and lifted her head. “Can’t you just stay?”

“But I have to. As much as I want to stay I still have to go.” Lisa held Jennie’s hand and the latter looked at her hand when she felt something warm on her hand.

“Are you holding my hand?” Jennie asked.

“Yes.” Lisa answered and Jennie half-smiled and put her free hand on top of her own and she felt something warm as her hand landed.

“I really wonder what you look like.” Jennie halfheartedly chuckled.

“I’m taller than you.” Lisa chuckled.

“You’re really one weird ghost you know that?”

“And why is that?”

“You’re warm compared to the other ghosts.”

“I am?”

“Yeah, as warm as a human touch if that makes sense.” Jennie giggled.

“Really? Wow, do you think this means something?”

“I don’t know, just because I can feel and hear you doesn’t mean I know such thing.”

“You know what, you’re better when your sleeping.” Lisa joked as she giggled.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re harmless when you’re asleep.”

“Yeah, I think I should just sleep and not help you.” Jennie sarcastically said and stood up to go to her bed.

“I’m just kidding.” Lisa laughed. “You look like an angel when you’re sleeping, that’s no joke.” Lisa said and Jennie scoffed.

“Wow, thanks.” Jennie sarcastically said.

“You’ll still help me, right?”

“Of course.” Jennie said under her breath as she laid down on her bed.

***

Jennie wasn’t a fan of Monday mornings but she had to be early or else she would be late for her first class. She didn’t even think of Lisa when she was preparing herself until she heard Lisa’s voice.

“Running late?” Lisa asked.

“Not really, it’s just that I always walk slow on Monday morning.” Jennie answered as she shove her textbook in her book bag. “You tagging along?”

“I don’t really feel like walking.”

“Ghosts walk? I thought you all float.”

“Yes, we walk. Now go hurry before you arrive late for walking slow.” Lisa chuckled.

“Alright, I think I’m not forgetting anything.” Jennie said as she checked her bag. “I’m going. Bye.”

“Have a nice day!”

And as expected, first class was boring as usual. Jennie couldn‘t help but close her eyes during class. Too bad Jisoo and Rosé weren’t her classmates, she doesn’t have anyone to talk to.

Two more classes later, it was already lunch time. The trio met inside the cafeteria to eat their lunch. They sat at the table after they bought their food.

“Monday is such a cursed day.” Jennie said as she shook her head. “I really do wish I have both of you as my classmates. It’s so boring, I want to go home already.” Jennie said as she shove a spoonful of her food in her mouth.

“Or maybe you want to go home because you want to spend time with Lisa.” Jisoo teasingly said.

“And how would I even spend my time with something I can’t see?” Jennie rolled her eyes.

“You guys, shouldn’t we just eat in peace?” Rosé said.

Jennie didn’t say another thing and continued to eat while Jisoo just shrugged and ate as well. The cafeteria was filled with students chattering and Jennie could hear clearly what the students behind her were talking about.

“Have you heard the news?” The student asked her friend.

“What news?”

“I heard our university was supposed to have a transfer student last couple of weeks but something happened.”

“What happened?”

“She was in an accident and is in a coma for three weeks now. I heard a kid died in that accident as well. The road was slippery since it was snowing and the car hit a child.”

“Ow, double combo.” The student joked with a laugh but gained a slap from her friend.

“Don’t you even joke about it, don’t you feel bad about it?”

Jennie stopped in the middle of her meal. She felt her body froze. She doesn’t want to assume but could it possibly be Lisa that the students were talking about? And she felt a déjà vu hearing the “gossip”. And the kid who died, could it possibly be So-won? The two noticed Jennie being bothered.

“Are you okay?” Rosé asked.

“I-I am. Don’t worry.” Jennie said and tried to act normal like she usually do.

But she was bothered. She wanted to go to their dorm and talk to Lisa. She took her phone from her pocket and typed on the search engine to search about the recent accident that happened. An article showed up and she scanned for Lisa’s name. She almost dropped her phone when she found Lisa’s name but she tried keep her composure.

What if the home that Lisa was talking about was her body? She doesn’t know what to feel. Should she be happy knowing that Lisa could still wake up or be sad that they might never have the chance to meet since Lisa’s parents might take her home and not study in their university anymore? Thinking about the what ifs made Jennie hesitant to tell all what she had discovered that day to Lisa. She doesn't want her to go just yet.

After the torturous hours of boring lectures, the three went back to their dorm. Jennie was strangely silent as what Rosé observed but she didn't bother asking. Jennie entered her room and was greeted by Lisa.

“Hey, welcome back!” Lisa beamed. “How’s your day?”

Jennie tried her best to ignore Lisa and changed into her comfortable clothes.

“Oh, y-you’re changing.” Lisa stuttered and looked away. “Don’t worry, I won’t look.” She said while facing the wall.

After Jennie finished changing, she went outside her room, completely ignoring Lisa which the latter found it confusing. She followed Jennie in silence and the three roommates prepared their dinner.

“Jennie? Can’t you hear me?” Lisa asked while Jennie was putting the plates on the table but the latter didn’t respond. “Wait, your psychic ability is gone?”

As much as Jennie wanted so answer back, she sighed loudly, making Jisoo and Rosé turned to her.

“Jennie, something’s bothering you. I know it.” Jisoo started before they start eating and Jennie’s silence was unbearable. “You can always tell us anything okay? We’re your friends after all.”

“Yeah, what is it anyway?” Rosé asked.

“Yeah, did something happen?” Lisa asked even though she wasn’t sure if Jennie could still hear her.

“I’m fine guys. I think Monday made me tired already.” Jennie halfheartedly chuckled.

“We’re always here for you okay? Even if that’s just a math problem we’ll still help you.” Rosé said as she held Jennie’s hand.

“No math problems for me, sorry.” Jisoo said and Rosé laughed and lightly slapped her arm. “I’m just kidding, but we’re serious. Whatever it is, we’re here to help. Just tell us if you need it. We don’t want our Nini feeling down.” She messed Jennie’s hair.

“I’m fine.” Jennie gave them a plain smile and started eating.

Jisoo and Rosé looked at each other and gave each other a shrug. Jennie went back to her room after eating and lied in her bed. She took a deep breath before closing her eyes. Lisa sat on the floor beside Jennie’s bed.

“Whatever happened to you today, I hope you’ll be fine soon. And since I really think you can’t hear me anymore then I’ll take my leave and find someone else to help me.” Lisa sadly sighed, she got to her knees and kissed Jennie’s forehead. Jennie flinched when she felt something warm landed on her forehead. She immediately opened her eyes.

“Wait.” Jennie said and sat up. Lisa looked around her to check if there were someone other than her in the room.

“Are you talking to me?” Lisa asked and Jennie sighed.

“Yes, I can still hear you. But please, stay. I have something to tell you.” Jennie said.

“If you can still hear me, why were you ignoring me? Did I do something?” Lisa confusedly asked.

“No, you didn’t do anything.” Jennie said. “I just don’t know how to say this to you.”

“Tell me what?”

“I think I...I know what happened to you. You’re still alive.”