"THE WHAT?!" Seo-Yeon sputters. "Lady, this isn't Monopoly. You don't just say "Go to the mansion" and expect me to pack my dress and my pajama pants and leave."
The ghost looks awkward "Please hear me out, my children, they need someone there."
"...You're the only one who can see me. And you're the only one they trust. I can't protect them alone." the ghost says.
Seo-Yeon looked at the ghost "Fine, I understand only I can see you, but why should I go to the mansion?"
Seo-Yeon looks at the ghost "Can't you like... haunt the mansion? Lock some doors? Scare off bad guys with spooky whispers?"
The ghost scoffed. "Wow, what a brilliant plan, I'll just rattle a few chandeliers while a kidnapper walks off with my children. Really...," she clapped her hands.
Seo-Yeon was embarrassed; she crossed her hands "Even if I agree and want to move into your brother's mansion—which I don't—I'm not exactly on his guest list."
"Then get on it. Get close to Jun-Hyun. Make him trust you, I'll help you, of course. Let him see what the twins already know." the ghost smirked at her.
"Miss creepy Lady, Ma'am Soso. Miss Haunting S-City 2025—do I look like someone who can casually charm a man with six abs, zero emotions, and a superstar with a security team?" Seo-Yeon scoffs at the ghost.
"Yes." the ghost says "You have chaotic charm. It's... loud, but effective."
Seo-Yeon looks offended "That felt a lot like an insult wrapped in a compliment tied with a ghostly bow."
The ghost just shrugged "You can take it however you want. But go to that mansion, Please. I'll help you—but in return, you need to help me."
Seo-Yeon nodded "You want me to infiltrate the house, earn Jun-Hyun's trust, live with the man, and raise the children... all while being haunted?"
"Yes"
Seo-Yeon's mind was running wild, she wanted to get rid of this ghost. So she thought of a brilliant plan, agreeing to all the requests by the ghost for now.
She can later go to a shaman and get a talisman to make the ghost go away.
But she can't be so obvious about her thoughts though "...Can I at least get a raise?"
And it looked like the ghost fell for her act when she grinned "I'll help you with your idol dreams. And maybe I can whisper some stock tips."
Seo-Yeon's eyes lit up "Hmm... that's suspiciously tempting."
The ghost lady floats near Seo-Yon with excitement "Say yes, Seo-Yeon. For the kids. Please."
Seo-Yeon sighed "Fine. I'll try. But I will not agree for you to possess me, if I get possessed, or end up in some weird love triangle drama with your brother, I'm blaming you."
The ghost only chuckled "If you end up in a love triangle, you're welcome."
Seo-Yeon groans, flapping back on the bed "Ugh, I'm being bullied by a dead woman. Someone save me. What is my life?"
***
It was late at night, and Seo-Yeon was lying in the hospital room staring at the ceiling.
The room is quiet, but it is an entirely different scenario inside Seo-Yeon's head. It was so emotionally chaotic that she was having a headache.
Seo-Yeon found out from the butler in the evening that she could be discharged from the hospital tomorrow morning.
She was happy but also sad thinking about going back to that house, where she was not welcomed.
A certain ghost floats in like she owns the place. Again.
Seo-Yeon pulls the blanket over her head "Go away, Soso. I'm already emotionally unstable. I don't want to add supernatural to the mix. I'm really not in the mood..."
The ghost crosses her hand in the air "You've been staring at the ceiling for ten minutes straight. I know you're awake. And for your information blanket therapy you are starting isn't going to fix your life."
"Neither is a ghost barging into my room every night like it's ghost happy hour." Seo-Yeon muffles into her pillow.
The ghost sighs "You know, you look like someone who's hiding something heavier than my death."
Seo-Yeon peeks out, she hesitates before confessing what's bothering her "You know I'm married..."
Ghost blinks "Didn't you get divorced."
With the grace of someone who hasn't slept in three years, Seo-Yeon sits up. "I'm legally still married. But emotionally, spiritually, and mentally I'm a divorced person. I just haven't submitted the papers yet."
"Why?"
"Because I need a job. A backup plan. A life raft. If I leave now, I'm walking out into the world with nothing but a kid who likes his stepmother better than me."
"Your son...?" the ghost asks softly.
Tears filled Seo-Yeon's eyes, and her voice wobbled "He's five. Loves treats. And already prefers my husband's mistress over me because she lets him eat candy all the time, and sweets for dinner and she doesn't correct his grammar. In his eyes I'm the "mean" mom. The nag. The inconvenience."
"That's not true." Ghost says with a slight pause.
"You know what my son said to me, he said she bakes better cookies and doesn't embarrass him in front of his friends. In his eyes, I'm like a pig. I don't deserve to be his mother." Tears flow from her eyes.
Soso floats in the air awkwardly "..."
Seo-Yeon wipes her tears, and looks up with mock cheery "So you see, my dear translucent friend, I am done with kids. I tried. And failed."
"To be honest I'm emotionally too scared to invest in any type of relationship. I'm trying to Move on. I also bought myself a cactus named Betrayal." she chuckles trying to divert the topic.
The ghost pauses "That's not true. You are a good person."
"Maybe. Maybe not. I'm not sure myself. But that's how it feels."
Seo-yeon looks out of the window "I became this... background character in my own life. Everyone else got the spotlight. I got leftover resentment and an empty wallet."
Her eyes look distant, like she is recalling all the painful memories.
The ghost hovers over her "Then take the lead role back."
Seo-Yeon turns her head.
"Write your own story." the ghost says.
"Oh great, now the ghost is quoting motivational posters. What's next? "Live, laugh, love" written in ectoplasm?" Seo-Yeon scoffs drying her tears.
But a small smile forms on her face. Even though she fears the ghost talking with Soso makes her forget about her worries.
The ghost parts her chest "I'm offering you a role. The role that's important. The role that matters. Be my children's caretaker. My twins need someone who's not afraid to stand up for them, to love them fiercely. That's you."
"You can be the lead character in their life."
Seo-Yeon shakes her head "Stop it. I couldn't even protect my own son from turning against me. What makes you think I can protect yours?"
The ghost's voice is firm "Because you tried. Because you still care even when it hurts. That makes you strong. And my kids—they already trust you."
Seo-Yeon looks away from the ghost. She likes the twins; they are too adorable for her to not like them.
She has always been a softy for cute things.
"And what about your brother? The tall, brooding, emotionally constipated Superstar... He's not exactly handing out invitations offering me to stay in his mansion. You know..."
Soso is Kan Jun-Hyun's twin sister. She was away from the home when she died in an accident. Seo-Yeon doesn't know the whole story.
Soso never said anything about herself, or about her death. Seeing how she always avoided the topic Seo-Yeon stopped asking about that again.
"Then make him see. Make my brother notice you. He needs someone too—even if he doesn't admit it. By helping my children... you'll be helping yourself too." the ghost requests.
"Hmm. Get a job. Heal emotionally. Possibly fight a ghost friend. All before breakfast." Seo-Yeon said sarcastically.
"Common, you are forgetting you get to live in a mansion." Soso smirks.
Seo-Yeon couldn't say anything to that "You really know how to sell your deal."
It's true. If she were to become a caretaker for the twins she would have a roof above her head, and when the twins are out for school, she could focus on her dream of becoming an idol.
And she can earn if she were to join Kang's family as a nanny.
"So... are you in?" the ghost asks with a knowing smile.
Seo-Yeon pauses, then sighs "Fine. I'll talk to Mr. Kang. But I swear if he slams the door in my face or offers me a fruit basket instead of a job, I'm haunting you next."
Seo-Yeon knew Kang Jun-Hyun didn't like her. The way he treated her when they met showed clearly, that he was weary of her.
"Deal. And I'll make sure—if it happens—it's a really good fruit basket." the ghost grins.