I quickly followed Chloe into the living room. However, before we continued our conversation, I took the time to grab a few drinks and snacks for myself, as Chloe refused them after I offered them to her.

I don't know why, but I felt thirsty and hungry, but strangely at the same time I didn't want to eat.

After I was done with my business, I then sat down next to Chloe.

Chloe was the first to open the conversation while I was still opening my soda can and snack. "Sorry, yes."

I drunk the soda water that had entered my mouth first, before speaking. "...About what?"

"Yeah, your offer. I wanted to, but I didn't think you were ready." Chloe replied with a worried look on her face.

"You mean, my offer to go to the room earlier?"

Chloe searched my eyes for eye contact, while my eyes were still searching for the snack I wanted to eat, while sometime glancing at her. "Honestly, do you feel awkward?"

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Chloe's words were true. Although I was happy to finally have a friend, maybe I even hoped for more than a friend, but I still felt awkward with Chloe's presence.

I mean, there's obviously nothing wrong with Chloe, in fact she seems perfect to me. Chloe is the same age as me, has vision and can see phantoms which is also the same as me which means I can tell her about many things and we can understand each other, Chloe is also beautiful to me especially her smile that can't get out of my head, she looks so beautiful. Chloe is also smart so she is suitable to be a teacher for me. Besides that and the most important thing is that Chloe is caring and seems to love me, she even easily guesses what I think, what I feel, she is also patient with my stupid questions, explaining them without anger at all, and the most evident is her willingness to come to my house when the brightning is going on which is very dangerous for her. So, it was obvious my awkwardness that I, who was far from perfect, had to deal with the perfect Chloe.

I had realized that especially when I was waiting for Chloe who never came to my house. It was also what made me try to make friends with other humans, so that I didn't feel too awkward when I was with Chloe.

Chloe held my hand because I didn't answer her. "You don't need to answer, I understand." Chloe said with a sense of peace.

This time I felt the warmth from Chloe's body, in very contrast to a few hours ago. But, it also happened the other way around, I felt my body was a bit cold, so the warmth from Chloe's body was very comfortable.

"But, I'm sure, you will be able to not be awkward anymore, and at that time let's chat in your room." Chloe continued.

I looked at her, "Thank you for being so understanding." I said as I closed with a sweet and charming smile of my own —at least that's what I wanted to do.

"No problem." Chloe replied as well as her smile.

Then, a moment later Chloe released her hand that was holding mine. "It seems like a peace and perfect time to answer your question about Leina's paper. Or maybe you've already found the answer?"

"Haha... of course not" I replied, which was came with laugh that I myself was also confused afterward why I was laughing.

"Well, then shall I tell you first or do you want to ask first?" Chloe offered.

"Hmm... you better tell me first, I guess."

Chloe returned with a smile, "Okay, but do you want me to hug you?"

Ahem.

I almost spilled the soda I was drinking.

I couldn't think for a moment at Chloe's words, and it made me cough for a while as my throat felt choked with soda water.

Why would Chloe say something like that? Was she flirting with me? If so, then that another question, why was she flirting with me?

Chloe with her initiative or reflex —I don't know— she patted my back, "Are you okay?"

After I didn't cough anymore and my throat also felt relieved, I took a deep breath. Huff!

"I'm fine." I replied.

After hearing that I was fine, Chloe laughed softly, "I'm sorry, but I didn't mean to startle you earlier. I was just offering if you wanted me to give you a hug."

I welcomed her laughter, "That's what surprised me."

"Yes, I know. Hence, I apologize. But really, I saw you like you were cold, actually not only saw, I felt your body cold when I touched your hand. That's why I offered that thing that might make yourself warmer." Chloe explained.

If only Chloe gave an explanation first, maybe I wouldn't be surprised and experienced the incident earlier which honestly I thought was a bit embarrassing.

"But why are you offering that? It's strange to hear, usually people offer warm drinks or the like," I replied.

"Indeed. But I wanted to return the favor."

If I had said Chloe was perfect earlier, maybe I could have found Chloe's only flaw in that she didn't explain the details first and forced me to think and keep asking her questions. Or maybe that's not Chloe's flaw, but mine? I don't know.

"What do you mean?" I asked Chloe as usual.

"So, you forgot? A few hours ago when my body was cold, I could feel the warmth thanks to you." Chloe replied.

"No, I remember about that. I did give you towels and a blanket to warm up. But why don't you just offer me a towel and blanket if you want to return the favor?"

Chloe smiled and laughed, "Haha... you really forgot or didn't realize. But, when I woke up, you were already beside me. Your right hand was on my forehead, you were probably stroking my hair since it was a little messy when I woke up, while your left hand was hugging my body and your head sleeping on my stomach. Honestly, it's a bit ticklish. But I'm glad you did that."

Once again I couldn't say anything and just stayed silent and blushed, but it seemed as if my stunned face was saying, "Really?"

Chloe nodded as she said, "Of course, you really don't remember it at all?"

Chloe's explanation really surprised me. I really don't remember what happened, at least why I fell asleep or what my position was when I fell asleep, all I remember is me stroking Chloe's forehead and hoping she gets better soon.

But at least, this time knowing how I was asleep before moving to lying on the sofa. I don't think I need to ask again, it's definitely Chloe who laid my body down.

Actually, I also remember a moment before my consciousness disappeared, I remember there was another hand that shone and touched my hand that was stroking Chloe. Whose hand was it? I still don't know until now. Maybe I should ask Chloe about it, but if I do I'm admitting that I remember stroking her forehead and that makes me a little embarrassed and awkward. So I decided not to ask about it at the moment, rather focus on Leina's paper first.

I shook my head, "No."

"That's okay. But that's how it happened, so I'll offer it again, do you want me to hug you?" Chloe said.

I was silent for a few moments, thinking about what to answer. To be honest, I really want to be hugged by a girl, especially this Chloe, besides that I can also feel the warmth of her body which is very comfortable. But, wouldn't that make the situation even more awkward. I mean obviously I'm not used to it, even I still can't even offer Chloe to enter my room normally, let alone if I have to hug her, although I realize that we have actually hugged indirectly —technically I mean.

I shook my head again, "No, but thank you."

Chloe nodded and smiled, "Well, that's your decision."

I was glad she didn't take offense and welcomed my decision.

"But," Chloe continued as she began to move herself closer to my body, pulling my left hand and placing it behind her shoulder as if to make myself embrace her. Then, Chloe's hand tried to push through between the back of my body and the sofa, while Chloe's other hand did the same thing but from the front of my body. In short, Chloe had hugged my body. "You don't need my permission when you hug me, so I'll hug your body without your permission. Let's call it even."

I couldn't move my body, more precisely I didn't want to move my body, or rather I was confused about what to do. So I just stayed silent and mumbled something no sense.

"It's fine, just shut up. I want it, and I know you want it too, it's just that you're still awkward. So, make yourself relax." Said Chloe who now also leaned her head on my shoulder.

"Al...Alri...alright..." I stuttered of course, but at least it was better than meaningless mumbling.

"Then I'll start telling the story. Phantoms like Leina can write things on paper from either world, but in this case it's from the ghost world. You must have realized it because the paper is transparent." Chloe began her explanation of Leina's paper.

Chloe's initial explanation was in line with Jaehyun's explanation which stated that phantoms could come from two worlds and in Leina's case it was from the ghost world.

"However, as you know that phantoms are very attached to what I call the freedom of vengeance, this is what makes phantoms different from vengeful ghosts. Well, this freedom of vengeance is what affected Leina's writing." said Chloe who was still explaining.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"So, why can I see Leina's paper but can't see her writing because of the freedom of vengeance?" I asked as usual.

"That's right. Actually, it can be said that a person's grudge including ghosts cannot disappear completely, they can only forget for a moment or ignore it but it will always come back if something triggers their trauma. For example, like Desmon, he may have put his grudge behind him when he was with you, but he still finds it difficult to enter school because it will trigger his trauma and his will to vengeance can return." Chloe explained further.

"Then?"

"The same thing happened to Leina, it seems like her grudge came back because something triggered it. Therefore, Leina wrote a letter to you with a writing that was filled with full of revenge, it doesn't have to be always bad like swearing at someone or cursing them, her writing could be praising others but still filled with full of revenge." Chloe continued her explanation.

"So you're saying that Leina can turn back into a vengeful ghost?"

"That's right. But that's at least a long way off if I read what she wrote."

"Wait, so you can actually read it? How?" I asked curiously which accidentally moved my body so that Chloe had to change her position slightly.

"I already told you, the paper for Leina's letter from the ghost world wasn't influenced by Leina's grudge, so you can see it. And then, Leina's writing is affected by her grudge, so you have to understand her grudge first to see it." Chloe replied.

"You mean I have to feel what she feels?"

"More or less like that, but you can also resonate your life aura with Leina's writing, because after all Leina's grudge is an trace of her life aura."

Chloe's explanation made me more confused than understanding.

"So, are you saying I should resonate my life aura with Leina's?" I asked again.

"That's right. But when you resonate your life aura with Leina's life aura, you must not cover up the death aura of the paper." Chloe explained further.

My brain seemed to have burned to a crisp and was putting out thick black smoke that clumped together if my skull was opened. But at least I kind of understood what Chloe meant.

"In other words, balancing the two auras?" I asked with the same conclusion as my discussion with Desmon and his friends.

"Yes, but more precisely the death aura plus a little of life aura." Chloe replied.

Finally for this time Chloe's answer was quite clear and not only that Chloe's answer also explained why our experiment failed, because Desmon and his friends' experiments really focused on balancing the two auras so that no aura was more dominant than the other.

Chloe hugged me even tighter, "But at least that's one theory. I never tried it myself, because I already understood Leina's grudge that's also why Leina became my phantom."

"So if you understand Leina's sense of vengeance, then you can read it?" I asked for confirmation.

"Simply put, if you already understand someone's feelings, then the communication between you and that person is no longer words. You must have seen lovers or friends or family who can understand what their partner wants to do without having to say anything. You might know it better as chemistry."

Of course, I understand what Chloe means. I myself experienced that with Desmon several times, I didn't need to say anything but Desmon already understood what I meant. It seems, if Leina is Chloe's phantom, I might be able to assume Desmon is mine if only Desmon is a phantom.

I nodded and tried to hug her tighter, it seemed like I was getting comfortable with this position. "But, why can I read her writing even if it's just for a moment?"

"If I'm not mistaken, I already said it strange at that time. Because it is strange, obviously you don't fulfill the first theory of balancing the two auras, and you also don't have the chemistry that I have with Leina, so the only possibility left is Leina's presence."

At least for this one I had guessed it beforehand when I was at the convenience store even without any theoretical basis, and at least Chloe's answer this time I could use as a theoretical basis for my previous actions.

"So that's the explanation, finally answered." I said with a sigh of relief, at least one puzzle in my life could be solved.

"But I'm curious, when did you get that letter?" It was Chloe's turn to ask.

"Hmm..." I mumbled to signal to Chloe that I was remembering.

I really was remembering. There were so many unusual events that I had experienced in the past few days, events that were fun, exciting, touching, sad, scary, and stressful. Too many emotions have been played with lately like a rollercoaster ride, sometimes I get positive emotions like joy, but also I get negative emotions like fear. So, I had to retrace the events one by one to remember exactly.

Actually, I do still remember the incident when Leina gave me the paper, at that time I was in class alone and the incident also happened during the day. But the exact time of the incident I didn't count. So I have to count it first even though I can remember it.

"A few days ago, when you first came to my house, if I'm not mistaken." said I who couldn't count how many days had passed but at least I could give Chloe a clue that maybe she would remember too.

Chloe, who was hugging me, immediately released her hug and moved to the opposite side of the sofa from me. "We're late, almost late."

I watched Chloe's freaked-out gestures. Did I mention something wrong, or does this have something to do with the message Leina left on her paper.

"What do you mean?" I asked, looking at her. I saw a look on Chloe's face that I had never seen before, she looked tense with her mouth and eyes wide open as if shocked by my words.

"You didn't read the message, the message from Leina?" Chloe asked in a raised tone and faster than usual.

Completely different from the usual Chloe, it was obvious to me that she was panicking. But why is she panicking? What exactly did she read in Leina's letter? Is there something important that I missed? I corrected, that sounded stupid. Of course I missed a lot because I only read the first part of the letter.

"Not yet." I replied briefly.

I honestly realized it after saying it, realizing that I had answered wrong. My main point was that I hadn't read the part of the message that could make Chloe panic, not read Leina's message at all.

But when I wanted to clarify it, Chloe had already said, "Can I look at the letter again? I'm sure I didn't read it wrong, but I was hoping that I was wrong."

"Sure, sure." I reached into my pants pocket to give Chloe the paper from Leina.

I reached into my other pocket because I couldn't find the paper, maybe I had the wrong pocket. But the few times I checked, all my pants pockets didn't hold the paper.

"I'm sorry, but it looks like the paper fell out or-" I said to Chloe while continuing to look for Leina's paper.

However, in the middle of my words my eyes and Chloe's eyes met. I don't know what happened, but it seemed like we had built the foundation of our first chemistry by saying together, "That pants."

I got carried away because I saw a panicked Chloe who immediately stood up and prepared to go to my room, so I also stood up and led the way to my room by running a little.

###

Arriving in my room, I immediately unloaded my pile of dirty clothes onto my bed and divided the pile into two. One to be checked by me and the other volunteered to be checked by Chloe.

If we weren't in a state of panic, maybe I could feel a little happy because it was the first time I invited a girl into my room, the first time Chloe came into my room.

But maybe if I think about this incident again in the future, it will be a little funny and more embarrassing, because the first time Chloe came into my room was not to chat or do something like other normal teenagers, but to check every pocket of my stacked dirty pants to find a piece of paper.

We searched for a few minutes without saying anything until Chloe raised her hand and said, "Got it."

Chloe then sat on the edge of my bed, while I followed by sitting next to her.

Chloe hurriedly unfolded the paper from Leina and started looking at it or maybe reading it, I wasn't sure which because I only saw a blank paper with no scribbles at all.

I stayed where I was without moving or saying anything even though I was very curious about what was going on, but I didn't want to disturb Chloe who seemed to be seriously looking at or reading the paper from Leina. I waited for a few minutes.

"Can you read it this time?" asked Chloe in her usual tone and her serious, panicked face had also disappeared, although she was still looking at the paper when she asked.

I shook my head, "No. Can you read it? I mean you've read it?"

Chloe faced me with a smile, "I did, lucky I was wrong, we still have time."

"Thank goodness," I replied with a smile, "but what does it say?"

"Do you want me to read the message, or should I just summarize it?" asked Chloe who suddenly lay down on my bed.

I don't mind if she lies on my bed, but if she suddenly does that I'm surprised. But I can probably understand it, she previously panicked which for me must have consumed energy, then after she was free from her panic, then she just started to feel her tired, so now she chose to lie down.

I also lay down beside her, "Please just read it if you don't mind."

Chloe raised her hand low enough to at least allow her to see and read the paper from Leina, "Okay."

"I don't know if you can see this writing or not.

I don't know if you see this paper, you'll be able to read it.

I don't know if you read this writing, you will be able to call me.

I don't know if you had call me, I would have appeared to you.

I don't know if I had appeared to you, I would have been able to speak to you.

I don't know if I had spoken to you, you would have been able to free me.

But what I do know is that you have to be careful, that girl's trickery is so powerful and terrifying, if you can't break free from her, then you have to kill her. I know this sounds crazy, but if you are trapped in that girl's trickery, then you won't be able to get out and you will forever be a slave to her.

If you are hesitant to kill her, feel free to call me, you know where I am. I will be more than willing to help you get rid of her. Don't be afraid, I'm not crazy, nor do I hate you or that poor girl. I just love you, I worry about you. Moreover, I want you to be free from her influence, the influence that made you leave me alone without help and power, but don't worry, I won't take revenge, you know me, my dear.

So, let us free ourselves from the influence of that cursed girl's trickery, let us be together again, and let us get rid of that cursed girl once and for all until she cannot breathe and influence others anymore.

I'm sorry, Robert, but could you do me a favor. Please tell him about this message or if you are willing, please get rid of the cursed girl as well. I know it may be hard, but I will serve you later, I love you.

BUT if you won't help me, if you delay my request for help, I will come to you, and I will take over your body if you still ignore my request for help. I will get rid of that cursed girl myself with your body, and I will not return your body.

So please help me, I know you can see me, I know you understand me, I know you pity me, so please help me.

Maybe you're confused about who that girl is, unfortunately I can't explain it but I can show it. So if you need anything to help me, feel free to call me.

Leina."

Chloe read the message of Leina's letter with an up-and-down intonation as if she was reading a movie script. I looked Chloe as she read the letter, her face full of expression. If only Chloe wanted to, she could probably be a great actress. How could I not? I thought that Leina was talking directly to me. Chloe is really getting into the role.

After hearing the message of Leina's letter, I understood why I couldn't read the message. As Chloe said, the message of Leina's letter were filled with her grudges, I could feel her hatred and vengeance even though I still didn't understand what exactly happened to poor Leina.

"So it was a revenge letter." I said while staring at the ceiling of my room.

The letter from Leina reminded me of Desmon, not the message of the letter but the grudge it said. According to Chloe, Desmon is also a vengeful ghost or at least Desmon has a grudge even though he hasn't become a vengeful ghost yet. But what if one day Desmon really becomes a vengeful ghost, this is not impossible considering Leina the phantom, whose grudge should have disappeared, her grudge can return. So it is very possible that one day Desmon's grudge will also return to him, it seems that I really have to keep him away from schools and students so that his trauma does not return and so that his grudge does not return.

I don't want to see Desmon —my best friend— become a vengeful ghost, that would be terrible.

"You could say that," Chloe replied and then paused a moment, "Actually, this is not the first time Leina has given a letter like this. I've also received it, even in the letter she gave me, she gave the title 'Letter at Night' with almost the same message as the letter given to you."

"Then what did you do with the letter?"

"I called Leina according to the instructions on the letter." replied Chloe who then directed her gaze at me, "Do you want me to tell you about the story?"

I also directed my gaze towards her until our eyes met. I didn't expect her face to be so close to mine, maybe only enough of a palm to fill the space between our faces. "Sure, if you don't mind."

Chloe smiled with her usual sweet smile, "Okay."

####