It was 9:00 pm and Xinyi was in a hurry to get home. Work was hectic today and so he had to stay in late to finish reports that are due this week.
When Xinyi got to the bus station, he saw a lady in white sitting there. Since it will take a while before the next bus arrives, Xinyi sat beside the Lady.
The Lady was looking at her laps as if she didn't want Xinyi to see her face. She gave out this depressive aura.
Being the kind man that he is,Xinyi cleared his throat and addressed the Lady.
"Big Sister, you look kind of sad. Is everything okay?"Xinyi asked.
But the Lady didn't respond.
If anything , she lowered her head even more as if she doesn't want her face to be seen.
Realizing that he wasn't going to get answers from her, he did decide to continue anyways.
" I don't know what you are going through,but it is okay not to be okay. Your feelings are valid.The next bus isn't in yet so I will just sit here and keep you company for the meantime."Xinyi said.
He and the Lady sat in silence until the bus arrived.
When Xinyi got on the bus, the Lady followed suit,sitting beside Xinyi with her head still lowered.
Looking at the Lady,Xinyi felt that there was something off about her but he couldn't tell what exactly.
" Big Sister,where would you alight?"Xinyi asked but still got no response.
They both sat in silence until Xinyi reached his destination 10 minutes later.
When Xinyi got down, he realized that the Lady in white also got down.
" Big Sister, do you leave around here?"Xinyi asked. But again, he got no response.
Since the Lady was acting oddly and couldn't be communicated with, Xinyi decided there was no point in trying to be friendly and started to walk away. But oddly enough, the Lady moved to follow behind Xinyi. Whenever he stops, she also stops.
This started to creep Xinyi out. 'Why is she following me?Or her house is in the same path?
But that doesn't explain the reason she stops when I stop!'Xinyi thought to himself.
He quickened his steps but oddly enough, the distance between and the Lady didn't increase even tho the Lady didn't walk fast to catch up to him.
'Calm down' Xinyi mentally told himself and tried to find a way to shake off the Lady,but Xinyi was new to this area and so didn't know the ins and outs of this place.
Right when he got close to the entrance of the apartment,he saw Zeren at the entrance holding two paper bags.
Xinyi sighed in relief and turned around to look at the Lady in white but...'She is gone? Where did she disappear too?'Xinyi thought to himself.
" Xinyi?You Okay?"Zeren asked seeing Xinyi spacing out.
" Oh, Yeah,yeah I am okay...did you see anyone behind me?"Xinyi asked.
" Mn. But she is gone now" Zeren said.
" Gone? Where did she go?"Xinyi asked confused.
" She disappeared"Zeren replied like it was normal.
" Disappeared? What do you mean?" Xinyi asked, because a human can't just disappear like that.
" She wasn't human Xinyi"Zeren said in a flat tone, looking at Xinyi like he was dumb.
" She isn't human? She is a ghost?"Xinyi asked.
"Mn"
Xinyi stood there frozen remembering all that happened at the bus station and their conversation...well one sided conversation .
He was sitting that close to a ghost!! And to think he decided to motivate her! Xinyi just wanted the earth to swallow him now.
" Xinyi you okay?"Zeren asked again.
" Yeah, I am fine. Just surprised that she is a ghost"Xinyi replied. "Let's head inside first" he continued and led the way inside not wanting to stand outside anymore.
Back in Zeren's room,Zeren headed to the kitchen with the [paper bags. Noticing the bags for the first time, Xinyi asked "You went grocery shopping?"
" Mn."
" You plan on cooking?"Xinyi asked.
" Already cooked before going out"Zeren said.
" Oh, wow! Didn't know you could cook"Xinyi said
" I will freshen up first before eating then "
" Mn"
Xinyi placed his things on Zeren's desk and entered the bathroom humming a song.
While taking off his clothes,Xinyi realized the window was opened and went to close it. But when he looked out,a chill went through his spine.
The Lady in Lady in white was standing at the entrance of the apartment staring back at Xinyi. Xinyi panicked and immediately closed the window.
" Shit, the fuck is she doing here again?"Xinyi asked himself.
He decided to stop thinking about it and went to take his bath.
After the bath,Xinyi came out with a towel around his waist humming a song.
Xinyi suddenly froze when he looked at the mirror.
The place was suddenly eerily silent.
The Lady in white was just behind him! He turned around quickly to see her.
" Uh...Big Sister, how did you get in here?"Xinyi asked. But as usual the Lady didn't respond.
She raised her head and Xinyi took a cold breath. Her eye socket was empty! And her face was pale.
" Why did you leave? You left me...! You are just like everyone just wants to use me!"She whispers shouted.
" Uh...Big Sister what do you mean?"Xinyi asked and took a step back.
That step back seems to have angered her. She took a step forward.
" You don't want me anymore! Is it because I have lost my beauty? Or you have found someone else!!"The Lady in white was practically screaming at this point.
Xinyi ran to the door and tried to open it , but the door refused to open.
" You are Mine! No one else can have you! I won't let you leave me. Never!!"The Lady kept saying.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
...
" Xinyi, are you okay there?"Zeren asked.
Everywhere was suddenly silent... Xinyi turned only to see that the ghost was gone and its place was a photo on the floor. It looks like a group picture.
" Xinyi?"Zeren called out.
" I am fine now"Xinyi said.
" What happened?"
" I will tell you when I come out"Xinyi said.
He left the door and headed to where the picture was lying. He hesitantly picked it up.
It was a group picture indeed, of seven people and a doctor. Xinyi realized a part of the picture has been torn away.And among the people, the most noticeable was a lady who was dressed in white.
She had a pale skin and red hair. She had a symmetrical and sharp face in a soft way. Her eyebrows are full and neatly shaped, framing her eyes perfectly. Her eyes are large and slightly almond shaped with long lashes that make them look even deeper. She had full lips,with a natural soft shape, and then smooth and slightly glossy.
Xinyi connected her to the Lady in white. Even though she looked slightly different now, it was undeniable that it was her in the pictures.
He went out of the bathroom with the picture in hand and saw Zeren leaning on the wall with his hands crossed waiting for him.
" The Lady somehow got into the bathroom"Xinyi blunted out
" I know...I heard. Guess you have a girlfriend now."Zeren said earning a glare from Xinyi.
" Where from that?"Zeren asked pointing to the picture with his chin.
" Oh, I found this picture after she left."Xinyi said and showed the picture to Zeren. Zeren looked at the picture intently.
" Do you know anyone in the picture?"Xinyi asked.
"No, I don't"Zeren said and moved away.
" Go get dressed. You are literally naked."Zeren continued.
Xinyi finally remembered that he only had a towel covering him. He rushed to the bedroom to get dressed. When he came out, Zeren was at the dining table already eating.
Seeing Xinyi, he pointed to the extra plate full of food.
" That's yours"
Xinyi sat down and started to eat.
" Mm. Your cooking is better than mine!"Xinyi said
" Mn"
Xinyi woke up to Zeren spooning him, he sighed and tried to pull away. But Zeren's hands tightened around him, pulling him closer.
"Zeren, let go I need to get ready for work"Xinyi said but didn't get any response
"Zeren? Zeren?"Still not getting a response from him, Xinyi turned around in his hands to face him.
Sleeping Zeren looked different from awake Zeren. He had a soft look..different from the expressionless Zeren. Xinyi raised his hands to move away the hair in his way of seeing Zeren's face properly.
At that very moment, Zeren opened his eyes. Xinyi froze, he looked like a deer caught in the light. He realized how his face was to Zeren's,he subconsciously looked at Zeren's lips.
Seeing this, Zeren raised his eyebrow,"Wanna taste them?" Hearing Zeren's question, he was suddenly brought back to his senses.
When Zeren's question registered in his head,he panicked and suddenly pulled away. Since Zeren had already loosened his hold on him, Xinyi ended up falling on the ground.
" You okay?"Zeren asked.
" Yeah, yeah I am fine!"Xinyi said, got up and rushed to the bathroom.
Xinyi went about his day without any incident. It was time to head home, and Xinyi decided to use the washroom first before coming to pack his things and leave.
When he returned to his desk,he found something that shouldn't be there.
A photo was lying on top of his laptop. He doesn't remember putting a picture there.
He picked it up. It was a picture of two ladies.
The Lady in white and another lady both smiling at the camera.
" Where from this picture?"Xinyi asked himself. Since he didn't have the answer to his question.
He packed his things and left the office.
Today he was lucky, when he got to the bus station,the bus that passed his route was already there, so he got in.
When the bus took off, he saw the lady in white standing at the corner of the bus stop looking at him.
A shiver ran down his spine. 'When did she arrive here?'Xinyi asked himself.
When he got to the entrance of the apartment, he saw the Lady in white standing across the street. Not wanting to be anywhere near her, he walked fast and entered the building.
When he got to the second floor,he saw a shadow in the corridor. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest.
Not wasting a second, he ran up the stairs. But he realized something scary.
Whenever he passes a stairs the shadow will appear there.. like it was trailing him!
When Xinyi got to the seventh floor staircase, the shadow lost its patience. He suddenly appeared behind him.
Suddenly someone else appeared in front of him,he nearly collided with the person.
It was Lady in white!
This time...
She was smiling.