Chapter 5

I startled. “G-great! You really are...a ghost!!” I said in awe.

Tom smiled. “You’re really not afraid of me.” He said slowly, seemingly amused with my reaction.

“Ahaha... How long have you been here?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Two years...”

“Wow, it’s that long? You must be Mrs. Rosa’s son, right? Does she know you’re here?” I asked again.

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

I pinched my own cheek hard and moaned in pain after that. I really didn’t think that I could really speak with a ghost. It still felt not real for me -even if I was still rubbing my cheek.

.....

Tom laughed seeing me rubbing my redden cheek. A sense of curiosity overwhelmed me as I raised my hand and touched him.

Cold, like touching the air.

“At least I have a friend to talk to in my room, right?” I blinked at him.

After confirming that he was a ghost, I stood up and headed to the bathroom. I really needed to take a shower. But then, a thought crossed my mind.

“Can you walk through the wall?” I asked over my shoulder.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Yes...” Tom answered.

“I want to take a bath. Don’t you dare to take a peek on me.” I glared at him.

I did remember that I had taken a bath before I slept, but I felt I’m all sweaty and sticky again. I needed to take a bath again and turned on the air conditioner to the coolest temperature.

“I won’t. Don’t worry.” He said as he floated out the room.

I walked into the bathroom and locked the door behind me. Realizing what I was doing, I cursed myself. He could walk through the wall, what’s the point of locking up the door?

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the thought to behind my mind. Still, I couldn’t help but stay alert. Even if he was a ghost, he was still a man. And I was a girl.

It would be embarrassing to me!

I took a bath as quick as I could and walked out the bathroom in bathrobe and underwear. I looked around me. I thought it was safe.

No sign of Tom.

I took my clothes from the wardrobe and put on my pants. I was just about to put on my T-shirt when I saw Tom floated through the wall. I screamed and pulled the blanket to cover my body.

“Woaah, what is it? What is it?” He asked, startled. He stopped in front of me.

“I’m dressing up! Can you, please, be aware of your surrounding?! Don’t just float in like that! Turn around!” I shouted at him. I was really sure I was blushing at that time, madly.

“Ah, I’m sorry.” He said before he turned around until his back was facing me.

I kept looking at him as I put on my T-shirt. He was really a good ghost -if ‘good’ was the right word to describe him. He didn’t take a peek even just a slightest. I guessed what happened just now was pure coincidence.

“Done..” I told him and he turned around again. This time, he was facing me.

“Sorry...” He said. He really looked sorry.

“Don’t worry. It’s okay.” I said quickly as I waved my hand in front of my face. I took my lotion and applied it on my skin.

Tom seemed to watch me all the times. His hand reached my arm and I shivered as I felt the coldness of his hand.

Tom pulled back his hand and looked at his palm in sorrow. “I can’t touch and feel anything anymore.” He said slowly.

Seeing him like that somehow made me feel sad. I watched him as he covered his face with his hands. He was sitting, half floating. Without I realized, I had approached him and stood on my knees. I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him. It felt weird, but I could feel when my hands touched him.

Don’t think about it.” I said softly, tried to comfort him.

Minutes had passed and we were still in this position. A couple of minutes later, Tom raised his head. It’s a cue for me to release my hug.

“You...hug me?” He sounded confused, as if he had just realized that I was hugging him.

“Yes. Why?” I replied, as confused as him.

For real? You noticed it just now?

Tom shook his head. “Nothing. Thanks.”

His expression did not seem good, but he was not as gloomy and sad as before.

“Don’t mention it. Feeling better?” I asked, ignoring the confusion in my mind.

Tom nodded and I took a deep breath.

Heh, somehow, I managed to calm him down.

And that’s how I got a roommate, a rare one, should I say.