two

"Wakey wakey!"

Jihoon felt around, trying to turn off the alarm or hit the person annoying him so early in the morning. When his hand only touched air, he sleepily opened one eye and saw the ghost from last night looking over him with a huge smile. Jihoon groaned and rolled over. Maybe if he went back to sleep, the ghost would give up and Jihoon could get the rest he deserved.

"Wakey Wakey!" Soonyoung sang again, this time in Jihoon's ear.

Jihoon let out a loud and frustrated yell. "Go away!"

He blindly reached for his phone. The screen displayed 6:23 A.M. at him and he had the sudden urge to throw the device. However, he set it back on the nightstand. He couldn't afford to buy a new one. An author's salary was staggeringly less than a producer's. He sat up and glared at Soonyoung, now fully awake and grumpy.

"Why are you waking me up at this ungodly hour?"

Soonyoung seemed unfazed by Jihoon's annoyance and anger. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying it.

"The sun has been up for a while now. You're wasting daylight as we speak."

"I will waste daylight however and whenever I see fit. Goodnight." Jihoon huffed before wrapping his duvet around him, trying to regain a bit of sleepiness.

He was awoken once more, but not by Soonyoung. This time, it was his phone. It chimed loudly with a notification. He screamed in frustration as he rolled over and snatched his phone off the nightstand. All he wanted was more sleep. Was that really too much to ask for? The notification was a text message from his editor and only friend, Jeon Wonwoo.

'Hey, don't forget we have a meeting later to discuss your latest novel.'

Jihoon sighed and looked up at the ceiling. If there was a god, he wished to be struck down at that very moment. Let him be the ghost for a change and annoy some poor human. He finally looked back at the ghost who was still smiling brightly at him.

"Your girlfriend?" He asked, referring to the text message.

"Work. I have a meeting soon." He corrected. "I'm wide awake now, satisfied?"

Soonyoung scoffed. "You're still doing work? It's a Saturday. My friends weren't even this boring."

Jihoon perked up at the mention of Soonyoung's friends. That was a good start and a hopeful lead to get the annoying ghost out of his life.

"If you remember your friends, why don't you go haunt them instead?"

"Because they can't see me, Dumbass!" Soonyoung pointed out. He then mumbled, "Most respected person in the spirit world, and he also happens to be the most boring as well."

An hour later, Jihoon was dressed and slightly caffeinated, but still not fully awake. He trudged his way through the publishing company Wonwoo worked for and headed straight for his office. Soonyoung the chatty ghost was still following him and talking his ear off the entire time.

"Seriously, you wouldn't believe how boring the spirit world is. I thought it would be fun like it is in the movies. I thought I could find a cool old house to haunt and maybe be a cool Scooby-Doo villain, but it's nothing like that. How disappointing, huh?" Soonyoung ranted.

"I was excited to meet you." He continued. "The other ghosts said that you're really good at helping ghosts cross over, but I don't see how. All you do is sleep and work."

Jihoon rolled his eyes. He either needed to solve the sprit's problem fast or find a quick sure way to get rid of him. Soonyoung was driving him nuts. He desperately wanted to tell him to shut up, but there were too many people in the building and Jihoon wanted to save face. He still had to come to the company from time to time. So, he used all of his willpower to ignore Soonyoung as he walked into Wonwoo's office.

Jihoon and Wonwoo had known each other for over three years. They met when Jihoon got signed on to the publishers for his first novel. Wonwoo was assigned as his editor. Jihoon had been weary of Wonwoo at first. After all, he had superiority over him and he knew from experience that those kinds of relationships never lasted, but this one proved to be different. They got along well. Wonwoo was a mild talker but knew how to keep things from being awkward. If it wasn't for Wonwoo, Jihoon would be all alone in the world.

The taller greeted Jihoon warmly and motioned for him to sit down. Once he was seated, he looked out of the corner of his eye to see Soonyoung perched on the edge of Soonyoung's desk. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Would it kill him to sit in a chair? Wait...

Wonwoo cleared his throat as he took his seat behind the desk. "I sent up your latest manuscript and they sent back word this morning." He started.

Jihoon perked up at the mention of his latest manuscript. It was one he was especially proud of. He had spent a lot of time and effort on it. He was looking forward to the board's reaction.

"What did they say?" He asked eagerly, trying not to let his excitement show too much.

Wonwoo hesitated for a second. "They rejected it."

It was a harsh blow. He really thought it was going to go through. He had so much hope for it and now that had been crushed.

"Why?" He decided to ask. He thought it was perfect. It was exciting and brought something new to the genre Jihoon specialized in. He needed to know why the board thought differently.

"They said it wasn't what they were looking for. It was too dark for them."

Jihoon frowned. Did all novels have to be happy, bright, and cheerful? What was the point of writing something if everything was going to be manufactured the same way? There were dark things in the world. Why not write about them as well?

"If it makes you feel any better, I thought it was really good. It could have really boosted sales. It's their loss." Wonwoo tried.

He hated to see his friend upset, especially since he knew how hard he had worked on this particular novel. The board was full of idiots in his opinion. Jihoon just gave him a small smile, obviously all excitement and happiness drained out of him.

"I better get going, start writing something they will accept."

Wonwoo nodded and let him leave, knowing it was better that way.

"Wait  for me!" Soonyoung exclaimed. "I may be a ghost but that doesn't mean that I'm Sonic the fucking Hedgehog."

Jihoon had almost forgotten about Soonyoung. The spirit had been uncharacteristically quiet during the meeting. If Jihoon hadn't been in the mood for a chatty ghost earlier that morning, he certainly wasn't now. He was pissed and disappointed, a dangerous combination.

"Just go away." He muttered under his breath.

Soonyoung somehow caught what he said and shook his head. "No can do. You promised to help me. You have to honor that."

"I'm not really in the mood," Jihoon whispered, making sure no one was looking at him.

"How about I cheer you up then?" The ghost offered.

Once Jihoon made sure he was at a safe distance from living people, he frowned at the ghost standing beside him.

"No offense, but you're a ghost. How exactly are you going to cheer me up?"

A playful smile made its way to the ghost's face. "I may be dead, but at least I'm in high spirits."

Jihoon groaned at the table pun and started walking away. "Thanks but no thanks. I'd rather be alone."

Soonyoung huffed. "You promised me! I may seem nice, but everyone has a snapping point. If you don't help me, I will make your life a living hell." He threatened.

Jihoon didn't even bother turning around. He'd lost count of how many ghosts had given him that exact same threat. It was nearly laughable at this point.

"That's big coming from a dead person." He snorted. "You think I haven't heard that before? I've dealt with this shit all my life. It doesn't wor-" He was suddenly interrupted by a flying can hitting him directly on the forehead.

"What the fuck?" Jihoon exclaimed, holding his now throbbing head in pain.

Soonyoung ignored him and started singing a random children's song at an obnoxious volume while tossing more trash at Jihoon. At that point, a crowd of onlookers gathered, watching him getting pelted by miscellaneous pieces of trash.

"Alright! I'll help you! Just stop!" Jihoon shouted.

Just like that, the trashing throwing stopped and Soonyoung's bright smile returned. "You should have started with that."

Jihoon rolled his eyes as he dusted himself off. He caught the onlookers staring at him and he blushed a deep crimson. Here he was being outcasted once more. Some even had their phones out, no doubt recording the strange moment. He wouldn't be able to show his face anywhere anymore. He gave an awake bow while apologizing and ran the entire way back home. Once safely home, he slid against the door, sitting himself firmly on the ground. Maybe he could move again, change his name and occupation. The whole ghost business was social suicide. Speaking of which...Jihoon turned to see Soonyoung seated on the kitchen counter, twirling an apple around in his hand.

"I miss eating." The spirit pouted. "I really should have eaten more fruit when I was alive."

Jihoon was about to be annoyed about the fact that Soonyoung had followed him home, but his eyes were drawn to the talismans hanging above him. How had Soonyoung managed to get past them? Jihoon pointed at them.

"How did you get in here with these? They're supposed to prevent annoying spirits like you from entering."

"First off, rude. Second," Soonyoung said as he floated down from the counter, "they do work, but only if they're right-side-up." He informed.

Jihoon flushed pink in embarrassment and angrily muttered to himself. How could he have been so dumb? Hanging them upside down? He was really an idiot. He only had himself to blame for Soonyoung annoying him. He had to take responsibility.

"What do you need help with? Let's get this done and over with."

"So enthusiastic." Soonyoung quipped.

Jihoon sighed, already regretting all of his life choices.