I am your typical nerd-thick glasses, buried in books, minding my own business. But behind that ordinary image, I have a secret. I see dead people. Roaming souls, spirits stuck between worlds. And I can see him.
He's the ghost I was supposed to help move on. But he doesn't want to leave me. And honestly, I don't want him to disappear either.
This cursed gift of mine-seeing spirits-was passed down from my grandfather.
When I was 17, I visited him on his deathbed. His last words to me were:
"Don't be scared. They won't harm you. Just live normally."
Back then, I thought he was being dramatic. Until the spirits started appearing. At first, it was terrifying. Pale faces, empty eyes, shadows at the edge of my vision. But then, I got used to them. They never really tried to hurt me. Some were even funny. I'd chat with them. Joke around. That's when people started noticing. The weird kid who reads books and talks to thin air.
I didn't care. I stayed low-key, lived normally, until he appeared. I met him in the library. At first, I thought he was just another ghost. But he was different.
Too tall. Too smug. Too perfect. He looked like a real person, not some translucent echo. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was just some flirt pulling a prank. But then came the biggest shock-he could touch me. And I could touch him. No ghost had ever done that.
He was Ashvian Frostborne.
All 6'2 of tall, ghostly beauty with bright messy pink hair and flawless skin. He wore a black t-shirt layered with a jacket and jeans, looking more like a runway model than someone who's supposed to be dead. Those golden, confident eyes didn't belong to a wandering soul.
They belonged to someone alive. Rich, even. Out of place. Too perfect.
How did I meet him? Just a regular day. I was reaching for a book in the library when I bumped into someone. I muttered a casual sorry, thinking he was just another student-until I caught the look in his eyes. He didn't say it aloud, but I read the question clear as day:
"You can see me?"
That's when it hit me.
ONLY I could see him, No one else could. He was another ghost, except, I'd felt the bump. I could touch him.
Worried someone would see me talking to thin air, I motioned him to follow me. We walked to my dorm, luckily empty. I locked the door, tossed my bag aside, and sat on the bed while he casually took a seat across from me, like he owned the room.
"Question time," I said, dead serious.
"How old are you?"
He shrugged lazily. "No clue."
"How and when did you die?" He leaned back, eyes calmly scanning the room with a hint of charm in his tone.
"I already said-I don't remember anything Just my name. One day I woke up like this, confused. Been roaming around for about half a year now. Got used to being invisible. Then came here for a walk..and you bumped into me." He paused, lips curving into a smile.
"I might not know who I was, but I do know I'm glad you saw me. Especially since you're this cute." He winked.
I sighed. Of course, my first touchable ghost had to be an annoying flirt.
But It was surprising. Confusing, even.
How could he remember nothing? No age. No death. No past.
And why was he so different from the other ghosts? I glanced at him again-Ashvian Frostborne. A name that sounded too majestic to be forgotten.
Everything about him felt.. off. Not in a scary way. In a "why are you special?" kind of way. But more than anything, it hurt thinking about it. He had been wandering for months-alone, invisible, unseen, unheard.
I couldn't imagine the loneliness.
"What do y'all think?" I turned to the other ghosts in my dorm room, hoping for something helpful. One was hanging upside down from the ceiling fan.
Another was flying in lazy loops.
A third perched like a cat on top of the cupboard. Two more were curled up on my bed, fast asleep like being dead meant nothing but eternal nap time.
"I dunno," the ghost girl on the cupboard said with a shrug. "But he's handsome."
"Thanks," Ashvian replied smoothly with a grin, not missing a beat. "This is serious, guys!"
I huffed. "He's different, okay? Why can I touch him? Why can he touch me? Ghosts aren't supposed to be solid!"
"Maybe fate wants us to keep touching until our hearts collide," he said casually, lounging like it was a date instead of an interrogation.
"Not funny, Ashvian," I deadpanned. He chuckled, low and husky, that irritatingly attractive laugh that made me feel like I was the one losing it. I was over here panicking-wondering what kind of supernatural glitch he was-and he was just sitting there like some gorgeous decorative pillow. Useless. Smiling. Way too chill for someone who might be a walking mystery. Suddenly, a question hit me.
"When you first woke up and realized you were a ghost..where were you? Do you remember the place?"
He leaned back, thoughtful. "Not the name. Just bits of how it looked. I was near a road.. some trees.. a rusty fence. That's all."
"But you'd recognize it again, right? Could you take me there?"
He gave a slow nod. "Yeah. I think I can."
"Good." I stood up, heart pounding. "We'll go. Maybe we'll find something- anything. Because I swear..there's more to you than you're letting on."
He just gave a soft hum, eyes gleaming gold as they met mine.
Our attention shifted the moment the dorm door creaked open. "It's my dormmates," I whispered quickly. "It's your first time here, so please don't do anything weird or talk to me while they're around. I don't want them noticing anything." But instead of nodding like a normal person, Ashvian looked far too entertained-like he just found a new game to play.
The door opened fully and in walked my dormmates-also my good friends-Drake, Jason, and Aiden. Their tall frames and chill energy filled the room instantly.
"Karl? You didn't attend classes today?" Drake asked while tossing his bag down and casually pulling off his hoodie to change.
"Wasn't feeling great," I replied smoothly, pretending I hadn't just been having a full-blown conversation with a ghost.
"You missed a lot, bro. Math teacher was in too good a mood today. He gave us questions even the devil couldn't solve. I swear I'm gonna shave that old man's moustache off," Jason groaned as he dropped onto his bed like a lifeless noodle.
K
I chuckled at his dramatic complaint. Then came Aiden's calm, quiet voice, as steady as always.
"They were tough, but important. I noted everything down for you. Let me know when you want the notes."
"Thanks, Aiden. I knew I could count on you for the serious stuff." I smiled gratefully.
My gaze slid to Ashvian, who was now staring at Aiden. Deeply. His expression unreadable. "What is it?" I whispered.
"Nothing," he shrugged, but his eyes lingered for a beat longer before shifting back to me. He then rested his face on his palm like some bored prince, eyes
sparkling with mischief.
"Your dormmates are alright, I guess..but you're definitely the cutest one here. Like a tiny bunny stuck between farm pigs."
My face flared up. "Seriously, what the hell are you saying?" I hissed, completely forgetting to lower my voice.
"Karl, you okay?" Drake asked, halfway through opening a pack of chips.
"Ah-yeah, nothing. Just a headache," I said quickly, forcing a smile.
Drake and Jason exchanged a glance, then went back to their loud snack-fueled banter. Aiden, however, stared at me a second longer before calmly returning to typing on his laptop.
I turned to glare at Ashvian, who was now smirking with way too much satisfaction. Yeah.. I could already tell this was just the beginning of his nonsense.
As my dormmates settled in, I tried to silently threaten Ashvian with my eyes. He only grinned wider, like he was enjoying a private joke I wasn't in on.
That made me more nervous than I'd like to admit. Aiden looked up from his laptop, eyes briefly flicking toward me, thoughtful. "Karl," he said softly, "are you sure you're okay?"
My heart stuttered. For a second I thought maybe he saw something. Or someone. "I'm fine," I said quickly, too quickly. "Just..headache, like I said."
"You look a bit flushed," Aiden added, brows drawing together slightly. "Do you have a fever?"
"No! No, no, definitely not. Just..you know, allergies?" I gave a weak laugh.
Meanwhile, Ashvian was literally floating upside down midair now, arms crossed, clearly enjoying himself. "Seriously stop,"
I hissed under my breath, trying to swat at him behind my book.
He dodged easily, chuckling, "What? I'm just admiring your dorm. Though..it does smell a bit like socks and testosterone in here."
"You're going to get me caught!"
He pouted. "Relax, I'm a ghost, remember? No one sees me. Except you. Lucky you get to enjoy my handsome face." I gave him the deadliest glare I could manage, which only earned me a wink. But the moment shifted fast. When Aiden stood up to get something from his drawer, Ashvian's smile dropped. His eyes followed Aiden again-sharp, focused, quiet. Like a predator watching something familiar..or suspicious.
I noticed. "You keep staring at him. Do you know him?" I whispered.
Ashvian didn't answer right away. Then said slowly, "No. Not exactly...I just don't remember honestly."
"Ah, sure, you don't, genius." I rolled eyes. He glanced at me, voice changing to teasing with that smug grin, "Yes, but you know you look cute even when you're rolling eyes at me."
Before I could snap at him in embarrassment, Drake tossed a pillow at my face. "Hey Karl, don't zone out on us. You always daydreaming, man."
Jason added through a mouthful of chips, "Dude probably imagining his dream boyfriend again."
They both cackled. Ashvian whispered near my ear, "Too bad it's not a dream. I'm real, and already yours."
I nearly choked.
"Don't do that!" I whisper-yelled, clutching my chest. Ashvian just laughed softly, stretching out across my bed like he owned it, his smug ghost self slowly making himself more and more comfortable in my life.
Something told me this was only the beginning...