That night, Aiden, Jason, and I sat in our dorm to study while Drake was out for his evening game. I was trying to focus on the notes Aiden had given me, pen in hand, eyes on the page... when Ashvian decided to casually phase through the wall and sit cross-legged right on top of my desk. Right in front of me. Chin resting on his palm. Staring. Of course, the others couldn't see him. But I could. And how the hell was I supposed to concentrate with his face just there?
"..What the hell are you doing?" I whispered, glaring.
He simply shrugged, voice calm. "Staring at you."
I groaned and tried to ignore him, returning to the notes. But then came his lazy voice, smooth and low. "..You bite your lip when you're focused. That's new. Cute."
Clack.
My pen slipped and hit the floor dramatically, rolling away.
Jason glanced over. "You okay, Karl?"
"Fine. I'm-fine. Just..choking on knowledge." I gave a weak laugh.
Ashvian smirked, then leaned in, voice like velvet brushing my ear. "Want me to give you something else to bite instead?"
What the actual!
I slammed the book shut, silently screaming in my mind, while Ashvian burst into happy ghost laughter. Aiden and Jason blinked at me.
"Karl, you sure you're okay?" Jason asked, patting my shoulder gently.
"I'm fine," I muttered, sighing. But Ashvian wasn't done. His eyes flicked to Jason's hand on my shoulder, a sudden chill creeping into the air.
Jason blinked, clearly feeling something, and moved his hand away, glancing around like he'd just caught a breeze from the underworld.
I shot Ashvian a glare. He just smiled, all innocent with a devil's smirk.
There was no way I could study with him here. His eyes alone burned holes through my sanity.
"I think I'll go for a walk," I said, standing abruptly. "Feeling a little stuffy."
Aiden and Jason nodded, absorbed in their own work. I made a quick escape, Ashvian floating along beside me like he owned the air. We walked silently under the dim streetlights of the campus park.
I folded my arms, trying to block out the cold-or the annoyance beside me. Probably both.
"What now?" he teased, walking backwards in front of me. "You keep sighing like I'm the worst thing that's ever happened to you."
"No. Just realizing there's no point in scolding you," I muttered. Then softer, "If teasing me makes you a little happy, I guess it's worth it."
Ashvian paused, staring. Something in his eyes shifted. Then he smiled.
"I swear, your face when you're flustered or mad.. makes dying seem not so bad after all." I looked at him quietly. "I don't even think you're dead," I said. "There's something more to you. I just..feel it."
He looked like he was about to say something-but a voice called out from behind.
"Karl? What're you doing here?"
Drake. Just returning from his game, hoodie unzipped, holding a water bottle.
"Oh-just walking," I said quickly, glancing at Ashvian with a silent don't even think about it warning. Ashvian gave a little nod like a well-behaved schoolboy.
Drake walked over. "Let's go around a bit more before heading back. Dorms lock soon anyway."
"Sure," I said, nodding. And as I walked between the boy who was alive and the one who maybe wasn't, I couldn't help but feel like things were only going to get more complicated.
That night, I lay on the top bunk bed, trying desperately to fall asleep. Or at least pretend to. Anything to ignore Ashvian, who was lounging in midair beside me like it was the most normal thing ever. Legs crossed, arms behind his head, hovering effortlessly like a bored prince of chaos. He didn't even bother to sit on the bed like a normal ghost.
"What do you want?" I grumbled, turning away.
Ashvian tilted his head, calm as always, a subtle smile tugging at his lips. "Don't worry," he said softly. "I won't do anything..unless you beg."
I rolled my eyes. "I. Am. Trying. To. Sleep."
He finally floated down, settling on the bed beside me with a soft thud that sent a chill down my spine. I instinctively scooted toward the wall-but he caged me in before I could get far. One arm pressed against the wall beside my head, his face leaning in. I could feel his breath-cold, almost unreal-brush against my skin. His eyes locked with mine, unwavering. The teasing smirk on his face softened into something quieter.
"Don't disturb me!"
"Then stop thinking about me."
"I'M NOT-!!" I blurted.
From the other side of the room, Jason stirred. "Not what?" he called out groggily.
Shit.
"...Not sleeping well," I muttered.
Jason just hummed and mumbled a goodnight before turning over.
Ashvian bit back a laugh, grinning like a smug cat with a bowl of cream.
I sighed, exhausted. "Yes, I was thinking about you.. just wondering, that's all."
He didn't move. Our faces were dangerously close, noses nearly brushing, foreheads lightly touching. His voice dropped again, now softer and more intimate. "I'm glad you're thinking about me. But instead of being Sherlock about my origin, just think of me as a ridiculously handsome, dangerously hot guy. That would make me way happier."
I groaned. "Stay shut and let me sleep."
"I can't sleep. I'm a ghost, remember?"
"Then be my night guard," I murmured, already losing to sleep. "Plenty of ghosts like to bother me. Don't let them." There was a pause. Then a small hum from him, no teasing this time. I felt the mattress dip slightly as he adjusted, quieter now. His hand moved, gentle. Fingers brushed my hair back from my face.
I was already drifting, barely conscious, but I still felt his touch-light and slow, caressing across my forehead, then along my eyelashes like he was memorizing every part of me.
His voice whispered through the silence.
"I don't know why..but every time I look at you, this feeling, this connection-it only grows stronger."
The next morning, when I slowly woke up, I faintly felt a hand patting and caressing my hair. It was Ashvian. Of course it's him.
His expression wasn't the usual smug one-it was complicated, almost..soft. But the moment he noticed I was waking up, he quickly moved his hand away and stretched lazily, playing it cool.
"You slept like a pig, but it's alright 'cause you're cute," he said. I rolled my eyes. "Good morning to you too."
Climbing off the bed, I greeted the others.
Only Aiden replied, since Jason and Drake were already too busy arguing over snacks again. I went to brush my teeth, too lazy to think about anything. But then-Ashvian suddenly wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I flinched. "The heck are you doing?" I stared at him through the mirror, eyes wide. He didn't even open his eyes. "Hugging you. Feels nice." He mumbled against my shoulder, too comfortable for a ghost.
I rolled my eyes again, but then-he murmured close to my ear,
"You're lucky I'm dead. If I weren't, we'd be fogging this mirror together." I choked-nearly flinging the toothpaste across the sink.
Aiden walked by the open door. "Karl, you okay?"
I panicked. "I-Yeah! Just remembered..I hate mint!"
Ashvian smirked like the smug bastard he was. Aiden nodded slowly and walked off. I glared at Ashvian. "Get. Out."
"Why?" he blinked innocently.
"I need to change, you idiot. So get out of here, Dumb ghost." He tilted his head. "Oh? You shy? That's cute." I snapped and kicked him out, slamming the door shut.
After washing my face off, I was halfway through pulling on my shirt when Ashvian suddenly phased right through the wall.
"Your dormmates are weird as hell, That blonde one is literally eating chips with Nutella," he said with a straight face, like it was the biggest crisis in the afterlife.
"AH!" I shrieked, clutching my shirt like I'd just seen a demon crawl out of the sink. He raised a brow and smirked,
"Don't shout. People might get the wrong idea."
"Shut up!" I hissed. "I said don't come here-I'm changing!" But he wasn't listening. His eyes shamelessly roamed over my exposed waist. "You're so selfish," he muttered like a pouty cat.
"You've got a really sexy waist. Let me appreciate it."
"GET. OUT!" I shouted, yanking my shirt down in panic. "Fine, fine," he smirked, hands up in surrender before he finally vanished into the wall.
"Karl, why'd you scream?" came Drake's voice from the other room.
I stammered, "I..just saw a cockroach!"
And hurriedly finished changing before someone actually did walk in.
Later, walking to class, I felt Ashvian floating lazily beside me like a shadow with a crush.
"Don't tell me you're a nerd," he teased, arms crossed behind his head, hovering just above the ground.
"Yes, I'm a nerd," I muttered. "And a weirdo who talks to thin air. Now shut up before I get banned from society."
He chuckled, glancing around at the confused looks I was getting from people nearby. "Oops. My bad."
I felt a bit tired in class, keeping a low profile while sipping coffee and lazily writing notes. Ashvian sat beside me, face turned toward me, whispering calmly out of nowhere- "Your bedhead's cute. But your pajamas were cuter."
I choked-loudly. The professor glanced at me with concern.
"Karl, something wrong?"
I forced a very strained smile. "No, sir. Just.. hot coffee. I'm sorry, please continue." Ashvian leaned in closer, fingers lightly patting my palm like he wasn't the root of my social downfall.
"Was it the coffee that was hot.. or me?" He winked. I nearly flung my notebook at him. He only chuckled.
After class, I tried to focus on finishing my notes while Ashvian, surprisingly, fell quiet-too quiet. I looked over and found him completely absorbed in a novel I had handed him earlier. It was weirdly peaceful, like the calm before one of his chaotic storms. I didn't even notice when I dozed off mid-sentence.
When I woke up, the first thing I felt was...softness. Specifically, the soft warmth of a lap. I blinked in shock and found myself resting on Ashvian's lap. He sat comfortably, gently stroking my hair like it was the most natural thing in the world, his expression calm..almost tender.
I jerked awake, glancing around in panic-thankfully, the classroom was empty. I sighed in relief.
"Sorry, I fell asleep.." I mumbled, a bit embarrassed.
Ashvian just smiled down at me, fingers still playing with my hair. "It's okay. I've got you." His voice was soft-soothing even. The way he looked at me made my heart stutter, like I was something fragile and precious in his ghostly hands.
I sat up quickly, trying to shake the feeling. "Okay enough. Don't play around too much." I cleared my throat.
"You said you remember the place where you first found yourself in, right? Let's go there this afternoon." His expression shifted. The smug smile faded, replaced by something colder-more vulnerable. "Why?" he asked.
"Are you that desperate to solve my mystery..so you can get rid of me?"
I blinked, caught off guard.
"What? No! What are you talking about? Why would you think that?" He didn't answer. His eyes searched mine for something, maybe reassurance.
I softened. "Ashvian..I know you act all joyful and carefree, like nothing bothers you. But I can see through that."
I met his gaze steadily. "I know you're scared. Scared of being forgotten. Of being unseen. That's why you cling to me-because I can see you. But I don't want to 'get rid' of you." I smiled gently, reaching up to pat his hair the way he always did to mine. "I just want to help. If we solve the mystery of how you're here, maybe you won't have to be scared anymore. You can stay without that feeling of possibly vanishing if something goes wrong. You'll know where you belong. And I want that-for you." I shrugged playfully. "Besides, I'm already used to your antics.. so I wouldn't mind even if you stayed annoyingly close forever."
Ashvian's expression faltered. His eyes-usually mischievous-were full of something deeper now. Like he was staring at the only light in a very long darkness. And he didn't want to lose it.
But his serious expression quickly slipped back into that familiar smug, joyful smile. He leaned in close, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"So.. you're saying you like it when I tease you?"
My face flamed red-like, full-on tomato level. "What the hell? When did I ever say that?" I stammered, stumbling backward, nearly toppling off the chair. But his arm was lightning fast, wrapping around my waist and pulling me flush against his chest.
"You're clumsy," he chuckled, voice low and amused, "which is honestly way too adorable."
I pushed him away, pouting and sulking, trying to look mad, but inside, my heart was racing like crazy. My skin tingled where his warmth still lingered against my waist.
What is happening to me?
As I wrestled with my thoughts, I noticed Ashvian was silent, almost lost-his usual playful spark replaced by a soft, deep gaze fixed on me.
This was making me feel things which i never knew of...