Chapter 41 - I'm Scared!

"I'm already unfortunate to have my body stolen," Devon murmured as a faint sigh slipped past her lips. "To top it all off, a grim reaper and a hardworking angel possesses my dear friends Marl and Kween. Marl, I mean, you, can you at least sympathize with me by giving this poor soul a free drink?"

"It's because I assumed it is offensive knowing you're now a wandering soul." Marl smiled as he slid a glass of margarita towards her. "My apologies."

Devon inspected the drink briefly before shifting her eyes to Kween. "Chacha, this is not what we agreed upon. Nani1 the heck? I did all that voodoo perfectly. Did you con me?"

"Wow… the nerve!" Kween scrunched her nose up in dismay. "The reason I'm working overtime is because of you! Did you know that?"

"En, en." Devon crooned nonchalantly, rolling her eyes as she tried to grab her drink, but her hand just passed through. "It's because I can't cross the next phase of my life, right?"

"Not can't, but you just don't want to!" Kween exclaimed in frustration. This unprecedented problem that arose had been giving Her — the soul possessing Kween's body — who granted Devon's wish a headache ever since.

"Why did you even wished for this if you're unwilling to leave, anyway?" 

Kween added as she chugged down the entire glass of alcohol and slammed it down against the bar counter. "How frustrating! One more!" She demanded, and Marl served her another drink.

"Don't get so worked up, Cheche. You already know I'm a little fickle." Unlike Kween, who was seriously stressed in this situation, Devon was calm as a lake.

"And your fickleness will be the death of you! Did you think you can stay in the same world without a body?" Kween grumbled as she ground her teeth, annoyed at Devon's indifference.

"But I'm already dead, am I not, Chichi?" Devon argued, tilting her head to the side. "Also, I can just get my body back."

Kween pounded the bottom of her fist against her shoulders and said, "Ahh… my blood pressure."

"Chocho, calm down." Devon cast the distress Kween a glance and clicked her tongue lightly. "How can I just cross the other world after watching that girl ruin my perfect image?"

"What perfect image are you talking about?!" Kween hollered, unable to contain herself anymore.

"My pristine image, Chuchu! It's scary to watch myself make all those annoying expressions! Ahh… I'm getting goosebumps!" Devon shivered as she rubbed her shoulders for dramatic effect.

"Hah! What kind of ghost gets goosebumps?" Kween snorted as she leered at Devon.

"Miss Lin, Churu is just worried that you will miss your chance of crossing the life you ought to take." Marl chimed in as he chuckled. "I know you're also worried about the new owner of your body, but the Princess will learn about this world, eventually."

"Gosh… I know that," Devon murmured, and let out another deep sigh. "It's just that… ghost lingered in this world because of regret, right? I have also regrets. Can I have my body back?"

****

Devon and Lewis played a bit more in the playground before heading back to the apartment after sending Derek back. Devon recalled Kween's words about the real Devon's notes as soon as they returned to the apartment.

"I'll freshen up, you should too," Lewis said as he trudged towards their shared room. He turned to her when he was by the door. "You already know how right?"

Since Lewis had instructed her how to bathe earlier, he expected her to know how the shower works. The bathroom inside their shared room wasn't the only place to shower, after all.

"Alright," Devon answered with a nod. He stared at her for a moment before he headed inside their shared room.

"Personal notes," Devon murmured as she marched towards where Lewis went in. But just as she took a step forward, she heard a faint noise.

PSST!

Devon furrowed her brows as she looked around. Agnes had left for home already, and Lewis was inside the room. A sense of dread crawled up to her spine, but she squashed it down immediately.

"I think I'm exhausted," she murmured to herself, shaking her head and resumed her steps.

PSST!

This time, it sounded louder and more distinct. She gulped, carefully looking around with her heart hammering against her ribcage. Her eyes landed on the slightly opened door of the real Devon's room.

"Who… who's there?" Her voice shook as she mustered her courage to approach the room. The other part of her brain told her not to approach the room, but the dominant part of her brain urged her to do so. 

Devon sprawled her arms as her trembling hands held on the doorknob. "I'll just check," she told herself, pushing the door open as it strangely creaked.

She peeked her head inside the unlit room, knitting her brows upon seeing the bright laptop screen. Something within her compelled her to enter. So before she could think twice, Devon trudged in.

Fortunately, she remembered how Lewis turned the switched on in this room. So Devon turned the lights on which immediately murdered the eerie ambiance of the room.

"My friend had mentioned Miss Lin likes to stay in the dark," she murmured as she heaved a sigh of relief. "She's truly an admirable woman who can withstand the darkness."

Devon looked around, but no one was there, and her eyes landed on the laptop once again. 

"Is it possible Miss Lin kept her notes in there?" She wondered before she approached the laptop, which gave her the feeling she had to take a look.

Once she was seated, facing the laptop, Devon leaned forward for a closer look. 

[ Entry: May 18, 2020 — Night (8:31 PM) Wednesday

Today's thought: WHAT IS SUCCESS? ]

She read the recent short note that ended abruptly. Devon frowned as she propped her elbow against the desk and cupped her cheek.

"It's not a leash," she whispered as she read the last sentence of the note. 

"Then, what is it?"

Devon instantly froze as she instinctively touched her ear, feeling the cold blow that caressed her ear. At the same time, the laptop suddenly shut down, granting her to see a reflection standing behind her.

"Who!" Devon turned around, but saw no one. Her heart was racing as her breath hitched. "I'm so sure... "

She looked around again, and nothing seemed amiss. She gritted her teeth and yelled,  "My friend!!" before dashing away from the room, straight to where Lewis was.

As soon as she barged into their shared room, Lewis froze. He was already taking his shirt off. "What…"

But Devon suddenly leaped towards him, wrapping her arms around his bare top as she buried her face in his chest. 

"This place is haunted! I'm scared!" 

In Japanese means "What?" Devon is a fan of watching animes