AUTHOR'S NOTE:

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I'll give 10 chapter mass release on 1st October if we reach 5000 privilege unlocks this month

....

Jina threw the trash bags in the trash can outside. She was cleaning her house that night, trying to clear her head. Ever since she saw Hobin flirt with the sultry receptionist, she could not push the image out of her head. The way he was talking to the woman and laughing with her made Jina slightly angry.

Why am I feeling this? She scowled. He can flirt with whoever he wants!

Her anger was not justified but she was still fuming at the thought of Hobin and his exes. Did he really sleep around with others and discarded them? Was his flirtations with her just part of his mindless flings?

Jina sighed and turned around only to be startled. Several pale figures were standing across the road, watching her with their gloomy eyes.

There were people of various ages and states. Some were old, some were young. Some looked normal while others were burnt or stabbed. One had a missing eye while another one had a knife through his head. All of them had different reasons and regrets. They probably did not even know each other.

Yet, they were staring at her with those emotionless eyes. Jina was unsettled by them. There were probably ten or more ghosts in front of her. She never saw them in a group like this before but they were not approaching her. They simply stare at her.

"What the hell?" she muttered.

Quickly throwing the gloves into the trash, she shuffled back inside the building. She glanced backwards, to see if any of the ghosts were following her but to her surprise, they were all gone.

She turned around to see Hobin was coming down the stairs.

He wore a long sleeveless t-shirt with half pants and carried a gym bag over his shoulder. His bulging muscles were completely visible and his auburn hair was held back by a bandanna. Jina did not want to admit it but he looked gorgeous in that attire. The shirt fit his V-shaped torso and his thighs were sturdy. She never noticed it before due to his usual long coats, he was actually quite fit. There were hints of abs beneath his shirt which made her gulp.

"What is it, Detective Hwangl? Can't keep your eyes off of handsome men?"

Hobin could not help being a little salty towards her. Ever since she started to avoid him, he was meaner to her than usual. His usual teasings now carried a hint of bitterness and his pride was stopping him from asking why she was so angry.

Jina was snapped back to reality and she glared at him.

"You're in my way, Doctor Ohm," she curtly said. She expected him to be snarky or make fun of her. In fact, she wanted him to tease her by calling her that annoying nickname. Instead, he stepped aside to let her go.

Jina's heart sank and she was feeling very sad because of his indifference. She knew that she should not be angry at him but her wretched heart was being stupid. It was hard for her to control herself around this man. She wanted him to talk to her, tease only her and not other girls.

Why am I thinking all that? She scolded herself. I mean nothing to him. Nothing!

"Aren't you gonna go?" Hobin questioned her.

"I'm going," she said shortly and hurried back upstairs. She ran so fast that she did not notice that she had dropped her phone on the stairs. Hobin was about to leave when he spotted it lying on the ground.

"Oi, Tinker-"

He stopped himself from calling her that. Shaking his head, he picked up the phone and was about to run after her when it pinged. There was a message from Siwan.

Hobin debated for a while before clicking on the message. He hated himself for prying into Jina's private life but his curiosity was greater.

"Let's grab dinner tomorrow," Siwan wrote. "At Prima Bella Restaurant. My treat."

Something was wriggling inside him. Hobin tried not to react to this. Hwang Jina might be related to his past life as Shinho but he was not Shinho anymore. He was Ohm Hobin and this was his reality. She had moved on in life.

What did he expect? That she was going to pine for Shinho for the rest of her life? No one was going to do that. Not even Hwang Jina.

Meanwhile, Jina entered her apartment and headed straight for the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. She raised the glass to drink the water when out of nowhere, a cold hand grasped her arm.

"AH!" she yelped and jumped backwards. The ghost of an old woman with messy white hair and empty sockets was standing in front of her. Even without eyes, the woman sensed where was standing. Her pasty skin was decaying and peeling off in places, revealing the flesh underneath.

Jina immediately grabbed a handful of salt and threw it at the woman. The ghost cackled and disappeared in thin air.

"What do you want?" She demanded but the old woman was nowhere to be seen.

"Sis, give me food!"

Jina turned around to find a bony child of around ten years old staring at her. The child had no legs and was crawling on the floor, dragging itself towards her.

"Sis, give me food!" it said in a hollow tone. "Give me food. GIVE ME FOOD!"

Jina threw salt at the spirit. The ghost screamed in agony before disappearing. She was now scared. Sweat rolled down her forehead and fear gripped her mind.

"What's going on?" she whispered.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Another ghost appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her leg. Jina dropped the salt and screamed as she was being dragged through the floor.

"LET ME GO!" She yelled at a fat clown who was laughing and dragging her along with him. Jina kicked the ghost but it only pulled her further towards her bed with surprising strength. Jina held on to the leg of her desk, trying to fight it off but more ghosts appeared.

"Come with us…" they were chanting. "Come with us, priestess…"

"AHHHH!"

Outside, Hobin had just stepped on the corridor when he heard Jina's screams.

"Jina?" he whispered and hurried towards her flat. Her door did not have an automated lock so he kicked it hard, breaking it down.

"JINA!"

She was lying on the floor, unconscious. Hobin quickly scooped her in his arms and carried her into his apartment. He lay her down on his bed and checked her pulse. She was still breathing and her pulse was beating, but she was out cold.

"Wake up!" he begged, sprinkling some water on her. Hobin was panicked to see her in that state. She was usually so brave and strong. What in the world could have made her like this?

Jina slowly opened her eyes. Without thinking she leapt into his arms. To Hobin's shock, she was crying. She was scared and confused, her mind muddled with what she had just experienced.

Hobin felt a gut wrenching pain which was almost making it hard for him to breathe. Jina was crying hard and he could not do anything to take away her sadness.

And it was killing him.

"I'm scared…" she sobbed, clutching onto his shirt. "I…"

She felt his warm arms lock her in a tight embrace.

"Don't be scared," he consoled her. "I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you. And I'll not let anything harm you. I'll protect you. I promise."

Jina did not know why he said that but it was comforting her. Crying on his shoulder made her feel safe. Hobin patted her head, not letting her go.

That's right, he realized. This is what I'm supposed to do. I'm supposed to protect this woman all my life. That's why I have these powers.

"I won't let anything harm you," he vowed. "Not this time."