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“What’s today?”

Somin couldn’t answer. No, Somin didn’t want to answer.

“Come on, I’m not completely oblivious. You were upset this morning. And you said Jihoon forgot today. Which means it’s important. You say I’m stuck in the past, but today seems to have some kind of past significance for you.”

“It’s my abeoji’s birthday,” Somin murmured.

“Ah,” Junu said, drawing out the syllable. “And because he was good to you, you miss him.”

His words rubbed at an old wound. “You say that like it’s wrong for me to mourn him.”

“No, of course you should. I’m sorry that today causes you pain.” But Junu’s voice was wooden, his body stiff. Despite herself, it made Somin feel embarrassed that she’d shared something so personal with him when he seemed almost bored by it.

“I didn’t tell you to get your sympathy,” Somin snapped. “And I didn’tforceyou to come here. I’m only here with you because—” She broke off and snapped her lips closed, but it was too late.

“And you’d never be caught dead out with me, right? Except, you didn’t want to be alone and I just happened to be there.”

“That’s not true,” Somin said.

“Then if I hadn’t come when I did, would you have sought me out? Would you have called me and trusted me to be there for you?”

“I don’t know.” Somin couldn’t quite look him in the eye,because he was right. She’d never have gone to him first. She’d never have trusted him to be the one to comfort her, but she was wrong. He was what she needed today. Why couldn’t she say that? Why couldn’t she make herself say the words?

“It’s wrong to latch on to the closest person just because you’re afraid of being alone. People don’t realize that loneliness isn’t just about being alone,” Junu said quietly. Words spoken so casually that it took a moment for her to recognize the sorrow in them.

“Junu, I never meant—” Somin broke off as the ride came to a stop and the door opened.

“Hope you enjoyed your ride,” the attendant chirped.

Junu got up without a word and exited. Somin followed him, giving a small cursory bow of thanks to the attendant.

“Junu,” Somin started to say, but she stopped short as a scream pierced the air.

A woman dropped to her knees, her hands folding like she was praying. “My mother! It’s my mother. She’s come back from the dead.” She was staring at the ghost of an old woman who stood before her. The old ghost’s eyes were blank and uncaring, like it couldn’t recognize its own flesh and blood.

Many looked confused and concerned for the woman and her hysterics. But some seemed to finally notice the ghosts among them. Like her cries were a switch.

A woman ushered her children toward the exit, eyeing a spectral form that floated beside an ice cream stand, her youngest child crying as he clung to his mother.

“Do you see them?” a little boy asked his parents, who were pulling him toward the information center. “Gwishin, Eomma! Do you see them?”

An older man was gathering his granddaughter close as shehid her eyes in his collar. “Don’t worry, Harabeoji is here. No one can hurt you.”

Suddenly a voice came on the speaker. “We apologize, but Lotte World is closing for the day. Please make your way to the exits, and if you have any questions, then you can call our customer service line. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

“Junu,” Somin said, fear heavy in her voice. “What do we do?”

“I need to find Miyoung,” Junu said.

“But what should I—?” Somin was interrupted by the ring of her phone. She picked it up. “Mom? Already? Oh, okay, yeah, I can come back now.” She hung up, staring at the screen instead of looking at Junu. “My mom got off work early. She said she has something important to tell me.”

“We should get going,” Junu said, walking toward the exit.

“Okay,” Somin said, and cursed her voice for wobbling as she hurried after him.

36

HE SHOULDN’T HAVEoverreacted the way he did, Junu thought as he walked up the path to his apartment. Should he just turn around and find Somin? Tell her he was sorry and a jerk and sorry for being a jerk. She’d told him today was her father’s birthday, and instead of comforting her, he’d blown up at her. He was more than a jerk. But he was too caught up in his guilt to think of a good expletive to call himself right now.