Work Text:
Se Joo smiled over his cup of coffee as Seol played with Gyun Woo the dog in the garden. She was crouched over, her hands running all over his dirty white fur, laughing and talking to him.
He felt a presence sidle up beside him, the smile disappearing to be replaced with a look of annoyance. He didn’t need to turn to know that Jin Oh was giving him a smug smile.
“Like what you see?” he teased.
Se Joo resisted the urge to swipe at him, knowing that he’d just make a fool of himself since Jin Oh can just teleport elsewhere or disappear. Oh, the perks of being a ghost.
He should have kicked him out when he had the chance. The old man should have attained Buddhism by now. But no, he got attached to him. Se Joo tried to tell himself it was because of the two of them being friends in the past life, but he knew it was a blatant lie to himself. The ghost grew on him.
After he revealed himself to Seol, they grew close too. Like Shin Yul and Ryu Soo Hyun.
The novel was finished, and Jin Oh’s time to disappear was close. For some reason, Se Joo shuddered whenever he thought about that possibility. It was inevitable, as Jin Oh didn’t belong in this world, but it hurt to think that he’d just disappear some day as if he wasn’t a part of his memories. As if they didn’t just write a book together with the love of his life.
Said woman then chose that moment to come in, smiling at Jin On and exchanging small talk before she laughed out loud at what he said.
Se Joo was a little far to hear just what they had said to each other, but he let them be as he took another sip of his coffee. She’d come to him next anyway.
And Writer Han was right.
He smiled when she did, and set his cup down to spread his arms wide, inviting her for a hug.
Seol chuckled at his antics but wrapped her arms around him anyway, Se Joo encasing her in his arms as they came around her waist and rested at her back.
He breathed in her comforting scent, relishing in her presence and smiling goofily into her hair. He couldn’t believe he was so smitten with this girl. This girl who was a vet and was a fan of his works, this girl who was with him in his past life, and this girl who flipped him over her back that one time she got so frustrated at him.
Looking back, it was his fault anyway for accusing her of being a stalker. It wasn’t her fault. It was his insecurity that got in the way.
He ran a hand up and down her back in a comforting motion, feeling her giggle at the sensations. He smiled, pleased that he was able to make her relax like this.
A playful thought in mind, he squeezed her, a yelp escaping her at the suddenness of the action.
Then with his lips right beside her ear, he spoke in a serious tone.
“I killed Mufasa.”
That only served to make Seol snigger, body shaking with mirth. As the seconds ticked by, her laugh rang out high and clear around the writing room.
Se Joo praised himself for making her laugh and pulled back to see her dazzling smile. He couldn’t blame himself when he swooped in to slot their lips together, a muffled gasp sounding from Seol’s throat.
He kissed her gently, hand coming up to cup her cheek and tilt her head upwards. She responded eagerly, both her arms coming up to wrap around his neck.
She was the first to break away, eyes still closed and grip around his neck tight, as if she never wanted to let go. He stared at her eyelids before they finally gave way to pools of bright brown, full-blown smiles growing on their faces the longer they stared at each other.
Seol pulled back from the hug, Se Joo missing her warmth immediately.
That was short-lived as her hand grasped his, and his smile only grew fonder.
“Jin Oh wants us to play with Gyun Woo outside. Let’s go.”
He nodded, letting her head the way as they passed various maids and workers.
As soon as the warm air hit him, Se Joo squinted as he tried to look up at the sky. It was sunny, and the weather was just right.
“Writer Han!” Jin Oh exclaimed, Se Joo turning to him. “Come play with us!”
“Alright you annoying ghost!” he shot back, though there was no malice in the way he answered.
He watched Jin Oh and Seol run around and chase the dog, Se Joo pausing to think that he wouldn’t mind if he was reincarnated again, so long as he got to spend his days with these two dorks.