Chapter 5 Don't Bother Me Anymore

Chapter 5

Roura glared at Sion with irritation, as if she had just heard the least funny joke in the world.

"Wait, so now I'm stuck with the ghost of a CEO who has an ego the size of the Eiffel Tower and the logic of a five-year-old? Fantastic. My life is truly amazing."

Sion shrugged with an innocent expression, laughing at Roura's annoyance as she complained about her life.

"Well, you're very lucky. It's rare for me to come asking for help from anyone."

Sion's smug attitude only annoyed Roura further. She scoffed and shook her head, refusing to believe the bizarre turn her life had taken.

"Sorry, dear Mr. Sion, but I'm too busy being broke to care. So, leave!"

Sion stepped closer, leaning his face so near to hers that there were only inches between them.

But this time, Roura wasn't scared anymore. She met his gaze boldly, which made Sion chuckle softly.

"Get out of here! Or I'll..."

"-Scream? And invite the neighbors? Make them think you've finally lost it?"

Sion cut her off with a mocking tone before casually walking over to the sofa and sitting as though the room belonged to him.

Roura stared at him with a mix of anger, frustration, and exhaustion. There was nothing she could do against Sion's relentless teasing.

"Why do weird and annoying people always show up in my life? What did I do wrong, God?" Roura lamented.

Sion laughed at Roura's apparent resignation. He propped his feet on the small coffee table in front of the sofa, enjoying the sight as though he were watching a tragic drama performed by a top actress.

Roura let out a long sigh, rubbing her face with her hands.

"Oh God, if this is a test, I give up. Just send lightning now."

"If God hears your request and sends lightning, wouldn't you want me here as a witness?" Sion laughed again.

Roura, further enraged by his mocking, grabbed a pillow from her bed and threw it at him.

"Get out!"

The first pillow Roura hurled flew straight at Sion's chest-but passed right through him, landing limply on the floor behind him.

Sion only laughed harder, folding his arms smugly. "Are you seriously trying to attack a ghost with a pillow?"

Roura grabbed another pillow and threw it even harder this time.

"Shut up! Get out of here now!"

Once again, the pillow passed through Sion's body as though he were nothing more than mist. He strolled toward the door, still chuckling.

"You're hilarious, Roura. I think we could have a lot more fun together," Sion said.

Roura, livid with his taunting laughter, reached for a pencil case from her desk and flung it with all her might, aiming for his face.

But Sion disappeared at the last moment, and the pencil case flew across the room, hitting her stepmother squarely on the forehead as she entered the doorway.

"AH!!"

Her stepmother's scream echoed through the room, followed by a death glare aimed straight at Roura.

"ROURA! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!"

Mrs. Martha yelled, clutching her reddened forehead. Roura froze in shock and fear, stepping back instinctively.

"It-it wasn't my fault! There was a ghost here, and I was trying to chase him away, I swear!"

"Don't start with that nonsense! What ghost? You're just making excuses to act out, aren't you?!" accused Mrs. Martha.

Her stepmother stormed closer, her face flushed with anger. Fury radiated from her.

Roura's father appeared behind her stepmother, looking confused by the commotion.

"What's going on here?" Mr. Mike asked sternly.

Roura pointed to where Sion had been standing moments ago, which was, of course, now empty.

"There was a ghost in my room, Dad! He was just standing right there! I swear, I'm not making this up!"

Her father sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose, clearly disappointed with his daughter.

"Roura, enough. No one wants to hear your fantasies. Apologize to your mother. Now!" Mr. Mike demanded.

"Dad, I'm serious! And I didn't mean to throw the pencil case at Mrs. Martha. I was aiming at the ghost!"

Her father, however, wasn't buying it. "You're sleeping outside tonight."

"What?!"

Roura was shocked by her father's decision, especially since the weather outside was freezing. There was no way she could sleep comfortably.

"But Dad, what did I do wrong?" Roura pleaded.

"You threw something at me and bruised my forehead. That's extremely disrespectful. I think that punishment is far too lenient for someone who refuses to grow up," scolded Mrs. Martha.

What followed was a lengthy argument filled with back-and-forth accusations, ultimately ending with the parents asserting their authority.

With a heavy heart and boiling frustration, Roura dragged her blanket outside the apartment. She lay down on a bench near the entrance, muttering her complaints as she begrudgingly accepted her father's punishment.

"Fantastic. My life is officially the worst sitcom in the world."

"At least I make your life more interesting, don't I?" That familiar voice rang out again, though the figure was still unseen.

Roura turned to her right and found Sion sitting casually beside her, lounging as if he were a VIP guest.

"You again?!"

Roura hissed loudly, careful not to wake her parents. Meanwhile, Sion shrugged with a mischievous smile.

"Enough with the haunting! I don't need you to entertain me," Roura said.

"But I need you, so I'll stay right here. Oh, come on... You're adorable when you're mad."

Sion's teasing only made Roura more flustered. She buried her face in her pillow and covered herself with the blanket, hoping he would leave. With a frustrated tone, she muttered:

"Oh, God. Just take my soul already."

---

The next day in class, the whiteboard at the front of the room was filled with neat diagrams and mathematical explanations. The professor's monotonous voice droned on as he lectured the students.

Roura tried her best to focus, diligently taking notes.

But then, she caught sight of something-or rather, someone-who shouldn't be there beside the professor.

Sion stood casually, waving at her like a child seeking attention.

Roura glared at him, trying her hardest to ignore him. But the more she focused, the more Sion distracted her, even pretending to write on the whiteboard: "Help me, please!"

Her irritation boiled over. She slammed her pen down, stood up, and shouted, "Get away from there, you stupid ghost!"

The classroom fell silent. Every pair of eyes turned to Roura, including the professor, who raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Stupid ghost?" the professor repeated, frowning deeply.

Roura froze, realizing her grave mistake.

"That wasn't for you, Prof! It was for-"

Before she could finish, the professor cut her off. "Enough, Roura. Leave my class immediately."

Shocked, Roura found herself with no valid excuse to defend herself. The professor's cold glare left no room for negotiation. Reluctantly, she gathered her things and walked out, accompanied by whispers from her classmates.

"Oh, and one more thing. Your grade for this semester is a C. Consider it a consequence for your disrespectful behavior toward a lecturer," the professor added.

Roura stopped in her tracks at the doorway, staring at the professor in frustration. "But Prof, I can explain-"

"No need. Please leave."

Defeated, Roura sighed heavily. She kicked a small pebble on the sidewalk as she walked away, heading toward the university park to vent her frustration. Sitting on a wooden bench, she stared straight ahead.

From the corner of her eye, she saw movement. Turning to her left, she found Sion lounging casually on the same bench, his face as annoyingly smug as ever.

"Are you happy now, Mr. Sion?" Roura said, annoyed.

Sion let out a heavy sigh. "I wouldn't bother you if you just agreed to help me."

Roura pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to maintain her composure despite the bizarre situation.

Finally, she looked at Sion. "Fine. If I help you, you have to promise not to bother me again. Got it? No more showing up in my class, my apartment, or anywhere near me. Do you promise?"

Sion smirked, holding out his hand as if to seal the deal. "Deal."

"Promise me!" Roura demanded.

Sion chuckled again. "Alright, alright! I promise."