Xiang didn't bother to hang around long enough for the other boy to react. He just walked past, quickening his pace and headed to class. There's no way that ghosts were real, right? It's just some stupid story he believed when he was 7 years old. The now 15 year old boy just shook his head and decided to forget about all that ghost boy nonsense. If Yong Soo found out he still believed in that garbage, he would annoy him to no end. More than he already does anyway.
Of course, that whole scene that had replayed in his mind made him late for class. Xiang walked into the classroom and slumped down in his chair at the back of the classroom. Time for another period of passive aggressive "well if you had been here on time" comments from his teacher. The only thing that would brighten his day would be the presence of his friend, Lili, though he didn't really feel like talking today. She wouldn't hesitate to help out with pulling a few pranks, as long as her brother didn't find out about them.
Xiang just put his head down on the table. He contemplated talking to Lili about what happened, but what would he say? Some ghost boy has been haunting him since he was just a kid? The biochemistry work on the board didn't matter to him right now. He felt like all his energy was just siphoned out of him. Taking a good nap was probably the only good thing that would come out of this morning. That is, until he heard the seat next to him being taken. As he looked up, of course it was none other than the damn ghost. It was already a few months into the school year, but he apparently decided to come today of all days. Instead of going back to sleep, Xiang decided to investigate.
He looked like death, no pun intended. He had snowy white hair and pale skin to match, but violet eyes with subtle bags underneath. It's like he's the personification of when you're too tired to sleep. He fidgeted with his gloves. Why did he even have them on inside anyway? All of a sudden he glances over at the other boy. Xiang quickly averts his eyes to make it look like he wasn't just staring him down.
Lili finally whispered. "You checking out the new guy?"
Xiang only glared. "Don't say it like that. It sounds wrong."
"It sounds to me like someone wants to meet me in detention. Again. Isn't that right Mr. Xiang Wang? Sit up straight and pay attention when I'm teaching."
He didn't even bother to give a verbal response. He merely propped his head up on his behemoth of a textbook and held his pen over his paper to make it look like he was taking notes. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the ghost boy – he should really figure out his name – snickering. At him! Normally, he would just leave it alone, but he was in a terrible mood today and it was mostly this kid's fault. What's he even doing here? He tried not to openly stare at the white haired apparition next to him. No, wait. Lili could see him. He probably wasn't even being haunted right now. Just his dumb memories playing tricks on him. He decided to test whether or not this kid was actually a ghost. It will ensure him a stay in detention, but it's not like he wasn't getting that anyway.
Xiang balled up his "notes" and waited for the right moment to strike. The bell rang and everyone gathered up their stuff, including ghost boy. With perfect accuracy, he landed a direct hit to the back of his head with the wad of paper. The paper bounced right off his head and onto the floor. Well, it didn't just phase right through him, which was evidence enough that this kid wasn't the real deal.
The kid stopped in his tracks and balled his fists. He took a deep breath and continued out of the room. Now Xiang felt kind of bad about throwing that ball of paper at him, especially now that he know that kid wasn't trying to haunt him. He looked back at Lili, who was shaking her head at him.
"What was that all about?" she asked.
"Like, don't even worry about it." Xiang said, trying to catch up to the boy.
He scanned the crowd for him. Finding him wasn't hard, thanks to his oddly colored hair. Xiang was about to call out to him. That is, until he faded from his view. Like, literally faded away. Ok, now Xiang was certain. This kid really was a ghost.
Finally, the school day was over. After his first day of school and people talking behind his back about being some kind of ghost, the white haired boy was just happy to be back in his own home. He entered his, house, which his brother had single handedly transformed from a ratty abandoned dump to a decent place to live. It's not like it was anything incredible. He was a wizard after all.
"Welcome home, Emil." Said the all too familiar voice of said brother. Emil didn't even notice him in the corner, reading a book as always. Just like himself, his brother sported a pair of tired eyes, though his were more defined. And he actually had a good reason for having them. "Judging by the fact that I felt a lull in my magic, I guess your day didn't go so well."
Emil just sighed. "Lukas, I-"
"Was it an emergency?"
"Uh… no. Not really."
"Do you know why I allow you to use your powers at your own discretion? Because I trust that you know when to use them only in emergencies." Lukas said, turning to go upstairs.
Emil didn't even bother to retort. His brother got pretty unbearable during the week. He's been awake for several days since he needs to keep up the magic disguise that made everyone affected look and feel human. If anyone were to find out what they were, only trouble could follow. Lukas and the house in general often reeked of coffee for that reason. If he feel asleep and a human saw one of them without their disguise… well, you know.
"And by the way, try not looking like a ghost when you're going outside. It'll give us all away." Lukas called from upstairs.
Emil looked at his phone. It was only Wednesday. Three more days dealing with the sarcastic drama king himself. Finally feeling the swarm of negative thoughts dissipate, Emil freed himself from his limiting human disguise and became a full-fledged ghost. Glad to finally be levitating and intangible, he floated up to his room to forget about school, especially that rude short kid from first period.
