Prologue
Daotok POV
I looked out at the changing scenery as the wind blew strongly. Soft music played in the car, a familiar song, because the driver was the same person who always liked to listen to the same tracks on repeat. I lowered my gaze, feeling the exhaustion that had built up over the past several days. I had only slept a few hours before this. The driver beside me glanced over briefly before asking:
“Stayed up late again last night?”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re still working?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t fall asleep just yet. Tell me the directions first.”
"Turn right at the next intersection. It's the big condo building," I mumbled, before surrendering to sleep in the chaotic mess of the pickup truck crammed with my belongings. I'd barely dozed for ten minutes when someone gently shook my arm. I pried my eyes open.
“Hey, we’re here.”
“Okay,” I said, stepping down from the high truck and looking at the mound of belongings packed into the back. They were all mine. Today was the day I moved into my new condo.
Since there was a lot to move, I had to ask for help from my three friends, the only friends I had.
“Wow, this is fancy,” said North, an engineering student specializing in electrical systems. He was the one driving the large pickup truck and the owner of the repetitive playlist. He looked up at the condo I had arranged to rent just last week. “Man, you’re rich.”
“Not really. They gave me a huge discount.”
“Seriously? How much?”
“Well… 70% off.”
“That much? Was there some kind of promotion?” asked Cat, so-called because of his cat-like face. He studied photography, and it seemed like I was the only one still calling him Cat instead of his real name.
"Maybe they're throwing in a free ghost," North joked, earning a light smack on the shoulder from Easter—or Ter, as we called him—the aspiring veterinarian.
“Your mouth, I swear.”
“Come on, doesn’t it seem a bit suspicious? At this rate, they might as well let you stay for free.”
“It’s not like I didn’t think about it,” I said in my usual laid-back tone. “But I didn’t care. Let’s just move the stuff, okay?”
We started unloading the truck, carrying everything into my new room.
I walked into the elevator, carrying a box, while the others followed. After pressing the floor number, we waited as the elevator slowly ascended and stopped at the seventh floor. I led the way to my room, one I had seen before during a tour with the condo owner. Honestly, just hearing about the discount had made it hard for me to say no.
The deal was a reduced price if I committed to a one-year lease.
I tapped the keycard on room 702 and opened the door. It was the second room from the far end. The corner room to the left was slightly larger and had a window, which I envied since I wanted a window of my own. But someone was already living in that room.
The room to the right of mine was empty. The room across from mine—empty. The next room on the right? Also empty. And the room next to the one across from mine? Empty too.
In short, the entire seventh floor was unoccupied.
Except for room 701, the corner room on the left, and now mine, room 702.
I bet you can guess why.
As soon as I opened the door and flipped the light switch by the entrance, I stepped in to place my belongings in the center of the room. Turning back, I noticed my three friends still standing frozen at the door.
“What’s up with you guys?”
“Nothing… it just feels… weird,” Cat said with a nervous smile, glancing at North and making a worried face. Eventually, they all entered my room and set down the things they were carrying.
"Right?"
"Sorry, Dao, but I... uh..."
"I can carry it myself. It's okay."
"No, no, I didn't mean I wouldn't help, but... uh..." Cat frowned, looking at North, who was currently pale. "North, are you, "
"Wh-what?!"
"Why are you shouting?"
"Dammit, my hands are cold. I've got goosebumps. Why? Ugh, this feels bad, so strange and depressing."
"Mmm, this room is giving me bad vibes," Ter said, echoing the sentiment. I didn't reply because I understood. I walked over to open the curtains, thinking that some fresh air might help.
"It's nothing, I promise."
"This room's just been closed for too long, that's all."
"Mmm, let's keep moving the stuff," Cat suggested. We headed back down to carry more boxes, shuttling back and forth between the car
and the room until everything was unloaded. It seemed everyone had forgotten their initial discomfort with the room, overtaken by exhaustion as we collapsed, panting.
"Man, you've got a lot of stuff," North grumbled, sprawling on the bed, a bed even I, the room's owner, hadn't slept on yet.
"By the way, North," I asked, "is that pickup truck yours?"
"No, I asked P’ Joe for help since I didn’t have a car. The next day, P’ Joe handed me the keys." North was referring to Joe, or Johan, North’s boyfriend.
"Ah, I see," I nodded slightly. "Thanks for helping. Sorry for the trouble, it must have been tiring."
"It's no problem. Honestly, this is the first time Dao’s ever asked us for anything," Ter said with a wide smile. "We’re happy to help!"
"Did you ask me? Ow!"
"Come on, North, you were happy to help too."
"Fine, I was. But a hot pot dinner wouldn’t hurt. Ow! Stop hitting me!" North turned to glare at Ter.
"I can’t help it, you’re too fun to tease."
"Don’t bite me, dog-face."
"You’re the dog!"
"Enough!" Cat interjected. "Hey, Dao, this floor feels really quiet, doesn’t it? Or is it just me?"
"Yeah, it’s just us and the room next door," I replied.
"What the hell? Why? Is the rent super expensive or something?" North frowned, though he was visibly shaking as he clutched Ter’s arm.
"Hey, how about we go to the café downstairs?" Ter quickly suggested, likely trying to break the growing tension, not between us, but in the room itself.
"Okay," we all agreed and headed down to the café.
"Tell us!" North demanded as soon as we were seated. Though terrified of ghosts, North loved hearing ghost stories, which explained why he waited until we left the room to ask.
"Alright. My room has quite a history, lots of deaths, in fact. There's a rumor it’s cursed," I began, sharing the bits of history I had uncovered about my new room. Everyone listened intently. "It started about five years ago. A fourth-year medical student killed herself. Stress from school and her relationship led her to jump off the balcony."
"..."
"Then, three years ago, a working woman was murdered in the bathroom by her drunk boyfriend. Slit her throat right at the bathtub."
"Damn, that’s two bodies!" North exclaimed.
"Don’t interrupt!"
"Sorry, sorry."
"And just a few months ago, a male political science student was stabbed to death by his girlfriend while he was asleep in bed. Didn’t even know what hit him."
"A few months ago?" Ter raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Oh, right! That was big news around campus."
"Yeah, I remember," North nodded quickly. "So scary. But the girlfriend got arrested, right?"
"Yeah, she’s in jail now."
"So that makes three people who’ve died in that room?" Cat asked, looking worried. "Hey, Dao, it’s not safe! Why’d you decide to live there when you already knew?"
"Because I knew," I said with a small smile, sipping my iced cappuccino. "The entire seventh floor cleared out. Apparently, no one could stay—they all claimed to be haunted."
"Then the person in the room next to you must be really tough to live there alone," North said. I nodded in agreement. "So, you’re living there because it’s cheap? Aren’t you scared?"
"Not at all. It’s such a good deal. It’s worth it. The owner wants me to stay for at least a year to help improve the condo’s reputation."
"Ah, so if someone stays there without issue, the rumors will fade?" Ter asked. I nodded. "Makes sense. Still, though... Jeez."
"Why did I feel uneasy the moment we opened the door? Are you sure you can handle staying here, Dao? Maybe think about it?"
"I’m sure! Really!"
"Ugh, if it were me, I’d be dead already," North said, rubbing his arms as if trying to shake off goosebumps. "Well, since we're already on this spooky topic, if you run into a ghost, could you ask for lottery numbers for me?"
"Sure, if they’re willing to share," I replied.
"Wow, not scared of ghosts and generous. No wonder you’re a fortune teller." I smiled faintly at North’s comment.
"Does that even relate?"
"Speaking of, can you do a reading for me today?"
"Sure," I nodded, reaching into my bag to pull out a deck of tarot cards. I always carried at least one fortune-telling tool, knowing North might ask for a reading at any time.
I wasn’t bluffing or making it up, I genuinely knew how to read fortunes. My grandmother taught me, and she was incredibly skilled in these things.
Following the usual steps, I had North pick some cards for his reading.
"Hmm… looks like there’s going to be a small turning point in your life soon."
"Huh?"
"A minor shift. Something that might change you, but it won’t be life-altering. I can’t say if it’s good or bad, but it’ll have a noticeable impact."
"...You can’t tell me if it’s good or bad? Just say it outright!" "I can’t know for sure. Just be prepared, it’ll happen soon."
"Great, now I’m stressed," North muttered, rubbing his forehead. "Hey, you guys should try it too. Ter, your turn!"
"Alright, let me try!" Ter said eagerly. I gave him a reading as well.
"Your life looks smooth and stable. Everything is going really well. Congrats!" I smiled, genuinely happy at the positive outcome. "Cat, want to try?"
"No, thanks."
"You always avoid it, Cat."
"If it’s something vague like yours, I’ll just get stressed," Cat waved dismissively. "Hey, can you read your own fortune, Dao?" Cat’s question made me shake my head slightly.
"Too bad. If I could, I’d read my own fortune every day," North sighed, looking disappointed. He then snatched Ter’s cocoa, earning himself a smack in return. Those two loved teasing each other.
"Wait," North turned to me suddenly. "Can you talk to ghosts?" "Why do you always ask that?" I replied.
"Well, you said you’re sensitive to these things."
"Maybe, but why would I want to? They’re not exactly great conversationalists."
"Fair point. Why would anyone want to talk to a ghost?" Ter said, intrigued by the topic. "Also, why do people think ghosts can give lottery numbers? They never won when they were alive!"
"Good point," North said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Why is that?"
"Drop it. Thinking about it won’t get you anywhere," Cat said. "Wow, it’s already four o’clock. Time flies."
"What time do all your partners finish up?" I asked, referring to their significant others, who were all friends and med students.
"At four."
"Then you guys can head home," I offered with a smile. "I’ll treat you to coffee as thanks for helping me move."
"What about the hot pot?" North asked.
"You sound just like Ter," I teased, making Ter look at me in surprise.
"Dao wouldn’t tease me, right? Dao’s so kind," Ter said, turning to Cat for confirmation. Cat just shrugged, either unsure or unwilling to get involved.
"Hot pot next time, okay?"
"Alright." Everyone got up from the table. I walked over to the counter to pay. While waiting for my change, I heard North shouting outside.
"P’ Thit!"*
North was calling out to someone passing by the café. The person turned, looking slightly annoyed. He was tall, tan-skinned, and dressed in a somewhat disheveled university uniform.
P’ Thit? Oh. Right. That guy. P’ Arthit, the one who had taken Cat’s snack that time, the snack Cat had meant to give to P’ Tonfah as a first gesture of affection. And yet, P’ Arthit had eaten it right in front of him. What a disastrous first impression.
"Oh, why are you here?"
"Helping a friend move. What about you? Do you live here?" North asked.
"Yeah."
"Really? Which room?"
"701. Why?"
701? That’s... the room to the left of mine. *P' is an honorific attached to a person's name to indicate older brother, though conventionally, it is not limited to one's biological older brother but is used to refer someone who is older in a respectful manner. It is similar to Hyung in Korean or Kuya in Filipino.
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