“Alright, alright. I won’t take them. You don’t need to look that tense.”
Vide raised both hands casually, like he was surrendering.
“Tense? What tense?” Miles shot back.
But his face was already red like a boiled crab.
Vide just stared at him for a few seconds… then let out a quiet sigh.
This guy is seriously pathetic.
He glanced toward the bed. There, Gingger was still in gingerbread form. Still. Not moving. Like nothing more than an ordinary object.
And yet—just for a moment—the corner of Vide’s lips lifted. A faint smile. Rare. And… gone just as quickly.
“Take good care of them,” he muttered softly.
Then—he disappeared.
Just like that.
Leaving Miles… and the silence behind. Along with his own painfully awkward behavior from earlier.
On the other side of the night, things weren’t over yet.
Brielle sat at a bar, a glass of tequila in hand. Dim lights. Soft music. The kind of atmosphere that could easily make someone drunk.
Too bad—it didn’t work on her.
She stayed fully aware. Too aware.
Still, she drank anyway. Just to… distract herself.
She even chatted with someone sitting next to her. Random. Meaningless. Just passing time.
Until—
She stopped.
Slowly turned her head.
The person beside her… changed.
The face that had been unfamiliar just moments ago was now someone she knew very well.
Vide.
The man gave a small wave, wearing an innocent expression.
“Hi.”
Without thinking, Brielle immediately splashed her tequila at his face.
But the liquid bounced off—
And splashed right back onto her instead.
…Wet.
Silence.
A few people nearby started glancing over.
Brielle stayed still for a few seconds.
Then stood up.
Without saying a word—
She walked out.
Completely ignoring Vide.
Behind her, Vide just chuckled softly, clearly enjoying her irritated reaction.
Back at Miles’ house—
The atmosphere was much calmer.
Miles walked into the living room, holding a cup of warm tea.
He spotted Caramella sitting on the couch.
Focused.
Way too focused.
Miles leaned a bit, trying to peek at their phone screen.
Caramella immediately shot him a sharp look.
“Well, look at that. You’re curious?”
“Not really. You just look like someone who just uncovered a national secret.”
Miles sat down casually beside them.
Caramella scoffed, then without much explanation—held out the phone.
“Have you seen our content results yet?”
Miles glanced at it.
“…Nope.”
Caramella instantly flicked his ear.
“OW—!”
“Are you the boss or a statue? Why are you so clueless about your own business?!” they snapped.
Miles winced. “A boss doesn’t need to handle everything. That’s what assistants are for.”
“Oh, your mouth—!”
And as usual—
Miles earned himself a free round of verbal abuse.
After a while, they both went quiet again. Busy in their own worlds.
Silence.
Until—
“Lately… I’ve been having weird dreams.”
Caramella spoke up suddenly.
Miles replied casually.
“Debt collectors? Or your dad?”
Caramella gave him a flat look.
“No.”
They paused for a moment.
“I saw… myself. But not the current me.”
Miles glanced at them.
“An older version?”
Caramella nodded slowly.
“Like… from the past.”
Silence hung between them.
“And weirdly enough…” they continued softly, “I saw Gingger too.”
Miles turned his head immediately.
This time, serious.
“…You sure?”
Caramella stared straight ahead.
“I saw them running. In the middle of a snowstorm.”
Their voice dropped lower.
“Like… they were trying to escape.”
Miles went quiet.
“And then?” he asked.
“Darkness.”
Caramella exhaled.
“I don’t know what happens next. But… it didn’t feel good.”
Miles tried to joke.
“But you don’t look that shaken. If anything, you’ve been getting better at gossiping lately.”
Caramella immediately yanked his hair.
“OW—!”
But behind the joke—
Miles stayed quiet.
Something about it… bothered him.
A strange feeling he couldn’t explain.
Maybe it’s just a dream, he thought.
But still—
It didn’t feel like an ordinary one.
That night, Miles returned to his room.
But he didn’t sleep on the bed.
Instead, he took the small couch in the corner.
Because on the bed—
Gingger was still in cookie form.
He stared at them for a moment.
Then closed his eyes.
But his sleep wasn’t peaceful.
His thoughts drifted.
To the past.
The accident.
A loud crash.
Pain.
And then—
His heartbeat suddenly went out of rhythm.
Fast.
Too fast.
“—huh…?”
Miles woke up.
His breathing was uneven.
His chest felt tight.
Like something was squeezing it from the inside.
“What… is this…”
Panic.
He didn’t know what to do.
The world started spinning.
His vision darkened.
And then—
Everything… went black.
The next morning—
Miles slowly opened his eyes.
Heavy.
So heavy.
He blinked a few times.
Then froze.
Because something—
Or rather, someone—
Was on top of him.
Gingger.
Miles panicked immediately.
“What—?!”
He quickly pushed them away.
Gingger stirred slightly, shifting lazily.
Miles sat up, still disoriented.
His breathing slowed.
His body… felt light.
Strange.
Very different from last night.
Then he touched his lips.
There were crumbs of gingerbread.
“…Huh?”
He turned toward the bed.
Empty.
Gingger was back in human form.
And he… didn’t remember when that happened.
On the table was a simple breakfast.
Sandwiches.
And a note.
Miles picked it up.
Caramella’s handwriting.
Went out for a bit. Going home. Dad stuff. I’ll be back this afternoon.
Miles let out a quiet scoff.
“Hope they don’t explode today…”
He sat down.
But his thoughts returned to one thing.
Last night.
That attack.
And—
Why did he feel better now?
He glanced at Gingger.
They sat quietly.
But their face—
Pale.
Paler than usual.
“…You okay?” Miles asked softly.
Gingger looked at him.
Gave a small smile.
“Yeah.”
The same answer as always.
But this time—
Miles didn’t fully believe it.
There was something unseen.
And somehow—
He felt like it had something to do with him.