15. Long-haired Ghost?

"Yes, right?"

"Yes."

"Yes, that's also a reasonable reason, although I didn't think of it that way yesterday. But what I experienced last night was really confusing. And again, as far as I know, ghosts are not picky about places," Bella began to speak in a low tone and elongated speech. As if deliberately creating a tense atmosphere. "They can be anywhere they like. Not only in dark or dirty spaces. In fact, it is said that ghosts nowadays like to inhabit clean and luxurious places."

Ashley frowned, "Nonsense. Who said that?"

But Bella didn't change her expression. She resumed her speech and lowered her voice even more, "I've seen it on supernatural programs—that kind of thing. And you know what makes the most sense?" Bella narrowed her eyes, hung her words, then paused for a moment. Her eyes continued to stare at her best friend unblinkingly, with a face that was made completely serious and seemed to hold a mystery waiting to be spewed out.

Meanwhile, Ashley automatically responded with a gaze full of curiosity. Not a word was said. She just stayed silent, with a look in her eyes that couldn't wait to hear the answer.

"I heard a lot of strange noises from my bedroom door," her shoulders hunched, Bella shuddered every time she remembered last night.

Ashley’s attention grew serious, "What... noises?"

"A lot," Bella answered in a low, limp voice, then continued, "They range from what sounded like the surface of the door being scratched by fingernails, to small knocks, to rough knocks as if the person doing it was in a hurry. But every time I peeked out, there was no one!"

Ashley unconsciously gawked at the story. Since she had never experienced any mystical events in her life, it was still difficult for her to understand whether such strange things could actually happen or if it was just a scientific phenomenon.

"You're not joking, right? You weren't drunk at the time, were you?"

"Never mind the booze. I didn't even have food to fill my stomach because of that damn ghost. I was really frustrated because I was tired and hungry but couldn't fall asleep properly after that. I was so sleepy that I only fell asleep intermittently and kept waking up. You know what was most disturbing afterward? I heard a female voice whimpering and sobbing from behind the wall. And it happened all night!"

"Crazy!" Ashley could hardly believe it if she didn't see Bella's puffy, dark-circles eyes—a sign that the girl was really sleep-deprived.

"Until now I wasn't sure if that noise and all the other noises were in the next room or in my own room. I was almost like a crazy person last night. I couldn't tell if it was a hallucination or not because I was so sleepy but never managed to get any sleep. You know what I mean, right?"

Ashley nodded.

"I even wondered if Mike was in his room, if he heard the same voice. If he did, would he hear it as if it was coming from his room or mine. Wow! I get goosebumps every time I think about it! It would be better if Mike was actually out and about and didn't come back to the hotel," Bella shook her head as she devoured her spaghetti.

Ashley was quite surprised, "The noise you heard came from Mike's room?"

"Hm-hm," Bella agreed with a mumble, then exhaled harshly, "I was tired and upset last night. The woman who came into Mike's room, and the disturbances that attacked me... one time I thought they were connected, then another time maybe they were two different events."

"If it's a ghost—though I don't really believe that—it could be that because she's angry. You went after her," Ashley tried to piece together and connect Bella's story, "you knocked on her door, right before?"

Bella looked at Ashley and was silent for a moment.

"Ah, yes. That could be. But if it was true—she got so angry and haunt me all night just because of that… That being truly has a bad temper. Damn it," a large mouthful of meat went into her mouth and was chewed with a grumble.

Ashley hadn't touched her food at all. Her stomach felt strange. Like she had lost her appetite or was already quite full from seeing her best friend still able to eat well in between the emotional turmoil that came out every time she told a story.

"But... there is, there is something that matters. Among my consciousness that seemed to be oscillating between the real world and the dream world, I suddenly became compelled to think about many things. You know, right, that ghosts don't walk like humans. They..." Giving a long dramatic pause, "levitate!"

CTINGG!

"Ah!"

"Argh!"

A waiter delivering their order accidentally smashed one plate against another, making a clinking sound-which wasn't that loud. The thing is, Bella and Ashley were both unaware of the waiter's presence between them. And the clinking sound came just as Bella further dramatized the situation by saying her last word while snapping.

The two friends screamed almost simultaneously. Bella managed to get Ashley completely swept away.

However, strangely enough, Bella also got carried away by the atmosphere she created herself.

"I am sorry. Oh my God, I am really sorry," the waitress was taken aback by the sudden scream. Completely unaware that her presence had gone unnoticed by the two customers.

Her wide-eyed eyes began to subside and turned guilt-ridden.

"I'm sorry," the young girl said her apologies repeatedly as she finished her work—moving all the orders from the trolley to the table.

Ashley looked at her and noticed the waitress's stiffened gesture, "It's okay," she said softly and smiled, "We're the ones who apologize for being too busy talking. Are you okay?"

The waiter's face improved after hearing Ashley's words. There seemed to be a sense of relief reflected there.

"I'm fine. Thank you very much. Enjoy your meal," the waitress smiled and left.

"How could such a big person be so invisible," Bella grumbled. Her hand stirred the drink in front of her.

"That's because you're bringing up ghosts and making it scary in here," Ashley became annoyed.

"Because it's just as scary as what I experienced," Bella insisted that her experience was real enough.

“So, can you continue your story from earlier? You actually saw her... levitate? I don't have a good feeling about leaving things hanging," Ashley's forehead creased. There was a sense of unease, and for some reason her nape became heavy.

Bella returned to her contemplation and opened her mouth after sipping her drink.

"When I recalled how that woman entered the room, I had my doubts about whether or not the creature's feet treaded-even though I didn't notice her feet. After I tried to calm myself down and think a bit more clearly, I realized that the woman moved like a human walking and opened the door with her own hands. What ghost would open a door by turning the knob-argh, damn it! I was really annoyed to death. How could I have such a good epiphany when it was getting light and there were no more noises. Hhh... It was stupid of me to be frightened like that to the point of staying hungry all night and losing precious sleep."

"So... she's not a ghost?" Her question implied disappointment.