Doctor Demon

"I just read your memories," Hobin lied. "You were talking to some Casper and a boy's ghost. Who are they?"

This lie came to him naturally. It was one of the perks of being a psychometric demon.

"Oh," Jina said. "Casper was a friend of mine. He used to stay with us and even knew Shinho well. A very nice person. He was killed by his enemies but held no grudges against them. In fact, he only wanted to meet his grandson. Casper was mute so he couldn't communicate with people well. There were many misunderstandings between him and his grandson which is why he stayed back. But when the misunderstandings were solved, he decided to leave."

There was a hint of melancholy in her tone as she remembered her old friends. All of them had departed one by one, leaving her behind all alone. 

Hobin did not interrupt her but listened to her stories as she recalled her spirit friends.

"Then there was Yumi," she said. "She was murdered by a serial killer but she ended up in our house because my mom was looking after her case. She was really sassy! Always fighting with me and Aunt Mina. Even though my aunt wasn't able to see her, they used me as a medium to argue! But Yumi cared for all of us. Her last wish was to see her half sister. She couldn't meet her mother and half sister before she was killed so she decided to fulfill her last wish."

Jina excitedly told him about all the other friendly ghosts she had encountered. Yes, there were scary spirits but she also met some of the nicest ghosts who loved and protected her. Her heart was filled with joy as she remembered them, talking to Hobin about them. 

He smiled at her and gently stroked her cheek. Jina blushed but went on chattering about the good ghosts. They were such an integral part of her childhood that she really wished they had stuck around longer to see that she had fulfilled her dreams of becoming a detective.

"And then there was a guardian dog named Jojo!" she exclaimed. "He lived in the forest where I attended camp. He was really sweet. When I got lost, he helped me find the way. After that, whenever I went back to camp, he'd follow me around to protect me!"

"Now I know where Miyoo gets her tendency to attract trouble from," Hobin sighed. "Those were dangerous spirits!"

"They were inherently good souls," Jina said. "Maybe they did bad things when they were alive. But they got a chance to redeem themselves after death. Not everyone can get that."

"And Shinho?"

Hobin was now curious about her answer. "What if...what if Shinho fulfilled his promise to you?" he asked her. "I mean, you once told me that he promised that he'd come back for you. What if he does come back? What'll you do then?"

"You mean as a ghost?" Jina frowned. "His soul has been released. He's in the Afterlife-"

"I mean what if he returned?" Hobin pressed. "Actually returned?"

"That's impossible!" she laughed. "I know ghosts exist but reincarnation? Nah! Besides, I think he's in a happier place now…"

She looked at their entwined fingers, lazily playing with his palm. "Besides, I think that he deserves to be at peace. I miss him but I don't want him to be miserable again."

Her eyes dropped with sadness. Somewhere in her heart, she had held a hope that one day, he would return. But it was a silly notion.

The dead do not reincarnate. No matter what her grandfather told her, Jina did not believe that people would want to return from the Afterlife.

Hobin was silent for a while. He had been contemplating whether to tell Jina the truth about his reincarnation but he decided not to. If it was meant to come out someday, it will do so. Till then, he would rather enjoy his time with her.

'You're strange," he muttered. "But I like your eccentricities."

"Really?" Jina blushed. "What else do you like about me?"

"Well…"

He suddenly leaned over and pecked her lips. Jina was surprised by the sudden display of affection but she was not complaining.

"I like how you go red in the face every time I'm around," he winked.

"Hey! I don't-"

He pecked her again, making her blush harder.

"Hey," she mumbled. "You're stealing kisses from me!"

"Why? You don't like it? You can steal kisses from me any time."

"Okay!"

Jina swooped over and briefly kissed him but before she could back out, he cupped her cheeks and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. She giggled, straddling on his lap to return his kisses with fiery passion. Hobin tasted her luscious lips, gently nibbling them. Their tongues were meshed together, savoring each other.

Hobin slightly backed off when he felt that they were treading dangerous territory. Especially when he was starting to get turned on. Jina pouted a little.

"What happened?" she whispered.

"You're still not fully healed," he said in a hoarse tone. "If we go any further, you'll be hurt."

"I'm fine!" she claimed but her ribs ached a little. Hobin noticed her pain and gently pushed her back to lay her on the pillows.

"We'll...do it when you're fully healed and the time is right," he said. 

"How do you speak of these things so easily?" she mumbled. Just thinking of being intimate with him made her shy like a bunny but he was saying it so openly.

"Coz it's you," he simply said. He plopped on a pillow, gazing at her. "There isn't a single say when I don't think of ripping off your clothes and make wild love to you all night long-"

"Don't say it like that!" Jina squeaked. Her face was as red as a tomato. How was he so shameless?

"Why? Don't you fantasize about me? I saw you ogling at my abs! I don't mind though. You can even touch them-"

"NO!"

She was about to playfully smack him but Hobin grabbed her hand and stole another short kiss from her. Jina was mortified but merely pouted. Hobin, on the other hand, was laughing. He felt lighter and more at ease. Even though her memories were pouring into his head with every kiss and touch, he ignored every one of them.

What mattered to him, was that he was back for her. The past was the past. He was living with her at the moment and that was how it should be. 

"Meanie!" Jina complained. But Hobin reached over and gently hugged her, cradling her tiny frame .

"I missed you, Tinkerbell," he whispered. Jina, who was caged in his strong embrace, smiled.

"I missed you too, Doctor Demon," she whispered and closed her eyes, resting peacefully in his arms.

This is what I came back for, Hobin told himself. He stroked Jina's hair, lulling her into a comfortable sleep. She was the essence of his existence. The promise he made in death was not only to protect her but to be by her side all the time.

As Jina fell asleep in his arms, Hobin's determination only grew. The demon might be lurking in the shadows, ready to attack but he was not going to give up.

I'll not let anything harm her, he vowed.. Not even a damn demon.