SHE succeeded in possessing Jonathan’s body. It was kinda easier than she imagined it would be. The moment she entered his body, there was no act of rejection from him. But she could not help wondering why he did not even see her. But he somehow managed to feel her presence. Well, maybe it was her lucky day.

“I need to be careful while inside his body,” she said as she walked to the employee’s lounge to get his bag.

Everyone around him must not notice that there was something odd with Jonathan. So, she needs to learn every single detail about him. First, she must get familiar with his body. But there was a little problem with that. Jonathan was a man, and there was this part that she did not want to touch.

Eww! 

The thought made her cringe. She could not imagine that she would touch something like that. Not when she was already a mere wandering soul. It was not the time for that. Too late for someone like her.

“I don’t wanna be labeled as a ghost with a virginity grudge or something.” She drew a breath and got his bag in his locker.

She was on her way out of the café when Jonathan’s phone buzzed continuously inside his pocket. She fished it out and saw a name flashing on the screen.

Inay…

Perhaps, his mom was calling him. She took the call and brought the phone to his ear.

“I-inay,” she could not help but stutter.

“Jonathan, where are you? You’re coming home for tonight’s, right? I cooked your favorite…” It was an old woman’s voice.

She realized it was not his mother, but his grandmother. And there was this yearning in her voice that moved Jonathan’s heart.

“Hmm… I-I’m on my way,” she replied.

“Oh, that’s great!” She heard the old woman talked to someone on the other line. “I will be waiting for you.”

The call ended.

She returned the phone to Jonathan’s pocket.

“But wait… How can I get there?” She turned her gaze on his motorbike parked just outside the café. “I don’t know how to drive this thing. And I don’t even know his address.”

She heaved a deep sigh and fished his phone again.

There must be something on his phone that could give her a clue. She opened his notes, his messages, and even his social media apps. Luckily, she saw his address on Jonathan’s resume that he sent through an e-mail.

She crossed the street and hailed a taxi.

“Take me to Sitio Aplaya, please,” she told the driver after hopping inside.

“Can you be more specific?” the driver asked politely.

She showed him the full address. “Here.”

“That’s too far from here. It will cost you a lot if you ride a taxi. Why don’t you just ride a bus? I’ll take you to the terminal,” the driver suggested.

“Oh… I see. Okay, then take me to the bus terminal.”

IT WAS not that easy to get there since she did not know the place well. Good thing, everyone that she asked for direction entertained Jonathan. Luckily, the last driver knew his residence, so she did not have to ask anymore. It would be a bit odd if Jonathan asks for his own place, right?

An old woman was standing by the doorway when she arrived. It must be Jonathan’s grandmother. She saw how her face immediately glows upon seeing her grandson.

She hugged Jonathan’s body tightly. She almost could not breathe because of that.

“I thought you’re not gonna come again,” his grandmother said somberly. “You always say that you’re busy with this and that.”

She tried to think of something good to be an alibi.

“I… I work part-time in a café and go to school at the same time. It’s a bit tiresome, isn’t it?” She laughed faintly.

She closed her eyes and hoped that the old woman would not notice something weird with her grandson.

“I see.” She smiled and lightly tapped his cheek. “Well, let’s go inside and eat. Your cousin is starving.”

Cousin? Who was his grandmother referring to?

Then, his cousin Oreo appeared. He went beside Jonathan and put his arms on his shoulders. She panicked. What if Oreo learned about her possessing his cousin’s body? He was special too. Humans like him could easily point it out.

“At last, Inay! Kuya finally decided to come home,” he said as he pulled Jonathan closer for a headlock.

She did not respond to that. She thought it would be better.

Should I leave his body for now?

But Jonathan has no plan to come home, and she brought him home. What if he realizes that she got inside his body without his permission? Ah, double trouble!

I brought this to myself! Argh!

She just let Oreo tugged his cousin to the dining area.

His grandmother served Jonathan his favorite food that she was talking about over the phone. She even picked up the spoon to feed him, but she stopped her.

“I-I can eat on my own, Inay,” she said.

Inay caressed Jonathan’s back before sitting on the chair across him. His body felt its warmth, and so was she.

“You look skinnier than the last time I saw you, Jonathan. Same as Oreo. It seems that both of you are not taking good care of yourselves. This is why I don’t want you two to be away from here.” She could feel the love and concern in his grandmother’s voice. “I am sure that you only fill those stomachs with instant foods.”

“What can we do?” Oreo shrugged and took another piece of fried chicken. “We only know how to eat. We don’t know how to cook.”

His grandmother turned her gaze on Jonathan with a slightly creased forehead. “This is why I always told you to get yourself a wife.”

“He promised himself to stay celibate forever,” Oreo said teasingly.

She accidentally spits out the food inside Jonathan’s mouth.

“Do you plan to become a priest or something?” his grandmother asked in dismay. “I disagree. You two must give me great-grandchildren, or I will haunt you when I die.”

“Inay!” Oreo whined.

She cleared Jonathan’s throat and stood up. “I-I’ll just go to the restroom.”