I wasn't a ghost.Just a glitch in a very expensive system.
Monday morning, attendance rolled around and—surprise!—my name wasn't called.Again.
I sat at the back, chewing the end of my pen, wondering how many days it would take before I stopped expecting to hear "Lee Nina."
Maybe when hell froze over. Maybe never.
— "Hey," I whispered to Yuri, who was doodling tiny hearts all over her notebook margin. "Do you think I'll ever officially exist here?"
She glanced sideways.— "Bold assumption you exist anywhere."
I made a face.— "Touché."
It wasn't personal. Just a daily reminder from the universe that my life was being held together by duct tape and denial.The good news was, no records meant no rules. Or at least, fewer rules. And I could work with fewer.
Or at least, that's what I kept telling myself.
The main office smelled like stale coffee and impending doom.
I stood in front of the counter, trying to look politely distressed instead of my default setting—sarcastically distressed.
The woman behind the desk tapped at her keyboard like it had personally offended her.
— "Still no updates," she said, voice flat enough to iron shirts. "Your file's under administrative hold."
— "Administrative hold?" I echoed. "Is that code for 'someone upstairs doesn't like me'?"
She stared at me blankly.— "I don't have clearance to share that."
— "Right. Do I have clearance to bribe you?"
She almost smiled.Almost.
— "Come back next week," she finally said.
I nodded slowly, like that was a solution instead of a death sentence.— "Sure. Can't wait."
I turned around, stepped out into the hall, and leaned against the nearest wall. My head thumped gently against the plaster.
Great. Another week of existential invisibility.
At least I had consistency going for me.
Two days later, the school rankings updated.
I didn't care. Obviously. Except I did—way too much.
I pushed past a few students crowding around the digital board, all fake-casual and fake-unbothered.
My eyes scanned down fast.
Then stopped.
#36 – Lee Nina
I stared. Blinked. Checked again.
Yep. Still there.
Someone behind me whispered loudly:— "Wait, who's Nina Lee?"— "Transfer girl. You know, red hair, sits at the back…"— "Oh, the one who's weirdly smart?"
Weirdly smart. I'd take it.
I bit my lip to hide the stupid smile creeping up my face.Thirty-sixth wasn't top ten. It wasn't "bow down peasants" territory.But it was real.
It was official.
My heart thumped happily in my chest as I walked away, head high, shoes tapping against the polished floor like I actually belonged there.
Maybe I was invisible to the admin office, but the rankings board?That thing saw right through me.
Friday morning, Yuri dropped a peach vitamin water on my desk without a word.
I looked up at her, raised an eyebrow, and twisted the bottle to read the label dramatically.
— "You know, in some cultures, this means we're married now."
She snorted.— "Gross. I can't afford your lifestyle."
I smiled and opened the bottle, taking a sip of fake peach and artificial friendship.
Yuri leaned closer, voice low.— "Seriously, congrats. Thirty-six is pretty impressive."
— "Yeah," I shrugged lightly. "Apparently being a non-person is good for my productivity."
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly.— "Just don't climb too fast. People hate when rankings shift."
— "People also hate pineapple on pizza," I said, grinning. "Doesn't mean it's wrong."
She rolled her eyes, but a tiny smile pulled at her lips.— "Just watch yourself. This place eats outsiders."
— "Noted," I said, waving the bottle. "But don't worry. I'm peach-flavored. Nobody eats peach."
After class, I walked slowly down the empty hallway.Sunlight streamed through tall windows, bouncing off expensive tiles.My footsteps echoed quietly, a steady reminder that I was here, real, and somehow, despite all efforts to the contrary, still kicking.
I had no paperwork, no family name, no official blessing from whatever administrative deity ruled this overpriced institution.
But what I did have was a number—thirty-six—and a target drawn neatly on my back.
I took a long sip of my vitamin water, sugary sweetness coating my tongue.
It wasn't safety. It wasn't security. It wasn't even close to what I'd once had back in another life.
But it was mine.Earned. Claimed. And entirely undeniable.
And for the first time since I'd woken up in this body, I felt like I was actually holding the cards.Maybe not all of them. Maybe not even the good ones.
But enough to play. Enough to bluff.
Enough to win something, if I was clever about it.
And if there was one thing being invisible had taught me?
It's that people don't see you coming until it's too late.