But Nico, nothing’s in there.

"Uhh... Well , hello?" the rat greeted but Nico only stared and didn't respond. "Well, hahha. It's nice to see you again, kid. What — What a coincidence. Right! What a coincidence."

The rat waited for the kid to finally speak, but it didn't. Instead, Nico took something from his pocket. It was a paper bag. Large enough for the rat to fit in.

"Hey, you! I need you to get in here," he said to the rat.

"Huh? W— Why?"

"I will have to bring you with me in our house and show you to my family so they'll believe me," Nico said. "And I will also need you to speak in front of them," he added.

"Wait! Wait! Wait! I don't really get what's goin' on, but if I'm understading it right, you want me to show up in front of your parents?"

"Exactly."

"No! That's impossible!"

"And why is that? All you have to do is speak in front of them. You're talking to me just fine. And why's it impossible to do the same to them?"

"You see. That's not how it works. I cannot show up in front of other people, even to your family."

"That doesn't make sense."

"I know it doesn't make sense right now. But even if I try to explain it to you, you still wouldn't get it. I mean, it's complicated. Just trust me, okay?"

"And why would I do that? Why would I trust you? We just met yesterday."

"You see, uhm... It's really hard to explain but I needed you to trust me," the rat said. "I mean, I will cease to exist if I fail to earn your trust."

"Yeah! VERY believable," Nico said, but he wasn't smiling. "But you know what's more believable? It's that my family isn't trusting me and if only you would show yourself to them, then MAYBE, they will finally start believing me again."

"But like I told you, that's impossible!"

"But WHY is it impossible? You've been telling me it's impossible but you're not really telling me why's that."

"I already told you, haven't I? I cannot show up in other people. Because only YOU can see me."

"What — What are you talking about?"

"Exactly how it sounds like. Only you can see me and no one else can."

Nico was silent after that. He remembered his father's story last night. About his friend ghost named Johny. His father said only he can see his friend too. 'Was my father right somehow?' he thought. 'Does — Does that mean I've only been imagining things until now? I cannot accept that. No way I will accept that.'

"I don't care! I still want you to show up in front of my parents regardless."

Hearing this, the rat sighed in defeat. 'I came here to earn this kid's trust anyway. Might as well grant him his request,' he thought even though he already knew the result.

"Fine! Fine! I will come with you. But don't blame me if they'll think you're nuts in the head."

And with that, they headed together going to Nico's house and waited for his family to arrive. It didn't take long.

"Hello there, sweety!" his mother said and as usual, pulled him into a hug and kissed him on the cheeks.

"Hello, mom. You too, father and Monica. Well, guess what? The rat I'm talking about yesterday is in here right now," Nico said excitedly. "And you really need to see it!"

"Okay. Okay. If you say so, sweety." His mother said but didn't really take his words seriously.

His father was shaking his head from side to side as he followed his son going to the bedroom. While Monica poked her brother on the side and whispered to him, "Where'd you caught it?"

"At the alley one block away."

Monica only asked that to humor her brother, but immediately regretted it as soon as she heard his answer. She covered his mouth instantly but it was too late, their mother already heard it.

"What did you just say?" Leonora asked — there was danger in her voice.

"Nico said nothing, mother." Monica tried to cover up.

"Shup up, Monica. Now, Nico. What did you just say?"

"Uhh... Which one?"

"Where'd you caught the rat?"

"Uhm... At the alley one block away?"

"YOU WENT THERE? ON YOU'RE OWN? HAVEN'T I TOLD YOU NOT TO GO TO ISOLATED PLACES ON YOUR OWN AND YET YOU WENT THERE?"

"Leonora, dear. Calm down. It's already late. The neighbors can hear your shouting." Theodore tried to get in between.

"Shut up, Theodore!"

"Okay. Okay. I'll shut up. But can't we at least have dinner first? I'm starving!"

"Sigh! Okay. But Nico, we will talk after dinner."

Knowing that he was about to get scolded, Nico just nodded and said, "Yes, mother."

"But what about the talking rat?" he tried to get back to where they left but Monica elbowed him on the side. "What?"

"Nico, can we talk for a minute?" she whispered to her brother before turning to their parents to say, "Mother, father. I'll just talk to my brother in a bit." And she dragged Nico going to the bedroom, leaving their parents behind.

"Nico, sigh! You should learn how to read the room."

"But Monica, the rat."

"Nico, listen to me first." Her voice was slightly more serious this time. "I didn't tell you this yesterday, but I really think you should stop thinking about that rat. A rat cannot talk."

"But Monica, I'm telling the truth. I spoke to it yesterday and just a while ago too. It's on the table behind the lamp. All you have to do is see it and you'll believe me. I promise."

"Sigh! You really won't stop, will you? Fine. Where's this rat you're talking about?"

Nico couldn't help but grin hearing that his sister was finally giving him a chance to prove himself and dragged her to the table where the rat was.

"There it is!" He exclaimed while pointing at the rat who was now standing on its hind legs, crossing its arms.

"But Nico, nothing's in there."