章 10: Ordinary Things [1]
Gasp!
"Ah!"
I pulled the duvet away from my head in an instant and sat up while panting heavily.
I could feel streaks of sweat roll down my face and my nightwear was brutally drenched already.
It was a dream.
All a dream.
I was a little bit relieved it wasn't true, but the feeling was real for some reason.
I quickly looked down to my stomach to check if I was really okay.
If there was blood.
If there was no horrendously cut.
If I have not been stabbed.
And it turned out I was fine.
I sighed helplessly.
Why am I overthinking this situation so much?
All for a bath?
Sigh.
I picked my phone from my lamp table and flipped it open.
[1:48am]
I fell back into my pillow, resting my back against it.
"It's just a dream, Aera." I reminded myself.
And for about five minutes, I sat still looking around my room carefully for any signs of a shadow.
But it was just me overthinking it again.
I was utterly alone in my room.
And that was a little bit scary.
Maybe I should have listened to Areum when she made a suggestion about sleeping together.
Just maybe.
I finally got out of bed and I could swear I felt my feet tremble the moment I placed them on the cold marble floor.
After a while, I found my footing and walked out of my room.
Where am I going?
Water!
As I walked through the lone corridor, I suddenly felt irritated by how big the mansion was. A small little house would have been pleasant and beautiful.
A big mansion like this just keeps the family apart.
But…
I had never complained about this in my past life's phase.
Or was it…
I opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. Pouring a little into a glass cup, I chugged the content down hurriedly and it calmed me down a little.
"Are you okay, young miss." Someone suddenly asked, tapping me from behind and sending an electrifying jolt through my system.
I jumped, turning around immediately.
Alas, it was just a maid.
I closed my eyes in relief and let out a frail sigh.
"I'm fine… I just got thirsty and wanted some water." I replied and she got starstrucked the moment I did.
I had replied to her humbly which my past life teenage self would not have done.
She stopped for a moment and finally found her voice. "You could have called me to get a glass for you."
I gave her a petite smile and started to walk away from her. I needed to get back to my room.
To read for the test I have today because the thought of going back to sleep at this ungodly hour was frightening and terrifying.
What if he appears in my dream again?
As I walked back to my room with silent steps, I noticed a glimmer of light shimmering through a small space from Areum's room.
I tiptoed a little towards her door and it was indeed slightly opened.
Peeping through, I saw her seated by her study table and she was writing something down aggressively.
Is she angry?
Or is she studying?
The sound of the pen scratching against the pages of the book before her became violent and with a sudden outburst, she threw the book away into a corner and squeezed her fingers tight around the pen.
Uh?!
The oak pen mother got for her from that shaman.
Snap!
The remains of the oak pen rolled out from her hand as it has been widely splitted into two proper halves.
I shook my head, the fear in me seeping away from my mind at the sight of Areum's madness.
I walked back to my room with the dream completely off my mind, but I was unable to sleep.
If I can't sleep, then I have to study.
And I did, till daybreak.
°~°~°~°
"I get that you're jealous your sister gets a lot of attention from us, but do you have to go far and start destroying her things?" Mother thundered the minute I marched down into the dining hall for breakfast.
I looked around, observing what was going on.
Areum was chewing on her breakfast slowly and she looked like an innocent pig.
I looked at mom and her horns were red.
What's happening?
"You did this, right?" She continued, tossing the broken oak pen into my face.
I scoffed irritatedly turning at Areum again.
She lied?
I rolled my eyes, not ready for any drama that morning. I have a test to write today and I couldn't afford to make these people make me flop with making amends with my life.
"I will be going to school in a different car." I mumbled, a hint of disappointment etched in my voice.
"I'm not done talking to you, miss." Mom continued slamming her hands against the table while Areum chuckled softly.
"Well, I'm done." I retorted and walked out of the room.
Mr. Baek was not back from tendering his sick mother yet and waiting for dad meant Areum would be in the car as well.
Left with choice, I walked out of the mansion's gate ready to hop on a school bus for the first time since the beginning of my existence.
Heaven being on my side the moment I stepped out of the estate that housed our mansion, a bus was just pulling up at the bus station and I ran towards it.
Is this how it feels to be normal?
It was ordinary, but it felt nice.
I got into the bus and I couldn't believe I had given the bus driver a little bow, but he stopped me with his words.
"You have to pay before going in, student."
Right!
How do I pay again?
I only do mobile transfers.
I don't carry cash around with me.
What the hell is wrong with this morning?
"You've never ridden a bus before, right?" a familiar voice suddenly asked from behind as they also got into the bus before the shutter door closed up.
Uh?!
I turned around and I could have prayed the ground should open up and swallow me up as a whole.
I nodded a little, giving him the response he wanted.
"I will be paying for two." He said to the driver and scanned his bus card on the card reader.
Beep!
Swiftly walking past me like a stranger, I watched him walk towards the end of the bus and he held the hanger for support because every seat was occupied already.
I knew no one on that bus except him.
Hyun Min.
So, I walked towards him and stood next to him while holding a vertical railing.
And just like it happens in melodramas, the bus halted abruptly in a brief traffic and I swayed almost falling, but he caught me and pulled me to himself to avoid my crash.
How can he readily help me in this situation?
After what happened last night?
Beep!
"I will be getting off here." The lady sitting in front of Hyun Min announced and she got up from her seat to get off the bus.
"You can sit." Hyun Min nudged at me directly nodding towards the now empty seat.
I nodded obediently and sat just as he had instructed and the journey to school began without any more abrupt stop or traffic halt.
°~°~°~°
The test ended a little bit longer and I would say it felt like I was sitting for CSAT [A major exam in South Korea for university aspirants]
I was a little confident I would get a pass mark.
Maybe a little over a B.
Or maybe less.
After the whole charade and submission, I dropped my head on my table as I was suddenly feeling sleepy.
[1:48am]
The time the last drop of sleep drenched out of my eyes.
I fell asleep really quickly and I had a good dream.
In my dream, I was happy.
All I wanted was granted to me.
Everything was so insanely perfect that I couldn't ask for more.
I had no rivals and no one was on a quest to steal my name.
And then, a sharp ray hit my face and I had to squint my eyes to adapt to the new light surrounding me.
For a long while, this continued and I could feel my face burn a little.
Did I forget to apply some sunscreen this morning?
Oh, I did forget to apply some.
And then, the light suddenly disappeared showering a cool momentum around me.
A little smile crept on my lips unconsciously.
For some reason, I felt safe and wanted that moment to continue.
Not until the tune for closing hours chimed through the speakers placed in the school's hallways.
It was loud.
And I had to bid my dreamland; goodbye.
The first thing I would have begged heavens for was the cutest thing to witness in romance books.
A fine man sitting by the window, reading a book while slowly flipping the pages of the book over with exotic veins shrouding out of their hand while the sun radiates a halo above their head.
This was how it was described in this certain cringe romance book I had read once and I must confess, seeing this moment become a reality was totally worth it.
What is cringe?
I wanna see this everyday!
Everytime!
Every-minute!
"Why are you standing there?" I asked, my voice suddenly growing soft.
"The sun was probably too harsh against your skin and I don't want that." He replied, still reading the book he had in his hand.
"Because it's me?"
He closed the book and it made a slight tud.
"Aera, we have to go somewhere… now!"
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