"THANK YOU, Mrs. Santos, for letting me sleep over!"
Daisy's mom, as I call her Mrs. Santos, gave me a warm smile and gently patted my shoulder. She always has a warm atmosphere around her, always making me feel accepted and fuzzy inside.
"No problem, Mija. You are always welcomed here." She spoke softly, her tan hand on my shoulder as she did.
Daisy's father, Mr. Santos, smiled at me and patted my head gently as Mrs. Santos did.
"We are happy that you have been with Daisy ever since. This is the least we could do for you."
I smiled back, "Daisy is like a sister to me."
I, Hana, am a 16-year-old girl who became independent recently when the orphanage I used to live in let me go because of my age.
My mother died in a car accident when I was 11 and my father left before I was even born. I have no close relatives to take me in nor do my mom have any friends as she was always closed off from other people.
I don't even know how I survived but now, I am doing fine. I have a part-time job, a scholarship at my school so I don't have to worry about school fees, and thanks to my best friend, I have a house to live in and a bed to sleep in.
Without her, I may be struggling to live on my own.
'Daisy.'
I have met Daisy when she was new to school when we were in middle school. She is originally from the south and she was timid that nobody wants to talk to the new kid.
The other kids didn't take it lightly since we all have known each other ever since we were in kindergarten, but I know what it's like to excluded and they made Daisy feel that way.
So, I cut them off and focused on her.
Of course, she thought this is for the best, not just for me but for our friendship, as we saw their true color.
After that, we stuck to each other, vowing to be in each other's care and the rest is history.
Along the way, Daisy introduced me to her parents and at first, they have their doubts but I showed them that they can trust me.
After all, I am like an open book.
Besides, what else could I hide? They basically know my whole life story!
"And to us, you are like our other daughter."
'That… It is so nice.'
We heard footsteps coming down as we turn our heads towards the stairs and saw Daisy in her school uniform, which is the same as mine.
"Mom, Dad, don't stall us too long! We will be late!"
Mrs. Santos laughed at her daughter's words.
"My, my, Mija. We are not taking Hana away from you."
I laughed at that comment, thinking how Mrs. Santos loves to tease her daughter, as Daisy rolled her eyes but the blush on her cheeks says what her true feeling are.
Like me, Daisy is easy to read.
"I didn't say that."
Mrs. Santos just smiled at her daughter, waving her hand in dismissal.
"Whatever you say, Mija."
I grabbed my bag near the door as Daisy did too. Mrs. Santos stands near us and kissed both our cheeks lovingly.
Mr. Santos received a kiss from Daisy and I nodded at him coolly, to which he responded in the same manner.
"See you later, Mr. and Mrs. Santos!"
"Bye Mom and Dad!"
Mrs. Santos followed us to the door and wave goodbye to us as both Daisy.
"Take care!"
We gave one last wave to her and walked off to the nearest train station since the school we attend is 15 miles away from her home. It is not a hassle for us and I have my own money as I do part-time jobs for a nearby convenience store.
'I got the job all thanks to Mr. Santos.'
"Have you checked the new chapter of Lovers in Bloom?" Daisy suddenly asked, scrolling through her phone.
This novel that she mentioned is no less from a cliché, well, in some parts of its romance aspect but it has a very interactive plot and lots of fun hidden clues within.
The novel was about an orphan commoner girl who was adopted by a Baron after saving him from falling off a cliff and as payment, he took the girl in and adopted her.
He raises her as his child and soon, the commoner girl turned into a lady. As per the story, she enters high society at the age of 16 where she met the future Duke and Crown Prince who all fell for her innocent and calm aura.
Of course, the story will not be complete without a Villainess who has a really sad backstory, depicting her as the victim of her past.
Sometimes, I think the authors make the villainess stories so sad that you have to both root for her and hate her.
I kept my attention on the road and turned to her, shaking my head.
"Nah, I was too busy doing my assignment last night that I forgot."
Besides, I got a shift by 7 pm so I forgot to read the latest chapter.
She turned to me with a huge grin on her face as her eyebrows went up and down.
"Do you want me to tell you?"
'Here she goes again.'
She likes to spoil, A LOT, from the novels but it is not annoying in any sort of way.
More like, she readies my heart for what's to come.
I rolled my eyes playfully, "Duh."
She excitedly turned towards me and linked her arms on mine, walking side by side on the sidewalk.
"So, the chapter continues after Kalisto found out that his shadow knight had let Aurora get kidnapped, right?"
I nodded, urging her to continue.
"She gets rescued by Kalisto but not long after, Hunter enters the scene and told Aurora that Kalisto knew she will be kidnapped, turning the story around Kalisto and making Aurora hate him."
I gasped, "The audacity!"
She nodded in agreement, "Even if he was the reason why she got kidnapped, he tried to blame it on Kalisto. Unfortunately for our duke, Aurora believed Hunter!"
"How stupid!"
"It gets worse!"
We stopped for a moment, getting immersed in the story and by how Daisy is telling me how it goes, it will literally get worse.
"Are you ready?" She asks, her eyes glinting.
I nodded enthusiastically.
"Aurora picked Hunter and goes with him!"
I put both of my hands in front of my mouth and gasped loudly, both eyes widening as my heart raced.
'It can't be!'
Daisy nodded once again, "And that is where the chapter ends."
'WHAT THE F@CK?!'
I pouted at her, leaving me in a cliffhanger, as she laughed at my reactions getting immersed in the story and being affected by the character's choices.
The novel is stimulating every emotion that I have in my body.
"Don't just end it like that, it makes my blood boil!"
She giggled, "Well, that is how the chapter ends."
"Psh, then tomorrow will be the last chapter?"
Daisy looked down on her phone and saw her scrolling down, finally stopping and nodding at me once again.
"Yes, the author confirmed it and many people are tuning in for her update."
"Ugh, please tell me Aurora won't end up with the evil prince."
Daisy giggled again at my comment as she pointed out one conversation in that forum.
"The author said that the story will end in a twist." She read.
I put a finger on my chin and tilted my head at her, "A twist?"
She nodded happily, "Maybe she WILL end up with the duke!"
"I pray on that for dear life!"
Although the story is a bit cliché, like I said earlier, I was pulled in by how the characters are depicted and how the turn of events makes me want to piece them all and come up with theories.
The author has a fun way of hiding subtle hints in the story but as fans, we can only come up with theories.
None of it was affirmed by the author too, although she posted an announcement in which she mentioned how thrilled she was with our theories.
"But what if it doesn't just end here?" Daisy asked, her voice is laced with curiosity.
"What if, she really ends up with the Crown Prince instead of the Duke?"
We looked at each other after I said that and shuddered at the same time.
The crown prince that we are talking about is no other than Hunter Evalios Alynthi.
He is evil as fuck, manipulative and only sees people as toys for his entertainment. Of course, he has a sad backstory too but that just doesn't justify his personality and how he treats the heroine up to the latest chapter.
'So, Daisy and I hate him. No ifs and buts!'
"Oh please, no! Anything but THAT!"
Daisy giggled at this and patted my back, "We'll see it tomorrow."
'Yeah, tomorrow.'
I feel excited just by thinking about it. I can finally know if she will end up with the evil prince who wants her, only her, or the duke who is selfless and admirable.
Who will she pick?
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
WE ARRIVED at the school just in time before the bell started ringing. Daisy and I hurriedly went to our room and as soon as we stepped in, we heard the chaos caused by our classmates.
Most particularly, the classroom bully.
"Why is your ugly ass still here?! Move along, witch!"
I sighed at her behavior, being a rich kid and having been spoiled deadly, I just do little chores like this to stop her from harming anyone.
After all, that is one of the conditions I was put in when I accepted the scholarship from the principal aka her dad.
"Now, now. No need to be in such spirits this morning, no?"
She turned to me and glared very hard as if she was cutting me in half with the use of her eyes. I ignored it and helped the girl she was always being bullied.
"Are you alright?" I asked her, concerned about her well-being.
She nodded, "I-I'm f-fine. T-thank y-you, Hana."
I smiled gently at her, "You're welcome."
"Why do you always get in the way of my fun?!"
I turned back to the spoiled kid, didn't even bother to know her name for the last couple of years, and continued to smile.
"Because this is MY type of fun."
She angrily stomped at my response and went away, having nothing to refute knowing I will always have a come back, as her minions following close.
'Honestly? They look more like chicks following the mother hen.'
I turn my attention at the girl that was being bullied after the spoiled brat left and help her to her chair, just in time as the bell rang and the teacher came in.
He roams his eyes around the room and notices the spoiled kid's desk being empty of her presence.
He turns to me and raises an eyebrow, "She left, again?"
"Yep!"
He sighs and waves his hand, "Okay whatever. His father will pay me anyway."
Even the teachers couldn't care less anymore.
The class continued as normal and the day went on like a blur, as it always did. The spoiled kid was nowhere to be seen and she may have been at the storage unit near the soccer field again, cutting classes.
I never truly understood her behavior nor does her life justify it. I mean, she lives in a freaking mansion, she never gets to worry about when she will eat nor where she will get her fees for school.
She even has parents who are still alive. Hell, if I have that kind of life? I would thank the heavens over and over again.
"Hey, Hana!"
I stopped packing my belongings and looked up to who called for me, only to see the spoiled kid crossing her arms in front of me.
I smiled at her despite her unpleasant aura and her frowning face.
"Yes?"
She sneered, "Don't get into my business anymore, okay? You are lucky my father said I couldn't touch you or else he will cut my allowance off."
"Then, maybe you shouldn't bully other students. That will be bad for you, you know?"
She glared at me as her nostrils flared. I let out a slight chuckle which she mistook as an insult.
"You dare…!"
I just continued to smile at her as she angrily stomps away, not even finishing her words. The atmosphere was tense as some of my remaining classmates witnessed it.
Daisy immediately came to my side and hugged me.
"You are a moron sometimes, you know that?" She said, her voice laced with worry.
I chuckled, "I do know. You remind me that most of the time."
She just shakes her head and waited for me to finish packing. When I did, we went home side by side, chattering about the novel and our theories like how we always did.
We arrived at the train station and paid for our card, swiped it, and waited by the train tracks.
"You know, Hana," Daisy started as her eyes are glued in front.
"I pity the sister of Ekrisilia and Elishia."
I shrugged, "That one character that died so that Ekris can unleash her full potential and makes Elishia a candidate for the crown prince?"
She nodded at my inquiry but I just shrugged at her.
"I can't say I pity her but, if it means well for both extra's that will support the duke then her life was worthwhile."
Daisy laughed, "You always seem to find answers to certain coincidences, no?"
It was my turn to laugh.
"What can I say, I am the best at what I do."
The alarm goes off, indicating that the train is near so we stayed by the lines that pointed us where the door will be. We chose the front door as it is near the exit to our destined station.
We saw the train from a mile away coming to us fast. While we wait, Daisy is busy with her bag, searching for something while I look at the incoming train.
Suddenly, I felt a hand behind me, giving me a push. My body fell forward as my face is turned to the train tracks, my heart racing in fear as the sound of the train closes in.
It all happens so fast that in my view, the world seems to slow down that when I turned my head to see who pushed, all I see was Daisy panicking.
She was mouthing something but the sound around me was still and silent.
I couldn't hear her nor can I even make out what she was mouthing, but my eyes darted behind her and I saw the familiar face among the crowd.
Our eyes met and she smiled at me.
It was a wide smile.
Above that, it was the spoiled brat.
'You… B-TCH!'
"She wants you to die, human." A voice said, loud and clear.
I felt my body still in the air as my hand stretches out, slowly descending as the air compresses in my lungs.
Funny enough, it doesn't seem like I was nervous nor was I scared.
Hell, I wasn't even scared when I heard a voice from somewhere; not questioning how I even heard it when all of my surroundings seem to froze.
"But what is happening?"
"You are in the middle of life and death, little one. I slowed time...just for fun." The voice answered once more.
My eyebrows furrowed at this.
"Just for fun...?"
"Yes. Just for fun."
"What a fucking psycho."
The voice was silent for a moment before I heard a very flustered tone, as if he was not expecting my response.
"W-Wah? This human...!"
I clicked my tongue and rolled my eyes.
"I'm going to die anyway so might as well say my final words." I said, feeling brave.
The voice huffed and I can visual them crossing their arms.
"Whatever. It's your death anyway."
"Okay, but one question."
"Why?" I asked, my voice slowed down.
"Why what?"
"Why does she want me to die?"
"I don't know. Humans can be quite evil and spontaneous. A minute ago, they worship you, and a minute later, they curse you to hell."
I didn't bother to speak nor make a sound. The rapid beating of my heart is so loud to me that I thought it is going to leave my chest.
Realization dawned on me at this moment.
'So, this is how I'm going to die… F-ck.'
"You know, you aren't supposed to die yet." The voice said once again, making me look up.
If this is how I'm going to die, might as we talk to the voice. At least, someone would hear my last words.
"So… Can you save me?" I asked, pure curiosity.
There was a pregnant pause before the voice answered.
"No. We are not allowed to interfere with human affairs."
"So, I'm going to die here?"
"Yes."
"I see…"
'What a pain.'
I could feel a jolt somewhere but I am still stuck in the air, still not moving. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion at where this sudden movement came from.
'Did… I just felt something move in the air? Was it me?'
"You've accepted it?" The voice asked as it resumes talking to me.
"Yeah? I mean, there is nothing else I can do too at this point."
Even if I wanted to live, I can't rewind time nor can I escape from here. The voice said this isn't my time to die but how can I escape fate?
'I'm stuck in the air talking to, well, the air.'
"My, I have taken a liking to you."
I was confused as heck as to why the air liked me. I mean, I haven't said anything that will be liked at all?
"Huh?"
A low chuckle vibrated through the air that it felt like I was just in an air mattress. My eyes widened at this as my heart increases.
'The air…The air is alive!'
"How rude, human. I am not the air, although I could control it as my own."
"Then, are you… A god?"
"…Yes."
This… I'm talking to a god!
'Holy sh-t! Crossed that off my bucket list!'
"But, don't fret. Now that I've seen a human like you, I would like to give you a second chance."
'A god, giving me a second chance…!'
"Second chance? Then, can I live again as me in this world?"
"Human, didn't you hear what I said that we don't interfere with human affairs?" The voice laced with irritation.
I clicked my tongue once again.
"Ah, right. I forgot."
"I will give you a body with no tongue if you keep repeating that."
I immediately stopped, but I didn't say I stopped talking.
"But, how are you going to give me a second chance?"
"Tell me something you badly want, anything and I shall grant it in my power."
"Then… can't it be possible that I will live in this world again?"
"Human…"
"Hey, you said anything!"
"As long as it is within my power."
"Fine!"
I hummed, thinking of something to request off of the god when my eyes trailed to Daisy. The same horror is still displayed in her eyes as she looked at me, remembering our conversation earlier.
An idea popped into my head.
"How about… In a novel?"
"Novel?"
"Yes! I want to live in a novel and be an extra character!"
"What an odd request. Don't you want to be the heroine?"
"Hell no! Too much responsibility and hardships!"
The god was silent for a moment like it was thinking. I waited in anticipation to see if it would accept my request.
Then it spoke again.
"So, you want an easy life?"
"Yes! A life where I can live leisurely and happily."
"Hmmm… Do you have a specific one in mind?"
"Nope, I don't." I said curtly.
There was a slight pause again.
"Hmmm… It will be my choice then and since I've taken a liking to you, I will grant that request."
"Thank you…"
"A life where you can live leisurely and happily, as the extra character…"
It chanted it like a spell then time slowly comes back. I could feel the air again and my arms waving frantically as I fall.
"I hope you like your new world. I will keep an eye on you too." It spoke once again.
The world turns back to normal and in a second, I felt my body come in contact with the train as I was thrown away by such a strong force that I could feel the bones in my body cracking.
In the end, all I could see was the sky as my vision slowly darkens, my breath coming to a halt.
'Goodbye Daisy, I'll see again someday...I hope.'
"HANA!"
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