"Why were you taking so long, dear?" I glanced at Yaya, taking a deep breath. I couldn't shake off the dream I had earlier. It felt so real, like it actually happened.
"Nothing, Yaya. I just tidied up my bed," I said, offering her a smile that I hoped was convincing. But the thoughts of the dream, those strange, haunting images, kept slipping into my mind, making it hard to focus.
I sat down, glancing at Yaya as she stood by the counter. Her presence was always a comfort, but today, even her familiar warmth didn't quite ease the tightness in my chest. The aroma of garlic rice, rich and comforting, filled the air, a small reprieve from the storm of thoughts in my head.
"Yaya, come join me," I said softly, trying to push the heaviness of the moment aside.
She smiled back, a softness in her eyes, before settling down across from me. "You've always been so thoughtful," she said with a light chuckle.
"Let's eat."
After finishing my meal, I quickly cleaned my plate and placed everything in the kitchen, barely taking notice of Yaya's mild scolding. I didn't mind the routine, though; it was just another part of my morning. When I was done, I gathered my things, ready to head out the door.
I waved at our driver as I greeted him good morning. He nodded and smiled, motioning for me to hurry up and get in the car so I wouldn't be late. I climbed into the back seat, and he started the engine, pulling out of the driveway.
After about ten minutes, we arrived at my school. I gazed out the car window, watching the students entering the gates.
I stepped out of the car, grabbed my bag, and gently shut the door. I waved goodbye to my driver, who just nodded and drove off.
I let out a deep breath and walked through the gate. The security guards greeted me, and I smiled and waved back before entering the school.
A moment later, I was snapped out of my thoughts by a familiar voice calling my name. "Harriet!" Startled, I turned toward the sound and saw Missle, my best friend, standing a few feet away. Her bright smile was enough to light up the morning.
I could immediately smell her fragrance—something fresh and floral, with a hint of something uniquely Missle. She had long red hair that usually reached her knees, but today it was tied up in a messy ponytail, which honestly suited her better than anything neat would. Her green eyes stood out against her pale skin, and her thick eyebrows and defined nose gave her a strong look. Her lips were thin, but they fit her face perfectly, making her even more striking. It was like she didn't even have to try to look good, and yet, she did.
I couldn't help but stare at her face. She didn't wear any makeup, but she looked effortlessly stunning, like one of those Greek goddesses you see in paintings. If she was some kind of celestial beauty.
"You're so beautiful," I whispered, still staring at her.
She furrowed her brows, raising one eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "I've been beautiful for a while, so I'm not going to thank you." I just smiled and shrugged, not letting her teasing get to me. She let out a loud laugh. "You're such a mess, I missed you!"
I couldn't help but laugh too, my lips curving into a smile. "I missed you too."
But then, out of nowhere, she suddenly looked down, and I noticed a shift in her expression. The usual spark in her eyes was gone, replaced by something heavy. I froze for a moment, trying to figure out what had changed. This wasn't like her. Missle was always the one who could make even the worst days feel better. But now, standing before me, she looked... small. And I didn't like it. It felt wrong.
"U-um... I have something to tell you during lunch break."
Her voice was quieter than usual, and I noticed her fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. The words hung in the air, like she was trying to say something but couldn't quite get it out. I tried to steady my breathing, but the uneasy feeling in my stomach wouldn't go away. Something was definitely off. Missle wasn't the type to get all serious like this without a reason, and the way she kept glancing down at the floor only made the knot in my stomach worse. She looked up at me, her face pale and her lips trembling, like she was holding something back.
I couldn't help but stare at her, worry creeping up. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Don't worry. We can talk later, Harriet," she said, her voice a bit shaky,but trying to mask it with a weak smile. I wasn't convinced. There was something she wasn't telling me.
"Why later? C-couldn't we do it now?" I asked softly, feeling a little nervous. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, like Missle was holding something back.
She hesitated, her gaze flickering over my face, as if she was measuring something. Then, her eyes darted away, and she looked past me, her expression shifting quickly.
"Look..." she pointed with her right hand, and I followed her gaze. Kyle was walking toward us. His right hand tucked casually into his pants pocket, his other holding a briefcase-shaped bag slung over his shoulder. He didn't notice us right away, but there was something off about his posture today. It was like he was waiting for something—or someone—to notice him
I turned back to Missle, but her face had already gone blank, her usual lively expression replaced with something guarded. She forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"That's Kyle. He still looks the same," she said, her tone suddenly light, but with an edge of something I couldn't quite place. "I wonder if he'll look like that tomorrow too."
Her words felt like a change of subject. The way she avoided looking at me, her eyes darting back to Kyle instead, made it clear she was trying to distract me from what she'd been about to say. I stared at her for a moment, feeling a cold knot form in my stomach. Missle's guard was up now, and it didn't sit right with me.
I looked back at Kyle. He was wearing our uniform, his right hand still casually tucked into his pocket. His bangs covered his eyes, as always, but something about him seemed... different. It was like I had seen him before, but I couldn't place where. The weird sense of familiarity lingered as my gaze fixed on the spot where his eyes should have been.
"Doesn't he look a little... off?" Missle said again, her tone forced, as if she was trying to convince herself more than me. "Look at his hair, and you can't even see his eyes. It's weird, right?"
I focused on Kyle, trying to make sense of what she meant. His posture was stiff, and when he turned slightly toward us, I felt a chill run down my spine. His lips curled into a small, amused smile, but his eyes—hidden beneath those bangs—sent a strange shiver through me. Something about him unsettled me.
I turned back to Missle, but she had already looked away, staring down at her feet. That's when I realized something: she didn't want to talk about whatever it was she had been about to say. And she definitely didn't want me to ask any more questions. The way she avoided eye contact and changed the topic was too obvious.
"Missle?" I whispered, but she didn't respond. She just nodded, distracted, her attention flickering back to Kyle.
I called her name again, this time more urgently, my heart skipping a beat as I tried to reach her. Finally, her eyes met mine, but they were distant, the spark that usually shone there now clouded with something I couldn't quite place.
"Why are you so... off today?" I couldn't stop myself from asking, the words slipping out before I could think twice. There was something about her—something I couldn't ignore.
Missle let out an awkward laugh, her smile strained. "Ha ha, it's nothing," she said, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. Before I could respond, she grabbed my arm, "Come on, let's just head back to our room," she continued, tugging me towards our room, her grip tighter than usual, as if she were trying to rush me away from the uncomfortable moment.
As we reached the door to our room, Eunice greeted us with a wide smile and a raised hand. "Hey, guys! Let's play 'pak ganern' while Ma'am's not here!"
The moment she said that a chill ran through me. I went completely silent. The game she mentioned—it was exactly like the one in my dream.