Mrs. Miller's Residence
Mrs Miller: Ethan boy you've got to taste this new ramen recipe I came up with!
Ethan: Mom ever since I came, all you've been doing is cooking and "MasterChefing", take a break for God's sake. I'll help myself with cup noodles and some cookies maybe.
Mrs Miller: You didn't have to come here to eat those junk! Here, taste this!
Mrs Miller handed over a bowl of ramen to Ethan while forcing a bite into his mouth, just when he was non-violently playing his PS4, lying on the couch.
"I asked you a million times, and I'm asking you again, please consider living with me! I know school's far away from here, but I'll drive you every day!", said Mrs Miller while she sat, on the comfy grey couch, next to Ethan. She continued," The only reason I'm saying this is because look at you, all you eat is cookies, or canned or restaurant stuff. All these unhealthy food, also add isolation in the list! I mean, I can't just say your father is doing a great job blah blah blah, he doesn't even come home on weekends!".
Ethan: Yes mom the ramen tastes great.
Mrs Miller: Yeah I know, no listen! Son, I'm mortified that I can't be with you when you need me the most, it's this freaking job I can't leave, otherwise, I'd live close to your dad's place."
"Why not live with us mom?", Ethan interrupted calmly knowing the answer already.
Mrs Miller: Look how insolent you've become!
"Mom you're so cute!", laughed Ethan while his mother kept gently combing his hair with her fingers since his head was on her lap.
Mrs Miller: The other day the coopers called me and told me that we're failing at parenting, we don't give you enough time and all. But yeah their praisings towards you outranked all our failures. They also told me that YOU escaped to the terrace when the guests came in, I didn't raise my son to be this anti-social! If it goes on like this- you may never have any girlfriend.
"How do you know that I don't have one", Ethan smirked.
Mrs Miller: Excuse me, Mister, you spent nine months of your life in my womb, I know stuff before you, yourself, do! So..do you have one?
Ethan: Mom you are so unpredictable, you know that?
Mrs Miller: Yeah always been like this. So tell me about her!
Ethan: Oh boy I'm late, have to meet Ben at the arcade! Sorry, mom, and thanks for all the yums!
Mrs Miller: You're kind enough to at least tell me her name though your majesty!
Ethan rushed to the front door after wrapping up his PlayStation and dynamically taking the food his mom packed for him.
Ethan: Ahaha, later!
Mrs Miller lived in a city-style apartment, next to the newspaper company, she worked for. She was a tall middle-aged woman filled with tranquil and joy. Ethan inherited all his good looks from his mother, who had long enchantingly beautiful wavy jet black hair, grey eyes, and a blissful and passionate soul. Apart from Ethan, and his father- who she was separated with- didn't have anyone else in the world, her whole background was nothing but a mere mystery.
In front of the Arcade
Ben: Thank you so very much to arrive this early! I'm thankful.
"Ben you know mom, she took all the time to pack this food for me to have dinner with, I might as well share the sushis with you too!", Ethan protested, while laughing.
Ben: Stop making excuses!
Ethan and Ben spent more than two hours having an incredibly fun time playing all the latest games. Later, they headed to Ethan's place to have dinner.
Mr. Miller's residence
Ben: Ethan, I completely forgot! You didn't tell me anything about Hana during this whole time!
Ethan: What do you want to know?
Ben: Anything, start from what you do in those "dreams" of yours.
Ethan: Well, we talk, most of the time, given she always knows what's wrong with my life and all. Isn't it amazing to have someone who already knows what's on your mind, like you don't have to open that book of sorrow to let that individual know how you're doing? Not to mention, lies cease to exist when we talk!
Ben: There you go our 'metaphorical' Ethan! Dude, she's not real, don't get your feelings involved in this, please! Also, you may not be lying, but what's the guarantee that she's not lying! Because unlike her, you are not a mind reader!
Ethan: Ben I certainly didn't want your opinion.
Ben: I don't know how to explain this to you, but no worries, the dreams will be over just before you know!
"But, I must say, your life is nothing less than a fantasy story!", said Ben after a long pause as he chewed the sushi made by Ethan's mom.
Ethan: You know the movie 'Whisper of the Heart'?
Ben: Yeah that ghibli movie about two middle-schoolers?
"Yes, you know in that movie, the girl- who was really into fictional books- kept wondering what would it feel like if that guy, whose name she saw repetitively in the borrow list of the library books, was exactly like as she imagined him to be. She kept wishing her fate to turn out like one of those fictions she read. She started liking a guy without knowing his actual identity. He was the library guy she had been dying to meet, eventually, his name was disclosed, and she was astonished. The fact that he read all the books in the library so that his name would be in all the borrow lists, just so she'd notice the coincidences, proved that he's been noticing her from the very beginning. That's what teaches us that meanwhile, we keep hoping for our lives to turn out like one of those books or novels we admire so much, we live a story ourselves, and undoubtedly it's a beautiful one!", said Ethan.
Ben: ...I am speechless.
Ethan laughed and they finished their meals. Ben headed back to his home, while Ethan prepared himself for his time to escape was fast approaching.
Portal Land
Hana: You're unusually happy today, can't believe I actually said this.
Ethan: I don't understand why is it hard to believe that "I" can be happy.
Hana: Well because you are...you! You know what I mean, aah don't sweat it you won't understand anyway!
Ethan: And I can't believe that I'm still living through this fantasy novel!
Hana: Wanna play a game?
Ethan: Sure as long as I still exist.
Hana: Your sense of humor is so awfully bad I want to cry!
Ethan: No listen, I have a great sense of humor if you know how to get to that point!
Hana: Anywho! Let's start the game! It's a pretty easy one, all you have to do is describe a word or a situation so that I can guess what it is without you actually saying the word if I guess it right, I score! Understandable?
Ethan: Nope it's not, it's actually as hard as deciphering black hole mysteries.
Hana: Shut up, it's still no good! Let's begin, shall we?
Ethan: Sure ma'am, do the honors.
Hana: I'll start with something easy okay? Held close to thy best mate's heart, but thy heart denied her love, unflawed by nature.
Ethan: It's Lexie...
Hana burst out into laughter while watching Ethan's helpless face.
Hana: Boy you should see the look on your face!
Ethan: I don't know to say...
Hana: Oh my God this was enough to get you nervous?! Tell me one thing, why in the world did you reject Lexie? I mean she is the ultimate girlfriend high school boys could ask for! What are you, dumb?
Ethan: Well there are a lot of reasons, me not having an interest in her, my best friend having a huge crush on her and yeah it goes on.
Hana: Liar, there aren't any other reasons! Spill the real tea, wait are you related to some underage illegal marriage issue?! Oh my God, you freak!
Ethan: Ew the conclusions. She's perfect and everything but I've got different plans.
Hana: Different plans huh!
Both of them kept enjoying their time in this mysterious dimension, sitting by the spring. The fainted sound of rushing water added opinions to their agreements and disagreements, while the hour hand revolved and brought Ethan back to bittersweet reality.
JOHNA HIGH SCHOOL
Ben: Guess what, I just signed your name at the play on school fest!
Ethan: WHAT?!