It was early in the morning...
People inside the subway train were cheerfully talking with each other as the soul-stirring sunlight filtered through the train windows. The morning sun, the daylight star was always getting shinier than before. Each day it glew like a hope.
I put my headphones on, listening to one of my favourite songs by Sonya Soundstrong. Even though the train seat I was sitting was uncomfortable, the song helped me to be comfortable.
Then, a notification ring came from my phone. After picking it up from my pocket, I unlocked the lock screen which had a picture of me and my friends.
The notification was a message from my Eurasian friend Paikek to our group chat called Forever Together, and it was saying "Did you guys wake up? I just had my breakfast."
"I'm on my way to the university" I replied.
"Damn, I just woke up." Bomyu sent a message with a smiling face emoji with a sweat drop on its forehead.
"You're always late." I sent laughter emojis.
"Have you guys heard about Seanyung? @Seanyung" Paikek tagged him.
"Nobody can wake up later than you, especially Seanyung." Paikek bantered, sending a bunch of cute emojis.
I turned my face away from my phone to look at the screen on the wall of the train. The screen showed the locations and stops which I had to get off.
The train stopped at the next station, and some passengers started to get in.
A man wearing a long black coat sat next to me. He looked like he was in his mid-40s, and he had long black hair.
As the train passed the station and travelled to the university, the man glanced at me. He seemed familiar, but I couldn't know.
Then, I remarked that he was the man I saw after the fire at Mrs Kimiko's house. He had the same mysterious look with the same blank expression on his face.
"Excuse me, sir." I asked hesitatingly.
He didn't turn his face to me, keeping the same facial expression.
"Hey, do I know you?" I repeated.
"Hurry up! You will be late for university" The man spoke slowly without turning his face to me when the gates of the train opened.
It arrived at the stop where I needed to get off the train. However, I didn't want to miss the chance to talk to the mysterious man.
"Why don't you tell me who you are, first?" I got up while there were less than 30 seconds left for the doors to close.
"Why is this so important for you?" The man confidently turned his eyes to me as he spoke slowly.
Sweat dripped off my face as I couldn't think how to reply. In the meantime, the doors of the train started to close.
I ran between the passengers to reach the doors, but they were almost closed. Suddenly, the man directed his hand towards the gates, and they stopped, leaving a gap between them.
"Thank you." I glimpsed at him one last time as I walked out the train.
The station was pretty crowded with lively chattering people. Everyone around me seemed happy, as I stepped beside them.
After I got out of the rail station, the sunny weather of the Kawaakari city was bringing peace to the streets. I walked along the pathway beside the cherry trees, which was leading to the university.
The university building was like an ancient castle, and it had an enormous campus surrounded by green parks where students could picnic.
I was the only one in my friends that started a university. Because Paikek, Seanyung and Bomyu were still going to high school.
There was a bridge in front of the gates of the university. And, the sign on the top of the gate was stating the Magic University of Kawaakari: MUK.
The wide hallways of the building were crowded with the students of MUK. It was strange for me to see that many people talking with each other.
While I was stepping through the corridors of the ancient building, my head started hurting and my eyesight went blurry.
I began hearing a man's voice saying "Don't worry Lydia, we won't be late for the resurrection."
It was the same man's voice on the train, and he was about to do something.
Without getting into the classroom, I turned my back and rushed outside the university building. I ran the same path to the rail station next to the university.
I unlocked the lock screen of my phone and started typing to the Forever Together group chat; "Guys, there is something that I need your help. Please, help me find where that subway train leads."
After sending the message, I shared my location with them.
It didn't take so long, Paikek replied; "Right, I can help."
"Finally, I found a reason to leave school." Bomyu replied with some laughing face emojis.
After a few seconds, Paikek sent the exact location of that train to the group chat.
"Thank you, Paipai. There was a man on that train who was talking about some resurrection. We need to find what's his plan." I explained the situation to them.
The location that Paikek sent to the group chat was pretty far from where I was. It was impossible for me to go there in time by another train.
"Guys, I need some help to go there." I asked for their help.
"Right, I can fly." Paikek typed with some cute emojis.
"Brilliant idea! I will be waiting for you." I responded while the corners of my mouth curled up.
A few seconds later, Paikek arrived at the station that I waited. His angelic wings were shining, and each feather of it was beautiful.
"Come on, let's go." Paikek offered his hand to me as he was flashing his teeth.
I held his hand tightly. Then, he flew upwards carrying me to the sky. The view of the Kawaakari city in the morning was very green, filled with people living their daily lives.
Paikek flew faster to the other station where we anticipated that the man was there. We travelled over the buildings, plains, crowds and houses. The warm weather made me feel free and calm.
When we got to the other station, we landed in front of the building. It was empty, and there were only a few trains.
"Where is everyone?" Paikek questioned, looking around while his wings disappeared.
"I don't know. We should go inside and check." I suggested.
The front door of the station was closed; it seemed like it was locked. I stepped closer, seeing that there were shadows of people on the glass of the door.
"There's someone inside." I remarked.
"Right." Paikek ran beside me to check.
I observed around the station building to see if there were any other entries. And, I was lucky that there was an open window on the top left side of the door.
Flashing blue and yellow coloured lights were coming from the open window.
"They are holding a resurrection inside!" My eyes widened gazing upon the window.
Paikek helped me to climb up to the open window. I held the windowpane and jumped inside the station building.
Inside the building, there were balloons of every colour on the ceiling. And, it was decorated with bright ornaments.
"Happy birthday, Karu!" Confettis blasted all over the place.
Bomyu, Seanyung and Sonya were standing around a table, wearing party hats. The feeling I felt at that moment was profoundly beautiful.
"Happy birthday, Karu! It's a surprise!" Paikek smiled after he got inside from the window.
It wasn't the thing I was expecting to see, so I couldn't speak as I was shocked.
"Karu, you got so many presents from your friends. But it's my turn first." Sonya grinned, giving me a small wrapped box.
"Thank you." My face unintentionally turned pink as my mouth curled up. I opened the box, finding a silver chain necklace in it.
"Do you like it?" Sonya heartily smiled while asking.
"Yes, I love it!"
"Karu, It's my turn." Seanyung put in. His dimples were noticeable while he was smiling.
He gave me a book which had a yellow cover. There was a 火 (Hi) symbol on the book's cover, which meant fire in Japanese.
"Thank you, smart boy." I patted Seanyung, thanking him.
"Karu, I got you two gifts; one is for your birthday, and the other is an apology for beating you up." Bomyu laughed as he gave me two presents.
I laughed at the same time; "You don't have to apologize."
There was a pastel blue phone case with Pikachu in one of the boxes. And in the other box, there was a pastel purple sweatshirt.
"Thank you so much Bombom."
"Don't call me that." Bomyu chuckled, and he messed up my hair.
"Finally, it's my turn." Paikek effused carrying around seven presents in his hand.
"That's so much! But, I love it! Paikek you are so cute!" Sonya guffawed as she kissed Paikek's cheek.
"I am not trying." Paikek put the presents to the floor while Seanyung, Bomyu and I laughed.
"What's inside?" I wondered.
Paikek started opening the presents for me, and there were different kinds of plushies in each one of them.
It was the best day I had. We laughed, joked and had fun.
Sometimes I think to myself: you don't always have to remember why you have memories or how you made them. You just live the moment, and one day you will realize that you made it a memory. It's just that simple. You never know how important a moment is until it becomes a memory.
Don't be afraid of being judged by other people because people's opinions don't matter. However, the only thing that matters is the opinions of your future self on you.
It doesn't matter how you make it. Live your life. Make every moment a memory.