Ayesha's Point of View
I opened the lampshade on the side table before reaching for my phone and placing it next to the lampshade to see what time is it.
It was past midnight and I could not sleep. Usually, at this hour, I'm sleeping soundly. I looked at Ron who was now next to me in bed and she seemed to be sleeping soundly. She is still fine and wherever she sleeps she gets a good night's sleep. I felt envy for her for that reason.
I don't know.
And what I hate so much is what runs through my mind, just over and over. Why does the song they sang earlier keep playing in my mind? I even caught myself subconsciously humming the song while trying to get some sleep. Or is this what they call Last Song Syndrome? Last Song Syndrome?
I started browsing my social media accounts and then shifted to watching K-dramas but I regretted it when a scene was a boy singing a song for a girl he likes.
"What the?" I almost cursed.
I didn't notice that I searched on Google what is the title of the song by typing the lyrics. It came out. Brief remarks and song reviews also showed.
"I still don't know what to say, what to say," he sang but what does it mean?
Is the meaning of the song that I read also the same as how he feels? Am I dreaming or assuming? Is there any reason behind those stares? Or am I assuming things or feelings that don't exist?
Is this the reason I can't sleep or I was feeling strange that I was in another house?
This is related. This can't be!
Whatever the reason, I don't want to think.
Since I have trouble sleeping, I finally got up from bed, got my cardigan, and decided to go outside the room.
I walk slowly going downstairs to avoid noise that might awaken others. I roamed my eyes around and no one is outside. Maybe all of the helpers on the farm are sleeping and I'm the only one still awake. I went to the kitchen to get some milk but the jars in which they are placed are empty. Maybe they forgot to put it on so I decided to find it in the hanging cabinet but I didn't manage to find stock and just gave up. I just poured lukewarm water into the glass and was contented with it. I went to the living room and sat on the couch.
I put the glass of water on the center table and got some chewing gum in the tray placed on top of it. They said that when someone was experiencing last-song syndrome, it's advisable to chew gum if you want the song to get out of your head. Well, I don't know if it's true. There is no harm in trying.
I looked around the whole living room. I noticed things I didn't notice when I stepped into this house. Paintings and pictures are hanging on the wall. So many books that are more on agriculture, lined up in its large pouch. There are also certificates and medals found on open shelves. I got curious so I stood up and went near it. Most of the certificates are awarded during the 1990s if I were to guess, it was given to Vener's grandparents. But what caught my attention was the certificate awarded to Vener being first place in the Science Quiz bee but he got a silver medal in the mathematics category. This happens during Mathematics and Science Regional Quiz bee and Journalism Awarding.
A sudden memory of my elementary days popped up in my mind. My problem with the last song syndrome abruptly vanished and occupied me with another one. I can't believe that Vener was the child I met before and that's why he seems so familiar, to begin with but I just set it aside.
"So, why are you still awake?" an expected familiar voice and scent asked me. I turned my gaze to him while frowning without responding to his question. He was also looking at what I'm looking for.
"I was reminded that there was a child, the same age as mine, crying because she doesn't want a silver medal," he stated surely. I unexpectedly thought of what I felt that day. Those words he stated that he willingly exchanged his medals for my medal heal my longing broken heart being in the second place. Those words made me feel at ease though, at a young age, I was thinking that I was worthless and can't do anything. That I was just a child who needs to do something to be proud of. Those smiles that melted my heart brought joy and peace.
"He exchanged his medal for mine and he took a picture of a little girl wearing the medal he supposed to be his," I continued. I stared at him intently. I can say that he changed a lot and I didn't expect that his features will come to be this attractive.
"Why did you do it?"
"Why? I do not know either?" he paused. "Maybe, even if I don't wear the gold medal, I'm still the first place at the regional level."
He huskily chuckled. I find his voice serious but his action was not. I flickered. "How arrogant!"
"If I'm mistaken you're on the Mathematics level contestant but why major in Science?" he asked but I don't know the answer either.
"Speaking of, we're just the same," I commented. We both chuckled because we both realize that we grabbed the path we didn't anticipate coming to be.
I didn't expect that after so many years, our paths crossed again in unexpected circumstances. We were just little ones then and now, we met when we are taking our preferred adventure.
That's life. It was very unpredictable.
"Can't sleep?" he asked me changing the topic. I nodded as I excused myself and went near to the other shelves. I got the book about coffee and sat on the couch.
I started to read and I was drowning myself in the history of coffee, how it was widely spread around the world, the different varieties of coffee the process of how a perfect blend of coffee is made, and many more.
I was just back to reality when a glass of milk was put on top of the table in front of me.
"Warm milk before bedtime can help you relax," Vener paused. "Not getting enough sleep can harm our health. Drink this."
He handed me the glass of milk. I accepted it and drank. He's great at mixing either coffee or milk.
"Thanks. You get some sleep, then," I retorted. He didn't go to his room and sleep instead, he sat beside me, I move a little to give him enough space and he played solemn music on his phone.
Why so nice, Ven?