Cenora had a really hard day today. Not because on a big holiday like this, Cenora had to be present to celebrate Christmas at school with her teachers and other students, but because of the ghosts and demons who seemed to be following her and holding back her steps from doing activities.
And falling repeatedly today felt so unnatural to Cenora, that she had to get scolded by her two friends.
"Excuse me… can I speak to Cenora?" a man's voice was heard calling the three of them from behind. The three turned around at the same time.
Behind them was a handsome student figure with slightly long hair like a girl tied back. His appearance like that looks very cool and deserves to be the idol of female students at their school.
The man took Cenora to the backyard of the school which was quiet and very rarely passed by students because it was a cold and haunted place.
"I apologize for calling you suddenly like this. I've been waiting for an opportunity like this for a very long time," the man said to Cenora with a charming smile, "I'm Stu, from grade 9-8. Do you know me, Cenora?" continued Stu asked.
"Oh, of course. Who doesn't know you? Haha," Cenora replied awkwardly, 'What kind of situation is this? Could it be that he wants to…' Cenora thought hanging.
"If you have some free time right now, can you come with me?"
'Serious? He is Stu, the head of the school's popular basketball team and the 5th most handsome student in the school. Did he just ask me out on a date? Gosh… why should I? I might faint suddenly at this!'
Cenora was so nervous about being asked out on a date by Stu, that Cenora didn't realize that one of the creatures behind her was harassing her again by kicking Cenora's back knee forward so that Cenora's body wobbled backward.
"Careful!" called Stu at once and quickly grabbed Cenora's hand so she wouldn't fall backward. Cenora's body which was pulled back was instantly in Stu's cold chest.
'Cold?'
Cenora felt so cold in Stu's arms that it gave Cenora goosebumps. Immediately Cenora broke free from Stu's arms and backed away.
"Sorry…" said Cenora briefly, "I don't think I'm feeling well. I'm going back to class!" continued Cenora and immediately walked away.
Unbeknownst to Cenora, a hideous smile crossed Stu's lips as he watched Cenora's back walk away.
'What is that feeling? Why is Stu's body so cold, even the cold is like piercing straight to my bones,'
'I don't know… I also don't know why I suddenly want to get away from him. I'm sure Stu will hate me for my weird treatment of him like this!'
Cenora kept muttering to herself with her eyes unfocused as usual. And such a sight was very familiar to her classmates from Cenora. In their eyes, Cenora is indeed a clumsy and dreamy girl, so it's no wonder that Cenora often doesn't focus on anything and falls suddenly.
Until the party was over and the school was dismissed, Cenora continued to silently ignore everything. Be it humans or the whispers of the invisible creatures behind her.
***
'One day, I will return. Because you are…'
"Why can't I ever remember my little friend's line of words? It was very tight when he did what he said. I have to wait for him to come back, but when?" mumbled Cenora as she walked towards her house.
Cenora lives in an old residential area where the distance from one house to another is not too close. Cenora lives alone after her parents pass away.
Yes, Cenora is an orphan. The car accident she experienced as a child has claimed the lives of both her parents instantly. And it happened right after Cenora was saddened by the loss of her little best friend.
After the accident, Cenora was entrusted by her distant family. Until Cenora is a teenager and can take care of herself, then Cenora returns to her parent's old house.
With the inheritance of her parents, Cenora lives alone in the house of her parents' memories.
Despite her desire to live independently, Cenora thought she wouldn't bother her distant family with her strange quirks, which might frighten and annoy everyone.
Cenora was just about to enter the gate of her house when her eyes fell on the gate of the old house, which had been closed for ten years, and now it was wide open.
The house is the house of her old best friend who left her when she was little.
"Hey, the gate is open?" mumbled Cenora.
For some reason, her feet did not step into the fence of her house but turned to walk towards the gate of her little friend's house.
Cenora tilted her head towards the inside of the fence with a sly look.
'I remember very well, the yard of this house is very big. Is it still the same as before? But it can't be because this house has been empty for a long time,'
'But why is the gate open? Is anyone moving here?'
Cenora kept asking herself as she continued to look here and there into the courtyard of the house.
Cenora immediately gasped when she saw a man cleaning the plants in the corner of the house.
"H-he…" Cenora muttered as she covered her mouth.
"Cenora… is that you? Long time no see you..." the man said with a smile.
"Hmm… do you know who I am?" replied Cenora with a gasp.
"I'm Ichigo, do you still remember me?"
The expression of the man's name made Cenora's heart skip a beat.
'Ichigo?'
"We used to play together a lot. Like this!" Ichigo said as he stroked Cenora's hair and took something out of it.
A small creature with long ears with a bald head and wings. Ah, one more thing… it had a tail and was the size of a lizard. You could say small lizard stealth.
"These creatures still keep bothering you, don't they? They dare to land on your head like this, is it because you let them? Don't be heartbroken! Just wave your hand at them, or you just pull their hair out!" Ichigo grumbled at Cenora while squeezing the small creature in his hands and… Wuuusss… The little creature disappeared into ashes.
"Y-you can see all of them? You even held that little thing earlier…" Cenora was still stuttering as she asked. She still couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Can I see them? Of course! I can see them just like you! What do you want me to show you again?" replied Ichigo who smiled again as he took another small flying creature that was trying to avoid his catch. And when he got one of them, Ichigo again squeezed and turned the little creature into ashes, then waved his hands like he was cleaning dust.
"You've seen it, haven't you? Can't you still remember who I am?" Ichigo asked again.
'Is it true that this person…'
"I'm back in this house. If you need anything from me, just call me. I will come straight to you!" Ichigo said, "Go home, you look really tired!" Ichigo continued, rubbing the top of Cenora's head attentively.
Cenora immediately walked away, away from Ichigo without a word.
"That kid is still as weak as ever. So weak that even a small ghost dared to cling to her body. But I'm already here, Cenora. I'm back…" Ichigo muttered as he watched Cenora enter the gate of her house.
'One day I'll be back…'
'We used to play together a lot!'
'I can see them just like you!'
Every word Ichigo said kept ringing in Cenora's mind. Cenora's heart was also beating irregularly again.
"Is that him? Did he come back for me? But that was a promise when we were kids, right? Then why is he serious about keeping his promise?" Cenora muttered in disbelief.
'But he still remembers me. And it seems, my waiting has not been in vain…' continued Cenora muttering to herself while smiling happily.
***
Ichigo's return did make Cenora happy. But for some reason, the disturbances from the spirits around Cenora were even more and more unexpected.
Even just to go to the mini market, Cenora needs a struggle.
Pulls, pushes, even whispers to scream colored Cenora's journey. Of course, Cenora's appearance did not look good and instead seemed shabby and chaotic.
Cenora finally arrived at a convenience store to buy her necessities at home, panting for air.
"Hahaha! I finally arrived at this place! Otherwise, the food stock in my house will be empty, because tomorrow many convenience stores will be closed and I have to walk further than this!" Cenora grumbled while taking as many breaths as possible.
"Are you all right, little girl? You look so messed up! Are you sick?" asked a woman who was a cashier at a convenience store, "Let me take you to a clinic near here!" continued the woman-friendly.