The door is something she'd seen for the first time yet it greeted her like an old friend. Following her guts, Uriel knocked and as her knuckles made a sound on the smooth yet hard door towering over her, there were clicks that signaled that the locks are being opened. What greeted her is the same old lady that she met that night but this time, she's warmer and fonder of her. The warmth that Clarence showed to Uriel made her digress from the thought that without her knowing, it seems like the bond between her and this lady had probably grown better than the night they met.
As she walks into the seemingly small house of the lady, the smell of the soup cooking, the scent of trees from wooden foundations that guarded the walls and shelves tickle her nose and the rustling of the papers on the wooden tables that come in many shapes and sizes, the sound of the boiling soup and the clinking of the glasses of every shape are music to her ears. The house is humble yet warm, a place like her home and the village she used to live in, vastly different from the houses in the dark corners that she was first brought to by her feet.
" You looking around the house as if it's your first lassie " Clarence said
" I - I was just enjoying you warm house for another time Miss Clarence " Uriel replied hastily
" You look like you haven't been here for years but you've been here everyday for the past week " The old lady said as she stirs her soup
******
' A week? How could that have happened? I'm certain I've just met her you last night. ' ... There's no way I can say that to this lady, she'd think I've lost my mind but truly, how could a week have passed??
" How's your studying at home? I'm sure you're not slacking off right?"
Studying???
" You see, the exam's tomorrow so you better prepare yourself, it's your only chance to get a scholarship from that school, have you studied what I've given you last night? "
It seems like she's been helping me with "studying" for that exam.. could she be talking about the school I've been looking forward to? Holy - what do I do?? I don't even recall a week passing, let alone whatever I studied during that time!
" Come 'ere my lad, hold this " Miss Clarence said as she hands over what looks like a triangular container, are soups in the capital put in these things? Fascinating...
" Now ... examine that then recreate it " she told me with a kid-like smile
The thing on my hand is warm, asking her what to do with it would probably just annoy her since she'd probably taught me about it.
" Understood " I don't even know why I said that but it felt like that would be the best response. However, why does her face look as though she's scanning my every move, her amber eyes pierce my back as I am making my way to the table that is farthest in order to avoid being seen if I were to make lots of mistakes. I don't know what to do except pick up the thickest book I first saw on the table and it happened.
*******
The dimly lit house suddenly grew dark, right in the blink of an eye. My head feels like I've just woken up from a long dream and it is splitting, my stomach is churning and the darkness I'm seeing is spinning and spinning. I opened my eyes only to see a uniform hanging from the wall right across the bed I use. It seems like I got into the school. The smell of my mother's cooking filled my nose and dragged me to the kitchen. The sight of her preparing our meal felt like a dream, how odd. It feels like my heart is slowly being squeezed and not knowing the reason why such a familiar sight feels like it would just disappear one day made something climb up to my throat, painfully burning it.
" What are you standing there for my dear, come here or you'll be late for school " said the ever gentle voice of my mother.
The soup she made today is very similar to what we had, at least in the days I recall, yet it strangely feels tastier than before. The stale bread feels softer and the coffee smells delightful. I hurriedly put on my uniform after the meal. It is exactly fitted to my body yet it looks like it doesn't actually suit me. The deep blue coat that is worn on top of the tucked in long sleeved blouse, the long pleated skirt that started from the very bottom of my ribs to the bottom of my knees, the pair of heeled shoes and socks, the ribbon, everything felt too much. I finally get to be a step closer to becoming a professor yet the blue and white uniform suffocated me. I never though that when i finally get to be at the door of my dreams, I would feel like hiding and turning back. The sound of my mother calling reminding me to leave for school brought me back to my senses. How could I have such thoughts on the first day of class. It's a relief the exam passed by just like that. I know I never got this on my own, how could I complain?
By the door, my mother is there standing along with my siblings looking so proud of me. Their excitement filled mine and just as I was about to run and hug them to bid farewell, everything turned black, with the blink of an eye, I'm at the very gate of the school. I didn't even get to say goodbye, I didn't even get to hear words of encouragement, without my will, I'm dragged once again. Just what is going on?