"Maka, no, please stop," I turned restlessly. I was covered in a cold sweat, shaking, heart pounding, looking around the room, suspicious and paranoid that the horror may have followed them here.
I got up cautiously, shivering, rubbed my head and eyes, and tried to awaken fully.
I stumble to the bathroom, looking in the mirror slowly, cautiously, as if not sure what he'll see. The sun shines bright through the window, washing away the vestiges of the horror, leaving me relieved to return to their mundane existence.
I stand up, brushing my teeth, and I see a shadow move behind me in the mirror - jumps. Jittery all day and a little afraid of the day's end, which meant a return to sleep, but since it was early 5 am, I could climb back into bed for another forty-five minutes, knowing my mom would soon break down the door.
I'm tossing and turning restlessly in my bed, I close my eyes, but it feels like I have pain in my eyes, trying to clear my mind; forget about yesterday. I keep on seeing Maka.
It's 05h15am. I sit up on my bed, giving in to the fact that I won't be able to sleep. I walk over to the blinds opening them.
It's still dark; seeing the ring, I pick it up on the table. Still fascinated by the beauty of this ring, I turn it around, fascinated by all the colors. The pendant was standing behind the ring.
The pendant glow had faded; maybe it was just my imagination. I walked over to the mirror and rinsed my face.
It seemed different; it was not so pale as it always loomed, and my hair was slightly changed.
I unbutton my shirt and notice the bruises are gone, and I pick up weight with a slight tan.
My body has never looked this good. My eyesight has never been this clear; a miracle can happen overnight.
The alarm goes off. Dammit, it was a dream, "Kai, are you up?" There was my mom's annoying voice; strangely, I felt more tired than before.
Sitting up is such an effort. Why did they make school? What can school teach me that I don't know? How does history play a current role in life? Whoever created school or thought up school was dumb.
Stretching, I notice my vision has become weaker than yesterday or any other day. It's dropped by at least thirty percent. What does this mean? Am I going blind?
Leaning over the sink, my bruised hands are visible to the naked eye. I lean forward and notice dark blood coming from my nose; this never happens.
I am surprised as I walk over to the toilet, sit on the seat, take a tissue, and hold up my head, applying pressure.
"Kai, how far are you?"
"Nosebleed, mom, I am almost done."
"No empathy," she said coldly, "makes sure your sister gets to school on time."
"Yes, mom."
The front door closes and lockup from the outside.
I glance through the bathroom window and notice this -a red mustang- picking her up. I dont know anyone with a red mustang.
I know all my neighbor's cars, occupations, and how many times a month they went shopping. People will say I am nosey, but I would say I am curious.
Who are they to argue it's my life, "Jia, are you dressed?" I shout from the bathroom.
There is no response; either she is playing with that barbie doll with a tissue as a skirt, or she is ignoring me.
And this is becoming irritating to me.
"Jia?" I scream, but still no response. What the hell is she doing now again? I did not have a repeat yesterday and risk going to detention.
"Jia," I shout one last time, loud enough for the neighbors to hear.
No reply. I furiously walked over to the lounge where she had placed the leg of the barbie doll to the arm and the arm to the leg.
"Did you not hear me calling you" I snapped.
Jia rolls her eyes, "listen, you little brat, if I call, you will answer."
She shook her head, going about her business, thats when I noticed she was in her punk pants, yellow rain boots, and red cap.
"Jia, dammit, did you change again out of your school clothes." She shook her head,
"Did mom dress you?" Jia nodded, "so, who changed you," Jia was pointing to the big television I had got last year as a price for being so helpful.
The screen switched on, "I was standing there in my boxer "It Maka,"
Jia felt excited and clapped, and walked to the Tv, "Maaaakkaaa," she repeated.
"Jia, I prepare your breakfast for you. It's on the kitchen counter."
Jia rolled her eyes and walked back into the kitchen, "I am glad you came. I can't stop thinking of you, I am not sure what you have done with me, but I feel safe around you."
Maka then stretches out her hand, opening it, "you have something which belongs to me."
"I have nothing that belongs to you?"
Maka climbed through the window like a cat jumping through without bumping into a thing.
She rolled over like the cat woman, "are you like some professional next-level mafia?"
"No, I am not in any gangs. I told you why I am here."
"Remind me again why you are here."
"I want what belongs to me, Kai," she said in a high-pitched voice.
Kai then remembers, "the pendant, you mean?"
Maka nodded her head, "it's at the dressing table. Take it and leave, please. As you can see, I have my hands full for today, Jia hasn't changed into school clothes, and I got in trouble by being late for school."
Maka placed her hand on my shoulder, and I suddenly felt shocked. All my big problems seemed small. I felt relaxed,
"You will be okay," she whispered.
I felt calm and relaxed in her presence, her whispers, her gentle touch. Who is she? There was a sudden cold breeze in the air.
Every time she touched or was close to me, I felt stronger. It felt as if she was always watching. I no longer felt alone.
Walking back to my room, I had expected to find her there, but she had left.
Trying not to overthink, "Jia, how far are you?" I walked over to the window and noticed my hand had unusually more hair.
This was not there yesterday. I walked to the mirror and noticed hair sticking out by the shirt's collar. What the hell is this?
As I lifted my shirt, I thought, Jia came into the room, and I quickly put down my shirt, covering my hairy chest. It was disturbing to think about my body feeling as if it was in the process of transforming.
I walked back to the room, noticing the ring and pendant had now been on one chain. Narrowing my eyes, I frowned. A silver chain, could Maka have done this?
Shit, when I grabbed the chain and placed it on my neck, I felt spikes coming out of my pores that second when placing it around my neck. I no longer needed my glasses, and my body felt stronger; my energy spiked from 0 to 100.
Jia stood there like I was a stranger, "Jia, it's me," she gave me that, oh, well, shit happens, look and bossed me, "chocolate porridge," she insisted.
I got dressed in my usual school clothes: a white shirt, grey pants, and a black blazer jacket.
I followed Jia to the kitchen, where she was waiting for me. She sat down on the table, already dressed in her blue tracksuit. Yes, that was her school uniform. She had her hair plaited like Maka, with red ribbons.
I made her favorite chocolate porridge. She liked the porridge not because it was tasty but because of its box. The box had a picture of the three little bears and Goldilocks, sitting at a table eating this porridge, I looked over at the clock, and it was 07h02am.
At least today we will be on time, I thought to myself. After handing her the bowl of porridge, I walked over to the sink and opened the blinds as if I was expecting to see Maka standing in the same spot last night. All I saw were heavy clouds.
"Jia, it seems as if we are expecting rain. We might have to take your coat with us just in case."
Jia ignores me as usual, eating her porridge and watching Dora, the explorer, on the iPad.
Yes, here I am, talking to myself again. I walked over to the lounge and opened the blinds. I hope I don't bump into those assholes who beat me up yesterday.
I healed up pretty fast. I thought to myself as I prepared our lunch packs. It was 07h19am. Jia was done eating and had her backpack ready to leave.