"It was a scary rainy night, on a dimly lit street, I saw a man with tears on his face and blood on both of his hands. I think he saw me and he slowly walked towards me. His slow footsteps are echoing through the silent street. As he passed the street light, his whole face was shown. I think he is familiar but it was the first time I saw him."
Suddenly, a flash of light illuminates the surroundings.
Eight o'clock in the morning, the sound of hummingbirds fills the air. It is a sunny day, a perfect day to walk to school. Ethan, a high school student, has a dream of becoming a programmer someday. He enjoys reading novels, especially in the horror genre.
He was woken up by the sound of his alarm clock. He raised his head up and sat on his bed. He remembered his dream from last night and was confused about who that man is and why he seemed familiar to Ethan?
As he remembered his dream, he stood up and did the usual thing he does before going to school. He eats breakfast, takes a bath, wears his school uniform and he is now ready to go. As he walks, he always remembers something happy to motivate himself. He thinks about his dream and strives to do his best for his future.
"I am currently in my first year of high school, and I love my life," the words that are stuck in his mind, now free to make him feel motivated.
Suddenly, he stops walking as an unfamiliar memory pops into his head. It was the same as his dream last night.
"I-I hate my life!" the man cries while cursing himself.
Ethan becomes confused by the unfamiliar memory. It was the same as the man in his dream but in a different scenario.
He resumes walking, he tries to forget it and his motivation returns in his mind.
"I lived with my loving family." The warmth of their presence resonates within him as memories of cherished moments flood his thoughts.
A sudden unfamiliar memory interrupted him once again. Ethan tried to push it aside, thinking it must be a scene from a novel he had read before.
But the unfamiliar memory persisted, forcing its way back into his consciousness.
"W-where is my family?" The man's desperate voice echoed through his mind as he searched every corner, yearning for their familiar faces.
Ethan's confusion grew as he struggled to reconcile the intrusion of this memory with his own experiences. Was it a mere figment of his imagination, or something more?
"What a weird day. I dreamt of a man who seemed familiar, but the scenarios were different,"
He sighed, reflecting on the peculiar memory. He continued his walk to school, his mind still preoccupied with thoughts of the unfamiliar memory.
After a few hours
After class
The sound of the bell echoes through the classroom, signaling the end of yet another demanding day. Ethan gathers his things and slings his backpack over his shoulder. As Ethan steps into the corridor, he sees the artworks and some posters of the other students at the bulletin boards.
He walks through the crowd, exchanging nods and brief greetings with others along the way. He sees his friend Ryo and tries to catch his attention. They greet each other and they talk a little about their studies.
Before exiting the main building, Ethan steps out into the warm embrace of the afternoon sun. With a deep breath, he fortifies himself for the rest of the day, reminding himself of his aspirations and the hard work needed to achieve them.
"Another day, another frustrating workload," he sighs with a hint of exhaustion, his voice barely audible. "But it's okay. I'll do my best for my future." Despite having doubts, he wears a smile—a shield against the uncertainties that lie ahead.
After exiting the school, Ethan walks along the sidewalk with other students, the rhythmic cadence of their footsteps creating a familiar backdrop. However, his attention is drawn to a man in a black hoodie on the other side of the street, his angry expression fixed upon Ethan. It gave him confusion, his heart quickening its pace. "Why is he looking at me like that?" Ethan wonders in his inner thoughts. He decides to walk faster to distance himself from the unsettling gaze.
Upon reaching his apartment, Ethan takes off his shoes and socks, leaving them by the entrance. He heads to the bathroom, unwearing his clothes and stepping into the cool brief shower. Just a minute later, he moves to his bedroom to get fresh clothes. As he dresses, his mind lingers on the man he encountered. Despite his thoughts urging him to let it go, the unsettling encounter lingers in the back of his mind.
He then proceeds to the kitchen, where he prepares a simple meal of noodles for dinner. With his food ready, he carries the warm bowl to the living room and settles onto the small sofa. Turning the tv on, the soft glow casting flickering shadows across the room. However, as he sees at the time displayed on the screen, doubt creeps in. "Is it really midnight already?" he questions, surprised by the speed at which time seems to have flown. He looks out the window, the darkness outside confirming the late hour. He tried finishing his food as fast as he could.
Minutes later, Ethan rises from the sofa, leaving the bowl at the sink without looking back. He grabs a mug, filling it with water. After drinking it, he heads to his bedroom, preparing his bed to sleep and get relaxed while forgetting some unwanted memories.
While sleeping, Ethan drifts into a dream, he dreams about a sunny day like the earlier one. The bright sunlight filters through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The hummingbirds fill the air, creating a serene backdrop. It is 8 o'clock in the morning, the perfect time to prepare for school.
In his dream, Ethan goes through his usual morning routine, getting ready to leave for school. He takes his time to make sure everything is in order, just as he would in reality. Once he's prepared, he steps outside his apartment.
As Ethan walks towards the school, he sees his friend Ryo on the sidewalk. He can't help but call out Ryo's name. Ryo hears Ethan's call and stops, waiting for him to catch up.
Ethan approaches Ryo, he engages Ryo in conversation, discussing school and personal matters. Ryo responds with a warm smile, assuring Ethan that everything is fine.
As the dream unfolds, Ethan also smiles at Ryo's response without needing further talks. The unspoken understanding between his friend conveys a depth of connection.
Morning, but it is already 9 o'clock
Ethan wakes up to realize that he has overslept. Panic sets in as he realizes he might be late for school. "What the hell! Why didn't my alarm clock wake me up? Ugh!" He rushes to get ready, skipping his morning bath and hastily changing into his school uniform. He hurries out of the house.
Lucky, it turns out that he isn't actually late. He arrives at least 5 minutes early.
As he walks calmly, now aware that he has enough time, he notices his friend Ryo up ahead. He calls out his name to get his attention. However, it seems Ryo doesn't hear him and continues going about his own business. "It's kind of like my dream, but somehow different," he thinks to himself, puzzled by the discrepancy.
Although Ryo didn't seem to have heard him, Ethan approached him and initiated a conversation.
"I called your name. Didn't you hear me?" Ethan asked with a sigh.
"I'm sorry," Ryo replied, his voice tinged with distraction. "I was lost in my thoughts and didn't realize you were calling me."
Curiosity piqued Ethan further. "What were you thinking about? Is it related to school?"
"Well, kind of," Ryo replied with a hint of sadness on his face. "I think I won't be able to continue my studies. My family is still facing financial problems, and I guess in a few months or weeks, I'll have to stop my education and find a job to help them instead."
"Is that so? I wish there was something I could do to help," Ethan said, his tone filled with genuine concern. "I'm really sorry about earlier."
They continued walking towards the school, the weight of Ryo's words lingering in Ethan's thoughts. He couldn't help but wonder how he could support his friend in such a challenging situation.