It feels awkward to see my younger self, almost as if I shouldn't. Probably because I shouldn't, right? But where am I? I frantically look around wondering where I am. I run out of the room and then run down a nearby staircase and reach the bottom floor. That's when I realized I'm at my parents' house. How the hell am I here, and why am I younger? As I think about all of this, my breathing starts to get faster and faster as i look around frantically. It feels like I'm breathing at a mile a minute. That's until I hear, "Hey Mako, you alright!"
I look toward where the panicked voice came from. I see a tall and disheveled-looking woman who looks like she's in her late 30s say this with a concerned voice. As I see her, my heart seems to sink. I then lean against the nearby wall and slide to the ground with a long breath. I then take a few more breaths before looking at the woman. She's my mother. She seems a bit younger than I remember, but it's nice to see a familiar face. It makes me laugh.
"Mako, what are you laughing at? You made me worried. Also, are you gonna get started on breakfast soon?" As I hear her say that, I laugh even more, and it's comforting to do this again. After all, I used to cook for my parents a lot since they were usually so tired from work, and I think I owe them this much for leaving them when I was 19. I kind of regret not keeping in touch.
"Yeah, Mom, I'll get started in a minute. Just let me take a couple of breaths."
"Whatever you say, Mako. I need to wash up. I have work today, so I could use something before I go," she says as her concerned face changes to a smile. Thinking back, me and my mom had a nice relationship, the same thing with my dad. I'd always make them breakfast and stuff if they let me go a little nuts every once in a while. It was a nice little family dynamic. Plus, I enjoyed cooking since they were always pretty bad at it. But it's weird. How am I even here?
I sit against the wall and look around. It's a nice modern home, kept and quite welcoming. I remember this place, and I feel like I remember this day, but for some reason, I just can't put my finger on it. It's like I'm back in the past. It doesn't feel real. Whatever, even if it's a dream, it makes me happy to go back to these days. I stand up, stretch my back when I'm done standing, and then move to the kitchen. It's not a separate room; hell, it's right next to the living room, I walk past a large table as I walk up to the stove. It's nostalgic. I remember these days well. I'd be making breakfast and dinner as my mom and dad would be watching, waiting patiently for a well-cooked meal. I'd always try my hardest not to disappoint them. But the new question is, what am I even going to make them? sigh I don't really remember how to make the more complicated stuff, so maybe I should go for something more simple.
As I ponder what I'll be making this morning, I begin to hear a knock on the door. As I look at it, I wonder if I should answer before going over there and opening the door. As I do, I see two young women, two women that I recognize. As I open the door, I hear one of them say,
"Morning Mako, you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." The taller girl in a loosely worn hoodie and in a black skirt with shorter black hair and gorgeous hazel eyes, says to me with a bright smile.
"You said we could eat breakfast with you guys, so we came over. I hope you're okay with that," the shorter girl wearing a brown T-shirt, in blue jeans with long brown hair, says to me kindly.
As I see these two, my heartbeat begins to speed up, my breath quickens and I slam the door shut and lean against it. I can't see her, not like this at least. I feel my face getting bright red as I continue to panic, getting more embarrassed than I have been in my entire life. As I hear the two ladies getting startled because of me on the other side I shut my eyes, wishing this never happened, and then... I wake up.
I'm in my old room again, in my parents' house. As I sit up clutching my head, trying to figure out how this is possible, I look toward my nightstand. I see a letter in a red envelope. I didn't see this before. I pick up the envelope and take out the letter. And the very first thing I read is:
To: Makoto Aikawa
From: The Goddess Of Love Flos