A girl was seen waving her hand and calling out to Ray repeatedly, asking him to come closer.
The girl had a beautiful face with sky-blue hair. Her red eyes made a unique contrast on her face. Her bright and cheerful demeanor made Ray understand the girl's personality with just one look.
Ray quickly approached the girl. He was very curious about their current situation.
When Ray reached the girl, he was greeted with a scolding.
"Where have you been all this time? I was worried when you suddenly disappeared from your room."
Room? Do you mean the place where I woke up?
"Sorry, I was just curious and wanted to take a walk."
The girl looked surprised by Ray's answer. She observed Ray carefully because she was curious. When she reached a satisfying conclusion, she nodded her head up and down.
Ray, who saw that, was confused. He then asked, "Is there something wrong with my face?"
"It seems like you're calmer than before."
"Was I not calm before? What do you mean?"
The girl seemed to think for a moment and doubted something.
The girl muttered, "Should I explain to him?"
Ray didn't hear what the girl said. But he didn't think too much about it right now. Because he still had something else important that he wanted to do.
"Um, what's your name?"
The girl looked at Ray with growing annoyance.
"Ray, you really are something!"
"What?"
"Do you really not know my name? The name of someone sitting right in front of you!"
"In front of me?"
"Yes, in class, I sit right in front of you! We've been in the same class for one semester. And our seats are close to each other. And you don't know my name?"
Ray held his neck, trying to calm down and reduce his anxiety.
"Sorry, I guess I've never heard your name."
"Isn't it always mentioned by the teacher whenever we're absent? Ugh... That's why I always scold you not to sleep too much in class. Even when I try to talk to you, you always look away."
Ray held back his emotions, holding back all the curses he wanted to unleash from his mouth. But he held it all in because he didn't want to make this trivial problem bigger. In the end, the words that came out of his mouth were, "I'm sorry."
The girl let out a sigh of relief for expressing all of that in front of Ray.
"Sorry?... Stop apologizing, Ray. You did nothing wrong. I just wanted to suggest to you that friends are important. At least don't always avoid Jimmy, I feel sorry for him."
"So, what should I say?"
"At least you should be grateful to everyone who wants to help you. Don't keep apologizing.
I helped you because I wanted you to change. It doesn't mean I want you to keep apologizing to me. Not just me, even other people who want to help you wouldn't want to see you only apologizing to them. I'm sure of that, Ray."
You want me to thank you after hearing you insult me all this time?
Hell nah, fuck you bitch!
Although he felt annoyed, just thinking like that already made him satisfied without mocking or insulting the girl. On the other hand, he reflected on what the girl had said to him.
But... Everything she said is the truth. I'm just annoyed because I don't want to face that reality.
This annoyance is not solely because of the girl's words. It's actually a problem in my mind that doesn't want to accept other people's opinions.
Upon further reflection, it seems that I just realized that I am a stubborn person.
Ray was interested in the girl and asked, "What's your name?"
The girl answered with a smile, "My name is Maria, so... What's your name?"
Ray was confused by that question, "Didn't you already know my name? I'm Ray, why are you still asking about my name?"
"Just making sure, besides, let's go back now. It's time for lunch, and I cooked it."
With a smile on her face, Maria took Ray's hand and walked with him. Although Ray was still confused about everything that was happening, he let Maria lead him because he realized that he was very hungry at the moment.
Exactly after Maria mentioned something about food, Ray was confused by the hunger he felt. The hunger Ray felt was not just an ordinary hunger, it felt like the hunger he hadn't eaten for a whole day. But this hunger was more than he expected.
In the middle of the journey, Maria muttered, "If you're like this, it seems like you can eat peacefully."
Hearing that faintly made Ray even more curious about the actual situation he was in.
Ray looked up at the sky and found a sense of freedom in his heart again. The birds flying around made the atmosphere there feel like heaven to Ray.
Where am I actually? This doesn't look like the place that should be near Elaina's mansion.
While looking at the sky, guided by Maria, Ray felt his head spinning, he felt like gravity was no longer functioning on him. He looked around and felt that the earth was shaking. But seeing Maria not reacting and still behaving normally made him realize that he was sick.
Ray, who couldn't stand it anymore, fell in the middle of the way, making Maria panic.
"Ray... Ray... Are you okay? Ray? Can you hear me?"
My vision is blurry... My hearing is fading... Aha-ha-ha-ha-ha, the earth is spinning...
Maria checked on Ray and realized that Ray's forehead was very hot. Making her realize that Ray was having a fever.
Maria tried to carry Ray on her back. But unfortunately, her weak physique wouldn't be able to lift a burden as heavy as a human. Knowing that, Maria thought of something else to do.
"Ray, wait here. I'll call Harry real quick. Just lie down here until I come back. Don't go anywhere, okay?"
Ray lost consciousness and was laid down by Maria in his current location. Maria put Ray to rest under a large tree surrounded by thin grass.
Maria walked away from that place to seek help, leaving Ray unconscious.
After a few minutes of being unconscious, Ray woke up from his sleep and felt that his body was slightly better.
Ray slowly opened his eyes and saw a girl with white hair who was lending her thigh to be used as a pillow by Ray.
Ray wasn't surprised to see the person because she was someone he knew. The girl's name was Cecilia Lewinston, Ray's the one and only sweet little sister.
Ray looked at his sister's face with longing. It had been so long and painful for Ray to be able to see his sister's face again. Ray cried and got up from his sleep, then immediately hugged his sister.
"Uh... Ray..."
While still shedding tears, Ray said, "Can you let me be like this for a while?"
With a small smile, Cecilia responded by nodding, "Hmm."
For over a minute, Ray continued to hug Cecilia, releasing the longing he had held for so long.
Cecilia remained silent and complied with her brother's wishes while gently stroking his head. She pampered Ray like a mother pampering her child.
After Ray was satisfied, he wiped away his tears and sat next to Cecilia.
"I'm sorry, I must have looked so weak in front of you, right? It's not pleasant to see... right?"
Cecilia shook her head, indicating that she disagreed.
"What's wrong with crying? There is no rule that says humans can't cry. Besides, I should be the one apologizing."
"Why should you apologize?"
Cecilia sighed and smiled, then said, "It seems like you haven't fully accepted yourself yet. No... I should have known about that."
Every word that came out of Cecilia's mouth confused Ray. Ray didn't understand what Cecilia meant.
"What are you talking about?"
"I just want to apologize for these past three days. It seems like because of me, you've been wasting your time."
Hearing Cecilia's words surprised Ray. His face wrinkled with curiosity.
Ray panicked and immediately grabbed Cecilia's shoulders and shook her, forcing her to answer his question, "What do you mean by three days? What happened? Explain it to me now, Lia!"
"Ray... It's not me who should be telling and awakening you. It's you who should do it yourself."
"What do you mean, Lia... Please, explain it to me. What is actually happening to me? All the strangeness happening around me and within me is already enough to make me feel pressured. And besides, my problems aren't just about myself, I have other things that I have to do. So please, can you tell me what is really happening?"
Cecilia just smiled, "Ray... Shouldn't you already have a vague idea about what's happening to you? Look at your face, why does it look full of suffering? Don't you think that way too?"
Ray touched his face upon hearing Cecilia's words. It made him realize that he was crying and furrowing his brow like someone in pain.
Why?... Why am I crying?
Is there a memory that makes me sad? But what memory is it? I can't figure it out.
Ray's tone changed after realizing how miserable he looked, making she surrender to his own ignorance, "Lia... Please, can you tell me? Can you explain to me what is actually happening?
All the strangeness happening around me and even within myself is already enough to make me feel overwhelmed. And besides, I beg you, can you tell me what is really happening?"
Cecilia simply smiled flatly and answered, "You should have already known what is happening to you. You just haven't accepted yourself yet."
Ray was frustrated and shouted, "What do you mean by accepting myself? I don't understand! Just explain it to me now. What is happening? Why do you always avoid giving me an explanation?"
The smile on Cecilia's face disappeared, leaving only a serious expression. She sighed and began to answer, "I told you that you should be the one to tell and awaken yourself. I am not the one controlling your body, Ray. You are the main controller of your body, I am just one of the many parts within your life. Even though I'm telling you now, it's all in vain. Besides, my heart is still too weak to accept it."
Ray, frustrated by hearing all of Cecilia's strange and incomprehensible reasons, continued to force Cecilia to explain. They argued and fought continuously until Ray didn't realize that he had lost consciousness again.
When Ray woke up again and began to open his eyes, he saw two familiar faces right beside him. Harry was on his right, and Maria was on his left.
Ray realized that both of them were currently trying to help him walk.
He suddenly remembered Cecilia's face in his mind, making him miss her even more.
Lia, where are you... I seem to miss you.
Some fragments of memories returned, making his head ache. But the pain reminded Ray that he had met Cecilia before.
What were we talking about during that time? Why can't I remember?
And also... where is Lia now?