"I-I..." I stuttered, my voice trembling.
The figure pulled up a chair and sat beside my bed, its presence a suffocating darkness. I still couldn't move, my limbs frozen, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Hello," it said, its voice a low, melodious hum. "You can see me, can't you?"
I managed a slight nod, my head feeling like it was filled with lead.
"I'll take that as a yes, It seems the local genius's seal has begun to weaken," it continued.
Local genius? Did this mean I wasn't actually schizophrenic? Had my ability to see the supernatural been sealed away, only to resurface now?
The figure leaned closer, its face a mere inch from mine. I wanted to recoil, to scream, but my body remained unresponsive.
"Hmm, it's normal to be afraid of the unknown," it said, its voice oddly soothing. "But you can see my true form, if you wish. It requires something called... the Unsealing of Eyes."
Unsealing of Eyes...
The words echoed in my mind, a cryptic promise of revelation.
The figure rose from the chair. "I will see you again in the future, Xian Ying. I sense your seal is not yet fully broken. I will wait until it is."
Swoop! With a sound like a gust of wind, the figure vanished, leaving behind a lingering chill in the air.
My body unfroze, a wave of relief washing over me.
"Hahh... hahh..." I gasped, my heart still pounding.
I was alone again, but the encounter had left an indelible mark on my soul. The truth about my abilities, my past, and this mysterious figure was out there, waiting to be uncovered.
"Th-That..." I trailed off, my gaze returning to my phone, where the video of the girl's scream played on repeat.
"She saw it too..." I whispered, realization dawning on me. The girl hadn't seen me in the hallway; she had seen the same shadowy figure that had visited my room.
I quickly opened the group chat, my fingers flying across the keyboard.
[Me: @Marcel, do you know that girl's name?]
[Marcel: Oh, so you do want to ask her out?]
[Me: Just tell me her name, please.]
[Marcel: Well, not that well. I just know her from the school organization. Why?]
[Me: I'll tell you tomorrow.]
[Marcel: 🐱 *Confused cat sticker*]
I tossed my phone onto the bed, my mind buzzing with questions. Who was that figure? Why was it following me? And what was the "Unsealing of Eyes"?
One thing was clear: I couldn't ignore this any longer. Tomorrow, I would find that girl and try to uncover the truth behind our shared experience.
***
[School of Rectangle]
The next morning, I arrived at the school gates, a sense of anticipation buzzing beneath my usual calm demeanor. My reputation preceded me—a quiet, mysterious boy with flowing hair and an alluring hint of Chinese heritage. I was popular, though I couldn't quite understand why. Perhaps my classmates found my reserved nature intriguing, or maybe it was simply the novelty of my appearance.
As I walked through the corridors, whispers followed in my wake. I pretended not to notice, but the weight of their curiosity pressed upon me.
Reaching my classroom, I made my way to my desk in the middle row. Just as I set my bag down.
Slap! a heavy slap landed on my back.
"Huh!" I turned to see Marcel grinning at me, his eyes alight with mischief.
"Morning, buddy! So, are we going to see her now?"
"Not yet," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Maybe at lunchtime."
"Ahhhhh... so why do you want to meet her, anyway?"
"Just curious about what she really saw..."
"Sure, sure, or maybe it's because you know you've got the rizz," Marcel chuckled, his skepticism evident.
He was always teasing me, but I didn't mind. People were complex creatures, each with their own quirks and obsessions.
"Marcel, stop annoying Xian," a voice cut through the banter.
It was the class president, a boy named Rayhan. He sat at the front, his nose buried in a manga. Despite his quiet demeanor, Rayhan was prone to bouts of chuunibyou, believing himself to be a protagonist destined for greatness.
I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Compared to him, im lose in schizo test.
"Man, shut up," Marcel retorted, sauntering over to Rayhan's desk. "Go back to watching your cartoons."
"They're not cartoons, they're anime!" Rayhan protested, his voice rising. "Anime and cartoons are totally different!"
"They're still just 2D drawings that move," Marcel scoffed.
"They're different!" Rayhan insisted, his face flushed with indignation.
I stood there, an awkward smile plastered on my face. It was a typical exchange between the two, their bickering a familiar soundtrack to our school days.
Suddenly, I felt a poke in my side. I turned, but there was no one there.
"Ahem, tax day for the class fund," a small voice piped up from below.
I looked down to see Nadine, our class treasurer, standing beside me. She was barely tall enough to reach my waist.
I knelt down to her level, a smile tugging at my lips. "How much do I owe this week?"
"5,000 rupiah," she chirped, holding out her hand.
I nodded, pulled out my wallet, and handed her the money.
"Okay! Thanks, Xian!" she said, beaming at me.
"You're welcome, Nadine," I replied, standing up and ruffling her hair playfully.
Nadine marched over to Marcel and Rayhan, who were still locked in their heated debate.
"No!" Rayhan insisted.
"Yes, it is! Anime is just animation," Marcel countered.
"No!"
"Hey, shut up already! Pay your class taxes!" Nadine's voice cut through their bickering like a knife through butter.
"A-Ah... Nadine, it's still early. I don't have any small bills on me..." Marcel backed away sheepishly.
"Me neither," Rayhan mumbled, following suit. "I'll pay at lunchtime."
I chuckled to myself. Nadine and her class tax collection were the stuff of legends, a constant source of both amusement and dread for our classmates.
I leaned back in my chair, enjoying the momentary lull in the chaos. The events of the previous night, however, still lingered in the back of my mind, a shadow that refused to be dispelled.
The classroom filled with the usual pre-lesson chatter, but my mind was elsewhere. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, that the shadowy figure was lurking somewhere nearby, its unseen presence a cold draft on the back of my neck.
< Chapter 004 > Fin.