>Afternoon<
As we arrive at my house, Yuna skips ahead of me, clearly over the strange tension from earlier. I unlock the door and step inside, hoping for a quiet evening to process everything that happened today. But as soon as we cross the door, I can already tell that Yuna has other plans.
"Ah, home sweet home!" Yuna exclaims, throwing herself onto the couch as if she owns the place. She stretches out, making herself comfortable, and then shoots me a mischievous grin. "So, Aerum, what's on the menu? I'm feeling a little bit hungry after all the excitement today. Be a good host and bring me something to drink, will you?"
I blink at her, trying to keep my irritation in check. Yuna has always been like this playful, a little over the top but today, her cheekiness is grinding on my last nerve. I can still feel the residual adrenaline from the fight earlier, the strange instinct that surged through me. All I want is a moment to think, to figure out what's happening to me. But Yuna is oblivious, completely wrapped up in her own world.
"Sure," I say through clenched teeth, forcing a smile. "What would you like?"
She taps her chin, pretending to think. "Hmm, how about some juice? And maybe a snack, too. You know, to keep my energy up."
I grit my teeth harder. Who does she think she is? My house isn't a five-star hotel, and I'm not her personal butler. But I hold back, reminding myself that Yuna is still shaken from what happened. She might be acting like her usual annoying self, but I can tell she's using this as a way to distract herself. She's trying to find some normalcy after everything that went down today. And as much as I want to beat her up, I know it wouldn't help.
With a tight-lipped smile, I head to the kitchen, all the while imagining myself giving Yuna a piece of my mind. Maybe even a piece of my foot, right where the sun doesn't shine. But I push those thoughts away as I grab a glass from the cupboard. She's my friend, and she's here because she needs to be. I just have to endure this for a little while longer.
As I pour the juice, I can't help but replay the events of the day in my mind. The fight with those guys, it was like someone else took control of my body. I've never fought before, never even thrown a punch, and yet today, I moved like a seasoned warrior. It was almost as if that other self, the one from the visions, had taken over. I have to admit… it was pretty satisfying to be able to move and fight like that.
"Aerum! What's taking so long? Did you fall into the fridge or something?" Yuna's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
I close my eyes, counting to ten before responding. "Just coming, you buffon!" I call back, forcing a cheerful tone.
With the juice in hand, I walk back to the living room, careful to keep my expression neutral. Yuna is sprawled out on the couch, flipping through channels on the TV as if she doesn't have a care in the world. I set the glass down in front of her with a little more force than necessary.
"Your juice, Your Highness," I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
Yuna flashes me a wide grin, completely missing or ignoring the edge in my tone. "Thanks, Aerum! You're the best."
I plop down on the armchair opposite her, trying to focus on the TV instead of the growing irritation in my chest. Yuna takes a sip of the juice and sighs contentedly, clearly enjoying herself.
"Aerum, you always know how to take care of me," she says with a teasing wink. "It's no wonder everyone at school is so obsessed with you. You're just perfect."
I nearly choke on my own tongue. Perfect? If only she knew how much I was struggling to keep my temper in check. How much I wanted to grab that stupid glass of juice and throw it in her face. But I can't. Because she's my friend and friends don't throw juice at each other. No matter how tempting it is.
"Yeah, well, someone has to keep you out of trouble," I say, forcing a laugh that sounds far too strained to be real.
"True, true," Yuna says with a dramatic sigh, leaning back into the couch. "I'd be lost without you. You're like my personal guardian angel and servant."
I smile tightly, the words feeling like sandpaper in my throat. Servant? I'm about to crash out… maybe I should throw her out of my Netflix account.
"Speaking of which," Yuna continues, completely oblivious to my internal struggle, "what do you think about Joon-Soo? He's kind of cute, right? And mysterious. You two would make such a power couple."
I feel my eye twitch. Of course, she'd bring him up, as if my day hasn't been strange enough. "Ewww… that guy is a freak and weirdo if I'm being honest."
She gives me a playful nudge. "Something is telling me that you might be so into him, should I be your wingman?"
I bite my tongue so hard I'm surprised it doesn't bleed. Yuna completely ignored what I just said, she is just being her usual nosy self, but all I can think about is how much I want to shut her up.
Yuna, still lounging on the couch, suddenly perks up after her playful nudge. "Hey, Aerum, how about we play a game or two? It's been forever since we had a proper gaming session. Let's fire up Valorant and see who's really got the skills."
I narrow my eyes at her, my irritation simmering just below the surface. "Really, Yuna? You're not tired after today?"
She just shrugs, already pulling out her laptop from her bag. "Nah, gaming will help me relax. Come on, let's do it. It'll be fun!"
I sigh, feeling a mix of exhaustion and stubbornness. "Fine, but don't get mad when I carry the team as usual."
Yuna laughs, a carefree sound that only adds to my irritation. "Sure, sure, whatever you say, Miss 'I'm-so-good-I-can't-even-lose.'"
We settle into our usual gaming spots, our laptops in front of us. I boot up the game, my mind still a little scattered from the events earlier, but determined to win. I need to blow off some steam, and maybe beating Yuna and our opponents will help me feel better.
The first match starts, and I'm already hyped up, my fingers flowing over the keys. But it doesn't take long for things to go south. Our teammates are useless, constantly getting picked off, and I'm left trying to carry the weight. The match ends in a crushing defeat.
"UGH, THESE TEAMMATES SUCKS!" I scream out of pure rage. "How am I supposed to win when they keep feeding the enemy team?"
Yuna just giggles, completely unfazed. "It's just one game, Aerum. Next time surely, we get better mates."
But the next game is even worse. I keep getting caught off guard, my aim is off, and the enemies seem to be one step ahead of me every time. By the end of the match, I'm steaming with rage, ready to punch a hole in the screen.
"Are you kidding me?" I snap, slamming my hand down on the table. "This is so unfair! I'm just having bad luck today, that's all. These guys are a bunch of fucking bots!"
Yuna, on the other hand, is completely calm, munching on her snack without a care in the world. "Or maybe you're just having an off day. You know, it happens to everyone… except maybe you, Miss 'pro player.'"
I can feel my blood boiling. I'm not usually this bad, and Yuna's nonchalant attitude is making it worse. How can she be so calm when we're getting destroyed?
Another game starts, and I'm more determined than ever to win. But it's like the universe is against me. Everything that can go wrong does. I miss shots I would normally land in my sleep, and every time I think I've got the upper hand, the enemy outplays me. Yuna, of course, is doing her usual thing, playing casually and not really caring about the outcome.
"Are you even trying, Yuna?" I snap after another loss. "Because it feels like I'm the only one who cares about winning."
She shrugs, finishing the last bite of her snack. "Maybe you're just not as good as you think, Aerum. It's just a game, chill out lil bro."
That's it. Something in me snaps. I'm already on edge from everything that happened today, and Yuna's carefree attitude is the final straw. Before I can think twice, I grab the snack wrapper from her hand and shove it back at her, pushing it against her mouth.
"EAT YOUR OWN WORDS, YUNA!" I shout, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and frustration.
Yuna's eyes widen in shock, but she doesn't resist. My strength surprises even me as I easily overpower her, forcing her to swallow the snack remnants. For a moment, the room is silent except for the sound of Yuna coughing as she tries to breathe.
I eventually let go, satisfaction flooding me as I got my sweet revenge a bit. Yuna coughs a few more times before looking up at me with wide, tear-filled eyes.
"That was really mean, Aerum," she says, her voice small and hurt.
I nod, feeling a wave of shame wash over me. "I'm sorry, Yuna but to be fair maybe just maybe we shouldn't have played Valorant today..."
She sighs, giving me a small, tired smile. "It's just a game. Just… don't go shoving food down my throat again, alright?"
I manage a weak giggle. "Deal. And maybe we should call it a night on the games."
"Agreed," Yuna says, closing her laptop with a sigh. "But hey, next time, maybe let's try not to kill each other over a video game?"
"Uh yeah sure…," I mutter, still trying to process everything that's happened today.
Also, it seems like I got stronger? Usually, I struggle a bit against Yuna when we play fight but this time, I completely had the upper hand and overpowering her like it's nothing. Could this also come from the awakening of my past memories?
The moment of uneasy silence is interrupted when the door to the room swings open, and Soonim, my sister, barges in. Her entrance is as dramatic as ever.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentle hands!" Soonim greets, her voice bright and filled with enthusiasm. "Yuna-ssi, it's so good to see you!"
Yuna, still catching her breath from the earlier incident, looks up in surprise. "Oh, hi, Soonim! Long time no see."
Soonim flashes a smile as she approaches, offering a respectful bow. "It's been a while! How are you?"
Yuna returns the bow with a grin. "I'm doing well, thanks! How about you, Soonim?"
"I'm doing great," Soonim replies, taking a seat on the couch next to Yuna. "Just came to check in on my lovely sister and her friend."
"Did you hear about the new transfer student?" Yuna asks, clearly excited. "His name is Joon-Soo. He's kind of a big deal."
Soonim's eyes light up with curiosity. "Joon-Soo? I'm only a freshman I don't get news about the seniors. What's he like?"
Yuna leans in, eager to share more. "He's quite mysterious and seems to have a lot of talent. Some people say he's got a cool vibe, you know?"
Before Yuna can elaborate further, I feel a surge of urgency. I need to divert this conversation before it gets too detailed. I clear my throat, trying to mask my annoyance. "Soonim, can you do me a favor?"
Soonim looks at me, a bit taken aback. "What is it, sis?"
"Could you run out and get some groceries? We're running low, and I don't want to leave the house right now," I say, forcing a casual tone.
Soonim raises an eyebrow but nods, understanding the situation. "Sure, I'll be back in a bit. Anything specific you need?"
"Just the usual," I say, waving her off. "Thanks, Soonim."
As Soonim leaves, Yuna's eyes are still on her, clearly intrigued by the shift in topic. "So, what's the deal with Joon-Soo? You seem really interested in him."
Soonim smiles, her curiosity piqued. "He sounds interesting. I'd like to hear more about him when I get back."
As Soonim leaves the room to run the errand, Yuna turns her attention back to me, her curiosity undeterred.
"So, Aerum," Yuna begins with a playful smirk, "it sounds like Joon-Soo made quite an impression on you. Any hidden feelings you want to share?"
I roll my eyes, trying to sound as dismissive as possible. "Seriously, Yuna? I really don't have any feelings for him. We just happened to talk a bit when we first met in the classroom. That's it."
Yuna raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Just a conversation? Hmm, sure. But he seems like he could be more than just a random guy."
I give her a frustrated look. "No, really. There's nothing more to it. I just wanted to make sure you know there's no 'thing' between us. It's just coincidence that we spoke."
Yuna chuckles, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Alright, alright. If you say so. But I still think he's intriguing. Maybe you're just not seeing it yet."
I groan, feeling a bit cornered. "Whatever. Let's just drop it. I'm not interested, okay?"
Yuna shrugs, her grin never fading. "Fine, fine. I'll take your word for it. But I'll still be keeping an eye out for Joon-Soo."
I shake my head, relieved that the conversation is shifting. "Sure, keep an eye out. I'm sure he'll be fascinating to someone, just not me."
Chap 4 end