Lumina grabbed my hand as we ran through the town, bumping into some people in the process, but that wasn't important. What's important was I'm finally seeing the very world I created years back.
"Come on Ling, let's go see the sights around town!" She exclaimed, scanning around for any interesting places.
"Alright, alright.. Just slow down a bit, will you?.." Replying with a strained voice, panting heavily as I tried to take atleast a breath in from all the running. Geez, I never knew I made her this energetic.
We visited almost all of the spots in town, the book shop we saw across the road, the docks with the really beautiful sea on full view.. Wow.. I definitely had a really imaginative perspective on all of this. Best part was, each time we stopped by a spot, it's like pieces of my memory start to collect back to the time I wrote it down in my journal. It's like collecting the pieces to a ripped up letter.
Lumina suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, looking at some sort of restaurant. There were chairs and tables waited inside and outside the establishment, with a sole chef cooking behind the counter. Though quite small, I had never imagined it to be this splendid.
Lumina looked at me, slowly gesturing me to the restaurant, while I silently nodded.
Cling cling!
As we walked through the doors to the establishment, we were greeted by the warm ambiance of the entire place, music playing at the side. We were also welcomed by the chef giving us a small smile, gesturing us to go sit at one of the tables.
As we sat at the booths, there was a menu placed infront of us. As I skimmed through the menu, I decided to engage in small talk with Lumina. After all, I'm going to be in this dream for quite a while.
"I bet I know the chef's name." I said, with a smug look on my face. I wonder how she'll react.
Lumina suddenly looked up with her head over the menu, smirking at me.
"Oh really, and what if you get it wrong?"
"I'll pay for th—"
"Deal."
.....
Tension suddenly settled in the air, the both of us why didn't know why it had to be that serious, but here we are. Looks like we're both broke or something, which is technically true in my case..
Both of us started making funny gestures at each other, raising our eyebrows, flipping our hair dramatically and so forth, until Lumina broke the silence.
"Let's say it together?" She tilted her head.
"Alright." I stated, looks like I'm not paying today.
3 2 1!
"Chef Leo!"
As we said it simultaneously, ones face lit up with delight, while the others filled with disbelief and surprise. Unfortunately our shouting led to other people staring at us, including chef Leo behind the counter..
"Well this is awkward.." I stated, looking around, giving silent apologies to the other customers who heard the banter.
Lumina could only stare at me in disbelief for a few moments. After the tenseful energy died down, Chef Leo suddenly approached us before she could say anything.
"Looks like you both are ready to order, what would you like?" The man inquired, with the same smile plastered on his face, sometimes its unsettling on how kind he is.
After a few minutes, we ordered everything we wanted, from steak and fries, to sweet and sour fish, and desserts. After eating and paying for the bill, we then exited the establishment after a final goodbye wave to the chef.
By the time we finished, the night started to fall. Leaving both of us underneath the stars, with the sounds of the townsfolk slowly starting to close up their shops for the night. Deciding there wasn't anything else to do for the night, we decided to take a night walk around the town.
As we walked across the stoned ground, a sense of suspicion aroused in my heart. Why hadn't I woken up yet? My dreams usually end abruptly, but this time it's more prolonged. All of this was too good to be true, and I knew that this reality was going to be nothing but a forgotten memory after.
Underneath the solitude with the stars, the cold air occasionally blowing our hair back. How this was something I always wanted, peace and quiet. Of course, Lumina managed to take notice of my actions, giving me assuring looks from time to time. Even if she doesn't know what I'm truly going through, after all, she was only a character I made up in my head for comfort. Nothing more, or nothing less.
As we stopped by another road, we somehow reached at some sort of house that had a garden. Lumina turned around and looked at me.
"I know you're new around town so, if you're comfortable, you could stay at my place before getting your own place in town." She assuredly told me, her arms placed behind her back.
I felt pretty embarrassed since she was already so welcoming back there, it felt awkward that she was already so trusting towards me ever since we met. It's like she expected my arrival or something..
I scratched the back of my head while awkwardly declaring my own thoughts out loud.
"Thank you for your hospitality, really.. But do you really want to go that far? I promise it's okay.." I was nervously anticipating for a reply back while fidgeting around.
Lumina's expression softened, and started to smile at me genuinely.
"I promise, it's okay. I could tell you were a nice person since the very beginning."
Those very words hit me, not in a bad way. But I never experienced someone being this.. affectionate towards me?.. Even if I thought I was more of a closed person, it's like she tore down my walls from the first day. In the midst of my thoughts, she opened the doorknob to the place.
Lumina and I went upstairs where she gave me the guest room I would be staying in. It was simple, but I appreciated every part of it. Honestly, it had a resemblence to the room I had before I woke up in this place.
I settled in the new guestroom, while Lumina started to slowly close the door, mumbling a quick goodnight. Smiling back, she closed the door completely,
leaving me with my thoughts again.
'What just happened today..' I thought.
Yeah, it was pretty fun and all.. Exploring various parts around the very world I created. Maybe.. Staying here for a little while wouldn't be too bad right?
I groaned with my palms burried in my face, why am I starting to have a connection to this place.. This isn't right..
After pondering for a long time, I looked at the window that showed the view into the real tranquility of the town late at night, it was peaceful and quiet. Only the moon and the stars served as its light, I could read the constellations here and now if I wanted to.
I finally accepted that it was time to "sleep" again, I got on the bed and turned off the light switch beside the bed. It took me a while to drift off, staring at the ceiling with the buzzing in my ears being the only noise I could hear. After a while, I successfully dozed off.
The next morning, I was greeted with the morning sun on my skin. I grouchily opened my eyes to.. THE SAME ROOM?! Although my body was protesting for me to get up, my mind was fully active at that point.
As I lazily got off the bed, I stumbled and looked outside the window to only be greeted with the same view I saw with the time of day being the only difference.
'How is this even possible?!' I thought in disbelief, how am I still in this world?!
"S-shit.. How.." I stammered. Am I stuck here now, how will I get back?...