Gasp!!!
Sammy dragged in as much air as he could immediately, followed by repeated harsh coughs, and a few sneezes followed by a sharp wave of pain in his head.
His body felt like it was about to explode for a moment, then calmed down as he let out a deep breath.
Finally catching his breath, he was able to look around his surroundings, finding himself in his room once again.
"What? It was a dream? But it felt so real," Sammy said when he actually noticed he was on the same spot where he passed out... or rather died earlier.
He knew he fell down at this spot in this so-called dream he assumed it to be, but what made him confirm it wasn't just a dream was when his gaze met the inhaler just a few meters from where he sat.
"What the..."
He picked up the inhaler, observing it like it was his first time seeing it.
"But... but I died right?" (
(Bang!)
His mother barged in immediately, her gaze meeting her son on the ground.
"Honey, what the hell are you still doing on the floor for goodness' sake? It's past seven in the morning; you're going to get me late."
"Oh sor—"
"Wait, don't tell me you slept on the ground again."
"Um... I don't know; I think I fell or so—"
"You know what? I'm giving you just twenty minutes to get ready for school, okay? Or I will drive off to work without you. For goodness' sake, I told you that today's meeting was important to me. Ugh!!" With that, Mary walked out of the room, making the silence sink in Sammy's head again.
"The fuck's going on?"
He got up, feeling weak all over, shut his door, locked it, took off his clothes, and walked towards his computer system.
Immediately, he completed the last paragraph of his chapter and set the timer for its publishing right on the spot while naked.
"There we go..."
Then, he rushed into his bathroom, taking a stop right in front of the wide mirror hanging on the wall before the bathtub.
"Sigh..."
Taking a good look at his eyes, he noticed the dark bags under them and his dull eyelids: he was sure he was going to doze off in class today again.
He observed his body, then turned back and walked under the shower, letting the warm water wash away the fresh feeling of the nightmares he had been having.
But after just a few seconds under the shower, his eyes snapped open as he quickly turned the water off and ran out of the shower, almost tripping, and ran back before the mirror... slowly placing his hands at the side of his right arm, feeling sharp bruises on his skin.
"What the..."
This sent shivers down his spine and huge goosebumps all over his body.
"No, no, no, no, it's all a fucking dream. It's just another dream. Im sure I bruised my arm on my bed or something."
He tried convincing himself, just when his mother interrupted his thoughts, banging at his door.
"You better be in your uniform and ready to leave, for school Sammuel."
"I'm coming, mom, just a minute," Sammy replied immediately, running back into the shower.
———————
Finally on their way, both in their black Venza speeding on the highway, Sammy looked at his mother, considering opening up to her about the strange experiences he had been passing through.
But he hesitated, drawing back the idea. Her gaze was fixed on the road, her eyes straight ahead, as the car sped down the highway; she didn't look like she would take his words seriously, and she didn't look in the mood to.
"You know, if you've got something to tell me, just say it." Mary finally said noticing her son had been looking at her with that look on his face.
"Huh? Oh, well, I um... I just... I've been."
"You know you don't have to if you don't want to talk about it now. wanna leave it till we get back?"
"Sigh... alright."
The speedometer climbed past 160, but Sammy's gaze remained calm. His mother was an excellent driver, and he was used to her driving already.
As much as he tried to get those experiences off his head, it wasn't easy, and a feeling kept poking him to tell his mother immediately, till he finally made up his mind.
But just as he was about to speak, she turned to him.
"We're here."
The school came into view; immediately, as their Venza zoomed through the main gate.
The Philmon academy an opulent and wonderful school : its grand buildings and manicured lawns a familiar sight as they drove in.
Taking a sharp turn into the school grounds, the wheels screeched in response as Mary expertly navigated the winding driveway, passing by rows of luxury cars - Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces, and others that seemed to belong in a different world - before coming to a firm halt.
"Okay, this is it, baby."
"Sigh..."
Sammy grabbed his backpack from the back seat and stepped out of the car, almost slamming the door, when his mother spoke.
"Are you sure you're okay, baby... you've been low since this morning. If it can't wait, then we can talk about it now if you want."
Mary asked, but Sammy could still see the urgency to reach her work as soon as possible in her eyes.
She was just playing her part as a mother. But as much as he wanted to tell her, he knew it was the wrong time.
"I'm fine, mum... when we get back."
"Oh, okay, I was just making sure. Muah, have a great day, baby, love you!"
Mary said as Samuel shut the door and began walking away towards the crowd as his mom started the engine. But he stopped again, turning back.
"Oh, one more thing, mum," Sam said, looking back at his mother through the car window as the car came to a sharp halt.
"Huh? What's that, dear?" He stepped close to the window.
"Please stop calling me your baby" I'm nineteen, for crying out loud."