"Yume... Wait!"
Akari (my friend) and I ran through the tall, swaying green trees lining the path on either side, our laughter echoing in the fresh evening air. My heart pounded as I raced ahead, the wind with leaves rushing past me.
"Catch me... if you can! Akari...." I teased, looking back at her as my voice echoed inside my ears.
"Yume... wait!" Akari called out again. She kept chasing me slowly, gasping for breath. Even though she was pleased to stop, I didn't stop running.
Finally, the peak of the mountain became visible. I turned to see Akari still walking after me, her eyes determined. I reached the center, threw my arms into the air, and shouted with happiness, "I'm here first! I won the game, Akari!" My voice reached across the mountain, fading into the vast sky.
After a brief wait, Akari finally appeared, looking tired and struggling to catch her breath.
"You have to buy a big chocolate bar," I said, walking towards the cliff spot.
We stood at the edge of a rock, taking in the breathtaking view before us. The sky seemed endless, clouds in various shades of orange and purple as the sunset illuminated the mountaintop.
I placed my bag near me, took out my water bottle, and took a long sip, enjoying the coolness against my dry throat while I continued to admire the stunning mountain landscape.
"Water..." she gasped, collapsing beside me.
Watching her like that made me laugh. I grinned and handed her the bottle. "You look funny," I teased.
She didn't react, just enjoying the sky.
We sat in silence, catching the fresh grass and flower smell, the sweat cooled on our skin, sparkling like diamonds in the sunset light. Simply enjoying the moment in nature, closing our eyes to listen to the sounds of the birds, and watching some fly back to their homes.
After looking at my watch, I "UH!!!!!!" sighed with disappointment. "We should go now; it's already 6 PM. Otherwise, it'll be dark soon," I added.
Akari didn't respond. "Okay, Akari... Given that I have to pack up our things."
But she remained silent. When I turned to her to get back, I noticed something strange in her expression. Her lips curled into a smirk like evil, but her eyes held something unreadable. A cold feeling of unease spread through me. At the same time, my surroundings darkened, and everything felt strange.
"Akari?" My voice wavered.
She grabbed my neck tighter.... tighter... I took my hand. Fighting back, I couldn't move my hand. "Akari... what the hell are you doing?" I struggled to speak every word.
Still, her smile remains. "I waited for this moment a long time," she said with a creepy smile.
Before I could react, she pushed me from the edge of the cliff. I am flying in the air, the land vanished beneath my feet, and I am in shock as I fall backward over the cliff's edge. The world spun, the blue sky turning to black, the wind roared in my ears, drowning out my scream.
I screamed hard, my final word echoing in the air, "AKARI!!!!!!!!!!!"
And then—
Thud.
Briefly silent, I bang awake to the floor, my body colliding with the cold floor. My breath came in fast from my nostrils, my chest heaving, and my hands were still trembling.
Like a cold blade, my alarm cut through the warmth of my dream
Gasping, I sat up. My room swam into focus: my desk, my bed, my boring painting hanging on the familiar walls. My heart was still hammering, my skin sweating.
"What a dream..." I whispered.
"Yume..." My mom's voice cut through the house.
"You're getting late again!" she shouted from the kitchen while she cooked breakfast for me.
The aroma of vegetable soup from the kitchen, but my mind remained trapped in a nightmare. "Ah!!!!!!! Was it really just a dream? Why did it feel so real? OMG... Lately, my dreams have become more interesting than my life, but I have pain in my back."
Before I could think about it further, my phone vibrated with an alarm. I glanced at the clock; it was already 8:00 AM.
"What? 8:00... am?"
Panic shot through me. "Shit..., I have only 15 minutes..."
I rushed here and there. I opened a tap, and the water felt more like ice. I didn't have enough time to heat water for a shower, so I decided to skip it. Instead, I brushed my teeth while looking in the bathroom mirror and splashed cold water on my face. I quickly changed my clothes and grabbed my books. When I glanced at the clock, I realized it was already 8:20 AM.
Before rushing out, I again forgot to grab my phone, so I quickly picked it up and ran toward the front door. My mom handed me my lunchbox as I left.
"Skipping breakfast again?" she yelled.
"No time! Love you, Mom!" I called back, waving as I sprinted out the door.
"Bye, Mom!" I shouted over my shoulder.
I stepped outside, my heart still pounding from my friend's betrayal. The question that wouldn't leave my mind was, "Why did it feel so real?"
I glanced my watch, "Shit! My train...! "
The morning air was good and breathable, but I had no time to enjoy it. I run toward the station, dodging past slow walkers, my bag thudding against my back.
I practically flew down the stairs to the platform as the Higashi Mori to Ishibashi train came into view.
The doors were nearly going to close.
"No, no, no!"
I jumped forward at the last second, squeezing in just before they shut with a hiss.
For a moment, I stood there, panting, hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath and feeling relief because I had caught my train today finally. The other passengers stared their expressions ranging from mild amusement to mild concern.
I swallowed, straightened up, and muttered, "S-Sorry…" giving a small bow.
As I moved toward an open space, my phone buzzed. It was Akari.
"Where are you, Yume?" she asked in a serious and urgent tone.
I paused and sighed, still recovering. Luckily, I had caught the train. "I almost reached," I texted back.
I received another beep. "What about the assignment?" she texted.
I leaned against the pole, letting my heartbeat slow—until my stomach twisted with a horrifying realization.
"The assignment." I went completely still, my mind flashing back to the table where I had left it last night.
"I forgot it. Shit, shit, SHIT!"
I close my eyes with disappointment in myself, my grip tightening on the pole. There was no way I could finish it now. Maybe Akari could help? Perhaps the professor would, I thought.
"Next stop, Ishibashi," the automatic train voice announced.
My eyes were fully open, and my mind was spinning in a panic. "No time to panic now."
The doors slid open, and I rushed out—at least I had to reach my class on time.
SMACK!!!!!!
I slammed into a stranger without watching. The impact knocked the air out of me, and before I could react, my books scattered across the platform like fallen leaves.
"Ah!!!!!!!!! I... I'm so sorry!" I gasped, scooching down immediately to gather them all.
The stranger said nothing, gathering my note near his feet. I could feel his gaze on me, though I dared not meet it. A tall figure wearing black pants and a hoodie with a white liner, his rich mild scent I can smell it, I try to look up, but I didn't have time. Instead, I focused on his neck chain emerald with Dargon design while grabbing my last book. He handed my note back to me.