“I Guess I was Wrong About You”

"These nightmares always hang on past the dream."

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She was sitting on their school bench, when she felt a presence of a young boy walking up close, and handed her a piece of bread. His voice was calm and tender saying, "Here. You can have some of mine." She reached out her hand and took the piece of bread. She looked up to him, trying to recognize his face. But a sudden bright ray of light appeared in her sight, and his face faded together with the light. As it faded, she then found herself weeping, while being dragged by an old man who she knew, away from the sight of her parents walking away, leaving her alone with him for the rest of her life.

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Eyes wide and bright, hair messy and face creased from an unforeseen dream and nightmare, a sudden noise of an alarm woke Rey up. She couldn't depict those odd but familiar thoughts that crossed her mind, the moment she was in a slumber and insensible state. It was perennial to her before then - dreaming the same old thoughts recurrently, each and every night. But this time it was a little bit peculiar, though it was still familiar. That she had this usual, yet emotional feeling. She was dismayed by noticing that her cheeks were saturated in tears.

Realizing it was already 8 A.M., she wiped away her tears and got out of bed quickly to prep herself up for work. Rey got up on her knees to prepare some cup of coffee and breakfast, when there was a sudden knock on her apartment door. "Just a second!"

As she opened the door, she saw Finn standing at her doorstep. "Finn? What are you doing here?"

Finn stayed mute. He bit his lower lip and seemed to be unsettled. It made Rey discern and suppose that there's been something troubling him. His fingers were in a fidget, and he couldn't make eye contact with her. "Wait, what's wrong? Is there anything bothering you?"

"I-I don't know. Actually, I'm here to tell you something. I was wondering if we could talk about it."

Rey felt worried and a bit curious. She looked back to take a glimpse at the time, yet she found it was getting late. "Uhm, actually.. I'm on my way to work now and I'm in kind of a hurry-"

"Well, I could drive you, then? If that's okay with you."

Rey couldn't resist the offer. She is in a flurry state, but at the same time, she wanted to hear out Finn and make him feel more at ease, that she always has his back no matter what. "That sounds great. Hey, why don't you come inside for a moment and have some cup of coffee or tea while I fix myself up for a few minutes to make you comfortable?"

"Oh, no thank you, Rey. I'll just wait for you in the car."

"Okay then. I'll be out in a few minutes."

Finn went out and just waited inside his car. Rey knows that Finn won't just show up uncertain at her doorstep, unless if it's an important matter.

After a quick bath, Rey dug in her closet and looked for something suitable and comfortable to wear at work. It didn't take her long to notice Finn's car parked in front of their apartment building as she walked out of the establishment. "Hey. I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

"Don't be, it's alright. I'm good at waiting." Finn flashed a smile at her, but Rey stood in awe. "Why are you still standing there? Hop on. Don't wanna be late on your first day, right?"

Rey got in the car and they drove off. Since they finally have the time to chat, she brought up the question, asking Finn about earlier. "Finn, earlier you wanted to talk about something, right?"

"Uh, about that.. Well, I don't know how to say this but, do you think Rose likes me?"

Rey didn't take that seriously. She was expecting a more crucial question from him. "I-I'm so sorry. Is that really all that you have to ask? 'Cause to be honest I was expecting it to be a bit more serious."

"Apparently, yes."

Rey felt relief. "Oh. I thought you were in a some sort of trouble or anything that's been making you feel bothered. But I guess there isn't so, that was reassuring, thank you."

"You seriously thought I'm in some kind of 'pain in the ass' situation? Rey, you've known me for years. I wouldn't have stepped and knocked on your doorstep to just drag you in my obnoxious life."

"I know, and I'm sorry if I made you feel awful. But, it's still a good thing someone's there to look out for you. And the only thing I know, is that you and Rose both deserve each other."

Finn was touched by those sweet and pleasing words Rey just said to him. It meant everything to their friendship.

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It was the midst of December. A 16-year-old Rey found herself walking along the cold, empty streets of Jakku, only accompanied by the fog, the silence - the darkness. She could only hear crickets chirping, and the sound of the cold wind blustering pass through her ears, blowing away her dark, medium-length hair. She could barely see anything from afar. It was empty. No cars, no people. There were some who live in the the streets, suffering under the winter breeze. They were like omnipresent observers, carefully watching each of her steps. Her legs were trembling as she steps one foot onto the ground, while her hands were pale and raw. Her whole physique was numb and freezing.

Rey had a bad feeling a moment later when she felt a presence of 3 men following her behind. She tried to walk in a scurry. But her haste caused her to trip over a rock and didn't have the chance to get any farther away from them. And with a sprained foot, she could barely stand up on her own. It didn't take long for the men to be up close to her. They roughly picked her up from the cold, hard ground. She could feel her wrenched foot ache, together with her body in a lightheaded sensation.

"Give us your money. Or else..." One of them held out a knife directly at her. "You know where you'll end up at."

Rey didn't know what to do. She had nothing to give them. Nothing, not even a cent. "Please, you have to let me go. I have nothing else to give you, even if I want to." She was already begging them in tears. "I'm begging you. Please."

"Don't make this even harder for the both of us. You wanna live? Give us what we want."

"I already told you.. I have nothing to give you."

The man was getting pissed. "Liar! Give him your bag."

"You have to believe me! Please, just let me go!" One of them took the bag from her. They inspected each and every pocket. But they found nothing.

"Nothing."

"Then we'll take her instead." Her heart was racing, and her body was filled with panic and fear. She have no idea how to fight them off with a sprained foot. "Where are you taking me!? Help! Someone help me! Plea-"

One of them covered her mouth with his bare hands to shut her up from calling out for help. But deep inside, she kept on screaming intensely. A few seconds later when she heard a voice suddenly approaching from behind. "Hey!" It didn't take a moment when he started attacking them. He threw them intense punches in the face and gut, causing them to stumble back, blood rushing on their nose. But one of them was still holding her with a knife.

"Hey, you!" He was trying to call out her savior's attention. "If you don't stop killing off my men, I'll go kill her instead."

Rey was trying to find a way out of this. She thought she could strike him hard with her elbow, yet it would still be risky to run with her aching foot. But it's a good menace to get the scum distracted. So she didn't hesitate to do so. Rey felt pain and numbness as she smashed an elbow into the side of the man's skull, the soft spot high on the temple. She tried to maintain her balance, with only one foot on the ground. The guy trying to save her came closer for one final hit. He gave him a painful punch in the solar plexus, knocking him out.

He was her hero, the reason why she's still alive, breathing. Rey didn't know how to thank him for what he just did. "Thank you, for saving me. How could I ever repay you for such an heroic act?"

"You don't have to. I'm Finn." He stretched out his hand and smiled at her in a reassuring way.

"Thank you, Finn." She grasped his hand. It made her feel more comfortable and at ease. "I'm Rey."

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Rey smiled at the memory she've had 8 years ago. She was thankful for that night. Even if her life was at danger, she never knew that would be the start of a long, and blissful friendship with Finn.

"What are you smiling at?" Finn was distracted by the sight of seeing Rey's smile shining bright as the sun.

"Don't mind me, it's nothing. I just remembered that night we first met. It was hectic. But I'm glad that it happened, or else, I don't have you."

"God, stop the drama. You're making me emotional. Do you want me to shed some tears, right here, right now?"

"Okay, okay. I'll stop. Just focus on your driving."

It was a few minutes later when they arrived at Starkiller Holdings Ltd.

"Hey, thanks for the ride."

"Anytime."

"So, I'll just see you at the cafe some time, yeah?"

"Anything for you and Rose."

Rey gave out a small laugh and  glanced at the watch on her wrist. In less than 10 minutes, she'll be declared late on her very first day of work. "Shit! I need to run. I'll see you soon." She got out of the car and waved goodbye.

When she reached the office, she saw Ms. Holdo at her desk. "Rey! You're here. Mr. Solo's been waiting for you inside."

"Thank you, Ms. Holdo."

Rey breathed deeply as she entered his office. There again was silence. She could smell Mr. Solo's manly scent from the entrance. He was there, at the exact same spot where she first saw him yesterday. She couldn't tell whether he was just enjoying the beautiful view, or he's in a very deep thought, thinking about life - or maybe both.

"Sir? Ms. Holdo said you wanted to see me?"

Mr. Solo turned around to face her. "Ah, Ms. Kenobi. You're finally here. I thought you would be late on your very first day."

Almost.

"It would be quite a shame, wouldn't it?"

"Of course, sir. But, who would want to be late on their first day? And, if they do so arrive late, I'm sure there's a valid reason behind it."

"Well, I do hope so that it's valid."

He took a long, white folder from the edge of his office desk and handed it out to Rey. "That will be your first assignment. Everything you need to do for the day is already stated on those papers."

She scanned the files very carefully. "A report on the Alderaan bombing attack?"

"Yes. And I need it by the end of the day. Are we clear, Ms. Kenobi?"

The end of the day? Rey wanted to argue, but she knew she couldn't. There was no time for excuses. And it would be definitely the exact same thing he would say to her. "Crystal, sir."

She went out of his office and walked straight to her desk. She opened her computer and internet browser, and did some research about the terrible incident. By the end of the day, she was able to finish her report and submit it to Mr. Solo. Rey bit her lip and rubbed one hand up and down her arm nervously as she observes him study each and every detail of her report. She isn't ready to listen to his judgement yet. Not now. It was her very first assignment and it would be an understatement if she ever fails this. She still has that obligation, to prove herself she's not just someone worthless.

"Impressive, Ms. Kenobi. Your work is exemplary. I guess I was wrong about you."

There was a brief pause. She couldn't believe Mr. Solo's last sentence. But that doesn't mean she has finally proved herself to him fully, without any doubt in his mind, even if she wanted to believe it.

"Thank you, sir. I'm just doing my best in this career." She did feel more solace in her, that boosted up her self-esteem. "And this is just the beginning. I promise to keep up the good work."

"I like the confidence in you. And I do hope you won't fail me."

Rey went out the office. She closed the door and leaned against it as she heaved an euphoric sigh of relief. To be honest, she didn't expect this night to be an easy one. Not to show off some pride, but there was this satisfaction that kept her even more determined than ever. And she couldn't wait for more.