CHAPTER VIII: Shadows Beyond Reality

When class started my thoughts kept on bouncing from that annoying professor to Ross’s creepy antics.

Yes, he was just being creepy.

Nothing lovey-dovey about that.

Nope.

Yeah.

Maybe a little.

Ah! What the heck is wrong with me?!

I banged my head against the table out of frustration.

Like, hello? I just met the guy a few days ago.

Plus! We are not even considered friends to begin with!

I sighed.

What am I going to do about that professor?

I can’t fail her class because I worked hard on that.

I repeatedly bumped my head on the wooden table.

Good thing Solar was not in this class or else she would get to see how pitiful I am.

I was busy contemplating on the matters at hand that I didn’t notice when I fell asleep.

There were lights. Blinding me from above.

From the side, a soft hymn was echoing, covering the entirety of the place.

I looked down and I saw a trail of glimmering cloth.

I reached out and glided my hand along its smooth layer.

Further down, on the shiny marble floor was my own reflection.

So vivid yet still unrecognizable.

I looked around the room.

People were scattered everywhere.

Chatting and dancing, in pairs and in groups.

When was this? What was I doing here again?

This nostalgia.

I was so busy admiring the bustling joy that I didn’t notice a hand touching my shoulder.

When I looked back, there was a figure standing behind me.

I can’t see it clearly because the light was casting a shadow on it.

Who? Who are you?

Strangely, the hand that left its warmth on my bare shoulder felt relaxing. Almost calming.

The figure was saying something, but I can’t seem to hear what it was.

I held out my hand and tried to reach the figure.

I was stunned. I couldn’t reach it.

It slowly began to back away. It was still trying to tell me something, but I couldn't hear it!

The chattering people and the music were also beginning to fade away.

“Stop! Wait!”

But the figure merely continued to move away.

“What are you uttering?! Please! Let me hear something! Anything!”

I ran desperately towards the disappearing figure.

With the bundled gown within the grasps of my hand, I ran and ran and ran.

Still, my hand nor my voice cannot reach it.

The magnificent place was slowly succumbing to darkness.

I-

I’m-

I’m scared!

“Stop! Just stay put! Please!”

“…”

A small voice. Inaudible but real!

“What? What is it?”

I tried to call to it.

I spouted names as a desperate move to make it recognize my voice.

But it did not stop.

Nor was I able to hear the names that I myself called out.

“…ive…”

The figure whispered. It was so quiet that I couldn’t even catch what it was.

“…ive…”

“…ive…”

The figure kept on repeating it, but I was still unable to comprehend it.

It was like something was hindering me.

It’s suffocating.

Slowly, the room that was once filled with glamour and brilliance became a dark hall.

Nothing left but darkness.

The figure molded with the cold room.

Leaving me running for nothing.

It’s turning blurry. I can’t see what’s up ahead anymore.

My knees were about to give out. I can feel the soreness from the bottom of my feet.

Staggering, I felt my body fall forward.

Before my body hit the floor, I suddenly felt myself being held by strong arms.

Whose? I, myself, cannot determine.

And with that, the dream of a dance became a dream that left me shivering.

When I opened my eyes, the students were beginning to walk outside. I glanced on my wristwatch and saw that it was already eleven thirty-five am. It was time for lunch.

I barely slept for twenty minutes yet I feel like I’m completely drained.

I sighed and rubbed my face.

Now, what am I going to do?

The next class I have to go to belongs to my outraged professor’s subject.

I tiredly stood up and gathered my things.

As I was about to finish, footsteps resonated in my ear.

I didn’t pay any mind to it until someone’s shoes became apparent in my field of vision.

I followed the trail upward and saw the face of someone unexpected.

“Haru?”

I didn’t know how to react. He didn’t seem like someone who’ll go anywhere without Ross.

I looked around and saw that Ross wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

What is he doing here?

“Is your next class supposed to be here?” I asked.

He shook his head, “I-I w-wanted to a-ask if w-we could eat l-lunch together?”

He wasn’t even looking at me. Something must be going on.

He wouldn’t normally invite me on his own, especially since he is scared of me.

“Why?”

He gulped, “Umm…I-I have no one to eat with…”

“I can see that.” I stated.

He stiffened.

I stood up, “I don’t know what happened, but you don’t need to scare yourself just to talk to me.”

He immediately looked up after I said that.

“N-no! I’m not s-scared of you! I-I…”

Is he kidding with me?

“That explains the trembling.” I pointed at his restless hands.

I thought he was going to admit it, but I was shocked when he hurriedly grabbed my arm.

“No! I swear! I-it’s not like that.” He squeezed my arm tighter. “I-I’m not scared of you. It’s just that I don’t like walking alone anymore after what happened before.”

I was confused.

“Before?” I asked.

He’s hands held my arm even tighter. When I gazed at his face, he was biting his lips.

Ah…I get it now.

“Can you let go?”

He flinched and slowly let go of my arm.

I wriggled it to get the blood flowing again.

I swung my bag on my shoulder and began walking towards the exit.

When I didn’t feel any presence from behind me, I stopped and turned to Haru who was standing at the same spot.

Both him and Solar were identical in that part.

“Let’s go. We’ll eat in the garden today.”

He looked stunned by what I said.

I do too.

I tilted my head towards the exit and motioned for him to hurry up.

Without waiting for a reply, I turned around and resumed my walk.

I could sense him running from behind me.

As we headed out to my sanctuary, the silence took over us.

It was pretty awkward, to say the least.

It was the first time we were alone without those two people hanging around us.

Well, it hasn’t been that long actually. We just got acquainted yesterday.

I sneaked a glance towards my unfamiliar companion and mindlessly blurted out, “Do you have something to eat?”

He whipped his head into my direction with unimaginable speed that I thought my heart would surprisingly leap out of my chest.

“U-umm, yes, it’s in my backpack.” He grabbed his backpack and began to open it.

“You don’t really have to show it to me.” I intervened.

He stopped and closed back the zipper of his bag.

“Ah, yeah, sorry…”

I nodded.

Was I maybe too harsh? I don’t know how to handle this kind of situation.

Well, there’s a first step to everything. I guess…

When we arrived at the garden, we quietly sat down on the chairs underneath the shadow of the huge tree.

He was sitting on the opposite side of the table. I can clearly see how he was somewhat hesitant to even breathe.

I sighed and brought out my sketchbook.

I flipped it to the last page I drew on.

It was the initial sketch I made for the plate yesterday.

It was still good, but it doesn’t compare to the colored one.

This looked…

Exactly like a dark room.

Something flashed in my mind that made me almost drop the sketchbook.

I closed my eyes and calmed myself. I need to get rid of such an image.

I was thinking of ripping it since I won’t have any use for it now, but my hands seem to disagree.

“Um…Dia?”

I was awakened from my dilemma when Haru called out to me.

“Hmm?” I raised my eyebrow at him.

“That drawing, um, what was it for?” He asked.

I was contemplating whether to give him an answer or not.

I mean, not to be rude, but he won’t get it even if I did tell him.

Nevertheless, I did anyway.

“It’s for the artwork I was supposed to pass to my professor.”

“Ah, do you m-mean the o-one from earlier?”

I nodded.

“If that’s the case, then, um, maybe that’s why…”

I frowned, “Why what?”

He looked at his hands on his lap and answered.

“Ross and Solar talked to that professor. They explained what happened and asked her to allow you to pass your project.”

I froze.

What?

Solar and Ross?

“What do you mean?”

“That’s why they’re not here. They went to the professor. They also said I should eat lunch with you.”

I didn’t get to say anything. I think he thought I was angry as he abruptly stood up and clarified himself.

“Um- wait, I-I said it wrong! It doesn’t mean that I-I didn’t want to e-eat with you and was just i-instructed to. I r-really did want to have lunch with you! I-I’m also s-scared of eating alone.” He added.

But I didn’t dwell on that.

There were so many things running through my mind.

“Why?” I whispered.

“Huh?” Haru didn’t seem to understand.

I looked down onto the fallen sketchbook laying down on the grass.

I carefully picked it up and wiped off the dirt.

My hand grazed the black and white sketch.

Why won’t they mind their own business? Really…such troublesome people.

I placed the sketchbook on top of the table.

I turned my attention to Haru who was still standing.

“Does it look alright?”

He looked confused with my question.

I pointed towards my opened sketchbook.

He followed the direction of my finger and stared at the laid-out work in front of him. Without much hesitance, he gazed at me with much determination.

“Yes! It looks really beautiful…”

I smiled slightly.

“But…”

My smile faltered. I furrowed my eyebrows and waited for his answer.

“It looks sad…”

Astonished. I was utterly astonished.

I breathed out.

“It seems so.”

I looked at the sketch longingly, but still decided to close the sketchbook.

“Ah. S-sorry. I-I didn’t mean to offend you or anything. It really did look beautiful. Ah, uhm…”

I shook my head and laughed quietly.

“Can I have some?” I asked, motioning towards his nicely organized bento.

He was unable to say anything for a few seconds.

When he recovered, he hurriedly picked it up and went to my side.

I smiled.

Ah…really…this bunch. Surprise me more.