A Dream.
"FUCK!!! BOMB 'EM ALL!!"
Kael shouted as he sat up on the bed with a jerk, his icy blue eyes were wide open, showing intense emotions like shock, anger and... fear.
"Haah… Haahh… Haahh…"
His skin was covered with sweat, damp strands of hair clinged to his forehead and his chest rose and fell rapidly, his breathing uneven.
Ba-dump Ba-dump Ba-dump
His own heartbeat echoed in his ears, the visions of his dream still lingered in his mind.
"Haaaaahhh…"
He took a deep breath and rubbed his face, trying to steady his breathing.
The ordinary room around him—dull beige walls, faint scent of that cheap room freshener that lingered in the air, the study dest cluttered with textbooks, papers, and an empty coffee cup and the unkempt bed with messy bedsheets he lay on—it all seemed alien for a moment.
The small window above the desk allowed some sunlight in, showing that the sun was up.
"Kael…?"
Suddenly, Kael heard a muffled, unclear voice.
It was his roommate, Mark, who had been sleeping next to him. Mark's hair was a mess, his half-open eyes were filled with annoyance.
"Same dream again…?"
Kael didn't respond right away. His breathing was still messy, his hands were shaking slightly as he ran them through his black hair, trying to clear his mind.
"Yeah," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "Same o-"
Before he could complete the sentence, a pillow was thrown right at his face.
"You fucker! I told you to stop watching anime for a while! It's affecting you, and now it's affecting my sleep as well!"
Mark shouted, and in an instant, Kael, whose head was still hazy, was jolted awake.
"Fuck you! What has that got to do with this!?"
He shouted back, throwing the pillow back at him.
"Oh yeah!?
Magic Gates all over the sky!
Monsters pouring out of those Gates!
Some Half-Dragon Half-Human looking dude fighting against those monsters together with his army of Dragons!
A woman smirking disdainfully as that Dragon Man is killed by the monsters!
Out of all of this, what does NOT have a relation with anime or all those comics and novels you read!? Haah!?
Also, the fuck do you mean by Bomb 'em all? Bomb who? The Monsters? The Dragons? What animes are you even watching!?"
"Bomb should work, no...?
After all, they are explosive devices that release intense energy through heat, light, sound, and pressure. They cause destruction via blast waves, heat and shrapnel. They damage structures, inflict severe injuries, and cre-"
"Shup up, nerd!"
Mark snapped.
"Stop talking about bombs! They don't work in fantasy settings! Why do you have to bring your nerdy self in everywhere you go!? I only introduced the Weeb World to you because I wanted you to chill the fuck out, stop being such a nerd and be a cool guy like me!
How in the hell have you fallen so deep into it that you are now dreaming about it!?
And to think you are dreaming about Demi-Humans already!
Fuck it, even if you are dreaming, why are you dreaming of a Dragon Man!? Why not a strong and sexy Dragon Woman!? Or better, a Foxkin with fluffy ears and tails! A Catwoman would be great as well!
Why are you dreaming of a fucking man!?
Who in the hell likes men!?!"
Mark spoke with absolute disgust. Then, suddenly, his expression changed as he remembered something.
"Wait…
Are those girls actually right!?
Are you gay or something?"
At this revelation, Mark crawled away from Kael, looking at him with fear evident in his eyes.
Soon, however, as if not wanting to get canceled, he slowly approached Kael and,
"Look, dude…
Even if that is the case, I, uhh, accept you as you are.
We live in an independent country, you can like anyone you wish, that is completely normal and I will support your decision…
…from a distance."
Mark spoke, and Kael, who heard his words, felt his mouth twitching.
"I see you no longer wish to pass your final semester exams."
He muttered with a big smile on his face, and in an instant, Mark's expression changed.
He lunged forward, gripping Kael's arm with eyes full of desperation.
"C'mon man, you know I'm joking, don't you? You won't do something so petty for a simple joke, now will you? Hahaha~"
Mark laughed.
"…"
Kael just stared, silent.
"Kael! You cannot do this to me! You are the only one I have!"
For someone who wanted to support Kael's decision from a distance, Mark's words were… quite suspicious.
However, no matter what Mark said, Kael stayed silent, continuing to observe him. Then, a wicked smile appeared on his face, and,
"You know what to do, no?"
"You…"
Mark widened his eyes in disbelief.
Kael's smile widened even further.
"You! I can't do it! Anything but this!"
"Oh well, if it's anything but this, I guess you will be saving some money this time, since you won't need to buy the next semester's books, not that you buy those anyway."
Kael shrugged, and Mark's face paled.
"Dude, my mother will kill me! You know how she is!"
"I gave you the option, my friend." Kael shrugged, turning away.
Mark gritted his teeth and,
"Please help me, father!"
He shouted, his eyes closed because of how humiliated he felt.
Kael's smile widened.
"Of course I will, my dear son."
Mark clenched his fists in frustration, and Kael just laughed.
"Alright, sleep for 30 more minutes if you want; I'll go get freshened up."
Kael spoke as he stood up and walked into the bathroom.
…
An hour later, Kael and Mark were walking to the University. It was only a kilometer away from their room, so they usually chose to walk.
On their way, Kael was unusually silent, and Mark, who noticed that, turned to him.
"Thinking about that dream again?"
He questioned; this time, his face showed concern.
"This is the fourth time this week," Kael replied, turning towards him.
"It used to be a blurry, hazy vision that I'd dream about once every couple of months,
But now… now it's so vivid. I can see every face, remember every detail...
It doesn't even feel like a dream anymore.
It feels so… real."