Chapter 1
“HURRY RUN! THEY’RE COMING FOR YOU!”
“ARGHHHH I DONT KNOW WHAT TO PRESS!!!”
A tense battle it was, we were left with only 3 team members, against 10. It was a pleasant surprise for me to make it this far, solely thanks to Kim who had been guiding me throughout the whole game. We lost the game due to my lack of competency on pressing the keyboard but that did not matter as the most important thing was that I was able to fulfill Kim’s bucket list. Kim, a good friend of mine whom I’ve never met but so close to me had always insisted to teach me his favorite computer game, Fortnite. Being able to catch up with him and talking to him made my heart flutter. I have a crush on Kim but I know things will never work out between us. The fun we had on that particular dawn ended with Kim falling asleep on the call.
“Thank you for today, take care and I love you Kim.“, and so I ended the call.
The dark sky slowly changed its color to pinkish-orange. It was such a peaceful and calm moment. I positioned myself under layers of blanket and watched YouTube videos before slowly drifting to dreamland.
On my usual days, I would wake up when I want to wake up but today, it was different. I slept for 3 hours and started my day by having my favorite breakfast menu, a full set of American breakfast. I noticed my small apartment looked messy and it was time for me to make things back in order. After finishing the last bite of pancake, I washed the dishes and started sweeping the floor, arranging my books and fold my clothes properly. I guess the proverbs “the early bird gets the worm” was true after all. Even after doing so many things, I still had ample time to spend my day anyhow I wanted.
College life had been hard. People around me were more of an acquaintance than a friend. I missed my high school friends. It had been over 2 years since I met anyone from my clique and I missed them terribly. Reviving my memory for the longest time, I organized a reunion for my friends and me.
The interior design of the cafe that we always went to remained the same. Gathering together at the same spot gave me deja vu. A good one. It felt so surreal as if it was still 2015. We caught up with how each of us was doing. Scarlett just came back from Costa Rica for a short vacation and Emily had been working part-time while being a student in mass communication. I spent a pleasant afternoon with them, missing things we used to say we would not.
“Thank you for today, take care and good luck in everything you are doing!”, and so we parted ways.
Going back to my parents’ house for a short visit was easy for me as I lived a stone throw away from their house. I played chess with my dad, a tradition I always do with my dad since sophomore year in high school. Dad was the better player but I managed to sharpen my skills and beat him at times. Mom was in the kitchen making the family’s favorite meal; hot chicken stew. The aroma that diffused throughout the whole house made me lose focus on the chess game I was having. Dinner was undoubtely nice, it felt like home and it was home. I stayed a bit until after 8 pm to have dinner with my parents and then left to go back home, kissing them both in the cheeks as I went through the door. My parents were standing at the porch, bidding me farewell.
“Thanks for the meal and everything! I love you guys so much!”, then I drove off.
It was half-past nine when I finally arrived at home. Sitting on my laptop desk, I started writing letters. Something I used to do a lot in the past but was not able to continue because of my hectic schedule. I wrote letters, all sorts of letters to all sorts of people; my landlord, my lecturers, my parents, friends, and even my neighbors. I just felt like expressing what I could not verbally. I guess this was one of my coping mechanisms, a stress reliever as I feel fresh whenever I write letters. For obvious reasons, I never send the letters out as things will be awkward for me. I laid the letters neatly on the desk and got ready to take a bath.
I opened my favorite playlist and just sat in the bathtub, reflecting back on my past. Today had been such a wonderful day for me and I only had to do one last thing to make it perfect. Perfect days do not exist, a perfect day does. Taking a deep breath, I immersed myself under the warm water and stayed under there. My lung felt like bursting and it probably did, maybe, I do not remember. The next thing that I know was that I was finally free. Free from the world. Forever. What a perfect day.
