「He’s coming…」
Ba-thump!
「He is coming…」
Ba-thump!
Ba-thump!
「He comes!!!」
Ba-thump!
Ba-thump!
Ba-thump!
Ba-thump!
Lian walked into the dance practice room.
Ba-thump!
Ba-thump! Ba-thump!
Ba-thump!
Ba-thump!
Ba-thump! Ba-thump!
I bit my lower lip slightly to keep them closed but they still ended up opened unconsciously when he gave off his gentle smile to one of the member.
Ba-thump! Ba-thump!
Ba-thump! Ba-thump! Ba-thump!
Ba-thump!
「Yes!! That’s how a smile should look like!」
Someone pinched my ear.
『Aimee!!』
I turned my head and I saw Ardelle who was staring at me with that wrath look on her face.
『What?』
『You clearly weren’t hearing to what I just told you, were you??』
I kept my ear away and glared at her irritably.
『It was…』
I took a pause.
She was looking at me while raising her left eyebrow.
『…It was about the fairy you met in the backyard, right? 』
It was a possible answer though.
It’s not like I was living in a fantasy world whatsoever, it was her soul which was living in that world. She was that 18 years old girl who still believed in Santa Claus, mermaids, fairies, and the other magical «ahem» ridiculous beings.
She spent her whole salary to go to platform 9¾ in London, ended up crashing herself to the wall so hard repetitively that she had to be dragged to the local police station and met a psychiatrist who stated that she was just a plain delusional girl;
Playing RPG games the whole year after she gave her farewell to everyone «literally» saying that she would be summoned to another world and that she probably would never be back to this world ever again;
Bought every old lamp in every antique stores and rubbing them more than hundreds times a day while believing that a Jinn would eventually appear if she wished earnestly;
And those were only a small part of her foolishness that I have witnessed in my life.
She was crazy.
『It’s not about that! I have told you about that fairy a week ago, and I haven’t met her again ever since! You know, they’re shy in front of humans! 』
『Are you sure it’s not because of the booze we had the night before? 』
『You don’t believe me, do you??』
「…Have I ever believed you? 」
『You should at least believe in fairies Aimee! 』
『I believe…』
I paused.
She was looking at me with the overwhelming hope that obviously drawn on her face.
『What I wanna believe.』
『I believe that you believe in fairies Aimee! 』
「How did she get that conclusion??」
『Well … whatever.』
It was useless trying to tell her things anyway, she was the kind of an extremely clueless person who had the most exorbitant thoughts among the people I had ever met.
「She must’ve forgotten that she wanted to tell something to me.」
『Guys! Let’s start the practice fast! 』
It was the manager.
He was dragging Keith along with him.
Keith was always the only reason of why we didn’t do the practice early; he was the youngest member in the group and always found a way to slack off in the middle of his busy schedule.
Hold on, I haven’t told you about us right?
Well, I was a back dancer along with my best «ahem» weirdest friend Ardelle. We joined a back dancer group soon after we graduated from an art high school.
Our country was the most well-known in its entertainment industry, so art high schools were scattered everywhere. They were much merrier in the capital city since people were more striving to be famous there. That means music, act, and performing art classes were the most wanted in high school.
The competition to be the most famous celebrity was so tense here, new stars were born nearly every day and most of them had been broken apart and forgotten completely after losing in this ruthless battlefield. Only those who had the most talent and look could survive here.
Among those countless stars, three groups that shone the most were Crown, Jacqueline, and Ze:ro. I was lucky to be one of Ze:ro’s back dancers although I had to keep Ardelle’s thoughts away from those lousy fanfictions that were telling about cheesy love story between the famous stars and ordinarily- different girls «ahem» not to mention I liked one of Ze:ro’s member.
It was pretty easy since Ardelle was more drawn into fantasy than dreamy romance.
So what about this story?
Do you think it is a romance?
Well…
I hope it wasn’t though.
『It hurts! 』
Keith protested as soon as he managed to escape from the manager’s deadly grip.
『Glad to know that.』
『You’re a devil Leonid! 』
『What exactly do you expect me to be? 』
He asked along with his notable death glare and cold tone.
『Well well, since everyone has come.』
The dance instructor, Mr. Buntala, stood up and clapped his hands at the end of his sentence as a sign to start the dance practice right away.
Everyone who was sitting around quickly stood up and walked to form the dance formation. I stood in front of Don and slightly glanced at Lian who was standing against Ardelle.
The dance was a pairing dance; everyone had their own partner who would change twice during the dance. I was paired with Don at first, moved away and changed my partner into Raul, and then got back to Don.
So yeah, I had no chance in pairing with Lian.
The dance instructor examined each person to make sure that they were standing in the right position.
『Ready? 3 ... 2 ... 1! 』
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It was a cold night in Frith.
I was walking home with Ardelle and as usual hearing her exorbitant stories about fantasy goodies.
They were about immortal beings, aliens, and magic at that time.
She was always full of energy; I had none left in me after the restless hours of dance practice.
『So the best thing about it is…』
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She stopped.
Her face was showing the usual expression when she forgot something important to her. Her eyes were widened and her mouth was slightly opened.
「In one…」
「Two…」
「Th…」
Claps!!
「Well. It was close.」
『I forgot about Madam Simone! 』
「Who…? 」
『You should take some time tomorrow at 8! I’m gonna pick you up! Oh my God, this is gonna be great!!』
「Wha…?」
『Hold on, who’s this Madam Simone? 』
I would be dead if she was going to ask me to do some random silly thing just like when she forced me to hold a red string that bound her neck across the street last spring.
And well…
The countless other ‘things’.
『I have told you about her right? How could you’ve forgotten about it?』
「When…? 」
『Jeez! You clearly didn’t pay any attention right??』
「Most of time … yeah … why should I? 」
『Well! To tell you quick, she’s a powerful witch who’s gonna make your love come true!!』
「Man…」
『What’s with your reaction? 』
「Man…」
『…cool…』
『RIGHT?』
『You bet…』
I said while starting to think about what I should eat for the dinner.
『I know you’ll be excited! That’s why I made an appointment for us to meet her! 』
『Uh-huh.』
「Well … beef stew will do.」
『You’re in! Ready or not I’ll pick you up at 8! 』
『What?』
「When did I say that I’m in??」
『Don’t take back your words! 』
She ordered and was so happy when she saw a bus coming to the bus stop we were in.
『I gotta go now! Remember, tomorrow at 8! 』
She had already gone before I could even say anything.
『That’s … a wrong bus though.』
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【Etal, 11:24 AM】
『We’re here! 』
She walked faster toward a shabby apartment in front of us.
「Yeah, I should’ve been aware that she doesn’t have any sense in direction.」
『Are you sure though?』
It was the fifth time she said the exactly same sentence.
And I had spent a freaking three and a half hours just to meet this silly witch she was talking about during the road.
『I’m sure! Can’t you feel the magical aura coming from the building? 』
「I can’t.」
『Come on, you walk so slow! 』
She grabbed my hand and rushed to the building.
「Man… I wanna die…」
---
『See? I’m right! 621. See?』
She showed me the apartment number on her phone.
『You knock!』
「Why should I?? It might be another random pervert again! 」
『I knock? 』
She asked after I stared at her for a little while.
「Yeah. You knock. And when a pervert appeared, I’d be gone before he could grab me.」
『Well I knock then~』
Ardelle knocked the door using the usual rhythm she always made every time she knocked on something.
「Really though, what kind of apartment that doesn’t have any bell these days?」
『Who’s there?』
It was a granny voice.
I was wondering whether she wanted to give off a creepy feeling in her voice supposedly or if it was her natural way of talking.
Cheesy eerie stuff though.
『Uhh…ummm..』
Ardelle was shaking.
Of course, she always got scared of lame things.
『Why don’t you answer me??』
The voice was so close.
It came from the other side of the door.
Ardelle was going to cry out of fear.
She grabbed my skirt, her usual alarm to ask for my help.
「Urgh」
『Ummm…』
「What should I say anyway?」
『WHO are you??』
「Jeez why do you have to be so mad granny?」
『We’re just some customers. We want to ask for your help? 』
「Right? The making love comes true or whatever it is.」
『WHO??』
『Customers!!』
「Old deaf granny! 」
『Come in!』
「Isn’t it a proper gesture to welcome a guest by opening your door?? 」
「Well, whatever.」
I opened the door.
Ardelle grabbed my hand and I could feel her hand froze.
「Is she really that scared though? 」
The apartment was extraordinarily bizarre.
The walls and curtains were all bloody red, creepy decorations hanging everywhere on the wall, a strange fragrance coming from somewhere in the apartment and the floor was full of petals.
Although I didn’t expect it I felt slightly better to think that my three and a half hours of traveling was somewhat paid off by seeing her idiotically mystical apartment.
It was a one-of-a-kind apartment’s design.
「Well she knows how to pull off the witch-kind-of-like feeling.」
I followed her into somewhere that supposed to be a living room.
To my surprise,
She wasn’t a granny.
She was a very adorable woman with a perfectly fine posture.
「Man, what a shame.」
To have a lame voice like that.
『Sit down!』
It really was her voice.
「Now that’s creepy.」
Ardelle’s hand was completely frozen.
It was sweating.
I glanced at her.
She was biting her lower lip, trying to calm herself.
Her eyes were staring at something, I followed her gaze and apparently she was looking at a goat skull on a small table in front of the lady.
「You don’t have to be so worked up really… it might just be a fake skull.」
『SIT DOWN!』
「Damn, she is the one who should calm herself.」
I sat on one of the bloody red pillows in front of the table.
There were two pillows.
I wondered why she likes bloody red so much; it would be sickening to have that color in most of my apartment’s stuffs though.
『Tell me your purpose!』
Ardelle wasn’t going to give her an answer anytime soon, and she would yell even louder.
So I was the one who should talk.
「Urgh.」
『We want to ask for your help to…』
「 ‘Make our love comes true??’ Hell no, I’m not gonna say that!」
It was the cheesiest thing I would say even in my afterlife.
『WHAT? Finish your sentence!』
「Jeez what a hothead.」
Whatever.
『Make our love comes true.』
「Wait. ‘Our’? What the… I should’ve said ‘her’! Why did I actually think of using ‘our’ anyway? It was Ardelle’s intention in making love comes true! That’s why I hate talking! Urgh!」
She grinned in a creepy way.
『So who’s ‘the man’? 』
I glanced at Ardelle.
She was staring at me.
「Urgh.」
『Well……』
I was very hesitant, yet I felt some strange tempting feeling to say his name.
「Just maybe… she’s really a witch. 」
『Lian… Ivander.』
『The well-known singer?』
She asked in a mocking tone.
「So what? You asked so I answered!」
『Yeah…』
『I see.』
She grinned even wider.
『What about your man girl? 』
Ardelle gulped.
She looked like she wanted to talk so bad yet she was so scared.
「What a poor little thing.」
『Do you want me to make it comes true?』
『Yeah! So uhh…』
She clenched and talked.
『I want every handsome man in this world to fall in love with me! 』
The witch’s eyes were widened in shock.
「That’s Ardelle for you.」
『What an eager little girl.』
She said in a proud tone.
『You have been dreaming about it right?』
「She’s no different.」
Ardelle’s eyes got all sparkling while she nodded vigorously.
『I shall make it comes true then.』
I felt like laughing.
「Really though? 」
『Just a minute.』
The witch went somewhere.
『See? I’m right! Told ya she’s gonna make your love comes true! 』
「So every handsome man in this world is your love? Man…」
.
.
It was more than a minute.
『Why does it take so long though? I’m bored…』
Ardelle was getting impatient.
「She’s not running away right?」
「Nah…」
Ardelle’s phone was ringing.
『Oh!』
She took it from her little bag and stared at it for a second.
『It’s Mom! I gotta pick it up. Tell me when the witch comes okay ~?』
She didn’t have to go outside to pick up the phone though.
「Well she must be really bored here.」
.
.
It was rather unpleasant to sit in a bloody red room that had strange fragrant and eerie decorations while doing absolutely nothing.
.
.
And my phone was out of battery.
.
.
Ardelle didn’t come back.
.
.
「Has it been an hour now?」
.
.
「Are we being deceived?」
The lady came back just when I was about to take my leave.
「..And you told us that it was a minute.」
She was bringing two leather flasks with her.
So outdated.
Her face was pale though.
I wondered why.
『Where’s the other girl?』
『She’s outside. Picking up a phone.』
「Supposedly.」
The lady was shaking.
「That’s weird.」
『I shall tell you this quick so hear it carefully and don’t ever come back here.』
「’Don’t ever come back’? Is that what a dealer would say to its consumer?」
She was weird.
Well…
So weird.
『Both of you shall eat a rose every day after drinking the potion.』
「So they’re potions.」
『Skip one day and you’ll regret it.』
「Lol. Yeah, right.」
『The yellow one is yours and the red one is your companion’s.』
「Roger that.」
『Now take these and leave!』
「We don’t have to pay? 」
『TAKE THESE AND LEAVE!!! 』
That was unpleasantly creepy.
I took the potions and went out.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
『Aimeeee!!!!!』
「There she is.」
『I thought I would never meet you again!!』
She cried while hugging me very tightly.
「It’s a rather good idea actually.」
『How did you get here? 』
「Seriously. In the middle of woods of all places?」
『I saw a white rabbit while I was out to take some fresh air after explaining things to my Mom.』
「…And?」
『So I followed the rabbit! You know, it supposed to lead me into another world but I got lost without even having a glimpse of it after that! It runs so fast! 』
「Are you Alice or something?」
『I was so scared that I would never get back!!』
「…Tell me about it.」
『How did you know that I was here Aimee? Did you finally hear my telepathy?』
『I asked some people in the street.』
「It’s pretty memorable to see a girl «ahem» weirdo «ahem» runs into the woods by herself anyway.」
『What about the witch?』
「So she remembered.」
I took the leather flasks from my bag.
『You should drink these.』
『Isn’t one of them supposed to be yours? 』
「Jeez. She’s in her thinking mode.」
『Well… yeah.』
She chuckled.
『It’s not ‘these’ Aimee, it is ‘this’.』
She took one of the leather flasks and drank it without even asked which one was hers.
「Is that the red one though? 」
「Whatever.」
I was just going to see whether they were poisoned or not anyway.
She wasn’t showing any weird reactions although I did expect something to happen.
That was rather disappointing.
『It's cherry flavor! 』
Ardelle shouted in excitement.
「Lol. So the weird lady is a swindler after all.」
『What’s yours Aimee?』
「Banana maybe.」
『Why don’t you have it a taste?』
『I can’t! It’s yours! If I drink it the magic will be ruined!』
「Lol. Sure.」
『Drink it Aimee! I wanna know its flavor!』
I drank it without taking a look at its color.
It should’ve been banana though.
It wasn’t.
It tasted like blood.
I couldn’t stop drinking it.
I was getting extremely thirsty all of the sudden.
I drank all of it.
My head was spinning.
It was getting so dark.
I couldn’t feel my body.
--She fainted--