Teddy in one hand, Cody's hand in the other, it was very crowded. I fanned myself, giving the jacket back to Cody. Tonight was unusually hot.
Noticing my movement, Cody pulled me closer to him; as if afraid I would get pushed away. Again, I stumbled on these torture devices, lightly knocking into Cody who then caught me with one arm. "Careful." He softly whispered into my ears.
His breath tickled my skin; I unconsciously straightened up and saluted which earned me the smiling stares of the people around us. Damn, why do I feel embarrassed?
Thankfully I was saved by the Farris wheel as it was our turn. The conductor politely smiled at us, giving a few warnings and advices before closing the door.
As we got higher and higher, the sight of the city's night sky view dazzled me. Like millions of stars in a dark sea, they glowed brilliantly. As we reached the peak, the Ferris wheel stopped once more, giving its riders enough time to enjoy the scenery.
Cody sat opposite me, his gaze glued onto my body without my even noticing. "Whoa! I can even see our dorms from up here!" I pointed in the direction, turning to Cody in a rather childish manner. I cleared my throat, "I mean, it's really cool up here."
Not waiting for his response, I turned my attention back at the night view. The lights twinkled in my eyes, bright and vivid, yet so faint and distant. I unconsciously reached out, my hand coming in contact with the glass. My breath that blew against the glass turned damp, showing the blurry reflection of Lumina Zeon, one that I was unfamiliar with. My head felt hazy, my gaze unfocused as I stared at my own reflection, still trying to reach out to something, but what, I myself did not even know.
"...na..."
"...Mina..."
"Lumina." the light tap on my shoulder brought me back to reality. "Are you okay?" Cody looked at me worriedly, "You're really pale." The touch of his large palm as it covered my forehead felt hot, to the point I felt as though I was set on fire.
"I-I'm fine." What is wrong with me?
"You clearly don't look 'fine'." Cody pushed me to lean back in my seat, "You're even running a fever! Just hold on a bit till we get on the ground."
My mind felt fuzzy and I couldn't clearly hear what Cody was saying, absentmindedly nodding my head whenever I thought he was asking me a question. My vision started to slowly blur, sounds, voices I couldn't distinguish resounded by my ears, or was it in my head? My eyelids began to feel heavier as I eventually followed my instincts, obediently closing them. The voices became clearer, but they were unfamiliar voices, sounds that made no sense of my current surroundings.
"Lumina." A familiar voice reverberated, pulling me back to reality. "Sorry, just hold on a bit longer." I absentmindedly nodded my head, closing my eyes once more as I allowed Cody to help me up. The conductor's voice sounded in the distant, I almost tripped as I stepped out of the cart.
Expecting to fall miserably, a strong arm caught my waist. The next instant I felt my body float off the ground. A familiar, warm scent surrounded me. I didn't remember much of what happened last night. When I woke up, an unfamiliar white ceiling greeted me, along with the smell of chemicals unique to hospitals.
I lifted myself up, my body felt so heavy, as though a boulder weighed on top of me. I positioned myself to lean against the bed frame. I lay alone in a white room, an IV attached to the back of my hand, faint memories lingering in my head as I could barely stay focused.
"You're awake! You scared the hell out of me Lumina!" Angela jumped towards me, hugging me tightly I could barely breath. I spotted Cody walking in along with a young doctor in a pure white coat. I wonder what they're saying?
"Lumina, are you listening to me?"
"Huh?" My focus returned to the anxious Angela.
"Should I call Aunt Mary to let her know?"
I shook my head, "Don't, it's just a light fever, I think. Besides, I don't want to spoil her vacation."
"Miss Zeon, greetings. My name is Doctor McGale." Doctor McGale gave me a friendly smile, "Truth be told I was quite surprised to see Cody this flustered when he brought you here last night."
"Huh?" My brain seems to be functioning slower. I looked foolishly at the three before me, trying to process the situation. "Why am I in a hospital?" It was just a fever right? And moreover, isn't this a VIP room? I am so lost right now.
Doctor McGale and Cody talked for a while, while Angela helped me get out of bed. When we got back to the dorms, the first thing I did was crash down in my soft, comfy bed free from the hospital smell.
"Please tell me you aren't going to sleep again?" Angela towered over me with her arms crossed over her chest, a hopeless and stern look across her face. "At least eat something before going to bed." Like the good mother-figure she was, Angela brew me a warm cup of tea and made a light porridge. "37 degrees, looks like it went down." She sighed in relief. "Sorry."
"Hmm?" With spoon still in my mouth I looked at her puzzlingly.
"I should have noticed you weren't feeling well." remembering that she had dragged me all over the place yesterday I finally understood. "It's not your fault. Although I was feeling like a dying soul and am still angry," which I will have my revenge one day, "My fever isn't your fault. Oh yeah, what was so important you forgot that you left your best friend all alone in the middle of society?"
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The guilt that had been written all over her face slightly faded, a light chuckle escaping her mouth. "As always, your way of comforting is weird."
I rolled my eyes at her. I was being serious, okay...
=
As usual, I couldn't care less about my image, yawning without restraint while stretching my arms up. Spring break was just around the corner. With students leaving one by one, the enormous campus became somewhat deserted. I watched from the 3rd floor's balcony as a few of my dorm mates left. Speaking of, "Hey angee~ are you going to leave me alone?" I rested my cheek on the balcony rails, blinking at the person busying herself with packing.
Angela placed down the box in her hand, turning to look my direction, "My brother said he'd be returning home for a visit. It's rare for him to stop thinking about work, so I can't miss the chance to see him."
Ugh, these workaholic siblings. Seeing me pout, she sighed, "You know, if you want you can just come over. My mom would love to see you...well, you know the story."
For a moment I went pale. I remember the last time I went over I was treated as a dress-up doll. It also didn't help that Aunt Bella was a fashion designer, sometimes even poking me with needles. I unconsciously started to rub my arms, still feeling the pokes from my last visit.
But even so, Aunt Bella did take good care of me –excluding her poking me—so it would be rude not to go see her. Caught in a dilemma, I was already thinking up strategies on how to avoid being dolled up if I do come over.
"Hey, it's not like we'll bite you"
"You're right, she'll poke me."
Angela rolled her eyes and resumed her packing. Meanwhile, I spotted Cody and his friends down at the jogging field. I don't even know why I began to stalk him recently—I mean stare at him a lot recently. As I absentmindedly stared, Cody suddenly looked up. Our eyes met briefly before he focused back on the road in front of him. It was just a split second, but at that moment I felt something rush within me.
This feeling, it's the same as before. I noticed I keep having this strange feeling when Cody is usually around me and it only keeps increasing as time went by. I pinched the bridge of my nose. What am I even thinking? Even I myself don't know, okay?
At that moment my phone rang. Like a speeding bullet I jumped onto my bed, I smiled "Hello? Mom!"
On the other side of the phone I could hear her cheerful voice, the sound of a waterfall in the back and murmurs from a group of people. It must be nice to go sightseeing, then again I'm not really an outdoor's person. Her old colleague, Mr. Royce, also inquired about my wellbeing. To tell the truth I'm not 100% comfortable with the idea of one day calling him 'dad', but overall he is a likeable person.
As they returned to their Crouse ship mom send me a few of their pictures. Of course, that included couple photos. I gave an awkward laugh, not sure how to respond. They sure are....lovey-dovey...
"What are you laughing about? Let me see!"
"Whoa!" Without warning, Angela jumped right next to me on the bed, yanking my phone away and scrolling through the pictures.
"Uh...should I say you two are nothing alike?"
"What do you mean?" I sat up and crossed my legs. I mean, our faces are identical and we both love eating. "I guess I'm more of the lazy type." I nodded to myself.
Angela ignored me, as though she had already given up hope. In the end, I decided to stay at the dorms and drop for a short visit at Aunt Bella's another day. The thought of those dreaded needles alone is...I shuddered. On top of that, the trip alone was tiring enough.
"Have a safe trip." I waved at Angela as she boarded the train. After all the passengers that were taking the train entered the doors timely closed. The train station became less crowded until only a handful of people remained.
I snapped out of my daze when the patrolling officer called out to me. Giving him an awkward laugh I sped out of the train station. It was already turning dark. Left on my own again after a long time I aimlessly wandered about the park. Thankfully the lighting was decent, sparing me the haunted feeling.
When I came to I found myself sitting on one of the park's benches, surrounded by nothing other than trees. What the hell am I doing here?
I rubbed my arms to reduce the chilliness that came with the night breeze. I looked at my watch. 8pm already? I stood up and prepared to head back to the dorms. The campus was still a bit further away. Although we currently don't have time regulations due to our break, have you ever accidentally wandered into an abandoned haunted mansion on your own? Well, I get a similar feeling.
Just as I stepped out of the park a weird feeling creeps over me. I shuddered. Was it just my imagination?
The sound of owls crying didn't help comfort me at all. I daren't even turn my head around. Doesn't something bad always happen when a character in horror movies looks behind them? Nope, even if it's just my imagination I am soo not looking back.
I waved my hand, trying to haul a cab as fast as possible. Unfortunately for me, they were all already taken.
Damn my rotten luck.
My shoulder already felt somewhat sore after all that waving. I give up. Walking back would be faster at this point.
A chilly breeze blew my way, causing me to shudder once more. Why didn't I take a jacket with me like I always do? Sheesh I feel like I'm starting to lose it.
As I was walking back to campus I didn't notice a shadowy figure silently following me. As my feet stepped over the threshold of the gate a blazing hand landed on my shoulder.
"EEEKKK!"
"Pfft." I jumped back in fright only to see Cody laughing at me to the point he seemed to want to roll on the ground.
"CODY YOU IDIOT!" I kicked his side as hard as I could. Damn him! And I was already feeling a bit spooked since earlier. This this this "Jackass!"
"Hahaha!" Cody was clutching his stomach with one hand while rubbing the place I had just kicked him. Seeing my beet red face he finally showed signs of stopping, even though a few muffled laughs still escaped. "I never knew you were such a scaredy cat."
I rolled my eyes, "Shut up. If I knew you were following me I would have made sure to take my tasers with me."
He froze, "You...what the blazes are you doing with a taser?"
"Why do you care?" I threw a question back at him. "Besides, don't you have better things to do then stalk me? And what is that on your sleeves? ...blood?"
Out of curiosity I stretched out my hand to grab his sleeve for a closer look but Cody quickly hid his hands behind his back. "Ah, those idiots spilled ketchup on my shirt when we were messing around."
"Uh-huh..." Well it is kind of dark here so I didn't suspect anything. "So, mind telling me why the hell you were stalking me?" If I'm not convinced you better be prepared.
"I was just grabbing some drinks." He lifted the plastic bag in his left hand. Ah, I didn't even notice.
"Fair enough. ...I'm not done with you though." I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Sure, whatever. What are you doing alone here then? Don't you know about young women disappearing around here?"
"Huh? Where do you even see a young woman around?"
Cody stared at me speechlessly before admitting helplessly, "True. You're more manly then I a- uhow!"
Tch. I cursed under my breath, my fists still trembling from rage. Just one punch and one kick are far from enough to appease my rage!
=
I woke up rather early this morning, not sure if I was feeling refreshed or depressed. I turned on the radio for morning news, something Angela always did out of habit that I took over and headed straight for the shower.
[...tzz...Last night on..tzz...the patrolling guards of...tzz...university found a...tzz...of the recently reported missing student...tzz...reported by her roommate..tzz...the police are still in the midst of investigating this case that has been ongoing for...tzz....It is unknown whether we have a new serial killer on the loose. Students, teachers and everyone as that matters, we advice you not to leave your homes...tzz...unless neccesarry...tzz....]