The sun peeked over the horizon, casting its gentle light upon a new day. Rafa, preparing for school on a Friday, couldn't shake off the lingering remnants of his haunting nightmare. He never did go back to sleep and as he stood with a toothbrush in hand, he continued to question the very nature of his experience. "Was it all just a dream?" he wondered, his eyes heavy with sleep. After rinsing his mouth, his gaze met his reflection in the mirror, and a tremor of unease washed over him. "Belial," he whispered repeatedly, mulling over the unsettling realism of his night terror.
His mind brimmed with a multitude of unanswered questions as he splashed water across his face. Just then as he opened his eyes, Catalina peeked into the bathroom, causing him to jump and almost lose his balance. "Aah!" he exclaimed, clutching his hands tight to his chest. "What the heck, mom?" he asked, his heart still racing. "Que trais?" she asked, holding her purse and car keys. "You scared the hell out of me!" he replied, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and annoyance. "How about knocking next time?" he added.
"Miedoso," she taunted. "I left your lunch in the microwave. Heat it up and pack it. I'm running super late."
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Rafa knew that if he asked for more privacy, she would go on about how she used to wipe his ass as a child. And if he said, "That was a long time ago," she might retort, "not too long ago," adding to his embarrassment. Not that it was true, but Rafa simply mumbled, "Okay," and closed the door behind her.
Moments later, Rafa emerged from the bathroom, clad in a white tank top and black loose-fitted jeans. He felt a sense of renewal from the shower as he took a right to his room where he swiftly retrieved his rosary and slipped into his Nike Cortez sneakers.
Rafa's room had pictures of pin-up girls from low-rider magazines plastered on the walls. In one corner, there was a tall piece of furniture with a 32-inch TV perched on top and a few colognes stored behind it. He grabbed one and gave himself a spritz. He then turned his attention to the bed, where he had neatly laid out the rest of his clothes before hopping in the shower. Behind him, against the wall, a long mirror leaned, which had fallen off a while ago. Rafa had tried sticking it back with duct tape once, but it eventually fell again, earning him a scolding from his mother for peeling off the paint.
After he donned his white t-shirt, brown plaid flannel, and black denim jacket, Rafa adjusted his snapback in reverse and nodded approvingly at his reflection in the mirror.
With his backpack in hand, he was ready to seize the day. However, lost in his thoughts about Belial, he accidentally left his lunch behind as he hurried out the door, his mind consumed by the sinister Demon. Determined to unearth the truth, he resolved to take a slight detour and visit the nearby bookstore before heading to school.