Silence in Dismay

“Do you know what’s standing between you and me?” Lorraine asked as she took one step forward, standing only inches apart from a muscled boy. She looked up at his hazel eyes.

The boy lowered down his gaze, got his eyes on Lorraine’s in amusement. He couldn’t love more his girl when she started to be so philosophical. He considered it as a weird one, true. Either way, it was so cute he couldn’t stop smiling thinking of it.

He then filled in the space between them. “No, I don’t.” He murmured. They were way too close Lorraine breathed the same air with the boy.

She closed her eyes. The wind breezed.

Everything felt so good and it was just so right living the very moment, with only two of them in the rooftop, underneath the night sky. It was 8 pm already but two of them felt like there was no second ticking and the moment would last forever.

She wondered if forever really was the word to indicate their relationship.

Lorraine leaned in and hugged him so tight she could smell the masculine perfume of his.

“Tell me, ma fleur.”

“Hmm?”

“Tell me.”

“Can’t you guess it?”

“Alright, give me a second. Is it nothing? Because it seems we’re meant to be eternal, don’t you think?”

That was tickling her and it occured to her how she loved the boy’s humor. It was so much, and she couldn’t get rid of it.

She then shook her head lightly, not sure as to beat off the thought or to reply to the boy. “No, Levi. You’re wrong.”

“Okay, so what’s that?” He, again, whispered.

In spite of the moment’s coziness, she could feel Levi’s heartbeat in her chest pounding harder waiting for the response. “The reality.”

They both bate their breaths.

***

It was half 9 am on a Sunday morning when Raquel came over to Lorraine’s house, “RAIN! Oooh my God guess what!? You should know what!”, which only she found empty.

“Rain? You here?”

She walked towards Lorraine’s bedroom and only got blanket covering no body. “Rain? Where are you? I’m so excited, I got a big news!”

She went upstairs, to the rooftop and... oops! Lorraine was laying right next to Levi, Levi’s arms were hugging Lorraine’s body. They both didn’t notice Raquel’s presence. Well, they both weren’t even awake despite the sunlight was getting bright.

“Ugh please, it’s nearly 10 and they’re still asleep, curled up beneath such a bright sky?!”

Raquel headed to their body and got herself stumbled in purpose. She pretended to fall. “AAHHH!!”

“What’s up?!” Levi got awake immediately and looked up at the surrounding, but it was all the same as it was the night before. Except Raquel’s presence. “What you doing here?”

“What’s going on?” Lorraine got awake too, eventually.

“You tell me.”

“Quel?”

“Yes, Rain. I’m here.”

“Since when you’re here?”

“Since God knows when! Now c’mon you guys should get up unless you want to get the sunburn. Go go go!” Raquel took whatever her hand could grip and pointed it towards the couple.

It was a crowbar.

“Whoa slim it, buddy. Fine, we’re going downstairs.” Levi took Lorraine’s hand and held it.

“No we, buddy. Only Rain and me. You go.”

Levi made a face. “Seriously? Ugh, fine. Hey Rain, got to go. I’ll let you know when I’m home.”

“Alright, see you Levi. Sorry for this, Quel is being a jerk.”

“It’s cool, no worries. I’m used to it. See you, ma fleur.”

He gave her a light kiss and bustled walking downstairs, away from the girls, after giving his girlfriend one last glance. Raquel and Lorraine waited until they heard the front door closed.

“Did you literally called me a jerk?” Raquel asked in disbelief.

“I did. Aren’t you a jerk, though?”

“RAIN!!!”

They both laughed out loud as walking down the stairs. Lorraine had a seat as she turned on the TV. Raquel opened the refrigerator and took two bottles of juices, then handed one to Lorraine who was yawning. She didn’t find any burritos nor cereals, though, so she sat next to her bestie, only drinking the juice.

“Rain. You won’t believe what I’m saying!” Yelled Raquel in excitement. Lorraine looked at her, waiting for Raquel to finish the line. Her voice was chipper. “I was hooking up with...”

Lorraine’s jaw dropped. “You were hooking up?!”

“Yup!”

“With who?!”

“Hudson!”

“What about Dean?”

“Well he doesn’t know and I don’t want him to know. He’s too nice.”

“Huh, he’s too nice and yet you were hooking up with Hudson. I get it.”

“Nah it’s not like that! Or yeah probably it is, but I’m only giving Hudson a chance, okay? You know he’s been into me since forever, so now I’m giving him a try. Can’t wait!”

“Can’t wait for what? Sleep with him?”

“What-no! We’re only going to have dinner and... I don’t know, probably he’s going to bring me somewhere else too, but I’m sure enough we’re not going to have a sexy night.”

“By somewhere you mean is a museum, isn’t it? Or library.” Lorraine smiled sarcastically which only was given a really straight face from Raquel.

“Haha wow, just wow. I still can’t believe, it’s Hudson! Geez, he’s a geek, Quel!”

“But he’s hot. A hot geek.”

“Still, a geek. Glasses and all that.”

“Whatever, now you go shower, please. You smell! Let’s go to my house. Help me finding the right outfit to go out tonight.”

“Hang on, the date will be tonight?!”

“Yes! That’s why you should get your butt to the shower right now! Go!”

Lorraine bolted to go taking a bath, took her towel, and went showering.

***

“Okay, this will be the last. How do I look?” Raquel asked Lorraine for the thousandth time.

“Gorg.”

“Thanks.”

“Now go! He’s waiting outside!”

Raquel finally decided to wear dark red dress and gave her face a touch of lipstick and eyeliner. The black heels had already fit to her feet, her hair were beautifully curly, cascading over her dress (she owed Lorraine for this). All set. She never felt more beautiful than she was right now.

Her prince-charming-wanna-be, Hudson, had been waiting for her in the outside of her house, standing with his back against the door. A car parked in front of the gate.

Are you sure with this? Raquel asked herself before opening the door. Yes, totally. She breathed in the air. Feel bad to Dean? Again, she wanted to make sure of herself first. No, well a bit. Dean is my boyfriend afterall. I’m only having dinner with Hudson, not sleeping with him.

She then opened the door, and found a guy with casual jeans and a shirt covered up by a leather jacket. No mention the glasses. Crap, he may be a nerd but he’s a total hottie! Sorry, Dean. I do still love you, okay.

“Hey,” Raquel let the boy notice her presence.

Hudson spun around and gave her a smile. Those dimples though!

“Hey. You look nice. Ready to go?”

Raquel was actually about to pass out, but she tried not to let it look obvious. She nodded and smiled back.

“So, where we going?” Asked Raquel once they were in the car.

“Hmm I actually don’t know yet, I’m going to let you pick the spot instead.”

“I’ll be fine with any restaurant you pick, anyway.”

“Alright then. Mind to go to Muelle Tres?”

“Not at all.” She gave him a sweet smile and they went to the place in silence. As the silence grew more deafening, the more awkward she felt. She wondered, is going out with a nerd  always this clumsy?

***

8 pm, and it was so bright of a night. The restaurant was crowded of hungry people. They could barely find an empty seat for them two the moment they stepped in the restaurant. But luckily, they spotted two empty seat on the corner, so that was where they headed to.

“Ahh, this place is nice! You go to here often?”

“Haha yeah. My favorite seat is over there, you see? It’s far enough to avoid the nuisance. I read and do homeworks here, you know.”

Nerd.

“Oh fair enough. Why not in your house instead of in here?”

“Well I don’t feel like being at home, actually.”

“Why’s that?”

Silence.

“Could we not talk about this, please?”

“Sure, sorry.”

“No problem.”

Silence.

“Good evening. Have you decided what to order?” The waitress came by, making them less clumsy.

“Sashimi and lemon tea for me. You?”

Raquel was drown in the menu, and a minute later she finally got what she wanted to eat. “Spaghetti, please. Oh, and hot chocolate.”

“Which spaghetti do you want to order, Ms?”

“The one with shrimps and mussels, thank you.”

“Okay, be right back.”

Silence.

“Hey, Raquel. You look pretty tonight, no kidding.”

“Yeah thanks, you already said that in front of my house actually.”

“Oh did I?” Raquell nodded, Hudson was embarassed.

Silence.

“Look, Raquel. I know this is awkward, and I’m sorry. I already know it will be like this, silence, awkwardness, silence again. I’m already...”

“No, no! It’s fine, totally fine. This is not awkward at all, it’s just... I’m feeling so hungry I can’t talk much.”

The hell? Did I literally just say that pile of klunk? The lamest excuse ever.

“No, I mean. Could I tell you something?”

“Go ahead.”

Raquel was sort of certain enough that Hudson was about to confess his love to her. So this is the time, she thought. She often heard of this rumor that Hudson’s feeling towards her apparently had allegedly begun since a year ago. True indeed, Hudson always acted weirdly whenever he got close to her. She needed a proof, nevertheless. She needed to hear by her own ears “I love you” from Hudson’s mouth.

This is a fact, every girl walking the Earth needs certainty and proof.

“Well, here it is. I actually have concerned that we don’t click, that the way I am isn’t meant to complete the way you are, that my endless stupidity cannot be ended by your intelligence and vice versa. You got it? I suppose you’re hurt, so I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to, I have to tell you this though.”

Silence.

“I need someone who can make my imperfection perfect, and it is her.”

Raquel got confused. She had no clue even a bit about what was happening just now, what this nerd was talking about, nor who was the girl Hudson referred to.

“Who?” A single word was eventually blurted out from Raquel’s mouth.

“Lorraine.”

Hudson’s face devoid of expression. The disquieting feeling out of sudden filled up the entire restaurant.

“I just don’t know how to tell Lorraine that I’ve been in love with her for like, who knows? 6 months? I don’t really know either. But really, I...”

Raquel was aghast. “Hang on there. You love Lorraine?”

“Yes.”

“For real?”

“For real.”

Raquel’s heart stopped beating. She nodded slowly in dismay, trying to grasp all of the things she just heard. Didn’t Hudson love me?

“So why did you ask me out?” She couldn’t hide the disappointment in her voice, but who cared.

“I don’t know how to show her that I’m into her. She’s always with Levi, and I don’t want to make her hook up with me.”

Hook up. That’s the words she used all this time to Lorraine, that she hooked up with Hudson. Now it’s going the other way around instead, great.

“You can just simply tell her.”

“I can’t! You don’t get it, I just can’t!”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“Which one?”

“Why did you ask me out instead of her?” She stared at him deadly in the eye. This whole situation was literally bugging her. Hudson was bugging her. I hate this nerd to the moon and back.

Hudson took a deep breath. He didn’t know how to explain, he was no expert in love issues whatsoever. He’d rather drown in mounting homeworks than in a pond of complicated love. “Because you’re her best friend.”

“That doesn’t make sense! I’m her bestie, true, so what?”

“I thought I could tell you and if I did, you would help me.”

Raquel sniffed. “No way.”

Hudson took another deep breath. “I should have guessed this. You know, I think one of the most universal human experiences is feeling all alone. It only works for people like me, though. Probably I still can’t click or fit with how the people surround me. The feedback I get and I give aren’t the same. Probably I handle things quite differently from people usually do. That is all the most likely that makes me always feel lonely.”

Raquel kept shutting her mouth, either didn’t know what to respond or didn’t want to. She was still pissed off afterall.

“Sorry for being so philosophical. I know it’s not your thing, so I’m better not to go on with my words. And anyway I think that waitress is bringing our foods, let’s just forget this and eat like nothing happened, deal?”

Raquel nodded in spite of her confusion.

“Deal.” --ets010515

Rosaline & Tulpa #3

Tell me,
can true love flee away
like those birds that fly away,
having a ditch from a tree of life
to another?
Tell me,
does giving in
to despondency
signify the fate you're opted for
is
not to be loved?

***

Once the blanket covered up my whole body, I fell asleep in an instant.

Rosaline was now sitting on a bench, somewhere in nowhere. The bench was actually dank but whatever. She kept sitting on it as she was trying to figure out where the dream brought her to this time.

Glimmer of hope to find out where she was never really came after some time--she wasn't so certain how long she'd been in there, it was like only minutes but probably coulod be hours--and therefore she began to amble up to wherever her feet heading to. Trees with bare branches were in her both right and left sides, fogs surrounded all over her, and the light was so dim she only could see something within 10 meters, despite the moonlight. She came to a halt for a second and fidgeted for a little while, shuddering, gasping. It occured to her it was just so bizzare that how cozy it was with the way the wing blew plenty of scattered leaves on the boulevard, with the clouds of obscurity in her mind, and with the emptiness she often felt in spite of the crowded world. A pang of pain pricked through her blood, rushing through each artery in her body. A dog was yelping in a far, far away, out of her sight.

She then continued ambling up, enjoying the odd icy dew on her skin.

That is actually pretty rare that I can be pulled away that easily from the reality to the hazy fuzziness, called dreamland, where Tulpa can never come in. And I am really happy, temporarily happy though, as I have waited for this moment to come for... I don't know, like 10 years? 5 years? Or a year, perhaps? I forget how long I've waited for what I thought was just a vain effort, and I also forget how that even feels.

It occurs to me that I terribly yearn to be dragged to this beautiful unconsciousness. And once I'm in it, I never want to be woken up. Ever since I suffer from this disorder, I barely can sleep. The insomnia always has my mind in tangle like it keeps running, working, over thinking regarding something either real or unreal, I can't really tell, because I have these high imaginations that the average teenagers surely don't have.

Imaginations that made my old friends give me weird look, followed by "what are you talking about, you must be joking since it can't be true" once they heard of it. I remember I laughed my ass off despite the agony, not that it was funny, it was awfully hurting instead. I was afwully hurt. The bitterness I felt was way too much I kept blaming myself for being so stupid telling such a personal privacy to them. Because they considered me as a weirdo afterwards.

Imaginations that made people rant about me being crazy and yap about how that can't possibly happen. I always assume those people just don't get it, I mean how come this impossibly happen when me, the sufferer, the real so-called victim does exist? Me, whom they thought was only another nut, standing and living and inhaling the same oxygen as they do? They only keep compressing each cell in their brain with silly statement that I'm just one with no commonsense, which--of course--isn't true. Or probably is true. Whatever.

And imaginations that made my dad, my own dad, behaves so awkwardly reluctant, distant, cold, and all that to me ever since doctor told him. I was literally aghast in the first month or so once he barely even talked to me. I don't have any siblings, and all I have now is only him. So what can I do? Average teenagers go out of their way to keep bringing up how sweet their dads allegedly are. I believe their stories after all since I also have ever felt them a couple years ago, but it's just no way for now. Oftentimes, I grumble how love can slip away that way, how life can be so unfair, and how everything goes sucks way too much.

Rosaline was now in the middle of the night, where the moon was exactly on top of her. It was downright murky. Her sight was only 10 meters away and yet she kept on wandering.

A wooden building considerably loomed as a haggard one, wedged in a darkening patch of shadow. The grove of trees seemed to be steadily disappearing as--apparently--a shack with a muddy water in front of its door came to her sight. The window, the only window in there, was really dust-frosted. The shack had seemingly not been cleaned up like in ages, and it was gross.

Rosaline knocked the door as though there were any ones living in it. But of course no answer came as a response, and therefore she then opened the door and found an old wooden chair as the only thing left in that shack.

She sat, thought of an absolute nothing, waiting to come down to earth and play another fun game with Tulpa in real life.

This is what I've learned about life: happiness and pain never go hand in hand. --ets281214

Rosaline & Tulpa #1

The girl fidgeted on her feet, then leaned forward and craned her neck out of the window.
The icy wind blew plenty of leaves across the yard, caressing her face. Glimmers of an eerie moonlight shone through the open window, it cast a wavering spectrum of colors both on her face and half of her body. The moonlight was the only light shining that room, no wonder since someone was on the way to come over.
That someone.
She loved darkness as she'd been growing with it since forever.
And she'd been living in it.
Shivering, the girl ground her teeth due to the friggin' icy wind. It was way too cold for spring. The Doomsday ain't probably lurking no more, it was probably about to happen in the next some years instead, as the world going to be fucked up much more and more every year. At least that was what she thought.
She stilled, waiting.
"M-may-y-be this ti-me we're b-better to be-e shone on-ly by-y moon-l-light!" She said more like to herself, 'cause no one was in the room yet, but her.
11:47 pm.
She breathed in and out, breathed in and out, breathed in again until compressing her lungs with the icy air. She reeked of her midnight breath. The night was getting later, but she was still totally awake despite the bloodshots of her eyes were getting worse.
Bummp. Bummp. Bummp.
Krieekk...
Something was coming. She was coming eventually. Each step creaked and groaned under her weight. Tulpa loomed as darker shadow, ambling up to her.
"Rosaline." The way she called the girl was more like whispering.
Rosaline startled, gasping. She finally snapped out of her shock. She then turned her body back, ready to see whatever-her, the Tulpa-behind her. She then glanced at Tulpa who was now right in front of her. Her face devoid of expression.
Tulpa's blond hair was cut long, cascading over her shirt; the same as Rosaline's. She has pale complexion; the same as Rosaline's. Her height was about 5'5 tall and her weight was about 94 pounds; the same as Rosaline's. She was as scraggy as klunk; the same as Rosaline. She has scratchy voice, almond-shaped eyes, a bit square jaw; the same as Rosaline's. Rosaline's voice actually still carried the high pitch of childhood though. And Rosaline's face was flabby and flushed.
"Tulpa!" Rosaline cried, her voice was chipper as though she just had discovered something never been found. "L-let's play-y Tulpa c'm-c'mon!"
Rosaline Matthews, usually called Rose by others, was an 14 year old teenage girl. She'd been suffering from "Skizofrenia Disorganized" and still in the process of recovery, though the theraphies she'd been taking actually hadn't seemed worked at all. The "Skizofrenia Disorganized" caused her to overimagine something and be out of the reality she lived in, be out of the real social life. One the most literal example was having bestfriend which was actually a tulpa.
Suffering from it made Rosaline suffer from insomnia as well. She could barely sleep every night despite her eyes grew bloodshot. Nah, she didn't give a fuck on her bloodshot eyes though. She didn't really give a fuck on anything. Everything in real life was solely adornment in her bluish green eyes. Solely adornment.
The actual misery of being in despair made her eyes bulged, darting back and forth. She was always in sort of daze and every now and then her face became such a porcelain face. She couldn't really express her feelings as though her face muscles once in a blue moon became paralyzed, exactly like someone suffered from "Mobius Syndrome".
Oftentimes, in spite of the beautiful face she had, people disdained her existence and see herself in contempt. Then again, she didn't give a damn instead of being hurt. Tulpa was always by her side and cheered her up (if though she ain't sad like literally) and muttered, "Don't fucking listen to them, Rose. Those saps ain't doing any good. They don't even know what they are doing for fuck's sake. I'll ensure they all are gonna get the freaking impressing reward... hopefully soon. Very soon." Tulpa usually grinned after saying that, then creased in scowl. Rosaline only gawked at her. "Can't wait to play another more thrilling games! Wonder how'll ya feel, sweetie. There'll be bloody red ink... those shanks will be as pale as klunk, writhing in agony, as we're laughing our fucking ass off, Rose."
Rosaline honestly never understood what Tulpa either meant or planned. She got a bit the "red ink" part though. "R-red ink? Is-s it b-bloo-d, Tulpa?"
But she always got nothing of reply.
00:14 am.
Tulpa ambled up to the table, then sat down next to it, motioning to Rosaline to do the same. Rosaline did, felt her eyes widen. Her breathing stopped for a moment. The light was too dim to scan her expression.
"Brr... T-Tulpa, aren't-n't you free-eezing? This-s is so-o cold." Rosaline said.
"Nope, and nah it's not."
"Can-can I clo-se the w-wind-d-ow?"
"Just let it open, you shank, and feel the warmth, will ya."
"But I a-am f-freezi-ing..." Rosaline said.
"Just ignore. Don't give a bloody fuck on how you getting goose bumps. Don't give a bloody fuck on how this be like icy dew on your skin. Ya get me, sweetie? Don't you wanna play games with me huh?"
"I do! I d-do!"
Rosaline shrieked tinnily, her voice was downright chipper as knowing they were going to play very soon. Tulpa leaned against the wall. "Better not to play those fucking freaking dolls again okay, I'm sick of them!"
"O-okay, so wh-at about th-this?" Rosaline showed her car toys.
"Nope."
Rosaline winced her brow, then tried to find another toys. "What ab-bout this?" She showing her books.
"I'm not a nerd for God's sake. Nope."
"Hmm, th-this?"
"I thought I've told you I was sick of dolls, haven't I?!" Tulpa snarled.
"Oh r-right! I for-g-got hahahaha,"
Tulpa rolled her eyes. "Haha. Funny." Then she stood up. "What about another toys that are not here?" She said each words she could into the syllable. "I mean, we can go outside of this bloody room and find another... toys."
Rosaline's expression turned into disappointment. "You d-don't wan-nt to play-y with me-e?"
"Urgh, come on just go with me!" Tulpa jerked Rosaline's sleeve and headed to the kitchen.
"W-what are we-e search-ch-ing for, Tulp-pa?"
"A razor blade. It's in the kitchen, isn't it?"
Rosaline didn't answer. She was too excited to do this new kind of games until she realized what the razor blade was actually for. Her brow wrinkled up and she felt her eyes widen of curiousity. "For wh-what?"
But again, she got nothing of reply.
"Ah! It's ab-about the "r-red ink-k" r-right-t!?"
Tulpa glanced at her, amazed. "Whoa! Never thought that you're actually smart, sweetie."
00:40 am.
They were now in the kitchen, opening every food cupboard, intented on finding the razor blade. No, of course Rosaline never knew where the razor blade was.
They found nothing.
"No razor blade. What about knife? It's more thrilling I swear!" Tulpa suggested and Rosaline nodded as the answer.
Tulpa reached and pulled one of the knives lying on its place, then gave it to Rosaline. Rosaline sneezed, shivering due to the friggin' icy wind. Her teeth rattling.
Out of the blue, the lamp on the kitchen then turned on. Rosaline's eyes moved as the very light shone through the lamp. Her eyes tried to set to it. She turned around, seeing a heavily muscled figure wearing tight shirtsleeves standing about 9 feet away from her.
"Rosaline?"
"Da-ddy!"
Innocently, Rosaline ran to her Dad excitedly with a knive clutched in her right hand. Her Dad just realized it when the knive stabbed his arm, made the blood of his cascaded over his arm and trickled the floor down. The floor was flooded by the blood. The "red ink".
Dad's jaw persisted. He was seemingly both shocked and angry with what just happened a few minutes ago, with what just happened to him.
Tulpa secretly grinned in satisfaction, whispered to herself, "This is how the real game begun, sweetie." before finally she was gone.
No, Rosaline's Dad could never see Tulpa.
Only Rosaline who could. --ets280614

My Soul?

"There's nothing to think about. There's nothing to debate about. Just run!" --Anonymous.

And here I am, running as fast as I can until I feel my feet dumb and I feel the blood rushing so fast in my veins. I keep running and yet don't know where I'm heading. Seriously, I don't even know where I am. Where is this? Trees, silence, darkness... and a 5'9 tall boy with hairstyle like James Dean's (you know, which has some natural wave in it, my girlfriend sait if effortlessly looks cool) and with pale skin running. Me.

And there's only me.

No, I don't really know what happened. I was chilling with some friends and my girlfriend in a cafe as usual, because I'm always free on Saturday. No school. No fake bitches. No annoying teachers. No mounting homeworks. And no fricking tests. We were so much having fun, we told some jokes, we laughed until our laughter echoed the room we were in, we kissed, we hugged, but then something whispered in my ears. Something which was like my own voice.

It's the time... Just run as fast as you can, don't give a damn on every freaking body who beg you to help them. If you help, you'll die.

I was scared, and I am actully still scared. It was a very eerie sensation when whatever that was whispering in my ears. However I didn't really care about it. Initially, I didn't really care about it.

Until that happened.

I heard people screaming so loudly. They ran... they ran while shivering. Their eyes stared at nothing. They started to bleed, from nose, ears, and mouths. All people, but me.

What's wrong with me? What's wrong with people?

And out of sudden everything stopped. Everything stopped in only a second. It's hard to believe that the previous second they were somewhat like zombies.

And now they stared at me deadly in the eyes.

I knew that I had to run, but I just sat with my trembling hands. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?" I asked. I know it was such a silly question, but whatever.

They kept walking towards me.

My mind worked hard and I asked to myself what should I do?

"Help... H-he-lp..." Her voice was so familiar. But, who? "Help..."

I tried to find the one who just asked for my help: Callysta. My girlfriend.

She no longer is your girlfriend. She's not Callysta... Again, that frickin' something whose voice was so much like mine whispered in my ears.

"Shut the fuck up. She is my girlfriend. I should help her no matter what! I believe the actual Lis is still there!"

And after that, she tried to hurt my wrist when I hugged her.

Run.

Everyone in the cafe became much crazier as ever.

Run.

Everyone in the cafe became more uncontrollable as ever.

RUN!

I ran as fast as I could without even looking back. What the hell is happening right now?! I asked to whatever that thing is but nothing came as an answer. I know you heard me, you dickhead! Tell me what's exactly going on here?!

That-whatever-thing chuckled. Keep running otherwise they will find you, Jared.

I still don't get it why "my own" voice chuckled in such this situation. I mean, fuck it. Doesn't it understand how scared I am? Nah, I don't dread it actually, I dread those people in the cafe insted. Well if only I still can call 'em "people".

The night is when I'm alive, Jared. I hide in the darkness, between moonlight and starlight. I walk without even knowing where I am heading because of you. I have been following you since forever but I can't posess you, ever. I don't know why. I'm so much like your shadow instead of your soul.

What?

I can't reason this.

Tell me, how the hell can you reason such this confusing thing, which was said by your soul, as you're running to avoid people who'd like to kill you?

BAMMM!!!

"Help... h-he-lp..."

I stop running. I'm gasping for oxygen. I look around, trying to find that bloody zombie.

Goodness, why.

It was my Mom. --ets110614

"Thrush Can Speak?!"

Hi. I’m Everest O'Neall, just call me Eve. Yes, that simple.

            I’m still 16. I am an easy-going person and I don’t feel stressed too much the way others feel due to tasks—well, at least I haven’t felt it for even once. And honestly I don’t know whether I am too stupid or… crazy or whatever, since I talked to a thrush and the thrush talked to me back!!! Yes, I myself still don’t believe this but I really experienced it! It happened when I was on my trip to Colorado, United States, some weeks ago. I went there when I was having my school vacation with some of my classmates. I mean, my crazy classmates. They always laugh everywhere at every little thing which is actually not funny at all, and they are sassy as well. And due to that, I turned to be kind of the personalities ever since I knew them. Ugh.

            We went to a mini beautiful forest in Colorado by bus. We left home at 9 o’clock in the morning and the trip took us for about an hour, until we arrived there. “WELCOME, MY TWINS!” with a picture of a smiling gorilla beside it, welcomed us warmly—well, it was annoying me actually. I’m too beautiful to be called “my twin” by gorilla, for God's sake.

After entering the forest, we saw various animals such as big elephants near a small pond, small ants which were standing in rows on big leaves, wild tigers in their cage, and many more. None of them hadn’t been taken their pictures by me.

I love taking picture indeed.

I’ll even do weird things only to take picture.

Yes, I have ever done.

And that time I did it again—the weird thing.

We were still a bit normal—I mean, not too crazy like laughing and sass—until Suzanna, one of my friends who’s a bit sassy said, “Hey Eve, I’d be very happy to buy you a new camera if you could draw the thrush’s attention and take a picture of it at the same second.” She appointed towards a very beautiful bird with combination of yellow, red, and orange feather which was perching on a high tree calmly.

I saw it.

But then I wondered, thrush should have black and white feather, shouldn’t it? Then why that thrush’s feather is yellow, orange, and red…?

“If you don’t want to, then you have a yellow streak, Eve.”

“Don’t underestimate me, Anna.” Then I walked arrogantly approaching the thrush (burung kutilang), but perhaps I walked so fast that made the thrush fly away. I heard my friends started laughing—again—and it made me really fed up. I followed the thrush immediately and left my friends behind with camera hung on my neck.

Haha, the thrush perched on a high tree eventually. I prepared to take a picture of it and stood underneath the tree, then 1… 2… 3…

Click.

My friends were walking towards me.

“Yeaaah, I succeeded, klutz! Remember you’ve to buy me a new camera, Anna, hahaha!” I laughed loudly, felt satisfied. “I don’t believe you’re that silly to ask me to do such a very easy thing, Anna.”

Anna sighed, then she said, “I wonder if you’re deaf, or you just forget, or you're very stupid, Eve. I said draw the thrush’s attention and take a picture of it at the same second, didn’t I?” She looked askance.

I looked aside and just realized that she really said that, but I forgot. “It means you have to make the thrush look at you while you're taking its picture. Got it?” Suzanna said.

Without answering Suzanna’s question, I reached for the thrush and found it still perching on the high tree.

No prior thought.

I climbed up the tree.

My friends laughed at me, but whatever. I didn’t give a damn.

I kept climbing up, climbing up, climbing up, until the beautiful thrush was right in front of me and fortunately, it didn’t fly away again and it looked right at me. I took my camera and said “Cheers!” to the thrush and… “Cheers.” Click.

“Wait, what?!” I asked to myself. “What?” I looked at it. I didn’t say cheers for twice.

“What?”

“Oh my God!?” I was very surprised when knowing the thrush could speak! Thrush just talked to me! I never heard that thrush could speak with humans before. “This is unbelievable, I want to run, I want to shout, oh my God you can speak, YOU JUST SPOKE TO ME, DIDN’T YOU, THRUSH?” Well, I forgot that I was still on top of the tree.

“I am not thrush.” The bird replied.

I was made really confused by it. “Not a thrush?”

“I am not thrush.” The bird replied the same answer. “I am not thrush. I am not thrush. I am myna (burung beo).”

“Myna? Oh your name is Myna?” Yes, to be honest, I was really stupid that time.

“No, you silly! Silly girl. I am myna. Myna.” The myna flew away and left me confused on top of the tree.

I still hadn’t noticed what the bird meant until I arrived home at 5 pm. I searched for Myna Birds in the internet immediately after arriving and… ugh.

“Why didn’t I think that myna is actually a kind of bird which is capable of speaking?! Of course it was not thrush, no thrush has ever been capable of speaking in this world!”

And now please don’t tell me I’m stupid or crazy or… what. The one who is so is actually Suzanna. She was the one who said first that it was thrush, not me. Heh. The end. --ets110913