Half Awake

The taste of curry lingered on my tongue — salty, earthy. Too real. My mouth was dry, and the phantom warmth of the broth still clung to the back of my throat. I sat up slowly, the faint chill of the morning air brushing against my skin, raising goosebumps along my arms. My room was quiet, but the silence felt heavy — like the empty space between two breaths. A weight pressed against the back of my neck, the distinct sensation of unseen eyes watching me from the shadows of the room. I ran a hand through my hair, my fingers lingering at the nape of my neck where the feeling was strongest. Dreams aren't supposed to leave marks.

The alarm clock hadn't gone off yet, but the grayish light filtering through the curtains told me it was already late. My body felt heavy, as if I were still trapped in that other place, in that cold, thick air that chilled me to the bone.

I ran my hand over my face and sat on the edge of the bed. My room was in its usual state of chaos: clothes thrown over the chair, books piled on the desk, a couple of empty coffee cans stacked in a corner. But… something felt off. As if a part of me was still in that town of stone and fog.

My phone buzzed weakly on the nightstand. I reached for it and checked the time. 7:38 AM.

"Shit."

I forced myself to stand, but my legs felt unsteady, like I hadn't fully woken up. My body was here, but my mind... my mind was still back there, in that fog-covered village. The red and gold hem of the girl's blanket flashed through my thoughts, her quiet voice echoing at the edges of my mind.

I stumbled as I jumped to my feet as I searched for my jacket and backpack. I grabbed my shirt and put it on while stuffing half a loaf of bread into my mouth. The reflection in the bathroom mirror stared back at me with an expression I didn't quite recognize. My eyes were slightly red, as if I'd slept badly… or not at all.

"Ren, are you just going to stand there staring at yourself, or are you going to be late?" my mother said from the other side of the door.

"I'm coming!" I replied, the loaf of bread still in my mouth.

I ran to the door, but as I turned the handle, a sharp pain shot through my head. As if someone had tightened a rope around my temples.

"You always come back." The girl's voice hit my mind like a distant echo. I stood still for a moment, my breath catching in my throat. I saw, for a second, the fog covering the cobblestone streets, the red and gold hem of the blanket draped over her shoulders… the smell of incense and smoke.

I shook my head and flung open the door. I needed to clear my head. Maybe I was delirious. A strange dream, too vivid. Yes, that had to be it.

The air outside was thick with humidity. The gray sky cast a dull light over the streets of Tokyo. I walked toward the station with my headphones in, the noise of the city mingling with the sound of the train in the distance. I passed the same konbini as always, the same faces, the same streets. Everything should have felt normal.

But it didn’t.

When I boarded the train, the headache returned. The sound of the car grinding against the rails seemed too loud, too present. I closed my eyes, leaning my head against the cold glass.

"You always come."

I opened my eyes suddenly. In front of me, in the reflection of the glass, I saw a figure.

Dark hair tied back in a braid. A red and gold blanket over her shoulders. But the reflection wasn’t still — it twitched unnaturally, like a corrupted video file. His reflection wasn't looking directly at me. His eyes were closed. But I felt like he saw me anyway.

I turned my head sharply.

Nothing.

Just the other passengers, all in their own worlds, glued to their phones or dozing against the windows.

I ran a hand through my hair, heart racing. My mouth was dry. My reflection in the glass was back to normal — just my own tired face staring back at me. I was going crazy.

Yeah, definitely.

When I arrived at school, I felt out of place. The hallways were filled with students, the noise of conversations mingling with the sound of sliding doors opening and closing. I felt like I was floating among them, gliding through a reality that didn't quite fit.

"Ren!"

I looked up and saw Hikaru approaching me, smiling casually, his headphones dangling from his neck.

"Late again?" he said with a raised eyebrow.

"I didn't sleep well," I replied, shrugging.

Hikaru scrunched up his nose, giving me a once-over. Dude, you look like death warmed over." He shoved my shoulder lightly. "What happened, huh? Someone finally dumped you?"

"I dreamed something..." I stopped. How was I going to explain that I'd dreamed of a village of stone and fog, with a girl who spoke as if we'd already met?

"Weird?" Hikaru persisted.

"Yeah, something like that."

Hikaru patted me on the shoulder. "Oh, by the way—we have a math test in five minutes."

"WHAT?!" 

"Yeah. You're screwed, man." He grinned. "Guess you better pray for divine intervention."

"Fuck..." I muttered, and started walking quickly toward the classroom. Hikaru followed me, laughing.

But as I climbed the stairs, I felt something. Like someone was watching me. I turned my head toward the hallway window...

And there she was.

Outside the school, on the other side of the fence, among the crowd of students. Her dark braid was still there but the red and gold blanket that draped over her shoulders wasn't with her but... She was looking right at me.

I felt the air leaving my lungs. I stepped toward the window, but by the time I blinked… she was gone. I stood still, my heart pounding against my chest. Hikaru looked at me strangely.

"Dude… are you okay?" Hikaru said, his voice filtering through the sound of his own breathing.

"Nothing," I lied.

"Seriously, man. You've been weird lately. Zoning out and shit."

"I'm just tired."

"Yeah, yeah. Did you see a ghost or what? Better start taking you pills."

I froze.

"...Wait. Dude. You're not serious, are you?"

But I wasn't so sure it was a dream anymore.

And for some reason, the scariest part...

Was that part of me wanted it to be real.