The morning after the dream

*Knock knock knock*

“Mina, are you awake yet? Breakfast is almost ready.”

Mikwan was dragged back into the realm of wakefulness at the sound of a vaguely familiar boy’s voice coming from outside her room. She groaned as she forced herself awake, cursing her last night’s self for again spending so much time watching the owls outside her window. Or… was it owls?

“Mina? Are you up? Do you need help with something?” Danis said from outside.

“I’m fine Danis, just give me a minute.” Mikwan groaned out as she slowly untangled herself from her blankets.

“Alright, we’ll just wait. But, it’s not Danis, it’s Iro.” The person who was apparently not Danis said.

Confused, Mikwan opened her eyes as she prepared to ask Danis what she meant, only to abruptly come to a startling realization. She wasn’t in her room. She stared blankly at her surroundings for a minute, desperately trying to remember what was going on, and everything that happened yesterday came rushing back to her.

‘Oh right, I’m not at home, I’m not even on earth. I’m in another world; I’m a chosen one who’s been summoned to save this kingdom from an evil king.’ Mikwan, Mina, thought to herself.

Mina felt her throat constricting and her nose running as she was unable to keep herself from crying at that realization. She’d been so caught up in everything yesterday that she’d barely even processed the fact that she wouldn’t be seeing her family again for a while, wouldn’t be able to go home for a while. Now, though, that was all she could think about.

Mina curled up into a ball and cried, unable to hold back the tears. She tried to stop herself, a 12-year-old like her shouldn’t be crying after all, but she couldn’t help it. She missed her family. Mina didn’t know how long she cried, but it must have been a decent bit because the next thing she was aware of, Iro’s voice once again came through the door.

“Mina, are you sure you’re ok? If you need some help with girl stuff, I can come in while Nik stays out here.” Iro asked.

“I-I’m fine.” Mina replied, cursing herself at how watery and hoars her voice sounded. There was a small pause, and her door was carefully opened, with both Iro and Nik stepping inside. Iro’s eyes were filled with sympathy as she saw Mina’s state, and she came up and hugged her without hesitation.

“Oh Mina, it’s ok. Don’t cry.” Iro said softly. Out of the corner of her eye, Mina saw Iro give Nik a look, and a moment later he came and awkwardly hugged Mina from the other side.

“Um, there there.” He said awkwardly.

“Now, what’s wrong Mina?” Iro asked her, ignoring Nik’s awkwardness.

“I-it’s nothing.” Mina said evasively.

“Obviously it’s not nothing if it’s making you cry like this so early in the morning.” Iro replied. “Don’t worry, you can tell us anything.”

Sitting here being hugged by Iro, Mina couldn’t help but compare her to Danis, to her older sister. They sounded similar, they acted similar, they even hugged similar. And so, any defences or resistances Mina had simply disappeared.

“I-I just miss dad and nikawiy Danis. I-I want to see them.” Mina admitted tearfully, belatedly realizing she’d accidentally called Iro Danis again. Iro didn’t comment on it though, instead hugging her tighter.

“I understand Mina, I understand. I still miss my dad sometimes too, but I still have my mom and Panos. I can’t imagine what it’s like for you right now.” Iro said. She then paused for a moment, hugging her some more, before speaking up again. “Tell you what, why don’t we have breakfast here today. I’ll leave you and Nik in here while I go grab us our food. That sound ok?”

Mina wanted to say no, that she could go eat with everyone, but she knew she couldn’t without breaking down even more. Plus, it was Danis/Iro suggesting it. So, she reluctantly nodded.

“Alright Then just sit here with Nik for a few minutes.” Iro said, and she stood up to leave. Mina instantly began missing the feeling of Iro’s arms wrapped around her, but managed to stop herself from reaching out for her. “I’ll be back soon.”

And with that, Mina and Nik were left alone in her room. And wow, it was awkward. Nik’s arms were still wrapped around her, but it felt less like a hug and more like he was trying to hold her in place with how stiff he was. She appreciated having him there still, having him there was grounding, but it was really awkward.

“So… who’s niawi?” Nik asked after a few minutes.

“It’s nikawiy, and she’s my mom.” Mina corrected, mildly annoyed. “Nikawiy means mom in my family’s traditional cultural language. Or, at least that’s what she says it means.”

“Oh, huh, that’s neat. I’ve heard other languages exist, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone speaking another language.” Nik said awkwardly.

“Oh, huh…”

…

…

…

“You know, you don’t have to stay here if you don’t want too. I’m fine just waiting here by myself.” Mina said, but Nik shook his head.

“No, it’s fine. I uh, I want to be here. You need a hug after all.” Nik blatantly lied. He clearly didn’t want to be there hugging her, but he was because Iro asked him to be. “Besides, you’re going to be with us for a while, and we’re the same age, so we might as well get to know each other more.”

‘He really doesn’t want to spend time with me, does he?’ Mina thought to herself with a mental chuckle. ‘But he is because other people want him to, and because he knows it’s good for him. He really is just like me, only a lot more awkward, isn’t he?’

Realizing Nik was going to stubbornly stay there till Iro got back, but he also wasn’t going to do anything to fix the awkwardness, Mina took it upon herself to deal with the awkwardness. So, she reached over and wrapped her arms around him in a proper hug. Nik stiffened for a moment when she did that, but he soon relaxed, and before long he’d relaxed enough to turn his grip into a proper hug, which is how they stayed till Iro finally returned.