Chapter 1:

Surprise

Days Counting


I wake up feeling heavy; dispirited; lifeless. Like I had just risen from the dead.

But for some reason—I don’t care.

It’s not like anything matters until the sweet embrace of death.

I look at the oddly familiar design of the bedsheet, particularly the double letters ‘T’, designed like they're stacked with each other.

My skin starts to crawl.

I look around at the things I see inside this room, then I realize—I don’t recognize anything I see…

Whose bed am I on? Whose room is this? Whose house is this?

Who am I?!

No matter how hard I try, I really can’t recall my name, but despite all these seemingly alarming questions that start to fill my thoughts… I don’t find myself freaking out.

This is probably weird.

I’m weird. It’s logically normal for a person to freak out in a situation like this… but I just can’t. “A person without a past…” I scoffed.

I get out of bed and raise my hands in front of me. They aren’t shaking… but—why—though? And would it really be a relief that I should be panicking, as much as how ironic that may sound?

I guess I really am weird.

Before I could dive further into my dilemma, a familiar ringtone suddenly plays on top of a white wooden table which seems to be a desk for the computer. I come near it and see two phones. One black, the other white.

Two phones? Huh. For some reason, I find it to be the least of my problems. I pick up the ringing one; wouldn’t want to be rude to the caller. I look at the screen and to my surprise—it only displays the phone number. I start to laugh. “Great. More mysteries for my misery. I’m really loving it so far,” I scoff. Yet another shit to figure out—later, as right now, I really should be picking up the call.

Before I could utter a word, the caller cuts like a katana through flesh.

“Good morning darling! My lovey, dovey, sugar, honey-coated muffin!”

Wh-What?

...

That doesn’t sound like a good-tasting muffin. Although, now I’m starting to get curious about the taste.

“Hello? Darling? Heeeeelloooooooo.”

I’m gonna bet my two cents that this girl’s my gal. “H-hey there… babe?”

Silence. Well shit, that doesn’t sound good. I start to get nervous until I hear a sharp, boisterous laugh coming from the other end of the line.

And just like that–I just heard the most beautiful laugh. So I cackle myself, which sounds unnecessarily booming and careless. How am I her boyfriend?! I shake my head away from the thought to focus. “So,” I said, struggling to try and cool the situation. I take a deep mental breath to calm myself down. “‘Sup?”

Well, she’s taking an awfully long time to reply.

I realize it’s kind of funny how I get more anxious waiting for her response than the fact that I have amnesia right now. I just want to hear more of her soft, sweet, and piercing voice again. It soothes me.

“Uhm,” she finally spoke, “I just wanted to ask you that.” She pauses again. Should I ask her what’s wrong? Is she alright? “That I want to walk with you to school today. It’s the least we can do since I’m your real girlfriend.” Electricity just snaps through my brain. She continues, “Even just this once.”

What in all Hells? What kind of boyfriend doesn’t walk his girl to school, and what did she even mean by real girlfriend?! Damn all these piling questions!

I huff and push all the mounting thoughts away, she’s still waiting for my reply. “Eh… Yeah, we should totally go to school together… babe?” I break out an awkward laugh. Although, it sounded more like I was choking. So I clear my throat. “So how are we gonna go about this? Should I come to your place or should you go to mine?’ I said as I walk towards the curtains.

As I open them, a ray of shining light illuminates what was once a really dark room. Outside the window is a girl with dark violet hair. She sits elegantly on top of the very large branch of the tree right next to my room, looking like a princess. She’s holding a phone next to her ear while she stares at me with those enchanting rose-colored eyes. I can’t help but smile at the pretty face. I can’t help but say, “Well, you’re a pretty sight to see in the morning.” At that moment, a bright shade of red tinges her cheeks.

Now I know that I’m a weird guy, but how’d I get an awesome girlfriend like her?

“Kya~!”

My eyes burst as she fell from the branch. I panic as I run to the nearest door I see, hoping to get to her as fast as I can. Aaaaaaand it’s the closet. Damn! Thankfully, the next door I open finally shows me the way outside the room and into a narrow hallway. To my relief, the stairs are near. In my urgency, I haphazardly run down, but I eventually trip. I would have landed flat on the floor if it wasn’t for the front door opening by itself. Instead, I land on a soft pair of gel-like pillows, accompanied by the sweet aroma of roses.

I marvel at the wonderful sensation every time I wiggle my head. Is this heaven? Did I just die from falling from the stairs?

The sensation of a racing heartbeat answered that last question.

This is real alright. Even if I didn’t die, I’m ready to die. I warmly accept the sweet embrace of death. Although, now that I think about it; I’m pretty sure this counts as sexual harassment.

By some miracle, I hope this here’s my girlfriend!

I slowly look up to see her face. It’s her alright, but right now, the red’s all over her face!

Remembering what just happened to her, I screamed, “Are you alright, where are you hurt?!”

She just squints and scans my whole body. Her mouth curls up to an awkward smile.

I look down only to realize I’m only in my underwear and—a six-pack abs?!

Hot damn! I didn’t know I’m jacked! Well, maybe I did but that’s not the issue right now!

I look all over her body to spot any cuts or bruises.

She firmly asserts, “I’m fine” in a serious demeanor as she holds my grabby hands in place. I squint my eyes in disbelief. She replied with a worried expression. “What’s with the face?” she asked, then smiles shyly. The look on her face somehow made my heart crack. She says, “It’s weird to see you worry over something small like that… but if you insist, then I’m fine.” My brows furrow further in disbelief “Really, I am! You know it takes a lot more than falling off from a tree to give me as much of a scratch!” She adorably giggles. “Well, are you going to invite me in, or are you ready to go school in your Titan Thunder boxers?” she tittered.

Titan Thunder… Oh, now I remember! The ringtone was from his show! “Well, you could say that I’m feeling a little bit daring today. Let’s go!”

She chuckles. “Okay!”

I laugh. “Alright, enough joking. Come on in. I just have to take a bath first. Make yourself at home, babe.” I walk up the stairs, finding myself smiling along with a growing warm feeling inside of me.

Within the hallway, I notice the door right next to my room. Curious, I open the door and see a dark room full of large stuffed animals.

Seeing this room looking tidy and clean fills me with pride for some reason… Instead of being creeped out by the dolls. I should be clicking my teeth, right? But, I’m weird. So I shake the feeling of wonder off and focus on finishing the task at hand. I wouldn’t want to keep my girl waiting.

Moments passed by when I didn’t find any towel inside the room I woke up from. I walk back downstairs and see my girlfriend giving me a sweet smile. I bitterly smile back. Man, I should really pick up the pace!

I decide to walk beyond the dining area where I suspected the bathroom would be, but before I could enter, a girl below my chest level walks past me. She is wearing two towels on her hair and body. She looks at my face, then at my girlfriend and squints her cat-like eyes at me, and pouts. She places a hand on her hip then shakes her head, looking disappointed, then trots right up the stairs.

Now I don’t have to bother looking for the towel anymore—when the girl that passed by was wearing the towels with the Titan Thunder’s logo plastered all over!

I feel my eyelid twitch after I realize something. I can feel my hot sweat trickling through the creases of a face that looks like it ate a lemon. I can’t move a muscle. Must be the panic I guess. Whatever, no big deal, it’s not like I’m gonna die from a heart attack out of exaggeration.

Gulping, I slowly turn to look at my girlfriend’s reaction. Surprisingly, she still has a smile on her face. Only now it’s accompanied by her eerily wide eyes facing the direction of the stairs!

I really am about to die. Not from my heart attack, but by breaking someone else’s!

Despite the panic, I instantly thought of an ingenious idea. “Sisters, am I right?” I try to smile.

Her eyes lag towards mine, twitching all the way. “You’re an only child Seth. What are you talking about?”

Death. Remember when I told you that I was ready to die? Now would be a good time, please. I’m finally getting the retribution I deserve for my cheating ass but by the love of the Titans. If I were to be reincarnated, I wish to be a hermit—living off in the mountains, so I’ll be as far away from girls as possible. Alas, there’s no escaping this shit—unless. “Sister?” I cough. “It’s just what I call my cousin. You see—since both of us have no siblings—we promised each other to treat ourselves like brother and sister.” I said, rubbing my hands and tittering.

“Seth,” aannd her smile just disappeared.

What did I do to deserve such harshness?!

Oh, it’s probably the apparent cheating.

She continues, “Don’t lie to me.”

“Ah-I didn’t!”

“Well then—why did you space out for a whole two minutes after your ‘sister’ walked up the flight of stairs?” She pops an unnerving smile, “Isn’t it fair to assume that you’re making up an excuse?” her voice cracked.

“Pssh, nah girl, I’m not making up any excuses.”

She bites her lip then inquires, “Seth, I-”

“Bro!” my ‘sister’ called upstairs. “I reheated some leftovers. They’re basically ready whenever you want a bite, and for your friend too, I guess.”

And right on instinct, I raise my hands in the direction upstairs and try to focus on keeping my eyes as openly wide as possible to insinuate my girlfriend.

My relief soon turns to overwhelming regret after I saw her starting to stifle her tears.

“Aahh Hells.”

“Oh, Seth!” she cried running towards me. Her arms wrapped around my torso. She sobs uncontrollably on my chest. “I’m so sorry I was wrong! Forgive me, I’m never going to doubt you ever again!”

Oh…

I hope she doesn’t feel my heart breaking. I’d rather rip mine apart than know if hers is bleeding. She has every right to doubt me. I don’t deserve someone like her. I can’t bear to see her cry, so I caress her cheek and beckon her face to mine. Thank goodness she didn’t resist one bit. “Look, it’s not your fault. I hate to see you cry.” My lips tight, staring at the glimmering eyes augmented by tears. I can’t help but give a bitter smile to hopefully comfort her. “Tell you what,” I look at her eyes again; feel the warmth of her sweet breath; smelling the scent of roses, I strengthen my resolve. “I’m breaking up with the other one.”

She wipes the wet on her face, still sniffing faintly. She manages to give me a small smile. Her head bumps on my chest again and she gives me a really tight hug. “The other one?” her whisper captivated me. She looks up, exploring my face. “That’s a cruel way to address my sister.” She giggles.

What the fuck?!

“D-Darling, your hard thing is pushing me away!”

Fuck the what?!

“Darling?”

By the Titans—I’m not weird. I’m batshit insane!

“Seth?”

How can I even have a boner like this when-

A loud and destructive storm is brewing. Yet, despite the chaos, I can only focus on the sweet, soft, and warmth pressed on my quivering lips. After the clear skies return and things finally calm down, I slowly push her away. The words I could immediately utter are, “Why? Why would you do that?”

She sighs. “Sorry, it’s the only way I know that always brings you back to reality. It always works every time your eyes turn blank.”

By then, I start to taste something bitter on my lips. I try to concentrate my eyes on hers, no matter how much I want to turn away from shame. “Ruby… thank you, I guess.” I crack a broken smile as I rest my forehead on hers. I hug her something fierce.

“D-Darling, you’re really hot!”

I proudly smile. “I know right?”

“Er no, you’re hot like: you’re having a fever!”

I chuckle. “So that explains why I’m very dizzy right now.”

The next thing I knew, I could feel that time flows real slow. My vision starts to blur until… I hear the faint sound of crickets chirping on the bright, full moon.

Despite its full luster on this peaceful night. I didn’t want to look at it, not when someone even more beautiful is right by my side.

I smiled at Ruby, but I guess she interpreted this as malice.

She asked, “What’s wrong, is there something on my face?” despite the mask on her mouth.

I slid my hands through her waist as I pulled her into a sweet embrace. I looked at her soured eyes to convey the message that I never want to lose her.

The way she paced through my eyes made hers sparkle. “Then I promise I’m never leaving you forever either.”

She hummed a cute tone and pulled me tighter.

“D-Don’t leave me,” I whispered through the darkness. I can feel my hand tightening.

“Never,” she whispered as she kisses my hand.

I slowly open my eyes and realize I’m back in bed with Ruby resting by my side, watching over me. She wipes my tears with her rose-scented handkerchief. I give her a weak smile my remaining strength could only muster as she caresses my cheek.

daniuse
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