The next morning came. I woke up at 5a.m. and wash my face. Brush my teeth. Prepare myself to go to school and cook breakfast. Put it on the table. Close it with the food cover.
That was my daily routine. Again and again everyday. Nothing interesting. I check my phone. The time showed that it's already 6:30a.m.
"Time for school, I guess." I left the house quietly while everyone's still asleep. I walk to school alone. Not that my parents didn't have car. They just didn't want to waste their time or fuel sending someone so useless like me.
Yes. Useless. Ever since grandma died. They start hating me to the core. Not listening to everything I said. Like I'm talking to the wall.
Why?
Seven years ago, when I was ten. My grandma brings me to the beach while my parents go to work.
"Wait here.. I'll buy us an ice cream.." The voice sounded so gentle and caring. I nodded as she went to the nearby stall.
I feel bored waiting for her. Then I went to the water to play. But then I went so far into the water without realizing that it has reached my chest. I've somehow reached the deeper part of the water. I want to go back but my feet feels like it'll slip the moment I move.
My grandma saw me. The two ice cream she was holding on both of her hands falls down to the sand the moment she turns and saw me almost drowning.
"Floranza!" She shouted then without a second thought, she ran to me. She ran faster. Even though she's already old. She ran just to save me.
She reached my hand. Pulled me over to her side. But then for whatever reason she suddenly slipped and fell into the water. I cried. Tried reaching for her hand but I couldn't find it. I could feel my heart beat so fast it could jump out of my chest.
"Grandma!" I shouted. Hands still digging into the water trying to reach her hands that was already out of my sight.
Suddenly someone grabbed me and bring me out of the water. It was a man. Someone I didn't know. He kept asking what happened but I just stared at the water where my grandma drown. Tears burst out of my eyes as I pointed at the water.
"G-grandma...grandma.. drowned.." I keep pointing to the water. Hoping someone will understand.
More and more people start surrounding me. But I just cried while chanting my grandma's name. Not knowing what to do.
I could remember the feeling so vividly. My chest feels hurt. I couldn't stop crying and the people surrounding me only made the situation worse.
"Are you with your parents?" "Where are they?" "Are you lost?"
All the questions hit me at once. I shake my head. Didn't they hear me? I said my grandma drowned. Help her! I was so desperate but all the words seems to stuck on my throat.
I can only shake my head and point to the water. Again.
"Someone drowned?" A man asked. I immediately nodded. Finally.
The man immediately rushed to the water and swim to where my finger point. Later, he came back. Shaking his head.
"There's..no one..I couldn't find anyone there.."
Starting from this point on, my parents start blaming me for her death and hate me.
---
"Florie..florie..." A familiar voice called my name.
"You're spacing out." She said as she stand beside my desk. It was Luna.
I shake my head. Right. I'm on my class. I sighed. That memory again.
"Yeah.. sorry..you were saying?"
"Sorry I forgot about our hangout yesterday...I ended up spending time with my friends.." She looked down. She looks like she meant it.
I shake my head. "It's fine.." I was used to be alone anyway.
She sat back at her own chair and do her own things. She did look like she regret it and she was sorry. So.. it didn't feel that bad anymore.
I sighed and look out to the window. Even though the classroom was filled with laughter and chattering. I felt like an outsider. I felt so detached from all of them. Why am I like this? What's so different about me?
Everything felt surreal. I questions everything. Why am I born as Floranza Evadore? Why not Luna or someone else..?
Yes. I always do this.. questions everything as if I would ever have an answer for that.
School's over and I went back the place I called home. It was strangely quiet. Well, not like I'm complaining. I went straight to my room. Playing my phone.
Then suddenly. As I opened my Instagram account. Someone texted me. I looked at the username.
"unknown_user..?" I furrowed my brows. "What kind of username was that.."
I clicked check message. Not knowing that everything in my life would change the moment I clicked the message.
Hello...I'll get straight to the point..would you like to try reality shifting? It's a phenomenon where you can live your desired reality self while your body is asleep..if you ever wanted to try it..text me back (:
"What? Is this a spam?"
Who is this?
I replied back. To my surprise. The person immediately replied.
This is not a spam. Ever feels like the world is unfair to you? So you want to escape to another reality where you're living your dream and everything you've dreamed of come true. Believe me. You'll never regret it.
The text was long and strange. Why did they text me? Could've choose someone else. But the text 'escape to another reality' did caught my attention.
"Another reality..." I whispered under my breath.
I shake my head and close the app. No way. That must've been a spam. I sighed.
"That almost got me right there..." I closed my eyes. Drifting myself to sleep.
Desired reality did sound interesting. But there's no way that it's real. We're not living in a fantasy world anyway. Only stupid people would believe that.
---
Well who would've known that I'll be one of those stupid people later...