1st person POV:
My vision blurred.
I blinked once.
When I opened my eyes, my bedroom ceiling was gone.
Above me stretched a soft blue sky, where birds drifted lazily through the clouds.
The air felt colder than usual. I hurriedly sat up and looked around, an unfamiliar place, I has never seen this place before... Not even once.
I rubbed my eyes with the back of my palm, it didn't work — am I dreaming?
I slapped my left cheek, — it hurts — but it only left a red handprint. My pupils went wide, then... A small figure caught the end of my sight.
She was wearing a soft pastel pink dress, her hair tied up in a messy bun. It was barefoot on the grass, I looked at her— up and down.
My gaze traveled over her pastel dress before stopping for a second.
My face instantly warmed.
She's... a girl?
I quickly looked away, pretending I'd been staring at the grass the whole time.
I swallowed every word I wanted to say and awkwardly scratched the back of my neck.
She tilted her head in amusement and asked "are you done staring?" I froze, a warm heat rose through my neck to my face.
I couldn't bring myself to meet her eyes. My face burned with embarrassment, and I suddenly found the grass far more interesting than looking at her.
She stepped forward but I stepped back, my foot got caught on a rock— making me fall flat on my back.
I stammered, "i-i-i-I'm not!"
She had no eyes for me to meet and no lips for me to see, yet I knew she was smiling. I couldn't explain how—I just did. She muttered on her breath "cute..."
I heard the words clearly, but I acted like I didn't — not wanting to make the atmosphere awkward.
I couldn't see her smile, yet somehow I knew she was smiling to herself.
She extended her hand toward me and asked softly "can you stand?" Her hair gently fell on her face... Cute.
I held her hand and stood up slowly, then cleared my throat and asked "are you always like this to a stranger?"
She shook her head and squeezed my hand tenderly — it hurts to even touch her, not because she's hurting me... But because, she felt so real I almost forgot that I'm dreaming.
She suddenly asked "What's your name?"
"..."
"Are you always this shy?"
"...Maybe."
She giggled.
"One more question."
"...Are you single?"
My breath caught in my throat. My head snapped up.
"Pardon...?"
The girl chuckled and spoke with sweet voice "I said... Are you single?"
Dead silent— only the bird chirping can be heard.
I laughed awkwardly, thinking she's just joking — she's not.
She looked straight into my eyes, completely serious.
"... I'm not joking" she sighed.
I blink, completely off guard. My cheeks suddenly felt warm, am I blushing...? Over something like this?
"You're not...?" I asked cautiously.
My face burned with embarrassment.
This is a dream right?! Then why am I nervous?
I looked away, wanting to avoid the question. I rubbed the back of my neck and avoided her gaze before saying "... I'm single"
As soon as I said those words, the girl's entire demeanor changed. Though I can't see her face — the atmosphere felt lighter than earlier.
The girl suddenly turned around, her back facing me. Her small hands covering half her face, wanting to surpassed herself from giggling.
I have a chance, she thought.
The tips of her ear — crimson red with excitement.
She was trying so hard to not laugh.
I stared at her back — in a daze — confusion crept into my head.
"... what's so funny?"
The girl spun around. She spoke, her voice suspiciously cheerful, "nothing!"
I blink.
"You're weird..." I almost laugh... Almost.
"And YOU like it!" She beamed.
"..."
"...and you're completely right" I whispered.
For some reason, I didn't want her to stop.
She paused on her track, her blurred face tilted to her side, but without me seeing it clearly — she's grinning ear to ear.
I couldn't help myself but to laugh in embarrassment, the girl walked towards me and stopped in front of me.
Her hair — radiating through the sunset's blaze, it almost looked cinematic. Her tiny hands clinging on the skirt of her dress, slowly and tenderly reached out to touched my hand.
The touch made something inside me fluttered.
I pulled my hand away from her grasp — hesitatingly —, my lips stretched into a smug grin — I wanted to hide it... But also at the same time, I don't want to.
"Sorry..." I mumbled, hiding a tiny smug grin on my face.
She stared at me for a long time and chuckled — soft, genuine... And warm.
Her tiny hands reached for mine, but I didn't pulled back. My heart pounded on my chest — it hurts — hard.
I wished she couldn't hear my heart beating like crazy, she noticed my hand getting sweaty every seconds passed.
Then the realization hit her, she asked curiously "are you nervous?" I stared at her and sighed "what do you think?"
She met my gaze and I awkwardly looked away... Then I noticed it, her cheeks puffed in a round shape — even if I can't see her face, I knew... That she's pouting.
"You are nervous! But that doesn't mean, you can just looked away!" She huffed dramatically.
She turned her back on me and looked toward the sky.
I followed her gaze.
The blue sky was gone.
In its place was an endless field of stars.
Beautiful.
Too beautiful.
I smiled for a moment.
Then I noticed something strange.
Her feet weren't touching the grass anymore.
They were disappearing.
Slowly.
I pulled her into a tight hug and asked "why are you fading away...?"
"Please don't leave me..." I cried, my eyes blurred because of the tears forming on my eyes.
"I won't..." She hugged me back.
And then... I saw her face... Beautiful
I froze.
For the first time, there was nothing blurred.
Dark-brown almond-shaped eyes stared back at me.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
She smiled.
It wasn't a happy smile.
It was the kind of smile someone gives when they're trying not to cry.
Somehow...
She looked exactly like someone I'd been waiting to meet my entire life.
I cupped her face, so careful as if I ever squeezed too tight, she might vanished like a bubble. A single tear fell from my eyes, then it flowed like river.
I choked "please... Don't leave me" then it happened... I kissed her cheeks — it's salty because of the tears. But it was enough for me.
She laughed sweetly, she leaned forward. Her lips touched mine into a sweet, and careful kiss.
Her lips left mine.
I stared at her.
For the first time, I could see her face clearly... So why I'm not happy?
More like... A heavy object crushed my heart into tiny pieces that I couldn't fixed even with many attempts.
"What's happening...?" I cried, my voice hoarse and raspy.
She smiled softly and said "we'll meet again..."
"Why something like this happened... When I'm already falling for you?" She mumbled through her tears.
Time seemed to slow, after she said those words.
I knew... She meant about that we'll meet again was simply an excuse to say goodbye without hurting me more.
A tiny tear fell on her eyes... And she vanished — not a single trace left... More like nothing happened.
My hands raised absently midair, slowly clenched into a tight fist. I brought it to my face, my face streamed with my salty tears. I kissed it — my palm, where I last touched her.
My knees felt weak, I crushed out. Crying loudly until my throat went numb from crying.
I glanced at the sky, it slowly turned into a dark, pitched black as it shattered into smaller pieces.
crack.
Crack.
CRASH.
While the background is slowly fading into darkness — like a black hole was swallowing the surrounding.
The darkness swallowed me whole... And my consciousness slowly fading away...
