CHAPTER 2:
— Lucid dream? Maybe...
Haerin's POV
I don't really believe in that. I wasn't going to start debating with Minji; we had just met, and I didn't fully trust her, so I decided to just agree, whatever.
We spent the afternoon in the library. I picked up other science fiction books and checked out some suspicious stories on the internet. Minji didn't seem to mind; on the contrary, she seemed interested. She wanted to photograph these different places for her club project.
— What would you do in my place?
I looked at her and asked as she flipped through the books I had picked up to read.
— Like if I ended up in another dimension?
— Yeah...
Minji thought for a moment and then looked at me.
— I'd probably explore the place. But what catches my attention the most is the fact that there could be someone there with me.
— I don't like to think about that possibility.
— Come on, don't be such a coward. If you were taken to a place with no one, a complete void different from our world, it would be likely that there would be someone there with you.
Minji's assumption gave me chills. I don't like to think about these things, but the idea of having gone through this makes me want to better understand what happened to me that day so I don't go through it again. I think about where I went wrong that day; if I had stayed awake until nightfall instead of sleeping, would I have gone through the same thing?
I thought it best to let it go.
— Whatever, it's getting late. I'm going home.
The library was gradually emptying out, and I picked up the books to leave.
Minji helped me put everything back in place, and we left the library together. As we walked down the school corridor, silence hung over us, but it wasn't something that bothered me; on the contrary. When we turned at the end of the corridor, Minji turned to say goodbye.
— We can see each other tomorrow during the break. I'd like to be part of your investigation, Haerin. Of course, just for photographic purposes.
— Whatever, it's not like I care. If that's what you want.
Minji smiled at my response.
— Always short and to the point.
— It's better that way.
— Anyway, take my number. You can text me anytime.
She handed me a small piece of paper with her number and left without waiting for my response or saying a proper goodbye. Not that it made any difference to me, of course.
**Time Skip**
Haerin's POV
My street was calm and quiet. There were some cars parked in my neighbors' garages, the houses were simple. It wasn't an upscale neighborhood, and I lived with my mom. She was no longer married to my dad, and it had been a long time since I talked to him. He had a new family. Still, sometimes he called me.
By the time I got home, my mom wasn't there. She worked as a nurse and sometimes came home very late. I went to my room and threw myself on the bed, looking at the paper with Minji's number. I wasn't much for having friends; I think my closed personality drove others away a bit.
Minji always talked to everyone and asked them to be her models. Even so, it was our first time talking, and it was about my bizarre experience.
I sit on the bed and look out the window that overlooked my yard and my neighbors' house window. I was a bit startled because I came face to face with my neighbor, I think her name is... Hyein?
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She was looking at my window with binoculars, and when she noticed me, she flinched and closed the curtains, quickly disappearing from my view.
"What the hell!!!"
I remembered I had never talked to her. All I know is that her name is Hyein and that she is younger than me. We're not from the same school, and even though we're neighbors, I rarely see her outside.
I decided to move out of the window's view and wait a bit, then took another peek, and to my surprise, she was again looking into my room with the binoculars. I abruptly opened the window and shouted:
— Hey, what do you think you're doing?!
She got scared and tried to play it cool.
— You're hallucinating, I'm not doing anything!
Hyein rolled her eyes and looked to the other side of the street, clearly pretending.
— No, I'm not. This is weird and an invasion of my privacy. If you don't stop, I'll tell your parents.
— There's no need to involve adults in this, alien!
— Alien??
— Yes, I figured it out! You're an extraterrestrial!
"Okay, can someone tell me if I heard that right? Did she say extraterrestrial?"
Hyein gave a weird laugh and pointed at me.
— Just as I always suspected! You act like a weirdo, always seem to be hiding something, locked in your room!
— Spare me, that's crazy! I'm not an extraterrestrial, and you should stop spying on other people's lives!
— Well, if you're not an alien, why do I never see you interact with anyone except your mom? You could then be... a secret agent?
— First of all, not interacting means nothing. Second, secret agent? That's the weirdest thing I've ever heard. I don't talk to others because I don't want to, that's all. I'm normal. Normal, got it?
Hyein was silent for a while and sighed.
— How boring. You're just an antisocial teenager with no skills? That's what a secret agent would say.
I couldn't help but get a little irritated but took a deep breath.
— That's it. Did you think you were going to catch me and become the first to capture an extraterrestrial?
— Yes, something like that.
— Find something to do, kid!
I closed the curtains and left Hyein talking to herself. Great, now my lack of social skills is seen as something out of this world. Hyein kept calling me through the window, but I ignored her until she stopped. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling and trying to think of something else. I also believe that Hyein doesn't have many friends. Maybe seeing me as someone different from others makes her feel special. Even so, it was strange. After a while, I fell asleep.
When I woke up, my mom was already home, and when I went downstairs, she was having dinner.
— Hi...
— Hello, dear. I went to your room and saw you resting. How was school?
I smiled and hugged her. My mom works hard for me, and I admire her for that.
— It was as usual.
— By the way, our neighbor is outside, sitting by the door.
— What?
I asked, surprised.
— Yes, yes. I think her name is Hyein. I told her to come in, but she didn't want to. It's late at night, but she said she urgently wants to talk to you.
I sighed irritably and walked to the door. I opened it, seeing the younger girl with sunglasses in the darkness of the night. When she saw me, she stood up and looked at me.
— I want to apologize...
— Why those glasses?
— Not everything can be revealed, Rina.
— My name is Haerin!
— Whatever!
A silence filled the air, and we stared at each other.
— I won't tell your parents you were spying on me if you promise not to do it anymore.
— Okay, deal. Did you know I'm being transferred to a school near yours?
I sighed, and my expectation of getting rid of this girl who smells like trouble went up in the air faster than a dry leaf against the wind. But I couldn't feel bad. She seemed full of expectation, and I just nodded and replied sarcastically.
— Great!
Hyein looked around the dark street and lowered her glasses a bit, probably to see better in the dark. She seemed in a hurry for some reason.
— Are you hiding from someone?
I asked, curious to finally uncover Hyein's strange behavior.
— I'm watching to see if the second secret agent appears.
— There's a second secret agent?
Hyein looked at the light post across the street and then at me.
— There's someone who used to watch you when you were by the window at night.
— Yeah, it would be you, right?
— No, no, he watched you from across the street. Back there.
She pointed to the power pole that lit up the dark street.
— What?
***
Sorry for any spelling mistakes, I couldn't correct everything this time. Leave your vote.
See you next time.
:)
