In Spaces

The Friend from Another Planet

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?