Liam

Life is getting better now. I am slowly getting to know more about the people around me. I am even making new friends now. School is okay for now—except that guy Samuel Marks. Things didn’t really end between us on a good note. After all, both of us are now unofficially rivals. Though, I myself am not so sure about the ‘rival thing’.

The last day of school ended with Sho getting punished for her stunt, meaning that she has to attend school for two weeks during the summer holidays. She probably would have to aid the workers in cleaning the ground or perhaps work in the library. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had to attend school during summer holidays for punishment, but I don’t exactly remember who it was.

Since we don’t have to carry much to Grandma Momo’s house, Oliver and I decided to wake up early in the morning and begin our packing. I can’t wait to enjoy this year’s summer vacation with everyone.

Everything is going well—

“Wake up from your dream and face your nightmare, Liam.”

My eyes fluttered open, staring at the limitless sky. I laid still, finding myself floating in a never-ending landscape of water. Light brightened the whole space. Mindless thoughts escaping into the void. It’s calm in here.

“You think that everything has come back to normal, don’t you?”

I yelped, something pulling me down as I struggled for air. I gasped, the water entering my mouth as I felt myself choking. All my efforts were in vain as I sunk deeper and deeper.

“You’re wrong. Your nightmare had never ended.”

Suddenly, I felt my head nearly getting split into half. All the unknown voices and screams—it’s too much. Their painful screams unmercifully torturing my brain. Everything was a mess. The land seemed to collapse on itself, over and over again.

“You still have many missing pieces. You’re an incomplete mess—a mess no one wants to deal with.”

My own frame stood in front of the mirror. Horror flashed on my face as I saw pieces of my own self turning black and falling apart. One by one, they slowly fell just like the snow when it first hit the ground.

“Please . . . help me.”

“If you can find your old memories, can’t you find your old self? Are you scared to find your true self to be different from your current self? Or was the old Liam the one whom you wanted to be but failed too?”

I want to escape. I want to run away from here.

But how can I run away from my own mind, my own self?

“This is your true self and you have to live with it.”

A figure stood in front of me, bearing the same physical features as mine. The doppelganger held a sinister smile as it began walking towards me.

“Stay away . . .” I tried to move back, but found myself stuck in one place. Skin as pale as white, his fingers were long and bony, hanging to his side.

“How can I? I am a part of you. Your inner demon.”

His hands rose up, holding my face as his thin fingers ran across my skin. Shivers ran down my spine as he leaned closer. I remained petrified, staring into the hollow depths of the doppelganger. Nothing terrifies a person more than seeing the empty version of their own self.

“I am you.”

“NO!” I woke up, beads of sweat forming on my face as I wiped them. My breath felt heavy, as if I was close to drowning. “Another nightmare . . . after a long time . . .”

The radio played in the back, playing one of the latest hit songs as I hummed along with them. My travel bag laid open on my bed, half-filled with my clothes and an essential things pouch. The early summer light and heat came into the room from my half-opened windows. I stood in front of it, my hand holding my chin, as I made one of the toughest decisions of my life.

I let out a tired sigh. “What should I pack and what should I not?”

Honestly, deciding whether to take my finals or not was easier than this. I had reached that conclusion after failing to cram everything up last minute. If you were wondering what decision I had taken, it was to take the exam. A threat from my mother was enough to convince me to take it.

That’s why, never end up doing things at the last minute. Somehow, it sounds like something Yuna would say.

“Ah, packing is really the worst . . .” I sat down on my chair, covering my face before I pushed my hair back. “Wish Mom was here to help. But she’s too busy with work already.”

“Liam!” I heard Oliver call out before she opened the door. “Have you finished packing?” She spoke, a pink lollipop in her mouth.

“No.” I bluntly spoke as I went back to crying at my misery.

“At least don’t make such a sad face as if someone had died.” She spoke as she removed the lollipop, already half-eaten.

“What about you? Did you finish packing?”

She looked at me with a straightforward face. “No.”

“Then you have no right to look down upon me— Ouch!” I held my head as Oliver sat on my bed, the lollipop back in her mouth.

“I just need to pack some snacks, which I will buy along the way.”

“That honestly doesn’t make me feel any good.”

Her cheeks flushed as she looked away. “I-I wasn’t trying to make you feel good.”

“Your cheeks say something otherwise.”

“Shut up.”

The bell rang, alerting Oliver as she jumped up from the bed. “Who could it be?”

We both walked downstairs, the thought of having to pack still haunting me. Oliver rushed to the door as she unlocked it. A familiar person stood in front of us with a huge smile on her face.

“Hello, Abiko siblings.”

“Emma!” Both of us shouted as she pulled us in a bone-crushing hug.

Her brunette hair was cut short above her neck, neatly tucked behind her ear. She wore a pair of blue loose pants with coffee cups drawn all over it. She finished her look with a pink top with the words ‘Exhausted from Work’ written on it in italics with white.

“My adorable cute funny awesome pandas.” Emma exclaimed as she pulled away.

“Stop with the weird panda thing.” Oliver said as she rubbed her nose. The tip of her nose and cheeks burned red.

Emma deadpanned. “Stop with the weird shy thing.”

“SHUT UP!”

“Thank you so much for the delicious breakfast, Emma.” Oliver gleamed in happiness as she hugged Emma. “You should cook for us often.”

“Let’s see what destiny has saved for us.” Oliver let go of her as she rushed to her room. Emma turned towards me, switching her gaze between me and my open luggage. “You have been breaking your head over this?”

I looked away in embarrassment. “Well, I just don’t know what to bring with me.” Emma let out a sigh as she sat on my bed. “Just help me with this, my adorable cute lovely sexy Emma panda.”

“Fine, I’ll help you. Just stop with the panda thing. It’s something which only I can use.” She pulled out her phone as she began typing something. “I have already noted down all the necessities you definitely have to carry. Now, we are left with the extras, including your clothes.” She handed me her phone as I went through the list she had created.

“Wow, just as what I expected from our number one planner expert.” I gave her a thumbs up as Emma began taking everything out from my bag.

“Looks like my prediction was right. Now we have to decide which clothes you are going to take.” Emma went towards my wardrobe as she began searching through it. “Seriously, you need to upgrade your wardrobe, Liam. You need to express yourself through fashion.”

“This is coming from someone who is wearing a top that says, ‘Exhausted from Work’.”

“We can talk about my clothes later.” She walked back towards my bag; her hands filled with clothes. She dumped them on the bed as she began folding them neatly. “According to my calculations and the various places you are most likely to visit, I have curated the best outfits for you to wear.”

She pulled out a white T-shirt with strips as she paired it with a pair of blue jeans. “This would look more awesome if we add a couple of chains on the waist of the jeans.”

“Wait—don’t tell me you are going to make me dress up like one of those pop idols?”

“Oh, hell yeah.”

“This is a terrible idea.” I stared at myself in the mirror as Emma covered her mouth in shock.

“Shut up. You look hot and cute as fuck. It isn’t easy to look both at the same time” Emma smiled in glee as she hugged me from behind. “It turned out way better than I imagined.” I turned towards her with a sulking expression.

“I don’t know, Emma. I have never worn make-up before. Plus, this whole outfit is so out of my comfort zone.” I looked down at the outfit I was wearing. Emma made me look at her as she held my face.

“Liam, don’t give a damn fuck about what others are thinking. Besides, it’s just a bit of lip gloss. I mean, look at yourself.” She made me face the mirror again. “You literally look like as if puberty had hit you like a truck.”

I smiled a bit as I stared at the new version of myself again. “Thanks for your kind words, Emma.” I gave her a hug as she ruffled my hair.

“Anything for my little brother.” I pulled away as I took my now completely packed bag. “Liam.”

“Yeah?” I hung my bag on my shoulder as Emma stood closer to me. She pulled out a medicine bottle from her pocket and handed it to me. “Medication again?” I internally groaned as I stared at the familiar bottle.

“Dr. Rhein told me to give it to you. He thought about it after you had your panic attack.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, my grip tightening around the bottle. “But Emma—"

“He also wants to start your sessions with him.” My heart dropped to the bottom of my stomach as I remembered my nightmare again. “You definitely have to continue taking your medication. But the sessions will begin depending on your choice. When you have finally made a decision regarding it, just give me a call.”

I licked my lips as I nodded my head. “I will.”

“Next stop, Grandma Momo’s house!” Oliver shouted as she began running towards the bus stop with her trolley. She wore a purple sleeveless top with coconut trees and a pair of light blue ripped jeans. She decided to wear her old pink sneakers which she had changed up a bit.

“When will that pig run out of energy?” Yuna spoke in annoyance as both of us walked in a slow pace. He was wearing a black T-Shirt with a pair of jean shorts. He wore white sports shoes with black laces. He turned towards me. “I never thought I’d ever see you wearing this.”

“It was Emma’s idea.”

I was wearing a white T-shirt with a pair of blue jeans, with silver chains hanging around my waist. I had a silver bracelet on my right hand and was wearing black sneakers. To ‘enhance my look’, she decided to add a bit of pink lip gloss.

“Well, she does have a great sense of fashion.” He chuckled as we began walking a bit faster.

“Only if she ever applied them to herself.” I pouted my lips as we finally reached the bus stop. Oliver was already munching onto one of the snacks she had bought along the way. She held a small fan in her other hand as she cooled herself off.

“Liam, come sit here. You need to cool yourself off.” She patted the place beside her as I joined her. She gave me a piece of her chips as I munched on them. “Grandma Momo would be amazed to see you like this. I wish I had asked Emma for some fashion tips.”

“Yeah, at least then you would not be wearing a pair of ripped jeans.” Yuna mocked her as she threw him a glare.

“It’s called fashion.” She rolled her eyes as she threw her empty chips packet. I pulled my chilled water bottle out as the heat was slowly getting to me.

“Why would you pay money to look like a beggar?” I choked on my water as I couldn’t help but laugh. Oliver patted my back before punching my arm.

“You guys are the worst.”

The overall journey in the bus wasn’t that bad since we had decided to take an AC bus. And we were happy that we did. Oliver decided to take a short nap while Yuna went back to reading a new novel. The view outside was marvellous. 

First, we passed through a bunch of houses before finally heading into the hills. The tall trees and the various wild animals I saw, it gave me a glimpse into the fauna and flora of Peony Mir. Luckily, no dangerous wild animals inhabit the hills.

The bus dropped us right in front of a house. We took our respective bags back, and woke up a sleepy Oliver whose short nap had lasted longer than originally planned, which led to an argument between them. It ended when the angry bus driver honked loudly and drove away.

Oliver yawned as she began pulling her trolley into the house. “I really need my beauty sleep.” Yuna also picked his bag as he followed right behind her.

“Wait—Where are you guys going?” Yuna stopped in his tracks as he looked at me. “Aren’t we supposed to go to Grandma Momo’s house?”

“Liam, this is her house.” He took my bag from my hand as we headed into the garden.

“Yeah, right.” I rubbed my neck as I took my bag from him. “I can carry it.” He tugged back on my bag as he carried it on his shoulder.

“I insist.” I gave up trying to retrieve my bag as Grandma Momo’s frame came into view.

A bright smile came upon my face as I ran towards her. “Grandma Momo!” I called out to her as she turned towards me. But what I didn’t expect was to see someone else standing right in front of her. My pace slowed down until I stood right in front of them. Grandma Momo smiled as she pulled me into a hug.

“Oh, Liam. I almost didn’t recognise you. Did you change your style of fashion?”

“Yeah . . . Emma helped me with it.” She noticed me staring behind her.

“Oh right. I didn’t introduce you guys.” She turned towards the person behind her. “This is Liam, my grandson. And Liam, this is—”

“Evander Gardenia.” He brought out his hand for a handshake. “Nice to meet you, Liam.”

What is he doing here?!