I sang and I danced. 

I smiled and I waved.

I was happy. 

Though I was alone. At the very least I have my group members. Yet, it never beats the lonely feeling when you're back at home and there was no one to greet you. It was empty and dark whenever the bright light of the spotlight shone on me. 

I was cheered and celebrated for my success. 

Yes, I was happy.

The loud cry echoed on my deaf ears. It was different from what I usually hear. It was non-stop screeching and my throat hurts. 

Someone was carrying me in those warm arms.

Carry?

I can't see the world clearly as everything was hazy and cloudy. The voices talking to me were foreign and alien. My arms and legs were bound in this weird comfortable-fluffy embrace. 

I can feel my anxiety building up in my heart and my shrieking voice becomes more thrilling.

Suddenly, my face was shoved with something unfamiliar squishiness. What's more bizarre was that my mouth was actively squeezing using this blunt weapon of mine. I stopped crying instantaneously. What had happened to me?  

I... what...

I let out a sigh. A wistful one and my world slowly dimmed. 

It was just a dream. A realistic lucid dream, I guess. 

My manager will call me and say that she will come and pick me as usual. Maybe I'll just wash my face and make my hair look presentable then I can wash up at the salon and hope that Cedric will make my hair pretty with his magic electronic tools and soft touch. A solace of this tiring routine. 

It should be any minute now. 

Any seconds...

...

...

Or not. 

A FEW MONTHS have passed. My senses have become sharper as the months go by. I realized with kicked and screamed (continuously crying) that I have been reincarnated as they say. These small hands, itchy gums, and constant hunger that I am born again in this world. Supposedly I had died in my previous life though I don't remember how. I was scared at first, heck I thought I was dreaming but every time I wake up, the same scenario happened. 

The cycle went on for a week. Then, I was hit with the familiar tinged of brooding. Though the shadows that always lurked behind me back when in my previous life are still with me in this life, thankfully it was as small as my finger. 

What's different though, is now I have parents. A clingy one. Maybe it suited better if I called him a stalker.

Just like my shadow, this person has a habit of peeking and peeping me through my cradle. Once he got his hand on me, the kissing fest explode. 

The first time, he kissed my plump cheek, his beard scratch my face and I cried like the world was going to end (I used to be an idol, of course, my face is my world). Since then, his face is always shaved and he smelled like cream. One thing I can't move on was that I can't help staring at the horns on his head.  

Is he a cosplayer?

Otaku?

When my hand was strong enough and able to grab things, my target was his horns. 

I grab his horns assuming that it would detach like any other headband I'd known. Boy, you should see how he whimper like a lost puppy. 

Seeing that, made me feel a bit guilty but it confirmed one thing. 

This world is a fantasy world. 

If this person, supposedly my father, has horns then maybe I have too? 

Can he do magic?

Fight monsters?

Fly on brooms?

What does the world outside look like, I wonder? I never step outside of this baby room of mine. And the windows were so high that I can only see clouds and stars. Even when I could crawl, I never tried to take even peeked. My whole one-year life in this world has been this pastel coloured room and toys and this handsome father. 

The desire to run out is there but as long as my shadow is with me, I am too scared to even think of taking a step out.

I HAVE to go out. 

The woman is waiting for me. She who breastfed me, lullaby me to sleep, and entertain my lonely days when my stalker is not around. 

She is a beautiful lady but her hand was rough. Her voice was coarse but when she spoke, it sounded like she sang melodiously. Her body wasn't as soft as her breast, full of scars and musclely. I bet she had abs before she became pregnant with me. 

Now, she is waiting for me to take my steps toward her; outside of my baby room. 

I guess my parents noticed how I never take the initiative to crawl searching for them outside. (I usually cried if anything happens)

Why do I deserve them?  

Yet the dark hallway made me stop on my tracks inched before her arms. 

I know something is wrong with me. Might be the reason why I died back in my previous life. Tears stained my face as I called her.

She smiled and said asked me to wait as she rose up from her squat. I thought she wanted to lift me and bring me out as she had attempted before. So I flinched.

But the hallway was suddenly bright and I can see the wall covered in beige coloured paper. The hall that used to be dark and damp doesn't look like so scary anymore.

I hear she called my name.

Slowly I creep up and for the first time I peeked my head out. Slowly I walked outside.

My mother was standing by the big window with a proud smile on her face. The breeze made her hair flow gently. 

"This is going to be our family big project for the next months to come!" she laughed out loud and I heard my father scrambling to climb the stairs, running to my baby room. 

"You did it! You did it!" he said while crying on the floor. "I wanted to be there for you too but your mother said that I will make it harder."

I looked at both of my parents. She still laughed proudly while trying her best to cajole my father, who looked like a sorry sack of bag. 

Slowly I left the threshold and walked towards the big window. Or more like a glass door with a veranda. 

I remember a few weeks ago my parents were 'discussing' outside of my room and all sorts of colourful light shining the hallway but I never dared to peek. Maybe I peeked a little but at that time, it was still scary. 

Who would've thought that they built this so I can feel safe and finally able to see this magical world. 

Big birds soared the blue skies. Wide grassland sloping downhill. Exotic critters running around the grass. Flowers bloomed and the sun shone brightly. For a whole year, I missed seeing this beautiful magical world.

I sat down and put my hand on the glass windows. My tear-stained cheek soon dried. My eyes were wide open with amazement. 

Then my mother sat beside me, followed by my father. 

"When you're ready," she started. "We can roll around the grass and have a picnic."

"We can build a snowman and have a snow fight," my father chimed.

"We can go rowing by the lake."

"Or dive to see ancient civilization underneath it. Well, it was my great grandparents' house mostly but hey, your mother was having the blast the last time she dive there."

"And maybe if you like we can learn to dance and sing."

At that, I looked at her face. Shocked. 

"My daughter, I know you secretly sang when you play with your dolls and danced when you drew," she said while patting my head.

"I used to be in a troop too and perform at opera houses."

"Stunningly beautiful!" my father said with a smile across his face, remembering the old days. "And I bet you're gonna be as beautiful as she is and as gracefully too."

I picture myself on stage once again and I shudder. 

"Or... maybe learning magic and sword fighting?" he suggested, a bit of doubt. "Whatever you wanted to do, your mother and father will always be there for you. Your mother can swordfight and I can... well I rather you do not learn the dark stuff but another magic thing is okay, I guess." 

My mother chuckled. "Even if one day, you are brave enough to go outside and want to be independent, we will not hold you. The world is vast and many things to see. I hope that you can see it just like we do, child."

"The world is getting better now that I am here with your mother."

My mother looked at him, empathizing with his words. As if a whole storybook is unfolding again before their eyes. The pain and love that they shared along their journey. Hinting that there was a whole plot waiting for me to discover. Like the world itself has finally ridden of the demon lord and loss of their heroic savior, something like that. 

Right?

Looking at me, they laughed heartily as my wide-eye anticipation humored them. 

It can't be, right? I thought this is going to be a heartwarming slice of life genre kind of life.

Right?