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Chapter 5 - Chapter V: Back to Reality

Before leaving, I turned around and looked at my room.

The walls, once white, were now stained brown with dirt.

There were no lights—maybe that's why the darkness scared me so much.

My improvised little shelf held my personal things and where I did my homework.

It was a depressing sight, honestly.

But I was used to it.

I stepped out and headed to the bathroom.

I didn't want to be late again.

Last time, my father gave me a sermon I couldn't forget.

The bathroom was dark too.

And I don't know if it's just me, but I think poverty can be just as scary as darkness.

I poured the first bucket of water over my head.

It was ice cold.

A chill ran through me from head to toe.

Whatever sleep I had left vanished in that instant.

The trick is: soak yourself as quickly as you can before the breeze hits you.

I spent about fifteen minutes bathing.

When I got back to my room, I was shaking. The cold at that hour is unbearable.

I got dressed: turquoise-blue pants, white shirt with four pockets, black shoes.

(Pretty much every school in Colombia uses that same uniform.)

I looked in the mirror and couldn't help remembering what I wore in the dream.

"Ah… it was just a dream. I'll forget it soon."

I grabbed my backpack and checked it.

I'm not that smart, but I hate lectures.

Everything was in its place.

I took my MP3 and played one of my favorite songs: Lovumba – Daddy Yankee.

Then I left home and started walking toward the bus stop.

As I walked, I thought about last night's dream.

For me, it's normal to have dreams that weird.

Once, I dreamed of a strange flower made of fire.

It became kind of an obsession—I draw it all the time when I'm bored.

I remember I couldn't touch it because of the heat it gave off.

Weird to feel heat in a dream, I know… but for someone like me, that's pretty normal.

When I got to the bus stop, I saw other students arriving.

I didn't know any of them, so I just sat down in silence and waited.

My mind kept drifting: What was that war about? Who was the Administrator?

And what the hell was Nekos, besides a smug cat who mocked me every chance he got?

The bus arrived.

I got in quickly and headed straight to the back seats.

I cranked up the volume on my MP3—to avoid anyone sitting near me.

The other students just chatted and murmured nonstop the whole ride.

It was exhausting. That's why I always wore the headphones.

When I got to school, I stepped off the bus and walked to my classroom.

There were already lots of students around, even though it was still early.

I didn't know anyone, so I didn't greet anyone.

I got to my seat and took out a notebook.

It was my personal sketchbook.

On the first page, in big letters, it said: Dream Diary.

Among the most detailed drawings were: the fire flower, a few shapeless creatures from my nightmares… and Merina, a strange girl who's been appearing in my dreams for as long as I can remember.

"If ONEXUS is real… then maybe I can meet her again."

I looked up at the ceiling and let out a long sigh.

"Yeah, right. Like that's gonna happen," I said sarcastically.

It had been a long time since I last saw her.

I started sketching Nekos: his plush face, his semi-humanoid body, his spear.

(Seriously though—why does he have a spear if he can't even fight? Lazy damn cat.)

I got lost in my sketch and thoughts.

I didn't notice when Luisa walked in.

"Good morning, Andrés," she said, her voice pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Good morning, Luisa," I replied, face blank, as usual.

I'm not much of a talker.

She took her seat and pulled out her phone.

Luisa was the prettiest girl in class.

Obvious crush material for everyone… even me, sometimes.

The rest of the day passed like any other: boring classes, teens talking about hookups, sex, booze, and drugs.

And then there was me—guy with the headphones who never gets tired of being alone.

When the bell rang for break, I didn't have much to do.

My few friends were either in other classes or too busy doing "fun" things.

So I went to the library to read for a while.

I'm not the type who reads quantum physics or advanced math.

I'm no genius either.

Just a pretty disciplined average student.

I went straight for mythology. I love it.

That day, I read about Egyptian mythology.

Spent the whole break buried in books. (And hiding from the librarian while I ate.)

The bell rang again, and I went back to class.

That's my daily routine. Not the best… but I don't complain.

After school, I got on the bus again.

Same trick: back seat, zero conversation. Always works.

I had lunch—nothing fancy: rice, plantain, and chicken.

Then I washed my uniform. I like being clean.

Did my homework… well, what I could.

They say effort is what counts.

(Too bad my dad didn't think the same last semester—he gave me the beating of the year. I failed two subjects.)

Around 4 p.m., I went out for a walk.

Near my house, there's a small park where you can watch the sunset.

I sat on a tree stump and got lost in the orange sky and how weirdly the clouds moved together.

Night fell. I came back home, had dinner, and took a shower.

(Cold, of course. Poor people don't use water heaters.)

Then I went back to my room.

I lay down in my hammock, calmer than the night before.

I don't know why… but I felt at peace.

I drifted off.

> [Preparing entry to ONEXUS...]

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