"Open the door, Hester!" Bang! "Stop being a brat and come out." Bang! "Right now!" There was no reply after a loud bang yet again on the other side of the door.
The frail young lady sitting in the corner of the room only heightened the volume of the video that she kept repeating. The smiles and laughter that were once on her face. Warmth that reminded her of safety.
Gone.
The loud banging on the other side of the door finally stopped, albeit followed by swearing. She sniffled, wiping her tears-stained cheeks while holding back the incoming tsunami in her eyes.
Hearing the steps fade into the distance, Hester raised her eyes from the trembling hands of hers to the empty glass on the bedside table.
The young lady removed her headphones and stood up. Her lips curled up half-heartedly.
"I'm still alive..." She mumbled under her breath. "But why?" Her lack of malnutrition caused her to stagger as she reached for the glass. "..Why? Why can't anyone just come and take my life..!?" Clenching the handle on the cup, she raises her hand.
Crash! She let it 'slip' from her grasp.
The young lady appeared impervious to the sight of her bleeding feet as the cup landed on her. Another storm rumbled as if telling her to stop and showing sympathy.
"No.."
Appearing possessed, she reached for a shard from the broken glass. Her eyes grazed over the sight of her bloodied hands as she noticed the stinging ache from clenching the sharp edges.
"..why? Why.."
She brought the wounding edge closer to her heart as if the pain didn't reach her.
[End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it. End it.]
"..am I still alive?"
Tap, Tap, Tap.
Her hand halts as the sound of swift footsteps approaches her room.
At that moment, Hester felt the ache double in her whole body as her heart beat with anxiety of getting caught. Holding onto the slippery edge of the bedside table, she breathes heavily as blood drips down to the wooden top.
Hester felt her vision becoming blurry. It was a usual occurrence, but this time, her body felt heavier perhaps from blood loss.
She closed her eyes, trying to snap back to her reality. To escape from the lucidity of her nightmare.
Bam!
Her eyes managed to glimpse at the wooden door wide open as if she hadn't locked the door and thrown away the key.
Assuming the figure that barges in as the culprit, Hester noted the man rushing towards her just as she lost consciousness.
"..Who..?" Her voice seeking an answer, "Are you..?"
..Was it him?
The sound muffled to an inaudible yelling as another thunder roared.
"..Hester!"
-
*Coughs!* Hester sat up straight in bed, choking on her saliva from the sudden rumble of thunder that had seemingly grown louder. Rubbing the ache in her chest out of habit knowing it barely eases her pain.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, the young lady runs her fingers through her hair, glaring down at the scar on her chest.
A low huff escaped her lips. 'Why can't I recall that memory?' Hester shook her head, disappointed in herself. '..Rather than daydreaming, I'd better get some shut-eye.'
"..."
After lots and lots of tossing and turning, she sat up in her bed. Looking around her room in boredom, Hester grabbed the calendar on her bedside table, marking numbers with her nail. "One thousand and... six hundred, two days had passed. It had almost been five years."
"Does he even remember what he promised?" The four digits hit waves of melancholy.
Putting it back in place, she noticed a note slipped from the calendar. It was one of the few traces she had left of him.
"To: Hester"
-From: ...
She snatched it off the cold floor, and remnants of her past flowed through her mind as the sender's name echoed in her head. Staring at the piece of card with sorrow.
"I'll return no matter what it takes."
-Wait for me.
"Liar." Hester buried her face deep in the comforter as tears pooled in her eyes. Her heart raced with a silent plea for that man to come running, but...
It's only a wish.
But... he could be a genie...
Creak! Hester quickly retaliates against her thoughts as the door slides open. The girl faked a cough and rubbed her eyes, wiping the tears harshly off her face before her roommate could see them.
"Hey, you're awake!" The voice belonged to a blonde, peeking while trying to hide the number of friends behind her. She cleared her throat. "Uhm, it's... okay if my friends come in, right? Don't worry, there are no boys!"
Hester looked around the small space and noticed the room was messier on her roommate's side. Eyeing the people behind that girl, Hester managed a smile and hid how her eyebrows twitched with annoyance.
"Ivy." She glanced towards the clock, and she read the numbers out loud. "It's 4:56 A.M. Did the AC in the living room stop again?"
With a pleading voice, Ivy chimed in. "Just this once, please? I promise we won't be loud!" Seeing Hester's silence, she continued. "We'll respect your space too!" Ivy tries to convince with her deep blue eyes.
A sigh left her lips. "Alright." Hester nonchalantly folded her comforter and set the tiny note inside her pocket as she got up.
"Really?" Disbelief plastered on Ivy's face, "Wait, where are you going?" Her smile faltered slightly, tilting her head slightly.
"Bathroom." Hester took her towel and stretched her arms while leaving the room.
-
'How many hours did I even get to sleep? Aish.' She looked up outside the window as she sat inside a café, sipping her cup of juice. 'Now, can I even pay attention in classes without falling asleep?'
Hester pulled out her phone to start a new playlist when her phone blacked out. She searched for a charger in her bag and remembered she had forgotten it back in her dorm.
'Great, and my class starts at 9:30 which is about... thirty minutes from now.'
Rain pours down heavily from outside the café. 'Is there even a taxi nearby?'
Sighing, she got up and headed to the counter. "Table 6, please. How much is it?"
"Oh, it had already been paid." The cashier smiled politely.
'Again?' Hester furrowed her brows then fixed her expression. "May I ask who?"
"I'm sorry, miss. All I know is that it has been paid for already."
"..Never mind, then. Thanks." Managing a smile, Hester had grown tired of the same answer. Since the start of her college, this had happened and not once did she see who paid for it.
'How sneaky. At least, I can save money.'
Her hand reached for the handle, but it was also pulled by someone on the other side, causing her to crash into the person.
"I'm so sorry- Are you alright?" A familiar scent reached her nose; however, Hester brushed it off as she searched for the hooded guy's eyes.
"Sir?" As expected, there was no response. He went inside the café without an apology despite being at fault.
'Maybe he's mute.' Hester walked it off with a blank look. Raising her wrist, she noted the few minutes she had left.
"Hey!! This is mine! I haven't eaten anything either, if you were nicer, I would've shared it with you, doggy!" The young boy persistently tries to snatch the bread from the bruised stray dog.
Hester tried to ignore it, but she halted as soon as she heard the dogs barking.
She jumped to grab the boy before he could get bitten. Running to a safer place, she placed the young boy back on the ground.
Cling! Walking out of a shop, a man ran in their direction. "Ryker! I left you for a minute and you're already getting yourself in trouble?!"
"Papa!" Ryker ran to his father.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!" The dog ran in circles, frantically howling as the NGOs arrived
-
Borrowing the father's phone, Hester waited for her cab.
Standing under the roof, Hester pushed the wet hair off her face, the rain still pouring like cats and dogs. 'Maybe it's a sign that I should take the day off.' A grin on her face as she thought of things to do while skipping class.
"...Miss, I'm very sorry about my son." His father glared at his son and faked a cough.
"We should be glad he's fine." She put on a smile and caught the little one's gaze. Realising something, Hester handed the pink-wrapped bread to him. "I completely forgot... This must be yours, right?"
His eyes gleamed, "Thank you, sister!" Ryker smiled. Sneaking a glance at his father, Ryker swallowed the lump in his throat and properly bowed. "I-I'm sorry for causing trouble, ..miss."
Staring at the piece of bread in his hands, he looked back up at her. "Do you like buns?" His face was beaming when he looked back up. "It's my favourite, I'm sure Miss will like it too!" With no reluctance, Ryker extended the bread towards her.
A thought about rejecting the kind offer flashed in her mind before she was mindful of the softness in his father's gaze, almost prideful and proud.
"Can we share it instead?" A chuckle escaped her lips from the eager nod from Ryker, knowing full well he craved it more than anyone. "Ye- I mean, ..you can have it."
"It's okay," Unwrapping it, she ripped the bread into two and gave a piece to him. "..here."
And taking a small crumb, Hester pushed the rest on the father's hand.
Earlier than his words, the young lady excused herself as her cab ceased at the parking lot.
"I'll be taking my leave now, have a good day."
With a mouthful, Ryker jumped up and down, waving his arms as she left.
-
Observing the city and the dark clouds as the car moved, she watched the skies that had been painted in dark, gloomy colours in a manner that imitated how she felt these days.
"It seems like the rain isn't going to stop." The driver smiled, glancing at her through the rearview mirror, seemingly trying to lighten up the tension in the car.
"Ah, yes." She replied curtly while awkwardly smiling as it had gotten her more worried. 'My umbrella.' Closing her eyes, her eyebrow twitched in anger as she realised her mistake in forgetting it at her dorm, too. 'It's just rain, not acid.'
"You've reached your destination." The robotic female voice announced, and the old man turned to glance at her with a gentle smile. "Please be safe, young miss."
Hester only nodded as she stepped out, replying with 'You too' along with the same kind of smile after paying.
Holding her bag tightly, she composed herself with a deep breath. She walked to the entrance of her campus with a heavy heart.
"Fine," She tries to cheer herself up, slinging the bag on her shoulder. 'I just have to go...'
Hester silently hoped today to be peaceful.
...
And for time to fly by faster.
-
Hester grunted simultaneously as someone bumped into her shoulder.
"Use your eyes." Brooklyn insult, not that Hester remembered her name but the biggest chaos was always mentioned everywhere in the school area. "Oh! If it isn't Hester, the mentally ill kid. By the way, do ghosts wander around even in daylight?"
Hester's hopes were crushed.
Remaining unbothered, she secretly mocked the pathetic way of agitating an individual.
"Yeah, there's one in front of me." With a middle finger, Hester pointed inches away from Brooklyn's eye.
If only she were as impatient as she was back then, Brooklyn wouldn't have had another second to talk with her head decapitated.
"You-!"
Like a wish come true, Brooklyn groans loudly as a shoe lands right on her face, which is full of products.
"How dare-"
Her lousy mouth opened only to shut again as if scared. Clearing her throat, she faked an excuse. "Ahem.. Let's go, something's smelly here." She swallowed the lump in her throat.
The familiar short-haired woman retrieves her shoe, but not without threatening to throw it again at the retreating brunette, which causes Brooklyn to flinch and leaves her other friend behind as she sprints. "You should be apologising, imbeciles!"
The scene lying before her eyes made Hester chuckle as she brushed her shoulder, "That's enough, Sage."
The masculine woman turned, and her eyes sparked with concern as she rushed to her. "Hester! I'm sorry, I was late." Like a worried older sister, Sage confirms that she wasn't injured and pulls Hester into an embrace. "Ugh.. They're so blind, seriously!"
Feeling a slight cold drip on her shoulder and hearing a sniffle, Hester pulled away and a grin formed on her lips almost instantly. "Are you seriously crying?"
Sage pouted playfully causing Hester to chuckle, then reminded Sage. "Let's go, or else we'll be late for class." Hester halts as Sage holds her back.
"And just forget those things ever happened? This isn't the first time, Hester."
Hester sighed and pulled her hand off Sage's grasp. "As long as no one's harmed, we don't need to mess with her."
"Stop saying that! Hester, I know you're harmed. Lying won't do you any good!" Sage clenches her fist. "You know what? I'm gonna teach that prick a lesson myself!" Sage added, "You don't need to worry! I'll be harsh on her!" Rolling up her sleeves and turning on her heel.
Hester held Sage back from taking another step.
"Wait, where do you think you're going? Sage, that's enough. We still have classes to go to. It's not like she hit me or anything." Offering reassurance with a smile.
Sage sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose, "It has just been the start of the year. They're like rats, you know? Wanting to please themselves while suffering others!" Noticing Hester's silence, Sage's visage turned solemn. "I've had enough, no matter how light her bullying is, bullying is bullying!"
"I mean, can't those things help you, at least?"
It was about the spirits, ever since kindergarten, her sense of being able to see ghosts became known to everyone. And things never stayed at peace when she could get easily possessed by evil creatures for their whispers of revenge.
"She won't suffer much. Just.. a light fever." Spirit 1 whispered with hesitance.
"For a week." Spirit 2 continued. A smirk widened on their face.
Hester quickly brushed her thoughts away, ignoring the spirits. Shaking her head in refusal, "I'd rather not. You know what happens if I include them in my problems."
Sage's eyes locked on hers, nodding reluctantly, "..Okay." She paused. Just then, her face brightened instantly, and a teasing tone lay in her words. "Then... Let me stay with you 24/7. No one will bother you and I won't allow those things to annoy you either!"
Hester chuckled, playing along. "Let's.. just go to class."
Sage gasped, and a smile widened on her face. "That's right! I won't need permission to be with you all the time if I were a ghost."
"It's better to stay human." Sage kept on letting words fall from her tongue even as she was dragged to class.
—
Hester's finger fiddled with her scarf, feeling melancholy as she traced the stitches.
"Hester!" Sage's familiar deep voice turned to Hester's attention.
The familiar girl smiled and waved, rushing into the smaller lady's embrace. "How did your class go?" Hester asked while patting Sage's head.
Sage stayed silent for a second, brushing her nose deeper into Hester's scent.
"It was boring cause I had to spend an hour without you. It is torturous! I've been separated from you for so long already, and now I still have to be away from you." Sage whined, her face resembling that of a sad and abandoned pup as she reluctantly backed up.
A chuckle escaped her lips at her friend's childishness. She ruffled Sage's hair as a response.
"It's alright, we can always hang out afterwards."
Sage immediately brightened up, attempting to offer a date when suddenly her favourite music came up, indicating a phone call. Seeing the caller an annoyed expression flickers across her face,
"Take it, it might be important." Sage hesitates at Hester's insistence but nods and picks up the call, taking a step back. "Just a moment."
Not wanting to meddle in their business, Hester averted her attention as her eyes caught sight of a cat leaning against a wall, cleaning itself.
Crouching to its level, she gently pats the feline as it quickly warms up to her, searching for warmth in the cold weather.
Suddenly, a panicked voice called out, and Hester stood up almost reflexively at the mention of her name,
"Hester!" The tall girl grabbed both of her shoulders with an eye that glistened. "Hester, the hospital called me, you see, my younger brother, he-"
"..Slow down." She smiled reassuringly, albeit nervously, at how quickly Sage was talking. She handed Sage the clear umbrella, which Hester had bought at the last minute. "It's still raining, so be safe."
Sage hugged her, whispering a thank you. "You too, Hester." She opened the umbrella and rushed out.
She exhaled and a flicker of sadness flashed in her eyes at the loss of company. A warm creature clings to her leg, snapping her out of her worries as the kitten purred. She bends slightly to rub the Tabby cat.
Seeing its chocolatey-green eyes reminded her of him. "It's been four years.. and a few months, just where could he be?" She kneeled to give the cat a gentle scratch. "Whatever. He's a grown-up now, he wouldn't get injured again, right?"
A maple leaf fell on top of her hand; the reddish colour gave her nostalgia.
!
Returning to a decade ago,
Her face was always painted with pride every day. Ordering arrogant kids to sweep the floor, beating their sorry butt with the teacher's wooden stick, and acting like she owns the school.
She was blinded by the rank of her 'father'. And it resulted in him going to the school because she punched a guy.
For one whole week. She wasn't allowed to do anything other than live as a corpse in her room. But what can a 12-year-old girl do? She didn't even know he would be much more abusive as she grew up.
Returning outside. Mr. Vadim assigned a boy to be with her 'forever' without a word from her. After all, her choice wouldn't matter in his eyes. Even if it had taken her years to prove that she isn't fearful of doing everything with her strength.
She didn't like it.
Knowing she couldn't convince him, she attempted to scare the so-called bodyguard away, though it never succeeded. It was even more futile to use physical violence.
The young girl runs a hand through her hair to cover her ears with the intent to muffle the annoying voices.
'[It has been three years! He's just a scrawny little boy. Why can't you defeat him?]' Spirit 1 taunts her.
'[Weak, weak, weak!]' Spirit 2 insults her.
'"It's not my fault."' She muttered to herself.
Hester hugged her knees, sniffling under the shade of a maple tree. Hearing footsteps, she sinks her head deeper, masking her tears.
'[It's him, it's him! Run!!]' Spirit 1 rushed Spirit 2. '[Ah!!!]'
Hester shook her head, trying to subtly wipe her tears. ''Why are they blaming me? It was him, it was all his fault! It wasn't me.'' It rings in her mind.
The scent of cedarwood numbed her senses. She reluctantly had to admit that it soothes her. Delivering a deep understanding of peace that she rarely felt. ''It was.. his fault.''
'"Are you sleeping?"' The sixteen-year-old boy questioned as he sat down beside her. Noticing her sniffling, a warm hand gently caresses her head, an unfamiliar gesture.
It was silent, and nothing bothered her whenever she was with him. Why has she only noticed now? The spirits always ran off, scrambling away from the strange scent wafting around him.
A leaf had fallen on her head. He took his hand off her head, taking the maple leaf. The warmth leaving her caused her head to tilt in curiosity, sneaking a glimpse.
A warm smile complements his gentleness as he gazed at the reddish leaf,
'"Doesn't it look like your hair colour?"' He changed his attention to her, and as their gazes met, a strange spark shone in both of their eyes.
She swallowed the lump in her throat, averting her gaze and hiding her face. '"..Mine looks prettier."' Her voice was slightly hoarse from crying. Closing her eyes, she prepared herself, thinking he would mock her like the spirits do. But instead,
'"Indeed."'
He.. agreed? She opened her eyes, turned her head towards him. '"What?"'
'"Hester."' The sound of his voice reached her ear. Calling out her name. His expression changed into one of concern. '"Please,"'
¡
"Hester."
The cat scurried away as footsteps approached, pulling her from drowning in memories of a decade ago. The same woody scent made her steady heart race unusually.
Standing up straight, she had hoped it wouldn't be today. She hadn't prepared herself yet as she felt her knees trembling. Her hand nervously clenches tight. There he was, raising the umbrella.
'"Don't cry anymore."'
"..Arzen?"