one | painting
One month
After returning home from campus, it was already 9:00 p.m. Rena walked limply towards her house door, there she knocked on the door and not long after her father came out to open the door.
After saying hello to her parents, Rena immediately went to her room, not forgetting to lock the door. She changed clothes and then went out of the room again just to wash the dishes. Why wash the dishes at midnight? Because her mother was sick and could only lie in bed, her father was also no longer working because he was in his sixties, Rena was the youngest of four siblings, all her older siblings married. The first and second sister, they are married and have their own house. While the older brother lives with his wife in Rena's parents' house. They live on the second floor which has a different kitchen, bedroom and toilet from Rena and her parents who are on the first floor.
therefore the needs and affairs of the ground floor house are entirely Rena's responsibility. for example, washing clothes, washing dishes, tidying up clothes, cooking and buying household necessities and don't forget to take care of her parents.
like now Rena is washing the dishes that have been used by her parents and her older siblings who were at her parents' house this afternoon. after washing the pile of dishes she immediately starts cooking Fried rice, a food that is easy to make and cooks quickly when she is hungry like now. Rena did not eat dinner the night before because she had to rush to go to campus this afternoon. the distance is quite far from home or work, it takes at least thirty-five minutes to get there.
When she was about to cook, her father came to see what his daughter was doing. Then after knowing what Rena was doing, her father asked.
"you haven't eaten yet?"
Rena shook her head "not yet, have you eaten, Dad?" Rena asked her father again while focusing on the sliced onions.
"Didn't you buy food on campus during break?" ask his father again.
"No dad, I'm saving up to pay this month's bills," said Rena.
his father just kept quiet, When she saw her father just staying silent, Rena continued cooking while asking her previously unanswered questions again.
"Have you eaten, Dad?" Rena asked.
"Earlier your sisters brought the food, but it was already finished. Dad didn't have time to leave any for you." said his father.
Rena just smiled in reply to her father while saying "It's okay, Dad. It's getting late, Dad should go to sleep now"
Her father was silent for a moment looking at his daughter, then nodded and left after a while.
Time skipped
The clock showed exactly 10 pm. Rena had cleaned up and was already on her bed, ready to sleep.
Rena Pov's
A young man walked towards me with his long legs, his face was handsome and his gaze was sharp but warm.
"Where are we going today, Princess?" he asked me.
"How about we spend some time at your house this time?" I smiled softly waiting for his answer.
He paused for a moment with his eyebrows furrowed, looking at me in surprise, then said, "You mean, our house?" he corrected.
I chuckled then nodded in confirmation of his correction "yup".
His expression changed, His smile widened "are you sure you won't change your mind once we get there?" he said in a mischievous tone with his eyebrows raised and lowered as he looked at me.
I laughed at his behavior, then smiled and nodded "I'm sure" I said to convince myself.
"Okay, hold on tight" he said while holding my hand.
The moment I held her hand, without realizing it we were already in another place. In front of a tall iron gate with a towering dark castle surrounded by a concrete fence.
"Changed your mind Princess?" Niki asked when she saw me silently looking towards the castle gate.
I reflexively shook my head and looked at him, "I won't change my mind that quickly, Niki," I said to Niki, the youngest of the seven men in my dream.
Niki just chuckled as I dodged, a moment later as fast as the blink of an eye. We moved and were inside the castle.
I was surprised by the view that was very different from the view outside the castle before. Inside it was very warm and bright with candles and lamplighters as the light source.
Niki saw my stunned expression, he smiled then a naughty idea came to his mind. His head suddenly lowered and was in front of my face at close and makes me surprised.
I reflexively took a few steps back while screaming "oh my gosh!" I saw Niki who was laughing seeing me shocked "Niki! Don't be like that" I scolded her.
"You startle so easily, I can't help but disturb you," he said to me.
I snorted as I walked towards his and pinched her hand. he groaned, pretending to be in pain "ouch.. I didn't know you had a habit of pinching, princess" Niki said mockingly.
"It's a reflex, not a hobby," I said defensively.
Niki just chuckled as he walked towards the sofa in the middle of the room, he sat there then looked at me who was still standing in front of him "we're here, so what do you want to do?"
I walked towards him and sat right next to him while thinking, weighing up whether to continue the question that was in my mind or not "I want to see the others" I said, looking down a little.
Sure enough, Niki was stunned by my statement. His jaw tightened a little then looked away "you know that's impossible" he said without explaining anything more.
I lifted my face and looked at him "I'm just confused, why is it impossible?" I asked curiously.
His jaw was set and his voice was colder, with a more serious tone "you can ask Jake about that" he said, it was very obvious that he didn't want to talk about this.
I sighed, trying to push away my curiosity for now. "Okay, then let's spend some time first before I come back," I said while smile.
Niki nodded in understanding then got up from his seat, he held both my hands, helping me to stand up.
"I've wanted to show you something for a long time," Niki said as he led me towards a painting at the end of the hall.
This hallway wasn't dark and there was no one else here but us, but somehow I felt like something was always watching and hovering around us.
My footsteps followed Niki who was walking beside me while holding my hand, until we arrived in front of a large painting. His feet stopped and his face turned towards me, he smiled brightly.
"Do you know what this painting is?" Niki asked me excitedly. I turned and looked at the painting for a moment, then answered him.
"woman, but doesn't she looks like me?" I said uncertainly.
Niki shook his head, my eyebrows slightly knitted seeing his shake. he immediately spoke "this is .... ".
Duk Duk Duk Duk Duk! the sound of a knock on the door
I woke up from my sleep with a little shock when I heard a very loud knock on the door from outside my room. and the dream also ends.
"Yes... wait a minute," I said, shouting a little, then I sat up and stood up from the bed.
I walked towards the door and opened the door hurriedly. My father was standing there. "Yes, father," I asked.
After waking up, I immediately got ready to go to work.
TBC
