Nugomi

nugomi III

Drifting and floating inside an interstitial liquid filled with tiny salts and electrifying bolts.

My head succumbs to thoughts that leave me feeling like a dolt

Little fishes nibble on my limbs,

Leaving behind only pieces of strings.

As I cascade through the eternal darkness,

My soul forgets who is Marcus.

Drip, drop

My essence is funneled

Drip, drop

My head is a tunnel.

Drip Drop

Tiny particles bubble

Drip Drop

My essences struggle.

In a past life, I met a beautiful man whose energy changed me.

In a past life, I ran around playing hide seek until someone one find me.

In a past life, I was a soldier who fought for a country that betrayed me

In a past life, I was a woman whose heart was destroyed by being lonely.

"Hey, there son how are you doing. How's school going. I bet you're a real lady killer"

"I need these documents Stat. Get on it"

"W-would you go on a date with me "

"That Jennifer is such a b***h"

"Mom, can I get one those, uh, one those, you know"

I sit on a chair nervously. The chair squeaks as I uncomfortably shift in the rough chair. The overhanging light gives the whole dining room a romantic setting, so it makes me a bit lightheaded. Of course, I'm nervous, for the first time in my life I got a date with the girlguy of my dreams. Bing Bing, the doorbell rings. There heshe walks in a wonderful dress/gown, herhis dark lochs drift over hisher body.

"Hope I'm not too late, M--rc---" said ----

"Not all, I just got here myself"

SheHe sat down on the chair opposite a to me her womalyManly boy breaking peaking through HisHer gown/dress.

What a beautiful creature. I thought to myself. Every part of their body is thoroughly beautiful, I'm such lucky ------- that I could be their presence.

Wait. Where am I? In fact, who am I?

"What's wrong M--c---? You don't seem too hot." The creature in front of me asks me.

"N-nothing, it's just that I'm a bit nervous so I think my mind is drawing a blank " Is said the thing

"Come on, -----us. No need to be that nervous" the thing said lightly tapping my hand. The coldness of her skin radiates throughout the back of my hand and as a light prickly point scratches the surface."I'll take the lead. Let's see....., If you could choose any country to visit which one would you go to.

"That's an easy one I'd go to...."

Wait. Countries, I know those right?. Let's see there's... juum there's... nothing

"Heh, drawing a blank? Let's see I'd like to visit ajkbwei. They have this beautiful garden with trees lushed with red and greens; beautiful mountain ranges that reach high as the skies" the thing in front continued talking.

Where in the hell is this, who is this, and who the hell am I? I feel like the wall in my mind has been painted; it's all white. However, in the little corner of my mind there's little scrap in the corner; flapping idly; reminding me that's something wrong.

"Hey-----, you okay? Is this not what you wanted? a connection with someone. Someone dashing and dependable who's willing to put up with your terrible personality. A blank canvas on which you could pour all of your worries onto. Here I am, the perfect partner" said the thing

The edges of the painting Are slightly peeling off, revealing a dark color.

"That feels off... "

"Is that so? Then how about this"

The bell rang across the hall, marking the best part of the day: recess. The hall quickly filled with a cacophony of squicking shoes; laughter; chit chatter and the yell of the hall monitor to quiet down. I dash to the exit and head straight to my favorite spot in the courtyard: basketball court. As I arrived, they were already picking teammates. There was a line of kids getting ready to get picked by the two team leaders. I hand to stand in the line right next to that weird kid, but no matter. As I waited for my turn to be picked, that kid spoke to me.

"Hey, hey did you know that millipedes are cute," He said as his golden hair stuck to his sweat-covered face. "They have these two cute little black eyes and little whiskers that wriggle like this" He puts his finger on the upper part of his lips and wiggles them around." and, and if you touch them they coil up like ball like this, "He said trying to somehow demonstrate this by laying on the floor, hugging his legs and tucking his head.

What a weird guy.

"By the way my name is Alexander, but that's such a long name, so you can call me Alex. Said the kid standing up. "Like seriously, what's the point of having such a difficult name if everyone else is just gonna call you by a nickname. Wouldn't it be easier If we were just named by a nickname?"

Doesn't this kid shut up?

Huh?

"I'll take --------" said one of the team leaders.

Finally, I can get this kid off of me. I walk towards the team that I was chosen and gave cordial smiles to everyone. Fortunately enough that another kid was chosen on the other team, so no more of that. After a few couples of minutes of playing, our team got the lead; the opposite team was dead tired. Scoring a few shots, I ran back to Stand on my post and guard my player. The game was going well, but I couldn't help but notice the little yellow ball sitting on the benches. Even after half an hour of playing, that Alex kid was never tagged in, even when the rest of the team is exhausted.

They ditched you.

I Kinda pity the kid. However, the sentiment was quickly overshadowed by the heat of the game and the stubborn struggle the other team exhibited. But in the end, we won. As we all congratulated ourselves, the bell rang again designating that fun time was over. Sweaty and tired, I begrudgingly made my way towards the court exit when I was stopped by a fully refreshed Alex handing me a towel.

"That was amazing! the way you zigzagged and got past all their defenses. You were unstoppable " said Alex jumping up and down. "I can barely dribble the ball, so I'm sooo useless in the court buuuut," The boy said while holding the towel in front of my face" I'm a master seat warmer and towel dispenser; no one can beat me at that. Not even that weird kid that eats his boogers all day" whispered Alex

The potcalling the kettle black

"Anyhow, anyhow, can you teach some of your moves and stuff. It's kinda cool being the seat warmer master and all, but I kinda want to play atleat once, you know. Even if it's for a little while " He said looking at me.

"Sure thing kid just give me a call and jump right at it," I said while I quickened my pace and left the boy behind.

"Hey, hey! Wait. Never really got your name." Said Alex.

"It's----------" I said?

"Juuuum, that's kinda complicated, I think I'll just call you Marc, " Said the boy smiling.

Huh? Marc who's Marc. In fact, where am I, who am I? As torn edges of the painted wall broke, even more, the hall manager came in screaming.

"What are you kids doing?! It is time for class. Hurry up or you'll be late" Said the dark figure. Two menacing eyeballs stared at both of us.

"Sorry teacher, it's just that something feels off. Like I've forgotten something important. All of a sudden everything feels odd and fake"

"What do you mean odd and fake? Is this not what you wanted. A normal childhood, friends that admire you and teachers that you hate but deep down you like? What is not to your liking"

"H-hey missus teacher please give Marc a little break. All this playing and heat must have given him a daze " said Alex trembling in front of the teacher.

"You... who are you? You keep getting in the way. You are not supposed to be here, this is all for ---------. You're interfering with the assimilation" the dark figure got bigger and bigger, her clothes stuck it like it's part of Its body.

"Uh, uh I'm Alex and I'm Marc's friend. So iiii-if you try to hurt Marc, I-I will why they call seat warmer master Alexander" said the boy trembling behind me tightly holding the end of his shirt.

Friend. For some reason, that word sounds foreign but nostalgic. Weird, why does it feel like I have been alone all this time even though I got so many friends. There's no connection. Just a flesh-deep relation; a facade used to cover up the reality: I'm lonely.

The whole white painted wall crumbles down revealing a dark impenetrable hole.

"No, you will not get away, "said the dark figure" maybe it's time for something completely different "

"Hey, big bro can you help with my homework," Said my little brother holding a piece of paper in front of me.

"Sorry pal, maybe next time. I got to study for my finals or else I'll flunk the class" I said.

Wait something feels off

"OK, Big bro," said my little brother dejected. He slowly step to the door with his shoulder hunched over.

Gosh darn it

"Hey, I think I could spare a few minutes for you. But only for a little while ok?" I said to little brother

"For realsies! Yaay" He said as he ran towards me and sat on my lap. He laid a black book on the table with lettering "I gotta write a book report on this short story but it's too hard" Said the boy

"Let me see here," I said picking up the book. It was litter than I inspected and thin. The only thing on the cover was a red letter spelling"Nugomi" "What a strange name huh?" I told little brother while opening the book."Ahem!, listen closely because I won't read it again" I said while eyeing the book. The contents surprised me what sort of school would give such a hard book to read to a young kid. Anyway, I read aloud:

A long, long time ago there was a boy named Alexandreastrial Krunishna, he was the son of a really important family. Raised and educated in all kinds of topics from politics to history. However, none of this interested Alexandreastrial, he was only interested in the outside world, not the stuffy pages and the long-winded lectures of old men. So he often skipped his lessons and spent most of his time in nature, playing with bugs; exploring abandoned parts of the house; anything that involved exploring the unknown. It fascinated Alexandreastrial. One day, however, he decided to venture out further than he was allowed to and met a big and terrible monster. That monster poisoned Alexandreastrial's mind and filled it with all sorts of wrong thoughts so he made a terrible mistake. He became friends with the monsters. Unfortunately for his newly made friend he got in trouble with very nasty people and got really, really hurt. Though Alexandreastrial was really afraid and really, his trembled his way to his friend's aid. But in the end, they both got really hurt and were consumed.

"H-huh something's wrong big bro, that's not supposed to be the story." Said, little bro? Without looking at me.

Wait. When did the wall disappear; all that's in front of me is a deep black hole.

"Don't look in there big bro, big scary monsters are in there. You won't like it if you go back outsid— " little bro? Abruptly stopped

Again? What does he mean by again? I thought as I pushed the thing in my lap off and inspect the hole. It was big enough to fit two—no five people in. How did I not notice such a huge hole before? I said as I stepped in.

"Don't go in there we'll suffer" The thing yelled while I stepped in the hole.

Darkness surrounded me. Not a single thing was in here except nothing and me. However, as if guided by some strange intuition, I knew exactly where to go. My silent steps got closer and closer to a speck of light until I finally arrived at the familiar white room. It's as if the time I had spent in whatever purgatory in was in happened only in a fraction of a second because the place looked the same as before. Blinding white light with a dark figure in the middle—no wait there's something. On the floor, a puff yellow bulges out the whiteness in front of the black figure.

Is that Alexandre? I said as I carefully got closer to both figures. When I got a good look, Alexandre looked a bit different, where arms should be; there razor-sharp mouth biting down on the dark figure. Alexandre's whole right arm was covered in the mixture of black tar and mouth jutting out everywhere. As I got closer, Alexandre looked at me weakly.

"H-hey, hey! Marc's back. " He said as he looked at me with dark red eyes."You promised me you would call headquarters there was a slimmer of a change of an infected. You big dummy" Alexandre said weakly

"Are you all right, you looking kinda pale." His naturally bright red lips were pale and broken and his hair seemed to have lost a bit of shade.

"Hehe, worried about me? Do not worry, I'm just not used to this much exertion just a little bit of rest will help" Said Alexandre still bitting down on the dark figure.

"Is it dead? " I asked

"Not yet, but it will soon be. Without consuming something, a wound this big will be impossible to heal. So it's just a matter of time before we can get back" coughed Alexandre.

".....why..... I gave you everything you wanted, love, friendship, admiration, and family. Why stay outside when everything is so difficult and cold " the figure muttered.

"I don't know. Outside is indeed harsh and difficult, not a single thing would be handed to you on a silver player. Hell, the world you provided to me was heaven, and would rather stay there. It's just that something always felt odd an intrinsic component was lost" I said to the figure.

"....what could ever that be. I gave you everything" said the figure

"The chance to "be ","spoke Alexandre "In the world where everything was scripted and perfect, you forgot the most important essence of life; the simple act of existence." Said, Alexandre

"... that doesn't make any sense," said the figure.

"Life is full of unfairness and hardships, that's true. And I should not be allowed to talk because I have been given everything since I was born.Food; a house; a family; friend, I have things in the tip on my hand that someone else would kill to get a fraction of it." said strained Alexandre

"So you see yourself the unfairness, so is it not better to—"

" However, Everything felt forced and fake; like I was following the script someone else wrote for me.I was forcing myself to be something that directly contradicted my very essence.It was a constant struggle, trying to prove myself that I worthy of the name Krunishna even if no being me. Not a single thing in this round earth could make me feel happy;it was like an unknown-shaped hole in my core had developed. But one day something came to my mind: just be. Putting aside for once all things that made me sad and bored, I was able to truly "be", everything around me had life, everything around me had an intrinsic beauty that no words can describe. That was the very moment, I noticed that I was alive that I was more than just my title and responsibilities; I am a living being" said Alexandre.

"....That's stupid, you delude yourself into thinking that it's that simple, but in reality, things are different, and in time, you'll see. And you Marcus Jones you'll regret not peacefully die inside my perfect created... " as those words trailed off, the world collapse, once again being shrouded in darkness, but this time not as warm.