Raven

Chapter 10

Raven's POV

I fell asleep and it was around 7 pm when Lily called me down for dinner. They were already at the table, so I sat between Jaunette and Lily. I was about to say grace when Jaunette and Meisha coughed at the same time.

I looked at both of them. Jaunette bowed and said, "I'm sorry, go on."

I bowed my head and continued saying grace, but now it felt a little uncomfortable. I can sense some discomfort from the people around me. I don't know from who though since my eyes were closed.

When I was done, it was Meisha who first talked and yelled. "Dig in, folks!"

She was the first one to grab a portion of food and started eating. Her eyes widened and looked at Lilibeth. "Lily! Why didn't you tell us that Raven's a great cook?"

"Right! If I had known, I would've invited her to cook for my birthday last week." Carlene chimed in while munching on the fried meatballs that I made.

"Just shut up and eat," Lily said while throwing a piece of cabbage at her.

I was lowkey celebrating that they all liked my dishes. I rarely cook for other people and I'm glad that it turned out great.

"Hey Raven," Sera called. "What is it like living with Lilibeth?" Lilibeth grimaced at Sera's question.

"Uh, w-well—" I was about to say something when the doorbell rang. Save by the bell, I mean doorbell. "Let me go get that one."

The moment I held the doorknob to open the door for the newcomer, a heavy feeling suddenly dawned upon me.

The man outside asked. "Hello, is Lilibeth inside?"

My body went numb as a series of events flashed inside my head.

His smiling face. That carefree glow from his eyes. His gentle voice. All the same.

"Uh, are you okay?" He looked at me worriedly and waved his hand at me.

"S-Sorry. Please, come in." I let him in inside and returned to my seat.

"Mika!" Meisha shrieked. She stood up from her chair and gave him a bear hug. "When did you return, you little prick???"

Carlene looked at Lily and Jaunette with her brow raised. "Did you two planned this?"

Jaunette shrugged with a knowing smile on her face. Lily took a cabbage and threw it at Carlene again.

Meisha was ecstatic. "I didn't know this get-together was for my stupid twin brother!"

Oh, so they're twins? No wonder they had the same features.

"Yeah, and you all started eating, without me? How rude!" He said as he sat down opposite me, beside Meisha.

"Eat, little brother. Raven's dishes are so awesome you'll forget your name." Meisha shamelessly promoted while putting food on Mika's plate.

"Enough, sestra, I don't want to bloat like you." He said smirking.

Meisha pinched him on the side, "Shut up, you fatty!"

Actually, Mika isn't fat. He looked like someone who goes to the gym regularly. Meisha isn't fat too. She's petite and looked like a sickly person because of her pale skin.

Since he's sitting opposite me, I can see him clearly. And it only made my stomach churn.

"Are you alright, Raven?" Lily asked me.

"I'm not feeling good." I felt a little queasy after some memories flashed in my head. "Can I head upstairs?"

Jaunette also saw my uneasiness. "Should I accompany you?"

"No. It's alright, I can manage. You go on with your reunion." I slowly got up and went to the stairs, wobbling.

I don't know why I'm feeling like this. After being exposed to gory dreams for years, I'm supposed to be used to it right now. But what I'm feeling right now was similar to the first time I ever dream of death.

I was already on the third step when my head started throbbing. It was an excruciating pain that I have never felt before.

"Lili—" I tried calling Lilibeth but it was too late. I suddenly blacked out.

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I woke up and found myself staring at the ceiling.

A dream?

My gaze darted at the door when someone knocked.

I held my breath and didn't answer.

Then I heard Lilibeth's voice. "Raven? It's time for dinner. Come down now."

I heaved a sigh of relief. "Coming!" I answered as I pulled myself up from my bed.

When I arrived downstairs, a familiar scene greeted me. Everyone was already at the table, talking and laughing. I automatically sat between Jaunette and Lily.

I was about to say grace but then I remembered Jaunette and Meisha coughing so I only said "Thanks for the food" and was the first one to scoop some soup.

They were quiet, not until Meisha yelled. "Dig in, folks!"

I watched her grabbed the food and ate it heartily. Her eyes widened as she looked at Lilibeth. "Lily! Why didn't you tell us that Raven's a great cook?" She said, mouth stuffed with food.

I then quickly looked at Carlene. "If I had known, I would've invited her to cook for my birthday yesterday." Carlene sighed as she grudgingly munched on the fried meatballs.

Lily then threw a piece of cabbage at her. "Zip it, Carlene. Or you'll go home hungry."

I quickly looked at Sera when she scootted over, probably to ask a question about Lily. But before she could even open her mouth to speak, I softly shove to her the basket full of bread sticks. "Taste this, I made it extra cheesy."

A dismayed look could be seen on Sera's face. She could only grab the basket and ate the bread stick, which she enjoyed later on.

My spine tingled when the doorbell finally rang.

Lilibeth quickly stood up and volunteered, "Let me get that one."

I was rooted to my seat, gripping the chair hard as I waited for the newcomer to finally get inside the house.

"Who missed this handsome hunk-a hunk-a!" A familiar voice filled the dining room making everyone turn to look at the newcomer, grab a table napkin, crumpled it, and threw it at him.

He only stood there, welcoming the flying table napkins with an open arms and a cheeky smile.

"Loud as always, eh, Mika?" Meisha scoffed. She stood up from her chair and gave him a hard punch on the stomach, making him fall to the floor. "How did you know we're here? This was supposed to be an all-girls gathering." Meisha hissed.

Mika was crouching on the floor. His finger pointing at Lily, but only made everyone confused since Jaunette was standing beside her. Carlene looked at Lily and Jaunette accusingly, with her brow raised. "Did you two planned this?"

Jaunette shrugged with a smug look on her face. Lily took a bread stick and threw it at Carlene.

"Lily, stop throwing food." I reprimanded her softly. Despite the chaos, she heard me and raised her hand in surrender.

Everyone was busy bullying Mika, so busy that they didn't notice that someone was tagging along Mika.

She was just quietly observing everyone until her gaze reached mine. She smiled at me and mouthed "Hello."

I nodded at her and smiled back meekly.

It was the twins who finally noticed her. "Oh, who's this?" Jenina said. "Is she your new girlfriend?" Jiliane asked Mika and grabbed her to the table to take a seat.

"Hi, I'm Shirley. Mika's girlfriend." The girl introduced.

Meisha was baffled. "I didn't know my stupid twin brother is finally in a relationship."

He stood up from the floor and also took a seat opposite me, beside Meisha. "Unbelievable, isn't it? Unlike you who's destined to become an old maiden."

Meisha shoved a chicken leg at his brother's mouth and giggled. "Eat, little brother. Raven's dishes are so awesome you'll forget your name."

Mika choked on the chicken leg. Her girlfriend poured water and handed it to him. "If you really wanted to kill me, can you at least be discreet about it? Atleast your friends can still have an alibi for you." He said, still coughing.

Meisha patted him on the back. "Shut up, nerd, before I become a total su-ka at you." She said, slurring her words.

Just like in the dream, Mika was sitting opposite me. But what made my stomach churn this time wasn't because of him. My feet went cold as I realized that Shirley had the same face as that entertainer girl from my dream.

The same entertainer girl who killed Mika in that alley.

"Is anything wrong, Raven?" Lily asked, holding my hand. She must have felt the coldness of my palms so I tried retracting it, but her grip was so strong. "What's the problem?"

A dark glint flashed in her eyes making me somehow afraid. "I don't feel well. Can I head upstairs?" I almost whispered.

Everyone also saw my uneasiness. It was Meisha who offered a hand. "Should I accompany you?"

"No. It's alright, I can manage. You go on with your get-together." I slowly got up and went to the stairs carefully.

Unlike the one from my dream, I didn't fell from the third step. I breathed a sigh of relief.

I was about to walk back to my room when the lights started to flicker.

"Raven!"

My body shook as the flickering of the lights became faster.

"Raven!"

I tried covering my ears but the voice became louder and louder.

"Raven! Please, wake up!"

"Raven!"

"Wake up!"