January

Chapter 7

Erine had expected a nightmare.

The ball had hit her on the head so hard that it might have triggered her brain.

Instead, she found herself in the middle of a field, flowers of different colors scattered across the greenery like dazzling glitter fluttering with the wind, softly and harmonious.

The untrimmed grasses prickled her skin, not too harsh and were absolutely pleasing. Her lips curved into a peaceful smile as slumber remained undisturbed.

"Beautiful, Isn't it?"

Surprised at the sudden interruption, Erine glanced sideways swiftly, though she didn't need to search further, as it turns out that there's someone nearby.

Erine couldn't recognize this stranger, but she could tell it was a young man. Looking down she noticed their hands intertwined together. A gasp almost escaped her mouth.

Erine wanted to pull her hand back, but her hands stayed within the young man's grasp, and it seems like she didn't want to be separated either. As careless as it sounds like, she allowed their hands to together. The young man's fingers squeezing hers gently, caressing each corner like a fragile jewel.

"Just stay with me." The stranger said, almost pleaded as he pulls their hands towards his mouth and planted a kiss at the back of her palms.

Erine stared at this man without any identity at all, and as she watched those mouth muttered something incoherent, the corners of her eyes watered warmly.

Then when she opened her lips to respond, her consciousness suddenly broke into her.

"Do you think she's okay?"

"It wasn't my fault. I was shouting at her to go out of the way. She won't listen."

"Shut it. The captain isn't going to let this slide. So, there is no use in blaming her."

"At best, you'll get 100 laps."

Erine's forehead creases. There seems to be a commotion at the moment, though it'll be a great help if they choose to shut their mouth.

To her distress, she heard a shriek belonging to a girl, causing her head to throb more.

"She's waking up!"

Erine grunted.

"Everyone make way. I'm going to carry her to the infirmary."

Erine silently agreed to the person had that bright idea.

"Hang in there." Erine heard a whisper near her ear, hair rising up as the familiar strong minty breath fanned her skin.

Involuntarily, Erine said weakly, "Luke."

Is that you?

Two warm hands had already gathered her from the ground. All the while, Erine's eyes remained shut as she allowed her body to move by the gentle force firmly lifting her up.

"Luke." Again, Erine called out.

"Yes, it's me." Although there's an edge in his voice, she wouldn't mistake the familiarity of it.

This put a smile on her face. Luke has always been kind. And she perfectly knows how his voice would sound as he worries for her. She hadn't realized that until now, that even before, he's been a worrywart.

When she finally decided to open her eyes, the first thing Erine sees was his upturned eyebrows, his panting mouth and his wife's eyes.

Still, every wonderful moment must come to an end as the clinic were only a walk away from the court. Which is a good idea, for those who practice sports are at times get into minor accidents. Major accidents are better to be handled to the hospital.

"Oh no, what happened to Miss Pinky Piggy?" Erine's turned into a sudden u-turn. This is going to be the second time that she's going to be hearing that odd nickname.

Luke answered, "She got hit by a ball."

"Oh, poor child."

Luke laid her down on the bed gently. It must be the first time he has looked at her face since he came bustling towards the clinic. That's why his face turned pale when he saw the blood dripping from her nostrils.

"Teacher, she's bleeding," Luke said in a panicking voice.

As the nurse tends to her wound, Luke stayed as well, obediently sitting at the bed opposite hers. Looking at him, with his knees tapping on the ground nervously, he resembles more like a puppy waiting for it's the owner.

She wanted to smile then but it wouldn't be appropriate with the current situation.

"Why are you still waiting here?" The school nurse asked once she finally notices him. "The first bell had already rung. You should go to your class."

There was no reply for a while, only those eyes seem to express obvious concern. He was reluctant to go, Erine observes.

"Will you be okay?" Luke asked.

"Yes." To prove her answer, Erine smiled. "You should go."

Luke seems a bit fidgety and hesitant, still, he stood up and went towards the door, though his shoulders looked slumped. It was one of Luke's traits, if someone gets hurt, even if it wasn't his fault, he'll feel burdened with responsibility, especially when it concerns her.

"I'm fine," Erine reassured, making Luke glance back at her. "You'll be late with class. You should go."

When his lips lifted up in a content smile, Erine thought how brightly it glowed with the subtle touch of the morning sun by the window. Is it possible to fall in love with the same person the second time?

It was one of Erine's weakness, and it's unfair that his smile still has that same spark twenty years later.

Once the door had already closed, Erine was left alone with the school nurse, who enthusiastically let out a small laugh. She must have seen something in Erine's face, making her back away as she raised both of her arms.

"It's just that your boyfriend worries too much." The nurse explains.

This made her smile, and although she wanted to brag about how their relationship is going to turn out more than just lovers, she had to restrain herself or she'll be called delusional. Besides, if this is really where forty years later, Erine would have kept it low key.

With her experience as a Hildebrand's wife, nothing won't go smoothly and she would not remain humble. So, Erine learned not to boast, especially when all her rich wasn't achieved by her own. Though she could proudly say that she attained her happy ending with Luke by being diligent and surprisingly resourceful with flirt tactics.

"He's not my boyfriend though," Erine said.

"No? You've been chasing him around since freshman."

Erine shakes her head. If she were her past self, who knew nothing of the bright future ahead of her, she might have the most solemn look a broken-hearted teenager would have.

"But I believe in myself," Erine said confidently. "Someday he'll be my boyfriend."

She was given a hopeless smile, but she didn't receive any discouragement. "You can do it."

Erine got discharged at lunch. She has to explain thoroughly what incident she's been through, her friends demanding as ever seems to have forgotten that she had her head got hit. Their entire attention is on Luke, who carried her in princess style, just like a prince should do.

Elizabeth squealed in delight, although Michelle didn't react that much, she seemed to congratulate her as well. In contrast, the majority of Luke's fan base, the girls group, went overly jealous.

Some even purposely ran into her, although she received a half-hearted apology, Michelle and Elizabeth had seen through the intention. In result, the two has stuck close to her like a glue for the entire day.

"They had too much free time, huh?" Elizabeth made sure her voice could reach ears. "Instead of threatening someone immaturely, why don't you hit yourself with a ball in front of Luke?"

Erine only stopped Elizabeth by the hand. "Don't give them ideas, Luke would not bother to help them."

Michelle nodded. "So, instead, I'll just hit their head with a baseball bat if they're so desperate."

With Michelle's tall height, matched with a serious and intimidating face, the girls who can't even compare backed away in the corner. It's proven to be an effective threat because once dismissal came, no one dared to offend Erine.

As usual, Erine went home with Elizabeth since Michelle was caught with club activities once again.

"Today, they'll prepare for the upcoming school play," Elizabeth informed. "And it seems that Mich is looking forward to this one."

Indeed, a school play will take place, it's going to be a big one, and probably one of the formal occasions, soon to take place at the theatre studio. Erine couldn't remember much because she ditched the event just to watch Luke practice for competitions.

The school play involves both the theatre club, fashion club and glee club. But it's a significant day since this is the point when Michelle finally decided to be a movie writer.

And what influenced her decision?

"There's going to be an important visitor," Elizabeth said.

"Visitor?" Erine asks.

"Yes. The teacher announced it earlier, you didn't listen?"

Erine nodded. During class, she couldn't concentrate because she was busy agonizing about the diary.

"The guest features a small indie company. A notable indie director, they'll offer a week worth of free lesson in movie directing." Elizabeth explained.

After hearing this, Erine finally remembered who the visitor was.

Hans Zel, obviously just his stage name, but that name would later on dominate the media by critics and non critics alike. His reputation had gone through ups and downs, his direction would soon be overshadowed by changes in social trends.

The same director who had noticed Michelle's talent and who had pulled her into the entertainment industry. Beyond that, if Michelle's name stormed the media, which is likely, since people are mostly focused on the actors.

"Say, do you like to come with me?"

"Where?" Erine was curious why the sudden offer but she didn't say anything. Since, it'll be nice to visit some place from time to time.

Suddenly, Erine smiled sadly. Some of the tourist spot and parks have been demolished in the future. Lands have been sacrificed as well just for the sake of building a ferry. It'll be more establishment compared to this day were in some of the corners, there'll still be slanted valleys where you could see a forest full of healthy and strong trees. It was such a shame that they had to be taken down.

"Anywhere, I just want to hang out since my parents would not be home until later."

"Okay. But it'll only be for a while." Erine agreed.

Erine had remembered how Elizabeth's family have been. Although her parents were in good terms, she was left neglected as both were a lawyers of different companies. It's a surprise that they didn't get the chance to stand on opposite side on a similar case.

So, Elizabeth was the one who always suggest to hang out together.

Although, Erine went to different places with Michelle and Elizabeth, this is the first time she's been eager to visit some places. Especially when she wouldn't have the chance to see some places ever again. It's like a rare opportunity, that it only happens once, so visit them if you still have the opportunity to do so.

Elizabeth was energetic as they visited some of the nearby parks. Erine couldn't even believe how they had managed to visit three in the remaining hours before her curfew.

Even though both are not less in money, they choose to eat street foods as snacks. Now, they're resting in one of the benches, as they leisurely enjoying their foods that they bought in a cheap price.

When Elizabeth excused herself to go for a near public restroom, Erine was left at the bench alone. It was a perfect time to check for an update on the magical diary.

Erine took a bit from her corn dog as she flipped the pages. Finally arriving at the last entry, Erine read the newly written sentence at the middle of the paper.

It says,

For the rest of the day, I hadn't seen her. I knew it, I shouldn't have left her in the clinic.

Erine was puzzled for a while.

"He was at the clinic?" But Erine didn't see Prince anywhere earlier.

Was he hiding from her?

For quite a long time, Erine stared at the writings in the notebook, waiting for new words to appear but nothing appeared.

"Is this seat taken?"

Erine looks up from the notebook. In front of her was a old hunchback woman with her a staff clutched tightly around her thin and sagging skin.

The image of her grandmother flashed through her.

"Oh, you want to sit?" Erine almost screamed in panic as she eagerly went out of her sit to offer it to the old lady.

The old lady only smiled.

"No, don't worry." The old lady wave her hand to stop her. "I'm just passing by."

Erine rubbed the back of her head and hesitantly sat back on the bench.

"Then do you want me to escort you?" Again the old lady shakes her head.

"No. I am fine. Besides, I work here."

"Oh." Erine said.

It was another awkward encounter with a stranger. At times like this, Erine wanted to keep her hands busy so that the other would stop bothering her. But she didn't want to appear rude.

When the old lady remained in her position, just staring at her intently, which creeped her out, Erine just looked at her and expressed a forced smile.

"Um, is there something wrong?" Erine asks.

Still, she didn't receive any response, and she was patient enough to wait even though she's eager to get out of the situation.

Erine was about to ask again when the old lady finally spoke.

"You must choose." The lady's voice came.

"Huh?" Erine looked at her.

"There's a missing part of your life."

The hands at the back of her neck suddenly stopped stroking her hair, as she lowers her palm against her side.

"Pardon?"

Erine wasn't sure what to say. But the deep sunken eyes of the pale young lady was starting to frighten her. And it didn't help that her face seem to move closer to her each time.

"You've lost something important." The old lady continued. "If this was never found, the more you'll be regretful in your later life."

It's crazy. Whatever it is the old lady was saying. But isn't it even crazier that she suddenly travelled back in time?

But all she could reply amidst the confusion was, "What do you mean?