Magic Shop

18 | CONFUSED AND LOST

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There were only a few words that could describe what Dawn was feeling right now.  Those words were: Impossible, and unthinkable.

Dawn wanted to deny and not even think what he was seeing but him already experienced such fantasy of traveling in the past and experiencing the error in fate and time, Dawn knew that he can’t possibly debate and win on such matters.

The only thing he could do was accept and think of possibilities.

They told me time would reset itself. However, Lau and Christine did not told me that I will go back on the same time line I previously went. Yes, I understand that, but what I can’t find any reason was, why am I back at this certain timeline? I am I back here eating dinner with Sejin and Roen? Well, the food is still nice though.

Dawn can’t help but sighed as he looked at the utensils on his hands. His gaze stopped there as if he was looking at his hand growing with heads. He can’t possibly enjoy the food like before. He can’t even taste it now.

Dawn had felt his mind was exploding as he tried to come up with answers. Dawn felt like he had encounter a very terrifying question on the exam paper and he knew he wasn’t prepared so, the only outcome for him was to turn the paper without even answering the question.

If there was such option Dawn would have done it but he knew that the reset will only happen after seven days when the clock strikes twelve. Before the reset of time happened, Dawn assumed that he would go back to his first time line to repeat his actions because that was the cliche that always happened on fantasy and science fiction books he read, but now, he was stand corrected.

I can’t always base what’s happening to me on the books I have read!

The time retain his previous actions only resetting and returning him back to the important matters he needed to pay attention with. But, facing with such difficulty without any prior knowledge at all Dawn was in a complete predicament not knowing which path he should take.

Dawn was clueless. Like a wondering sailor in the middle of the storm without any navigation or map at all. He can only stir ship and hope deep inside his heart to arrive at a shore that would help him go back to his land.

“Dawn?” He was taken back to reality when Dawn heard the voice of Roen. He motioned his head up, his eyes were clearly reflected what he was feeling: Loss and fear. Roen blinked for a moment scrutinizing the expression of his friend.

 Roen sensed something odd. A little while earlier, his friend was enjoying the bountiful dinner his elder half brother had prepared but now, in a blink of a second, his face was now covered with confusion, lost, and fear.

Is the food horrifying? Roen can’t help but asked as he withdraw his eyes back to the dinner food that was served. It look normal to me though.

Dawn who was able to came back to his senses tried his very best to appear normal. Dawn was aware how Roen observed the little things.

Dawn slowly then curled his lips up trying not to appear awkward however, the expression that reflected on his face was like an old man who was suffering because of constipation trying to smile to his grand children.

In his mind, Dawn felt like he needed to slap his face several times to keep his wits together and not to draw any suspicion. If Sejin notice his unusual behavior he would press the matter further.

“Yes?” Dawn answered Roen. Roen paused for two seconds before opening his mouth.

“Is there something wrong? Your expression changed.”

“Huh?” Sejin who was enjoying his dinner completely oblivious with his surroundings was surprised that he instantly transfer his gaze from his food to Dawn.

“Something is wrong?” Sejin asked once again. Dawn sighed inwardly. His emotions do really reflect on his face. He tsk-ed at himself before calming down.

“Nothing is wrong, are we going to River’s work place?” He tried to avoid the topic as he chopped his food.

“Huh?” Sejin was confused, “Did I tell you already that we’re going to see him? I was just about to ask you too. I saw him last time working at a convenience store and I enjoy staying there. Did you perhaps see him too there?”

Realizing his mistake once again, Dawn felt like he was stuck in a maze. In this time phrase, Roen took note how Dawn’s expression changed every single time.

“Yes,” Dawn helplessly answered. In his heart he was praying that his carelessness will not affect the phase of time.

“Let’s go later, eleven pm.”

“Sure” Dawn just nodded and agreed to his friend as he tried not to make any other mistakes. Roen who was observing withdraw his gaze and begun eating peacefully.

As the dinning hall was now silent, Dawn was able to think again. His previous actions appeared in his mind. If his theory was right, that the time retain his previous actions and only brought him back to the timeline where he need to take note of something.

Dawn swallowed the food and drank the water before calling the attention of Roen and Sejin once more. Dawn already perceived Roen would observe his questions once more but he needed to take risk.

risks are better than regrets.

“Did I cry in the classroom?” Dawn was still embarrassed.

Roen and Sejin looked at him once again, “Yes, you cried out of nowhere we thought you’re possess by the ghost from the corpse we saw inside the haunted house.”

“Possessed? Ghost?”

He mumbled and he put an importance to this words. “Did I ask for a sleep over?”

Roen was the next one to answer. “Yes. You wanted to find your mother and you don’t like to return home.”

I was right, my previous actions were retained and I was only back to the timeline that I need to take note with. But, what should I pay attention too? There was nothing out of ordinary besides the police investigations and the murder we discussed at River’s work place. Wait, it might be that. Are they telling me that my previous choice was wrong and I should report who was the murderer to the authorities or should I prevent the next murder? But this doesn’t make any sense. Nothing of these things are connected to us. My only task was to prevent my friends from dying!

Dawn’s mind was full of questions as he tried to come up with a conclusion. He felt exhausted as his brain was working. He never think like this before. Subconsciously, he draw his breath and lean toward the chair and closed his eyes.

He felt the burden of reality right in front of his eyes.

At the same time, Dawn’s odd actions were confusing Roen.

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