The Dream That Stayed

5.Fragments Of Tomorrow

# Part 5. Fragments of Tomorrow

The next morning, Lily woke up to the sound of birds chirping.

Orange sunlight spread softly across her room while a cool breeze flowed through the curtains.

Lily opened her eyes suddenly.

She immediately sat up.

She was back in 2056.

Breathing heavily, she walked toward the balcony and inhaled the fresh morning air.

Her mind raced with thoughts.

*Was it just a dream… or a vision of the future?*

This time, Lily decided she would confirm everything herself.

After taking a shower, she went downstairs for breakfast.

The moment she entered the kitchen, she saw Ethan.

And suddenly—

The last memory she had of him flashed through her mind.

Ethan dying while protecting her.

Without thinking, Lily ran toward him, hugged him tightly, and kissed the top of his head.

Everyone in the kitchen froze in shock.

Ethan dropped both the spoon and the glass he was holding.

“What the hell?!” he shouted, immediately pushing her away. “Did you drink alcohol first thing in the morning?!”

Lily couldn’t stop smiling.

“You know Preet is going to get proposed to, right?”

Ethan’s jaw dropped instantly.

“What?!”

He immediately started panicking.

“Who the hell told you that?! And who the hell is the guy?! Why am I the only one who doesn’t know about this?! Does Preet secretly have a boyfriend in college? She literally said she was single yesterday!”

Lily laughed softly.

“Why are you reacting like she cheated on you?”

Ethan froze awkwardly.

Then he looked away and mumbled,

“Why would I react? This has nothing to do with me.”

Lily crossed her arms and smirked.

“Ohhh… Ethan.”

He grabbed his bag quickly.

“I’m leaving for college. Bye.”

Then Lily suddenly asked,

“Ethan… do you like Preet?”

Ethan looked completely flabbergasted.

“What?! No! Did I ever say I like Preet?”

Lily raised an eyebrow playfully.

“So that means you do.”

“No!” Ethan argued immediately. “That means I DON’T like her. I have absolutely nothing to do with her!”

After saying that, he quickly walked toward the door.

“Bye Mom! Bye Dad! Bye Lil—”

He stopped midway and glared at her dramatically.

“—You’re seriously terrifying.”

Then he rushed out of the house while Lily laughed loudly behind him.

Lily hugged both of her parents tightly.

“Love you guys,” she said happily.

Her parents looked confused by her sudden affection, but Lily simply laughed, packed her things, and left for Ryan’s house.

She wanted to talk to him about everything—

The dreams.

The future.

And whether any of it was actually real.

But the moment she opened the door, she froze.

Bright was standing there.

For a second, Lily just stared at him silently.

Then suddenly, she hugged him tightly.

Bright looked completely shocked.

“Uh… Lily?”

She smiled emotionally.

She was just happy to see him alive.

Bright awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.

“I’m really sorry about the prank that day,” he said quietly. “I know it’s been months… I just didn’t have the guts to face you after that. And you were busy with your martial arts classes and everything, so I thought maybe it was better to leave you alone. You finally looked peaceful again.”

Lily smiled softly.

“It’s okay,” she said. “Everything’s fine now.”

Then she looked at him seriously.

“Come with me to Ryan’s house. I need to discuss something important with both of you.”

Bright looked confused but nodded anyway.

When they reached Ryan’s house, Ryan wasn’t home yet.

His mother welcomed them inside warmly.

“Ryan will be back soon,” she said.

While waiting, Lily called Ryan.

“How long until you get here?” she asked.

Ryan chuckled softly from the other side of the phone.

“I’ll be there in no time, my love.”

Bright immediately made a disgusted face while Lily rolled her eyes.

About ten minutes later, Ryan finally arrived home.

The moment he entered, he smiled mysteriously at Lily.

“Close your eyes,” he said.

Lily frowned suspiciously.

“Ryan—”

“Just trust me.”

Lily sighed and closed her eyes.

Ryan stood in front of her and started counting dramatically.

“Three…”

“Two…”

“One…”

“Tadaaa!”

Lily slowly opened her eyes.

And froze.

A pair of heart-shaped couple pendants rested in Ryan’s hands.

Exactly like the ones she had seen in the future.

Her heartbeat stopped for a moment.

Everything Ethan had said suddenly came rushing back into her mind.

This wasn’t just a nightmare.

She really had seen the future.

Ryan smiled proudly.

“So? Do you like them?”

But Lily looked pale instead of happy.

Immediately, she grabbed Ryan’s wrist.

“Bring me a notebook,” she said seriously.

Ryan and Bright exchanged confused looks.

A few minutes later, all three of them sat together while Lily explained everything.

The dreams.

The deaths.

The infection.

The future.

And everything started from Bright's Hospital.

Ryan and Bright looked completely confused.

Finally, Ryan spoke carefully.

“Lily… Bright’s family doesn’t even own a hospital. How could any of this happen?”

“I’m not doubting you,” he added quickly. “I just don’t understand how it’s possible.”

Bright suddenly went silent.

Both Lily and Ryan looked toward him.

After a few moments, Bright sighed deeply.

“It was supposed to stay confidential…” he admitted quietly. “But yeah… my family actually signed the hospital contract recently.”

Ryan’s expression changed immediately.

Bright continued,

“The building is still under construction though.”

Lily looked directly at Bright.

“The hospital will be completed around 2059… right?”

Bright looked slightly unsettled.

“Maybe…” he replied slowly.

Ryan crossed his arms and leaned back against the couch.

“Okay,” he said finally. “Let’s say I believe you. Then tell me this—how do we stop the apocalypse? How did it even start in the first place?”

His voice became more serious.

“And why would Bright’s uncle shoot him? His uncle clearly adores him. He’s wanted Bright to marry his younger daughter ever since we were kids.”

Lily lowered her eyes helplessly.

“I don’t know,” she admitted softly.

Ryan ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

The pressure was clearly getting to him.

Then suddenly, Bright snapped.

“Stop this stupid f*****g prank, Lily!” he shouted. “This isn’t funny anymore!”

Bright immediately stood up angrily.

“I’ll leave if you guys are seriously doing this,” he said coldly. “I know I pranked you before, Lily, but getting revenge like this is too much. I already apologized.”

He looked genuinely uneasy now.

“This whole thing is starting to creep me out.”

Lily’s eyes filled with tears.

“But I’m telling the truth, Bright!” she cried desperately. “You’ll be wearing a black suit that day! If you wear another colour instead, maybe things will change!”

Bright stared at her in disbelief.

“Enough!”

Before Lily could say anything else—

SLAP!

Bright slapped her across the face.

The room fell silent.

“You’ve crossed every limit,” Bright said angrily. “Stay away from me.”

Then he turned around and walked out.

Lily stood there frozen before finally breaking down crying.

Ryan immediately hugged her.

She buried her face against his chest and cried harder.

“We have to save him, Ryan,” she sobbed. “We have to…”

Ryan looked toward the door silently.

Then suddenly, he rushed outside and ran after Bright.

Bright had almost reached his car when Ryan stopped him.

“Bright, wait.”

Bright looked irritated.

Ryan sighed heavily.

“Just think about it carefully once,” he said seriously. “Lily is crying and panicking because she genuinely believes something bad is going to happen to you.”

Bright stayed silent.

Ryan stepped closer.

“Let’s test her.”

Bright frowned.

“If she really can see visions… then maybe we can save you.”

Ryan’s expression became firmer.

“Maybe we can save everyone.”

Bright looked conflicted.

Ryan suddenly grinned lightly.

“Come on, Bright. Look at the brighter side.”

Bright stared at him blankly.

Ryan pointed dramatically at him.

“Your name is literally Bright. So be bright.”

Bright groaned loudly.

“Oh my God, stop being annoying.”

Ryan smirked.

“So you’re coming back?”

Bright sighed deeply.

“Hm… only because of you.”

Ryan smiled softly.

“Not for me.”

“For us.”

Ryan returned home a few minutes later.

The moment Lily saw Bright, she immediately stood up nervously.

But Ryan simply walked toward her and hugged her gently.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

Lily shook her head. she said,

She wasn’t upset about the slap.

She was terrified about Bright’s future.

That same evening, all seven friends gathered once again in Ryan’s basement.

This time, the atmosphere felt completely different.

More serious.

More tense.

Lily explained everything from the beginning.

The dreams.

The future.

The deaths.

The infection.

Then finally, she looked at all of them and said firmly:

“No matter what happens… I’m going to stop the apocalypse.”

Silence filled the basement.

Then suddenly, Ethan slowly walked toward Lily and whispered quietly into her ear:

“So… the Preet thing was also a vision?”

Lily smirked slightly.

“Yes.”

Ethan immediately turned toward Preet dramatically.

“Miss Preet,” he said, “when exactly were you planning to introduce us to your boyfriend?”

Preet blinked in confusion.

“I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Lily immediately grinned.

“Ohhhh, Ethan. Since she doesn’t have one… wanna become the boyfriend?”

Ethan quickly whispered to Lily,

“Shut up, sis. You told me all this already. Are you making fun of me now?”

Lily tried not to laugh.

“i***t,” she whispered back. “You’re the one who proposes to her in the future.”

Ethan’s eyes widened instantly.

“WAIT—really?!”

He looked suddenly excited.

“What was her answer? Did she say yes?!”

Lily crossed her arms proudly.

“Bring me my favourite snacks every day and maybe I’ll tell you.”

Ethan rolled his eyes dramatically while Lily burst out laughing.

Even Preet started blushing slightly.

Ryan looked around at everyone and finally spoke seriously.

“Okay, guys. Enough joking around.”

The room became quiet again.

“We need to share every theory and thought we have about this psychic vision thing.”

Ryan looked toward Lily.

“What exactly is happening to her?”

Then toward the others.

“How did people get infected?”

His voice became firm.

“We need answers.”

Then slowly, Ryan looked at every single one of them.

“And if this future is real…”

He clenched his fists tightly.

“Then we’re going to stop it together.”

To be Continued...