Magic Shop

THREE| REALITY

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Dawn felt something warm shinning on his face. He squints his eyes as he sighed and slowly open his eyes. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the brightness of the sun. He blinks for a second as he looks at the place where he fell asleep last night.

He then realized that he fell to sleep last night outside. As he remembers what happened, he looks at his wrist and smiles sadly. The blood dried up, and some are on the floor. He needs to clean it up before his mother checks his room. As he comes back to his senses, he leans on the chair he's sitting as the question, "What would I do today?" comes out.

For the last week, all he did was surf the internet and looked for a job related to his bachelor's degree. Still, he highly doubts that someone would hire him with his criminal record, and the history of being in a mental hospital would appear in his resume.

He was lost in the thought of wanting to do something for a change. While thinking, he saw the faces of the people he knew from a long past came and revisited him in his thoughts. As he reminisces about the beginnings of those people, he smiles faintly. Trying to suppress his tears from falling because he knew even though he tries to hide it, he missed them so much.

Regrets, guilt came crashing down in his whole body like a bucket of ice was poured all over his body. He wanted to talk to them again and ask what they are doing now, but how would he ask the people who are already dead?

He wanted to go to the cemetery where they're buried. Still, he knew that's also impossible because he's already in a place far away from them.

He's still suffering from the past and wanted to forget everything. Even he knew that he can't ignore it, and overlooking the memories they once shared would be disrespectful full. If only he can change the time. But Dawn knew that that is, in fact, impossible to do nor possible to happened.

Dawn sighed as he decides to stand up and head to the bathroom to take a bath and fix his appearance. Going out is better than being stuck in his room while surfing the internet, thinking when he will be good enough.

After he finished tiding himself up, he heads towards the kitchen, where he saw his mom reading some folded paper while cooking something.

"Good morning," he greeted. His mom smiles and puts down the paper she was reading. "Oh, you're wearing a hoodie today? Even though it's hot outside?" His mother asked him. He looks at his self for a while and smile before answering, " I'm going out for a while. I don't like the weather; if it's too hot, I don't like to have a tan."

His mom shrugged. "Sit down now and have something for breakfast first before you go out."  His mom told him as she transfers the cook pancakes to the pan from the plate. He nods and sits. "Do you have any case to win today?" He asked as he eyes the folder that is on the kitchen table. His mother looks at him and back to the pancakes. "Yes, I have a meeting with the prosecutor and my client today."

He nods again, and out of curiosity, he reached the folder, but his mother stopped him and put down the pancakes on the table in front of him. "This is confidential, no looking." His mother told him in a playful toe. He nodded again and got the plate to put the fresh cook pancakes.

“Would you be late in the evening?”

"Why, you asked?"

"I'm thinking about dinner. I could eat outside."

His mother looked at her phone. "Wait, let me check my schedule." She faced him and said, "I really don't know. It depends upon the length of the meeting. If I am late, I'll just text you."

"Okay." was his reply, and proceeded to eat pancakes. His mother also does the same. The whole time they were silent and busy eating pancakes, but then, his mother opens her mouth and said, "Do you have plans on what you want to do?" His mother asked.

He paused and looked at his pancakes. As he looks at it, he realized how it was perfectly cooked.

His thoughts were lost as he looks at the pancakes, but he was taken back from reality when he heard his mother clear his throat. He slowly looks at his mom, and he smiles warmly, "I honestly don't have anything in my mind right now, mom." He said he was telling his instructor that even tho Dawn studied last night, he can't come up with any answers to his test papers right now.

His mom, who was looking at him with expectation, softens her expression and smile at him. "It's okay, I'm still here. I'm willing to wait for your answers soon."

It really feels different right now. Dawn said to himself. Before, when his dad asked him what he wants to do, he would usually come up with a lie and tell him that he's studying or doing something with his hobby but now honest is new to him.

It's new because all his life, He knew he needed to lie because if he will not, people will be disappointed in him. It's tough to live expectations and the reality of people always looking at you.

He nods and continues to eat the pancakes his mother cooked for him.  As he eats, he suddenly felt The warm feeling in his chest, making him tear up a little bit.

This is embarrassing. Dawn told himself, and he secretly wipes his eyes with the tissue beside him. He wasn't supposed to be like this, but the feeling that makes his chest warm is new.

Since he lost his friends, he never really expects someone to say that they are willing to wait nor understand.

Regrets and different emotions are clouding his chest and mind right now. That he suddenly stood up and went to his room, leaving his mom on the kitchen table eating.

He felt sorry for his mom. He just doesn't know what to do or what to say; everything is all new to him that he might break if he will take it all at once.

He threw himself in bed and buried his face on his pillow, trying to suppress all the emotions he felt right now.

He's in the middle of calming himself down when he heard his mom knock on his door. He remembers his attitude. He inhales and decided to stand up and open the door. He was greeted with his mom concerned face looking at him.

"Did I do something, honey?" she asked. He smiled.

"None, Mom, I was just …" He immediately thinks of an excuse. "I forgot about my phone. I was expecting something. That's why,"

Hearing that, His mom's expression turned soft.

"I thought I did something, okay Son, I'm going now, Don't forget to eat lunch and dinner after all your requirements, okay?"

 Dawn nods and smiles. "Yes, mom, please take care," he said softly.

"Yes, I will, Son."

He closed his door and lean on it. Everything, Every emotion is new to him, and he's not prepared for anything coming on his way. Suddenly the six faces of the people he wanted to see so much pop in his mind. He smiles slightly, "Would you tease me if you are all hearing right now? I f*****g miss you all."

He mumbles as tears fall from his cheeks. If only he could really turn the time back to the way it was, he will do everything to save them.

--

It's already sunset, and the blazing sun looks so beautiful as it painted the sky with the pastel red-orange color. Dawn felt the wind brushing his cheeks as he closed his eyes, and he smiled. He feels at peace, and he can't help to overthink that everything will crash after this.

He reached his point that he doesn't want to be happy anymore. After all, he feels like the universe will come back with ten folds to make him miserable because he knew he doesn't deserve to be happy.

He looks at his surroundings as people walk past him. He's still holding the coffee he ordered in a coffee shop. As he sits on the bench waiting for the bus, he casually looks at the people walking. Some of them are walking too fast as if they had an appointment to chase some friends and people they are close with because they look happy talking to them while walking.

Dawn looks at his coffee and smiles sadly. He felt so incomplete. Dawn felt pathetic, and he pities himself so much that he doesn't even know why. But he decided not to wait for the bus and just walk his way to their home. He knew that it's not that far.

As he strides his way, he heard the soft sound of a piano. The melody was familiar that he paused his walk to look for it.

It reminds him of the melody his friends used to play whenever they were together. He starts to shake as he reminisces about the past again.

He walks and walks to the different alley he fell like he’s hearing the music too.

As the melody became much clearer, he felt like he's going to faint. The piece and music remind him of all the things he used to be and how big he changed now.  The emotions, past,  and regrets are coming down to his life. Like an ice-cold bucket of water poured all over his body.

He felt scared and uncertain; he doesn't know why.

As he walks past every buildings and shop, he entered a dark alley. He can't see anything except the light at the end of it.

At the end of the alley, he walk in too, he saw a shop. It has a gold and black exterior that awn was curious why people haven't look at it nor notice it. The melody became louder, and it feels like something is pulling him inside the shop.

As he is now closer, he notices the signage, "MAGIC ANTIQUE SHOP," he mumbles.

As he was about to open the door, he paused for a moment. He's sweating like a mad man, he realized. Should he just turn around and pretend that he didn't see the shop?

Yes, that might be a good idea, he mumbles to himself, but as he takes a step to turn away, the door opened,

He looks at it, and he just can't believe what he saw.

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