I spent too long picking which set to wear. I threw the jeans and the shirt into the bed, cursing the fact that I don't have anything different to wear. When I brought up the topic of changing clothes to Rom, the guy had reddened like crazy and began wearing different hoodies to school ever since. While I'm...still stuck with three sets of clothes.

Such a shame. Should I try mixing them up?

I dashed to a boutique inside the Supermarket and I bought nothing but doughnuts and a hotdog stick. I know. I don't have enough money to buy myself a decent crop top. How come Rom had so many changes of clothing? Shall I crash at his place and borrow one hoodie? I seriously adore his maroon one. Oh, I want to steal it.

Yeah, the reset would probably bring it back to his house and he would have a lifetime to tease me about it. Perhaps I'll ask him to let me have it? Nah.

Why was I even thinking about clothes right now? It's just a normal day.

I plopped into the bed without choosing any clothes to wear.

No, today was a special day. I would get to hear something from someone's dream. It's...I don't know. It's exciting and daunting at the same time.

Because if Rom was able to remember his promise, it's one step closer to my goal. And if he didn't forget things this day, it would be the longest streak Rom had held up, not that I'm counting.

And if Rom was finally able to remember...

How perfect could that be? Two of us together and conquering the world. With Rom, there's nothing I couldn't do. With him, I wouldn't ever feel alone.

I sighed contentedly. I couldn't wait until we were sitting on that abandoned lot and I was hearing whatever Rom had written.

Who even thought that Rom writes songs? Unbelievable. Even more so that I had to find out about it through his friends. I mean, who does that? Having an art was a feat worthy to be mentioned in any conversation! How come Rom never mentioned it to me?

No matter. Today, or at least later tonight, I would hear his songs. And I think I'm going to be happy about it. Not just because I would be hearing his voice but because I'm finally closer to realizing my goal.

I hummed to myself as I checked the time from the stairs, bending my knees to get me a glimpse of the clock by the fridge. It's 5:30 in the afternoon. We meet at seven. Ugh. Couldn't time go any faster?

I rummaged around my vanity for a rubber tie. My arms hurt from holding up my hair too long. It's not even a full-fledged braid. Just a side braid, really. I stretched the rubber band using my teeth and my fingers, making quick work securing my hairstyle.

I slipped into my usual hoodie and track pants not long after because why not? Hoodies were everything. I tied my laces and bounced down the stairs, checking the clock again. 6 PM. Oh, I could still fix dinner.

I set to cooking, obtaining the eggs and the tomatoes. Omelette. It's a quick cook for one, which was good.

Humming like a deranged grandma, I began cooking. I did this routine a thousand times that I don't even think as I did. There goes the eggs and the diced tomatoes. Prod it a little. Flip it over. Wait for it to become golden. Flip it again. Ta-da! Dinner.

I scooped the circle thing into a separate plate and ate with my hands, never minding the cooking oil slicking my fingers. Unlike the Campus's comfort rooms, my soap didn't run out.

I circled the dining room, shoveling omelette into my mouth, not even bothering to sit down and actually eat on the table. For a few minutes, the only sound coming from me was my chewing.

After a few minutes, I stuffed the last of the omelette into my mouth and did the dishes with a speed I didn't know I had. A quick look at the clock told me that I have three minutes to make it to the abandoned lot. Oops.

I dried things up quickly, patting my hands against my track pants in an attempt to dry them. I quickly walked to the door, threw it open, and ran all the way to the abandoned lot.

Good. Rom's still not here. Perhaps I should relax.

I decided to wait. I inched left to find the spot I used to look undisturbed at the stars. Minutes rolled on. I continued staring at the stars and tried counting them too. I tapped my foot on the ground. I crossed my arms.

The wind blew coldly, a thing I don't remember from days before. The stars seemed to have dimmed. I waited.

I pulled my phone from the pocket of my hoodie and braved scrolling through social media even though I've seen the same content before. Oh, look, I didn't realize Tristan and I were already mutual on one platform. Was that why he knew of me? I don't even remember when I added him.

Scroll. Scroll. Blah blah blah. Oh look, Jodi the dog from the Meat Shop Looks cute and fluffy. Shame that the owner lives miles away from here. I don't even know why we're mutuals.

I looked at the dog again and sighed. I want a pet but the reset keeps flinging them back to any pet shop I got them from. Perhaps, I should visit Mrs. Higgins to get a good dose of puppy bliss. Hmm, maybe tomorrow.

Oh look, the Football Team advanced to the semi-finals. Like I cared about sports. Ugh. Wait, who's this? Oooh, was this Gail? She looked gorgeous. Mm hm. Scroll further.

Most of this stuff I'd already seen but not memorized. I rarely touch my phone too. After a few weeks of tinkering with it, I got bored. I played all the games I wanted but I couldn't increase my level beyond what I could garner before the reset. I tried staying up and finishing the rest of an adventure game. It didn't go well.

I glanced at the corner of my phone. What's taking Rom so long? The clock in my phone read 8:00. A little while and the reset would happen. What was going on?

Was he not coming?

I shrugged. Perhaps he's taking a little longer because he had stuff to fix in his house. It's not easy having siblings, right?

But I couldn't help but worry. What if something happened and I'm not aware? What then?

I decided to sit on the ground, wiggling my butt against the tickling grass. This position makes scrolling easier. I ran my thumb across my bright white screen and continued seeing pictures, posts, and updates that happened long ago but not quite.

Fifteen minutes later, he's still not here. What happened to his promise? He said that he would be here. Did something go wrong? Was he dead? God, no. Please.

I considered going to his house and barging my way into it but that would be too improper. This was supposed to be a perfect evening. Rom should come in his own will.

He would come. He should.

I waited some more, watching the stars wink conspiratorially at me. I flashed them the finger. I tucked my phone in the back pocket of my jeans, humming to myself a song I heard playing in the Supermarket once. Then the first lights went off.

No. Rom still has to come. He would come! I need to wait for him.

Sweat beaded in my brow, sliding down my temples in a cold torrent. This wasn't how it's supposed to be. Rom made a promise. He remembers, right? He shouldn't have forgotten. Did I do something wrong?

More lights went out. I hugged my knees while rocking back and forth. What's going on? Where's Rom? The reset was almost due. Where was he?

Tears slid out of my eyes even though I told them not to do that. I watched the horizon where Rom was supposed to come from. He would come. He has to!

This wasn't...

The last of the lights went out. I might have screamed for time to wait. I might have wished for time to stop completely. Where was Rom? I have to see him.

Not yet. NO!

I woke up, staring at the bland, white ceiling.