4—some yesterday

---.ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎.---

"Come and get me, heeh! I know you can't. You're too slow!"

"No! Wait! Please don't tell my mom! Please don't tell her I ate the cookies!"

"But you did. She asked you not to eat 'em , right?"

"But I was hungry~" He whines.

I laugh as I see him trying to run as fast as he can to catch me, using his small feet to dash around to get me.

Though I am 3 years younger, I cannot be defeated by him, at least not in running.

"Mmm, please, I will give you anything, just—please don't tell Mom." He tries to trade.

I stop across the fountain sprawled beautifully across the garden grass.

He stops running too.

I hold my chin lightly, indicating that I am thinking about his offer.

I hum.

"So, what will you give to me?" I ask.

"U-uhh, I can give you my toys cars- or I can give you my Iron Man action figure, if you want." He states.

"Hmm, but what'll I do with those? You are a boy, and those are boys' toys. I want a Barbie!" I whined.

"B-but I don't have one—"

"Yah, I want a Barbie doll!"
I continue to ask him for a Barbie doll.

I then sit on the grass with my legs folded.

He sits in front of me in the same manner.

He puts his small index finger under his nose, and staring into the space, like he is going to get the answer there.

Suddenly, his eyes light up.

I lift my brows, my eyes widening with curiosity.

"What? What happened?" I ask.

"I am going to get you your favourite cookies." He states, fist bumping himself, like he has got the answer to the toughest question in a math exam.

Watching his lit expression, I finally give in.

I stand up, brushing the grass off my frock before offering him a helping hand, which he gladly takes.

"Alright, get me my favourite nut cookies." I say, smiling.

His smile grows.

"You won't tell Mom about it?" He asks, verifying.

"Depends upon how fast you are going to get  me those cookies." I reply, smiling smugly at him.

He quickly takes my wrist and starts dragging me along with him outside the gates of the mansion.

We walk down the gentle slopes of the hill.

"You know what? Whenever you feel bad about something, just tell me, and I'll be there with the cookies, alright?"

"Hehe, yeah. But—why cookies?" I ask, totally confused.

"Because you like them?"

"Oh."

"You're my best friend, right?" The 9 year old boy asks.

"Hmm."

"Forever?"

"Forever."

"Ha ha, you know what, when we grow older, we can, no, we will m-"
But before he can finish, he is cut by huge men blocking our way.

They look really shady.

We try to walk past them, but suddenly, the boy by my side is held by both arms, by those men, just like I am being held.

They try to take him away, while I am being dragged towards cliff.

I scream and shout, but to no success.

The boy struggles, but eventually loses his energy, and is dragged away.

I am left with those men, trying to wriggle out of their grip, but they are too strong.

They succeed in dragging me dangerously near the edge of the cliff.

And they push—

Mirae wakes up drenched in sweat.
Her breathing, heavy.

That dream again. But it was a lot longer than it used to be.

She is confused as to why she had that dream again.

She thought she had stopped having it.

Who were the people ?
Who was that boy, and who was the girl?
And why, everytime, does it seem so real?

She sighs.

Just then, the creaking of the floor is heard behind her.

Mirae turns around to check if someone's there.

But, no one.

As she turns to the front again suddenly...

Jungguk pops out in front her, out of nowhere. Mirae, jumps in her place with a start.

"Are you okay?" He asks, concerned.

"Y-yeah, you scared me." Mirae answers.

"Was it a bad dream?" He asks again, handing her a glass of water.

She drinks the water, and places the glass on the floor.

"Huh? Y-yeah. Just a nightmare, I guess?" She says, uncertainty in her voice.

"'I guess'? You would know if it was a nightmare, right? Or, was it?"

She looks at him with an 'I don't really know' expression.

Jungguk sighs.

He then produces his other hand which held a little box of cookies, from behind his back, forwarding it to her.

She stares at him, puzzled.

"Why are you carrying cookies with you?"

"I don't know. Maybe they'll help you feel better." He smiles.

"How would you know that?" She mumbles, looking down at the box of cookies in her hand.

"What?"

"Huh? I mean, nothing. Thanks, for the cookies."

"Don't mention it."

A moment of silence.

"So, what are doing up so late?" She asks, curiosity getting better of her.

"I was woken up to your screaming." He replies, concern lacing his voice.

"Oh, I am so sorry to wake you up." She sincerely apologises, a bit ashamed too.

"No need, these cushions are so not soft. So either way, I couldn't sleep." He says, smiling, Mirae reciprocating with her own one.

"Wait, your nightmare isn't because of this stupid, uncomfortable couch, right?" He asks, worried.

"I-I mean, if you are then you can take those cushions too. You are my guest and-" He starts rambling, but the girl cuts through his nervous rambling.

She chuckles.
"Hey, stop, it's not your fault, or your couch's. It's just that...I've been having those kinda dreams since I was a child."

The mood takes a serious turn, and silence falls again.

Thoughts about the future, and the present cloud their minds.

"Look, if you are sad again, about how people are scared of you because of your—you know—abilities, then don't worry about me. Because I am not. And let me tell you something honestly, you—don't think you are alone, you aren't anymore. And I will protect you from those cruel people, because you were there when no one was. You saved me. And also because...you earned my trust. I don't know why, but, I feel like I've known you forever. Mirae, you are now my friend so, please, don't think you are alone, you have me."

After this, he leaves the room after patting her head and smiling assuringly.

"You seem familiar too. Infact, you just feel like, you're family..."

————.ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎ᴥ︎.————

1117 words.