DWYUID - Chapter 3

Instructions

~Chapter 3~ February 10th, 2024. 4:10am Rubbing my eyes, I look out the window to see a world with enough colour to drive me insane. I wonder if Ruben ever wonders about me. But why... Was it really necessary to block me? Was he that hurt? I wish I could know. If only he knew how much I regret everything. For a second, I thought I saw a faint figure with tears in its eyes, but in a blink of an eye, it disappeared. I'm seeing things now. Great. Axel walks with El & I to school, talking about how he had a terrible cold yesterday. Eliane and I share a questioning look then burst out in giggles. "What the what? I thought we agreed no inside-jokes!" He mutters while we calm down. But Eliane notices I've been real quiet since yesterday. "Atlas, are you sure everything's alright? You've been acting strange-" Suddenly the words escape my mouth before I can stop myself. "Yes, Eliane. I'm fine. Can y'all stop asking? It's getting annoying," I say, annoyed. I cover my mouth as if I realized what I said. The two of them look at me, hurt splattered across their faces. I can feel tears trying to escape my eyes, but no. Stay in my eyes, tears belong inside my eyes' prison. Don't let the emotion show. "At, what the heck...?" El whispers. Axel is now glaring at me. I can't handle this. What is wrong with me? The answer is... everything. Running into homeroom, I look at the empty seat next to me. Trying to cover my face, there's nothing more I wish for than to undo everything from this past month. I've got an appointment with my therapist. Let's get this over and done with. "Are you sure you've been sleeping well, Mr. Azrael? You don't seem very okay," He says, glancing down at his bright neon-coloured clipboard. I remember the first time I lied about my insomnia to my therapist. Seeing the smile on someone's face made me hide the truth more. But why is everyone getting on my nerves today? I seem to be doing it a lot, but I storm straight out. I can't take this anymore. It's been a while since I skipped school. I've forgotten the smell of the beautiful town life. Right in the middle of the countryside and the city, I wish I lived here. A familiar cockatiel lands on my shoulder. "Silver!!" This bird I met when I saw it lying on the grass below its nest 2 years ago. A baby bird with no way up. So I took her in and took care of her, but eventually I had to let her go. She always recognizes me whenever I come here though. My favourite park. Pretty white flowers surround the glistening pond. This is where I wished I would grow old in love at. Silver seems to notice I look upset as well, because she nibbles on my hair and hops on my finger, rubbing against my slender fingers. Birds love scritches on their head. I suddenly notice someone sitting on the bench. Someone eerily familiar. Short blonde hair, brown eyes. Sunny?! "Sunny! Is that you?" I call, walking towards her. Turning her head around quickly, her facial expression darkens when she sees me. "What do you want, Atlas?" She snaps. I stumble back in shock. This nothing like the Sunny I know. The girl who smiled at me that first day we met, the girl who wouldn't dare hurt a poor bee. Maybe I've mistaken a stranger for her. No, that wouldn't be right. This girl knows my name. "Woah, woah... Settle down. What's up? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in England with Ruben?" "Sherlock Holmes, huh? What's with the interrogation? I continued to study here. Ruben told me to follow my dreams. And... get my brother's name off your filthy tongue," She hisses. I don't notice my staring with wide eyes until she claps in front of my face, snapping me back into reality. "You think I'd forgive you for breaking his heart?" She whispers, glaring at me with fury. I can legit see fire in her eyes. "You know he's got trust issues!" My world stops. How... did I forget? No wonder Ruben blocked me... I've been the one misunderstanding here all this time. I can't believe I didn't realize. "Can... you ask him to unblock me? I promise... This is all a misunderstanding. You see,-" Sunny puts a finger to my mouth to shush me. "Liar," She whispers with just as much malice. I just stand there, half-lucid. Tell me this is all a nightmare. Tell. Me. This. Is. All. Just. A. Stupid. Nightmare. But... What if I prove I'm worthy of love? Am I, though? I love Ruben, and I know he loved me too. I know it. Our love isn't a waste of time. So I'll fight for him... I'll fight for us.