Alya's eyes widened as she processed my words: -"You remember your past life?" - she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked around nervously, as if afraid someone might overhear: - "That's... that's not something you just say lightly, Aiko."
She must think I'm insane right? Ah... I knew it. I mean, who would believe something like that.
"Just... forget it, were close to the train station anyway." - as soon as I said that I tried to walk away, but Alya quickly grasped my hand.
"Wa- Wait! I believe you, I really do!"
"Forget it Alya, you don't need to do this, you probably must think I'm insane right?"
I noticed I didn't feel as disgusted as I was when she immediately grasped my hand. Maybe I've become more comfortable with her? It's only been less than a day since I know her.
Did my body seriously give in as soon as he felt a girl's touch in years? I'm disappointed in you, body-san.
"I- I- I remember..." - she suddendly said after a few seconds.
Hm? What do you remember? You left your stove turned on at home?
"My past life... I also remember it..." - she suddendly said, shocking me.
Okay... That's something new...
"Are you saying this to comfort me? I'm honored, but you really don't need to do that."
She suddendly bit her lip, tears welled up in her eyes.
"I- I do... Please believe me... I really do remember it... We're the same..."
We are not the same. You're popular, pretty, you have friends to hang out with and I'm the opposite - ugly, loner, no friends, unpopular, everyone dislikes me. I mean, my oversized glasses and bangs don't really help, but I only wear them because I've been told once that my eyes look scary. If you saw them, you wouldn't think the same way would you?
"Ne, ne, did that guy just made that girl cry?"
"Yes he did, what a piece of garbage!"
Were outside, of course a scene like these were to be seen by other people. And of course it's the guy's fault for making the girl cry. Victim blaming is easy when it's done to men huh?
Society... Society...
Did I become the Joker now?
"Ah... Alya... Don't cry, look, let's sit on a bench and talk it out okay?" - I try comforting her with some words.
"Okay~!" - She said and expression immediately turned into that of happiness.
Did she... fake cry? Wow, amazing. S tier actress, how much did she train for this moment huh? 0-2 Snow Leopard, you got me again.
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As me and Alya sat down on a nearby bench, the world around us seemed to pause. The noise of the bustling train station faded into a dull hum, creating a small bubble of quiet around us.
I looked at Alya, her eyes now bright and clear, any trace of tears gone as if they had never been there. Wow, I got tricked, great stuff there. You still didn't learn from your past experiences did you? Dumbass.
"So, do you really remember your past life?" She asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
I nodded "Yes, I do. It's not something I talk about often, obviously. Not like I have anyone to talk considering It's hard to find someone who would understand, let alone believe it."
She studied me for a moment, her gaze searching mine. "What do you... remember?" she asked slowly, her voice barely above a whisper.
I took a deep breath, my gaze distant as I delved into my memories. "I remember everything... everything that I wish I could forget but I can't. It's like having dreams of a life that wasn't yours, but you know deep down that it was. There are moments that feel so vivid, like they happened yesterday and I guess I'm scared of it... Scared that it might happen again. "
She suddendly put her hand onto mine.
"I know what you mean," she said softly. "But for me... It's the other way around. Every memory that I had... с тобой... was filled with happiness and I never wanted it to end, but it did and sometimes... I just want to go back to those times."
Filled with happiness, huh? The guy she was with is one lucky guy. I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. She's got everything going for her, and she's a girl, so it's easier for her. But despite that, I felt a strange sense of connection, a belief that maybe, just maybe, we could understand each other in a way no one else could.
Hm... Do people like femboys?
"Say..." - She suddendly said: "Do you... remember anything, about... I don't know... maybe somewhere, someplace you were married to someone?
As Alya's question hung in the air, I felt a sudden tightness in my chest. Married, me? What a joke.
"I don't think so no." - I respond to her.
Her expression turned sad, and she looked down like a lost puppy.
"But..." - She quickly looked up at me again and I said: "For the past week... I've been having these kind of dreams... where I'm asleep and suddendly someone enters the room and proceeds to call me... "honey". waking me up. It's probably just my delusion fantasies, so don't worry about it."
I looked at Alya, her expression a mix of hope and sadness.
"Aiko," she began softly, "those dreams... they might mean something. Maybe they're not just fantasies. Maybe they're something more."
Something more? Maybe they do. But would that change anything? I don't really know...
As the train approached, its rhythmic clatter growing louder, we stood up from the bench. The train came to a halt with a hiss of brakes, and the doors slid open, revealing a sea of faces, each absorbed in their own world.
I turned to Alya. She smiled softly, a gesture that seemed to convey more than words ever could. "Goodbye, Aiko," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "Take care of yourself, okay? And... i'll help you remember everything."
I nodded and waved goodbye at her. I stepped onto the train, the doors closing behind me with a soft whoosh. As the train lurched forward, I watched Alya through the window, her figure growing smaller and smaller until she was just a speck in the distance.
The train ride was a blur of motion and noise, the world outside the windows a streak of colors and shapes. But in that small corner, I felt a sense of peace, a belief that maybe, just maybe, I could face whatever came my way.
I put on my headphones.
As the train rattled on, I stood near the door, holding onto the overhead handle for balance. The rhythmic motion of the train and the passing scenery outside the window had a somewhat soothing effect, allowing my mind to wander. Suddenly, I felt a gaze upon me, a subtle but distinct sensation that someone was watching me. I glanced around the train car, my eyes scanning the sea of faces, most of which were engrossed in their phones or lost in thought.
Mh... Was I wrong? My senses definitely were telling me someone was watching me...
And then I saw her.
Sitting a few seats away, partially obscured by the crowd, was a girl with an air of quiet elegance. With glossy dark purple/black hair that flows to her lower back, a slender body, and an incredibly beautiful face and her eyes, wide and expressive, were fixed on me with a gentle curiosity. Hm? Is it just me or did I see cat ears pop out from above her head? Starting to wonder if cat girls are real in this world...
Our eyes met and I felt a strange sense of connection towards her, strange. There was something about her gaze, something profound and understanding, as if she could see the complexities and uncertainties that lay beneath the surface. I quickly looked away.
Probably looked at me by accident...
The train pulled into the station, I stepped out, the world around me resuming its usual pace. I headed home.
Suddendly, I sensed a gaze behind me, again. I looked back and there she was, the same girl that I saw on the train. Is she following me... Mh, better test something.
I turn the closest corner away from my home. And continue walking, I look back a little bit, and lo and behold she's still following. Maybe this her way home?
For the next five minutes, I continued turning more and more corners away from my house, my curiosity piqued. I looked back occasionally, and each time, she was still there, following me. My heart raced as I started to jog, and to my surprise, she started to run as well.
Does she want to murder me? I didn't see a knife with her, but maybe it's in her bag. I suddenly took a sharp left to the nearest corner and waited for her there, my heart pounding in my chest. I heard her coming, her footsteps light and quick. I took off my glasses, ready to confront her.
As soon as she turned the corner, I grabbed her arm, pinned her against the wall, her back facing me, both arms locked behind her with my one arm, my other arm on her neck. She gasped, her cat ears brimming with excitement and surprise.
"So..." I try to sound and look as scary as possible: "Why are you following me?"
She looks at me at with shock, her cat ears brimming with excitement.
She looked at me with shock, her eyes wide and her expression a mix of shock and happiness. "...Aiko? Is- Is that really you?" she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
Excuse me mam, but who are you??
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Thanks for reading.