Naroaika

Chapter 31

Everything went dark.

I was falling just as before.

But I wasn't afraid.

All the events from when I was in the other world started replaying in my mind.

"I hope you had fun in my little world, Jerinah. Farewell, lady."

That voice!

I recognised it.

It was Azlo's.

But before I could say a word, I was back to the real world.

'I'm in my room?'

*Ding*

My phone rang.

It was a message from an unknown number. I quickly opened it.

[Did you come back safely?]

It was Al.

[Yeah, I did.] I replied.

It felt weird typing on the phone after not using it for years though it was just some few days as per the real world.

I checked the date on the phone and it was still the same day when I entered the wormhole for the second time.

[Oh yeah, did you hear Azlo's voice after you entered the wormhole?]

I typed and sent Al.

He replied that he didn't which made me start to wonder. I found the book lying on the table. It seemed like an ordinary book now.

"Everything is so weird."

*Ding*

[Let's meet up tomorrow to talk about it. Gotta say I'm drained, I'm sure you are tired too.]

*Ding*

[Oh yeah and my arm is healed like nothing ever happened in the first place.]

I was relieved when he said his arm was alright. I looked at my hand and saw that the ring was gone too.

[You'd better get me the same ring when you come to propose to me again! xD]

*Ding*

[Oh no. TT]

'Who would have thought I'd be falling in love with the same man whose stare could leave you frozen at one position.' I thought to myself as I rested on my bed.

The next day, Juliette was shocked and confused at the same time when she saw Al and I together the following day.

She didn't stop asking me during class hours that I had to make up a story that she hardly believed but she went on with it. She found it even hard to believe that I stopped crushing in Mr. Keilan. I wanted to ask if she had a crush on him but I held myself back.

"So did you know that he had a crush on you ever since he was little?!"

Al spits out the drink he was drinking.

"You did?" I asked Al at Juliette's question.

"Who... told you that?" He asked, catching his breath as he wiped his mouth.

"Oops!"

*     *      *

Summer went by followed by autumn and soon it was winter.

There was a Christmas party at Al's place. A few friends of Al's and Mr. Keilan along with Juliette and I were invited.

We spent our time playing games and eating some good food!

A few hours later, I walked out to the balcony to get some fresh air.

"Getting stuffy in there?"

Al followed me out.

"Haha, somewhat."

I looked at the view of the city lights.

"The time spent at Naroaika feels so unreal."

"It surely does."

It soon started to snow. The first snow after we returned back to the real world.

I tried to catch one on my palm.

"I wonder what could have happened if you didn't have that dream and not followed me to the other world."

"I wonder." He replied. "But I'm glad I did because if not, I wouldn't be here with you right now."

He interlocked his fingers with mine and gazed into my eyes. 

"Thank you for everything Jerinah. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for going all through the trouble just for me. I'm the luckiest man to be called yours."

His hand slid down the side of my face as he caressed it. I  flinched a little as his cold hand touched my cheek. He then leaned forward for a kiss.

There was the sweetness of passion in the kiss, as a million thoughts and emotions condensed into a moment.

"I love you."

"I love you too."