close to my dialling heart

3🌹a dream, a dash and a collision

🎶 I want a love like one I've seen in the movies. That's why I'll never fall in love🎶
~Laufey~

DOVE 🕊

I had a terrifying nightmare. It felt so real that I woke up with a racing heart. In the dream, my dad was chasing me through a torrential downpour. The ground was muddy and slippery, making every step a struggle. My feet felt heavy, as if stuck to the ground, making it hard to escape. "You can run, but you can't hide, Kaos," he taunted, his evil laughter echoing in my mind. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, and I felt a sense of dread that lingered even after I woke up.

I jolted awake with a start, my heart racing, as if my dad's gun was still pressed to my head. My breathing was labored, and my chest heaved as I struggled to calm down. The tears I'd cried in my dream still streamed down my face in real life. The sun shone cruelly through the curtains, forcing me to squint. I checked the time on my white kitty-shaped alarm clock and groaned - it was 7:55 am. I was late! My lectures started at 7:30 am, and I was already running behind schedule.

Mal and Elaila were still fast asleep, oblivious to the time, as they often didn't bother with lectures. But I couldn't afford to skip a single lesson. The thought of missing a class was unbearable; it would fill me with anxiety and dread, like I was on the brink of a catastrophic failure. I felt like my academic success was a matter of life and death, and skipping a lesson would be equivalent to succumbing to academic suicide.

I sprang out of bed and dashed to the bathroom, where I quickly took a refreshing ten-second shower. Afterward, I hastily got dressed in a black long-sleeved high-neck shirt and a long denim skirt. I glanced at the clock and was shocked to see that it was already 7:59 am - time had flown by! Mal and Elaila were still fast asleep, and I couldn't help but envy their carefree attitude. I wished I had their courage and ability to shrug off responsibilities, especially on chaotic mornings like this.

I hastily stuffed a few books into my tote bag and rushed out the door, holding one shoe in my hand. I was trying to fix the tongue of my Converse shoe, which had slipped out, making it hard to slip into. With only thirty minutes left before the lecture ended, I was on the verge of a panic attack. I managed to slip into my shoe while running, but stumbled in the process. Luckily, I regained my balance just in time, and since no one was outside, my clumsiness went unnoticed.

The old adage 'tie your shoe laces' proved to be a crucial reminder that I regrettably ignored. In my rush, I forgot to secure my laces, and it led to a painful downfall - literally! As I took a corner leading to my classroom block, my untied shoelaces caused me to trip and fall. My knees hit the ground first, leaving me to balance on my hands. The impact was excruciating, and I winced in pain, fighting back tears. My gaze instinctively shifted to a pair of dark grey Nike sneakers standing in front of me, belonging to a witness of my embarrassing tumble.

The hallway was empty, but the solitary pair of sneakers was enough to make me feel embarrassed. I tilted my head up to see Xavier (or was it Xander?) standing over me, wearing a grey hoodie and ripped knee jeans. My face was uncomfortably close to his shoes. "I'm so sorry," I apologized, scrambling to put some distance between us and hastily tying my shoelaces.

"Are you okay?" His deep voice sent a shiver down my spine once again. His tone was neutral, devoid of any concern or empathy. "I'm fine," I replied, standing up from the floor and dusting off my palms. I gazed at him, and his expression remained as stoic as the first time we met. His eyes were captivating yet unsettling, with a hint of cruelty. I doubted he even tolerated me. Without a word, he turned and walked away, snickering to himself. It was a mean-spirited laugh. Perhaps he had a reason to dislike me - after all.

When I arrived in class, Ms. Skyler was already packing up to leave, despite there being eighteen minutes remaining in the lesson. "You're late, Ms. Skye," she said, pausing for a moment. I felt embarrassed and couldn't even meet her gaze. After all my efforts to avoid missing her class, it seemed like a wasted effort. That stupid nightmare had ruined everything. "I'm sorry," I apologized, keeping my eyes fixed on the floor as students began to file out of the classroom. It felt strange and unsettling to miss a class - like I had broken a rule, which was something I never did. "What happened?" Ms. Skyler asked, her expression softening with concern. She knew I wasn't one to skip classes, having lectured me in my first year. "I...I overslept," I stammered, my cheeks flushing red with shyness.