Shadows of The Heart

3. A Night of Dreams and a Day of Struggles

The night was still fresh in Riana's mind as she stirred from her sleep, her thoughts lingering on her last meeting with Derek. There was something about him, a charm or a warmth that she couldn't shake off. As Riana sat by her window, gazing out at the serene night sky bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. A gentle breeze rustled the curtains, carrying with it the soothing scent of jasmine from the garden below. Despite the events of the day, she felt a sense of calm wash over her, the worries and uncertainties of the past hours melting away in the face of such tranquil beauty.

As she leaned back against the cushions, the warmth of the night wrapping around her like a comforting embrace, Riana felt her eyelids grow heavy. The rhythmic chirping of crickets and the distant hoot of an owl lulled her into a state of peacefulness, her thoughts drifting aimlessly as she surrendered herself to the tranquillity of the night.

“RUN!!!...

GO NOW!! MISS RIANA” 

The vision was blurry, but she could see fire dancing around her, consuming everything in its path. In the midst of the flames, a woman reached out to her, a desperate attempt to save her from the engulfing inferno.

Before Riana could react, she found herself running through the forest, stumbling over roots and branches until she fell, plunging into darkness.

Startled, she sat up in bed, her heart pounding in her chest, her breath coming in ragged pants. The remnants of the dream clung to her, leaving her unsettled. She shook her head, trying to dispel the lingering images, before swinging her legs over the edge of the bed.

“Urgh!!Not Againn!!”

“Why can’t I remember my former life!!?” Riana sighs.

“I always have nightmares and still cant find out anything!!Who was that lady?” 

Outside, the morning was already in full swing, the sounds of the bustling street filtering through her window. 

“Let’s see now what is the time tho”

“Shit!! I overslept again..It’s 8 freaking 40 a.m!!” Riana shouts. 

“This nightmare’s gonna kill me somedays for sure!!”

After all that, she was determined to shake off the remnants of her unsettling dream, Riana hurried to the shop, her mind still clouded with thoughts of Derek.

Upon reaching the shop, she was surprised to find a young girl feeding the stray dogs that often lingered around the area. Intrigued, Riana approached the girl, struck by her kindness and compassion.

“They're so cute!” Riana said.

“Right, but they don't have an owner who can take care of them,I wanna take them home but my family isn't going so well right now, so we can't raise them” the girl said. 

The girl's stomach was growling due to hunger and immediately felt shy. 

“Hehe, silly me, I haven't eaten anything “

“Ehhh” Riana was shocked.
“Please eat these” she gave her tiffin box to the girl. 
“Why did you starve yourself to let them eat first?”

“I've always been like that. So I understand these dogs. Because I know starving can make people feel” the girl said. 

Riana was surprised. 

“I've never met someone who cares more for others than herself. I think the world is hell because selfishness leads people to think only about themselves.“ she said. 

The girl laughed slightly and said 

“The world isn't that bad. There are many bad and good things.. Just like you shared your food even though you don't know me”

“Well, I'm Yuna, You?”

“R.. Riana (“maybe” she thought) . Nice to meet you”

They exchanged a few words, bonding over their shared love for animals, before the girl bid her farewell and headed home. 

(“There are good and bad things also? 

Yuna is a good person, just like the bright in the dark world” Riana thought.) 

Left alone once again, Riana focused on her work, throwing herself into the tasks at hand. Despite the events of the previous night and the remnants of her unsettling dream, she found herself surprisingly productive, earning a decent sum of money by the end of the day.

However, her triumph was short-lived as she made her way back home, only to stumble upon a scene of chaos in the market. Her friend,Yuna from earlier that morning was cornered by a group of guys, demanding money with menacing threats. Without hesitation, Riana rushed to her friend's aid, only to be met with a harsh blow that sent her reeling.

Someone held her hand and said:

 “Girl, what are you going to do? 

They are highly skilled fighters”

But before she could retaliate, Derek appeared out of nowhere, his presence commanding and powerful. With a swift and precise movement, he incapacitated the robbers with his martial arts skills, leaving them sprawled on the ground, defeated.

Breathless and shaken, Riana looked up at Derek, her heart racing with a mixture of gratitude and admiration. In that moment, she knew that her encounter with him was far from coincidental, and she couldn't help but wonder what other surprises fate had in store for her.