Crystal

Chapter 1 - The Normal

I'm Ysabelle Audria

My life have been... normal.

Well, I'm a normal person.

Though, what I meant with normal is that there's nothing new since that happened. It's always the same to the point that I have this unbroken routine. Sleep. Wake-up. Bath. Eat. School. Homework. Review. Read. Sleep.

But today's a bit different...

I have this unsettling feeling that there's something different about this day. What is it?

Did I forget to bring something? I racked my brain for possible things I might forget to bring like supplies, assignments or projects but I know I brought it all.

"Miss Audria, is there something wrong?" My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the booming voice of my Financial Accounting Professor, Miss Sierra Perkins.

"Nothing, Miss." I looked around to find that my classmates are  looking at me as if questioning me 'what's wrong?'. I am normally attentive to class. They must've thought it's weird since this is the first I've been called because my mind is drifting off to somewhere unknown.

I tried listening again. But to no avail, I couldn't. I was like that the whole day. This is the worst thing that could happen for a Accountancy student like me. Well, for me. My whole life have been about getting my grades to the top. I studied hard to retain my place as a Dean's Lister. It doesn't even make sense. I just have the feeling. Just the feeling. But it bothered me so much that I even opted to stare at the wall above the white board just to distract myself. In end, I just can't shrug it off.

"-Ysa?" The sound of my name stopped my track of thoughts. Suddenly, I realized that I'm walking with my precious friend, Eslyn Archer, to the parking lot.

"Huh? Come again?" I asked her.

She sighed deeply showing that she's annoyed at me. "What's wrong with you? You've been off to the clouds the whole day."

I stopped walking. I grasped that I don't even understand why I feel this way. "I... I don't know. I can't even understand it myself." I continued walking again without a word.

Then I heard a shriek that made me stop and look back where I heard the sound. I didn't even realized that she stopped and that I left her there. "Hey... What's..." I trailed off when I noticed that nothing's wrong with her. Instead, there's a glint of excitment in her eyes.

"You're in love."

I looked at her sceptically. Did she hit her head somewhere? I thought. There's a million of reason that she can come up with but she came up with that. "Did you lose a screw or something?"

"I fucking didn't, Angelique. It's just that... Who is he? I'm dying to know." She walked directly to me, fast. "Is he in our class? No, probably from other class. Is he from our program? Do I know him? I can walk you up to him..."

All of a sudden, I was dizzy. I don't know if it's because of Eslyn's nonstop questions or the sultry climate but my head is spinning. I feel like throwing up. My body feels light like it might be blown by a strong wind. Eslyn seems to notice my state and grab my shoulders.

"Are you okay?" She asked. "Did I make some of your brain cell explode? Oh. I'm sorry for your loss."

Just like that, the dizzyness faded. I didn't even have time to laugh or retort. I was relieved that it was gone. I was just panting like I had ran a lap around the campus. What the heck happened?

I focused on Eslyn's face directly in front of me. Although, she just said something that's supposed to be a joke, she looked worried. "I'm... I'm okay. Just a dizzy moment."

I heard her gasp. "Are you pregnant?"

"What the fuck, Essy?!"

I can't really excuse my friend for thinking such a thing. She just... thinks like that. I mean I don't even talk to any guy except my professors. How can I possibly be in love and pregnant? However, even if she's like that, I'm thankful to have her by my side. She's more of a sister than a friend. She takes care of me like dropping me home or reminding me to eat my meals. I love her to bits.

I stared at my empty abode.  It's a white two-storey contemporary house.  It's the kind of house one would stop and look at. It looks intimidating and rich with it's huge gates standing in front of it. It does not look like that for me. It looks like an empty shell. There's just the outside but nothing inside it.

It's not easy to live alone. Well, not really alone. I am mostly alone at home. My parents are never home. They always have somewhere to go. My sister... She's somewhere we don't know.

This is that.

I've always believed that human life is like a scale. When it's balanced, it's like the normal life. Then suddenly, a side will be tipped, either good or bad. What happened with my sister is that bad.. Now, it's back to its balanced state again. It has been 2 years. Maybe the feeling that bothered me the whole day indicates that it will soon be tipped to either good or bad.

Hope not.

I sighed. There's no use in thinking of something depressing so I immediately entered the house and locking it behind me. I stepped into the kitchen to get a glass of water then walked to the staircase.

As I step in every tread of the stairs, I felt the world spin. I instantly grabbed on the handrail with both of my hands, the glass of water forgotten. Even the sound of it breaking and splashing doesn't even make me flinch. I hold the handrail as if holding my dear life. I tried to step up but it made my hold on the handrail weaken and  I stumble on the stairs landing on my side in the process. I tried to keep my eyes open but my twisting vision made me want to close it again. I succumbed to darkness.

A/N:

Forgive me for my lack of words. English is not really my primary language. I try though. :)

So how is it?

Next chapter will be posted as soon as possible.

Chapter 2 - The Illusion