the silent heartbeat

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

My alarm clock suddenly flared up. I immediately woke up and turned it off. I stretched off my neck because I feel sore at the back of it. Then I unconsciously stared outside the window, letting the morning sunlight pour over me, casting a warm glow across my room. The sun was rising in the east, its rays stretching across the sky, spilling into the trees and rooftops below and washing the world with its golden light. There was something incredibly peaceful about this moment, about the first day without class, knowing I had the entire day to myself. The usual rush and chaos of school mornings had vanished, replaced by a serene calm that settled over everything. Plus, I can plan out how to carry Elowen's mission, how can I achieve it, what tactics should I use in order for me to accomplish it.

Damn, why did I accepted her offer so quickly? If it were other people, it would take several weeks or up to months before they can decide which path should they take because what matters to them is the experience. They wanted to choose the right choice of decision so that they would not regret everything later when they arrived at the middle.

Well, I can't blame them. Its how things should work.

But for me? If its Oliver, then I'd do everything, even risk everything just for his sake, even risking my life just for him. No one else. And it might sound as selfish as it is, but I don't care if Mom, Cassie, Claudia and Candice would mourn over me if I die.

I knew they would still accept me anyway because my love for Oliver surpasses any love that the world had seen. It also surpasses my love for my mother and my friends. Sorry mom, but I love Oliver more than you. But be known that I love you too, together with Cassie and friends.

But yeah, my love for Oliver is really, really different.

As I continue to look outside while my mind was thinking about something else, I noticed how different everything seemed in this early light. My room felt transformed, each surface catching bits of sunlight that danced gently on my desk, my bed, and even the floor. The colors around me appeared richer, warmer, and somehow more alive. The sun seemed to reach out to me, like a comforting embrace, and for once, I felt free to breathe without any thoughts of assignments, exams, or classroom deadlines hanging over my head.

It felt strange yet liberating not to have a schedule, to not be rushing out the door with books in my arms and my mind filled with worries about the day ahead. Instead, I simply stood there, letting myself soak in the quietness, listening to the sounds drifting in from outside. A few birds chirped nearby, their gentle calls weaving through the soft morning breeze. The world outside seemed in no hurry, mirroring the slow rhythm of my thoughts.

For a moment, I closed my eyes and let myself feel the sunlight on my face. The warmth was comforting, as though the sun itself were offering me a gentle reminder: I had earned this day, this pause. I felt a sense of appreciation for the stillness and the opportunity to just exist, to feel the day stretch ahead of me with endless possibility. This quiet moment became a gift in itself, a time to reflect and recharge without interruption.

The view from my window—familiar and simple—suddenly held a new beauty in the morning light. I could see the tops of trees, their leaves shimmering slightly as they caught the breeze, and patches of sky that seemed impossibly blue. The everyday landscape looked softer somehow, as if the world outside had also paused to breathe.

A sense of gratitude filled me, grounding me in the present. It wasn't often that I allowed myself to just be still, to admire the ordinary details that so often went unnoticed. Today, I thought, I would spend my time freely. I could read, write, maybe take a walk and appreciate this quiet beauty beyond the window.