UNTITLED

one

I sighed as I leaned back, recalling my conversation with Dad a few days earlier. Surely enough, I had always known that Mom didn't die in a crash.

It was obvious, considering that I had, once, went through Dad's stuff in his study and there wasn't even a single article that was about Mom's death. I even went through the internet before and still, nothing.

Still, hearing about it from Dad confirmed my suspicions. But now isn't the time to think about that. Come tomorrow morning, I'll be 16 and I'm scared of what's going to happen. Never before had I been this terrified and yet, at the same time, I felt calm.

Maybe it was because of Mom's letter. I can't be sure. For now, I just hope that I could get a good night's sleep.

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"Adeline."

I groaned at the voice that was trying to wake me up. He made a noise that sounded sort of like 'tsk'. 

"Good grief, Adeline," the voice spoke again, clearly annoyed. "Wake up."

Without thinking, I threw a pillow at the person, only to notice that I didn't hear the pillow hit him. Instead, it hit the floor.

Now that I thought about it, who's him?

I peeked out from my comforter, taking a glance at him. A man with ghostly pale skin and light brown hair that went past his shoulders was standing at the foot of my bed, looking bored and slightly amused.

"Good," he said. "You are awake."

Somehow, I wasn't scared of him or even was I surprised. But then I had pinched myself when I thought that I was still asleep, dreaming of him.

"Rest assured, Adeline. I am not here to harm you nor do I wish to do so. But I must tell you that your father will be leaving for work in approximately 30 minutes so I suggest that you get a move on for school."

I opened my mouth to say something but he cut me off by walking towards my bedroom door, making no movements to open it.

"I will be waiting downstairs if you will be wondering. Best that you make haste, child."

With that, he stepped through the door. Like, literally through it.

That's it. I must've gone crazy. Absolutely cuckoo.

He poked his head through the door right after I finished that thought and as if he read my mind, he immediately told me, "Oh and no, you are not turning mad. You have only gained your abilities to see and talk to me. I will explain it all later on but, as I told you earlier, Adeline, make haste."

Then his head disappeared from the door and I waited if he will appear again. Much to my relief, he didn't. But it still stuck to me that I'm in a dream.

And so, I opted to go the bathroom that was connected to my room, determined on taking a quick shower before using the scissors.

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When I came down for breakfast that morning, it didn't even faze me when I saw him sitting at the dining table right across from Dad. Somehow, it seemed that Dad doesn't even see him, like he doesn't exist.

Dad took a glance at me from the newspaper in his hands, smiling as he chirped. "Good morning, Adeline."

I muttered out a good morning to Dad, trying my best to not take notice of the gaze that the man had on me. It was piercing, as if it could look into my soul. A shudder tried to went through me but I suppressed it.

The man looked away for a moment to look at Dad, before turning to watch me again, this time with furrowed eyebrows and a deep frown. I ignored him, making sure that everything I do won't make me go near him.

Unfortunately, he was sitting right next to the fridge. I was hesitant when I wanted to open the fridge, much less go near it. My jaws clenched together and I knew that he could notice by the way he was looking at me, seemingly amused, though the frown was still there.

"Are you going to be taking any longer, Adeline?" Dad suddenly spoke up, startling me. "Don't want to be late for school now, would you?"

"Umm. No, Dad," I mumbled, still staring at the somewhat smug man in front of me. "But I was wondering if we could get some donuts and coffee first, if you don't mind."

The man rolled his eyes at me, clearly annoyed as he muttered something incoherent under his breath.

Dad looked up from the papers in his hands, an eyebrow raised. "I don't mind. But won't you be late for school?"

I shrugged. "There's nothing wrong with being late once in a while. Plus, I've got art for first period. I'm sure that Mrs Simmons wouldn't mind."

"Of course, she would not. She is clearly oblivious of your presence since you have never came in before," the man spoke up, rolling his eyes again. "I am positive that your name is not even on the list."

I was taken aback for a moment, wondering how he knew about my truancy but not before I glared at him. He chuckled at my distress before making himself comfortable in the chair, propping his feet on the table as he leaned back.

Dad didn't seem to have heard him though nor did he see him as he rose from the chair, putting away the papers, walking to the front door. I followed him after picking up my bag, taking a quick glance at the man only to see that he was gone.