DREAM KINGS (Shawn Mendes x Harry Styles)

C h a p t e r [26]

I push my self and lay down on the bed. Empty mind, just staring at the ceiling and hearing the noises outside the windows. Birds chirping, cars and motorbikes engines and people's laughs who only passes by at the street.

This coming week's going to be really busy and exhausting but at the same time, exciting and fun.

I closed my eyes but it only feels like I'm wasting time. So I decided to just open a book and read. After hours, I finished 10 chapters. It's getting hot, it's 2:00 in afternoon. I've let the time for lunch pass, drowned at the book's wonderful plot twists and tragedies. At that moment, I felt sleepy. To satisfy myself and completely relieve from what happened earlier that just made me so upset, I slept.

Suddenly, I'm standing in the middle of the crowd at school. The event's being held but it's a little late. Night and cold. This doesn't look like the peer building event, this looks like more of an amusement park. People smiling, carrying balloons, foods and more, it's just pure happiness and enjoyment.

"Hey." A voice that is so familiar behind me.

I look back to see Luke, holding two flower shaped cotton candies. Just like those on the internet, various colors and incredibly huge.

"Hey.." I said with a smile.

He walks towards me and gave me the other one.

"Thank you."

He sighs and with a great smile, "You're welcome." He says as he stands closer beside me and puts one arm on my back.

We walk around without talking, just enjoying the whole place as we pass by every stall. No Talia around so far.

It was almost 12 when Luke stops walking and told me to just look up at the sky. I asked him why but he just smiled. Seconds after, fireworks came whistling and flying, exploding in different colors.

When I look down, he's kneeling on the ground. I couldn't deny the happiness even though I'm in a dream. If only I could stay and live with him, I would and never come back.

"May Archer.." he says as he grabs my hand, "My love. My beautiful girlfriend.."

He puts one hand behind his back and pulls out a ring, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You're the girl I've been looking for so long and now that I have found you. I will not and never let you go. May Archer, will you spend the rest of your life with me?"

I gulp and wet my lips, my heart flies and explodes like the fireworks display we've watched. I breathe heavily, tears was about to fall as I was about to say the sweetest 'Yes' of all time until a loud scream sabotaged the moment. Luke and I turned our heads to check what it was. Little afraid, thought it was a call to come back in my reality but I still haven't waken up yet.

Happily, I turn my head to look down at Luke, joyfully was about to say my answer but when I look back, my hand's were only lifting itself up. Luke is not kneeling anymore and he is gone, out of my sight.

"Luke?" I called but he did not respond, "Luke?" I repeat then decided to walk to look for him, "Babe? Luke Hemmings?"

What I saw next made me so upset, my heart fell down and cracked. Talia and Luke, kissing behind the stall tent. I walked away and all of a sudden, everything turned black. Pure and scary. A loud laugh echoes all over again.

I gasp for air and I was back to reality. That was the scariest nightmare of all. My heart's still racing from fright, it's like a demon, having all the controls on my dream.

It's almost sun down, I wonder why time goes by every time I fall asleep and dream deeply. I head downstairs with my eyes squinting, the lights are on and it feels so odd. It got me thinking that mom might be home at that moment and not Shawn who turned the lights on.

My head feels like it's being followed by a hammer and getting smashed all over again. I went in the kitchen to grab a glass of water but right as I head in, he's the one who surprised me when I saw him with his head, bowed on the countertop. I moved and looked, his face's hidden, covered around with his arms while a paper lies beside him, filled with sketches and words. I lean a little closer and checked, it was the strategies. All done and precise.

He looks so tired. He must have used his brain so much it drained his energy and decided to recharge. I pour myself a glass of water afterwards and pull out the ingredients to cook and make dinner for the both of us as a token of appreciation with what he did.

The sound of the switch flicks as I turn the burner on, pre-heating the frying pan. On the opposite side of where he's sleeping. I carefully put down the chopping board and started slicing.

After finishing the slices of the ingredients, I walk towards the frying pan and dropped the ingredients in. It sizzled and pops, unintentionally waking him up.

A soft moan made me turn to look over my shoulder, his face looks funny when he's just woken up.. and cute.

"Hey.." he says in a low rough voice, "What.." He sniffs, "What are you cooking?"

I didn't reply fast because I thought for a moment what am I really cooking.

"I don't really know what this is." I said with a chuckle, not having any clues or ideas what this is, "But I'm using the steak you bought.."

"You're inventing a recipe again?"

"Yeah, I can't think of anything else to cook, so yeah.."

"Well, it sme—" a phone rings but it wasn't mine but his, "Hello?" He says, "Yeah. Yeah. I'll tell Mustaha, yeah."

The pan continues to sizzle as I continue to stir and add condiments and more ingredients.

"No. I'm at Mrs. Archer's house. Yeah. Her daughter's making me a delicious dinner. No. Y'know what? I'll call you later. Yeah."

My heart beats hard once, that feeling when you just suddenly felt nervous but just quick hard bump and disappears in a snap. Did he just say the word delicious? Or it's just his way of pretending.

"Okay. Of course Mustaha's doing his job! He picks me up everyday. I swear if you fire him or whatever—okay."

The meal's cooking time is done. I grabbed the pan and served the food on separate plates.

"Here." I said.

"Thanks. Hey, here's the strategies I formulated. I guess that's okay."

"Yeah, I saw them. I just it'll work."

"It will. Trust me."

I pucker my lips and we've had a quiet dinner throughout the evening. After I washed and cleaned the dining area, I texted Lori everything that is related to the event. The challenge takers and the strategies per category.

I head upstairs, left him downstairs and do whatever he wants. I lie down in my bed and slept early. I should be ready for tomorrow's decorating. I just hope I'm ready for Talia tomorrow too.