The Reincarnated

Chapter 20: What Haunts an Insomniac

Once again, I couldn't sleep.

It wasn't because I was unaccustomed to my new room. I twist and turn until the sheets looked too rumpled, but there was no position I was completely comfortable in.

After lunch, Leopold announced that I shall be staying in another room since my current one is not properly accommodated and it was meant to be an infirmary. I did not have the position to decline and there was no reason for me to do so. At the end of the meeting, I was relocated.

The room was more spacious with the same white walls. I was transferred in the 3rd floor and this time my room had two windows with a clear view outside. When I peeked through it, I saw numerous long lines of woods through the light set by the full moon. There were no buildings and city lights. Instead I saw a clear field and sturdy gate walls with sharp wires on the top and edges. The place was bigger than I thought.

I opened the heavy windows and poked my head outside. To my left, I saw a balcony. Accepting the fact that no sleep was available for me tonight, I went outside and marched towards the balcony where the air was fresh and the breeze was cool.

Leaning my arms against the edge, I looked at the moon and the starry sky. I was definitely far away from home. There was a part of me that believed Leopold's warning about me going back to the mansion, and I didn't want to risk lives that are precious to me.

How did it come to this?

If that incident didn't happen, I could have been staying in my room right now, reading a novel that I loved, and sending text messages to Damien and Jill. Nights like this could have been spent wondering about tomorrow's pop quiz and doing homework. Everything changed just because of one night. I lost everything that mattered to me. I didn't appreciate how much I had until it's gone and taken right before my very eyes: The family I hold so dear that I couldn't see, and everything that's in my life, including the man I thought I'd marry one day, vanished.

God, I miss him so much, it hurts so bad.

"You okay?" Someone from behind asked.

I saw Kyle standing behind me wearing a black t-shirt, and a pair of jeans. On his hand, was a cup of hot coffee. His bright blue eyes glimmered with concern. I quickly wiped the tears on my eyes using the sleeves of my shirt and turned to face him fully.

"Sorry, that was a ridiculous question. Of course you're not alright; you just went through hell and all. I didn't mean to interrupt you or anything. I was just-"

"Its fine," I said, cutting him off. He nodded before walking to the opposite edge then stood by with the same position as me. "I couldn't sleep," he said.

"Me too."

Awkward silence followed. Kyle stared at the distance while sipping on his coffee.

"You come here often?" I asked.

"Yeah. 'cause there's peace and quiet," he answered simply. I nodded in agreement.

"I didn't mean to put you in an awkward situation. I'm not really the sociable type and I am no expert in comforting people," he suddenly said.

"No problem," I said. "Those 'words of comfort' won't work on me anyway." He crossed a faint smile on his lips and nodded in response. "Whatever helps," he said.

"Actually," I faced him. "You can tell me something that would take my mind off some stuff that's been bothering me." His face looked amused. "Where's your family?" I started to question.