MORNING STAR, a STARGAZING series the 1st

Chapter 1, Meet my best friend

HERE'S THE FACT: SOCIETY SCARES ME AND I DON'T LIKE BEING IN A CROWD. It was 2015 and nobody really did care about personal space, the train was far worse at the weekend. If it wasn't for my Mom, I'd prefer spending my time eating cookies or reading books, or sleeping. Commuter Line Train was the best possible public transportation that day to take you to another city. For the record, there was no traffic jam on the railroad.

A little girl, about four perhaps, was staring at me curiously. It was a straight three minutes and she didn't even blink just once. Society scares me, and the human child is worse. Can you be a nice girl and mind yourself? I murmured. I hoped she didn't hear that that must be rude for her. But a little part of me wanted her to stop.

Pssstt... I whispered. Do you want some candy? As I put my left hand in my pocket. I wondered if that gave her the signal that this guy is dangerous because she held her mother as soon as I did that. Yes, be a grown small lady and mind your own business, I thought. Her mother cleared her throat and looked at me with that nasty look. Hey, it wasn't my fault! She was wearing a red jacket and a green skirt, her hair was cut in 80's style I could not understand. There were big earrings hung beneath her ears. Those ears were screaming in pain if they were each a person. I looked away and plugged headset to my ears.

Never let yourself involved with a black hooded guy who was sitting in the corner because if you had enough luck, he could be a grim reaper. But if you were unlucky, it was just me. It must be great if I was one of them to walk around scaring people with a great big scythe, I'd love to register my name. But it would be a long list if I had chosen to judge every people that I met, and more trouble I had to face. I meant, who am I to judge?

The train stopped and, passengers' incoming and it's getting more cramped.

I tried to focus on my own business. I randomly picked a playlist from the music app on my phone. Indonesian, western, Japanese, Korean, I didn't really mind as long as it's enjoyable. See? I'm an easy person. Good music always gave me a good time to enjoy myself, it's always driving me to sleep.

I was half asleep when I saw her figure—the woman I met in my dream— in a flash and blurry image. They... re... coming...

I gasped in a shock that I nearly jumped out of my seat. That wasn't a scary dream, but I was scared. My heart raced I could hear its beating voice and my hand trembled fast. I must've been overthinking it.

In a few minutes, we will arrive at Bogor station....., said the operator's voice.

"Okay, here we go.."

People rushed outside right after the door was opened. Seriously, I wonder whether they were taught about patience or not. The worst part was the outside wave had been standing in front of the door and was ready to enter the train. I was trapped.

Someone pushed me from the back that I bumped into the man before me.

"Sorry," I said, just to be kind.

"it's okay," said the man as he tilted his head to the left a little. His voice was bold and giving me a shiver. I couldn't see his face clearly, but something was caught my attention. Was he wearing a contact lens or he really has a gold-colored eye? I thought. That's unusual to see someone walks around with a golden eye here. It was strange that nobody seemed to notice this man.

I didn't realize that people around me walked in slow motion. I couldn't move my legs as if something was holding them tightly. I panicked, of course. I wanted to scream for help but my voice just wouldn't come out.

The man turned to me. His gold-colored eyes gazed through me, he grinned. I didn't know but he scared the shit out of me. Everybody was walking in slow motion but he walked normally towards me. My heart raced, all my body reacted that this man was dangerous.

He was right before my eyes. My palm's sweaty, I could've dropped my body anytime but something forced me to keep standing. He moved his head closer.

"the big tree will burnt.," he whispered.

Later did I know, I was lying on a sofa in the room I couldn't recognize myself. I still heard the common voice from the station outside.

"You good?" someone greeted me. I tilted my head, there was this boy with round-edged eyeglasses.

"Why are you here?" I said.

"Why am I here? The real question here is why are you collapsed once you stepped out from the train?"

"Wait I collapsed?" I didn't remember that part, I scanned the room, "why am I in the station office.."

"Byan," he said, "tell me what happened"

The fact is, I didn't know. "don't make it sounds like if I told you what happened you will understand", I could've said I didn't know, but I did not. He frowned, my bad.

"Sorry, Allan," I said.

"I'm afraid being sassy in a wrong time will get you killed one day"

"You read that on Tumblr didn't you"

"At least thank me for reminding you"

Allan and I have been a friend since we were kindergarten. He had no friend back then, and nor did I. To be honest, he was the only person that could stand with my personality. You won't find any blacker eyes and perfectly combed hair than him. He was wearing a long white shirt covered with a grey sweater vest, in this very weather. No normal human would understand this nerd.

"Can we go now?" I suggested.

"Can you even walk?"

"I'm pretty sure I can win a marathon against you right now"

"Thank god I'm not offended"

"But seriously, can we go now?"

"Where to?" he asked.

"Coffee shop?"

"You just collapsed and you asked for a coffee?"

I hate being underestimated, plus it came from Allan and I offended even more.

"But will you go?" I asked.

"Yes, let's go."