Red

• Scarlet

Early morning light seeps through white curtains followed by the chirping sounds of birds in the tree tops. An alarm blares through the silent room and a groan sounded from the lump of sheets on the bed.

Justin removes the blanket obscuring his eyes and turned off his alarm. He checked the time and decided to do his morning routine.

× × ×

'A couple of college students were found dead inside an abandoned building near a shopping mall in Okinakawa. Police investigators said the victims' identities are still unknown due to the reason that the corpses are mangled and beyond recognition. But police are encouraging everyone to report if there are missing people in their town. More information about the crime will be reported as soon the police gave another statement about the investigation's

"How cruel. And they're still students..", Hana, Justin's mother said while preparing the table for breakfast.

"Good morning..", Justin greeted to his mom. His ears caught the voice of the female newscaster and automatically his eyes caught the images shown on the television.

"Oh, good morning Justin. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah. What's with that expression?", he questioned his mother who shows a pitied look on her eyes while he proceeds to sit across from her.

"Well, I'm just so sad that those innocents kids died their early years. They still have so many things ahead of them. By the way, where did your get the stain on your shirt yesterday?"

His that were on the plate shot up and gaze straight at her. With furrowed browser be questioned her,

"Stain? What stain?"

"I don't know what it is but it looks like a tiny dot. If looks maroon-ish in color. It's in your collar"

Justin tried to recollect some events the day before to find where he got that stain. His eyes lit up in recognition when he remembered where he got it.

"Ah! I remember where I got it. John decided to prank me and made an ink bomb. I don't know where he got the information and idea for it. I'll wash it later, don't worry"

"Oh no, it's fine. It's just a bit surprising that you got your uniform dirty. I know how OCD you are. I remember when you were just a little kid. You cried when Lin threw a ball of mud on you" his mom recollected while trying to stifle her giggles. Justin playfully glared at her while chuckling.

"Please don't remind me. That memory is so embarrassing and isn't supposed to be talk about again"

"Why because you look a girl when crying?"

"MOM!"

"Sorry, sorry"

And the news about yesterday was forgotten in a breakfast full of laughter and reminiscing.

× × ×

On his way to school, Justin again passed by the empty playground. The sound of the rusting swing set reached his ears. His eyes gaze at it and he saw a girl playing in it. At first, it was just a normal sight. But what caught his attention is the cloth draped around the girl's shoulder. It looks like a...

"Red cape..."

Wide eyes blinked in realization. He only know one girl who has a strange fixation that type of cloth.

"Lin..."

He took a heavy step towards the girl in the swing set. But the girl either didn't notice him or wasn't paying attention to her surroundings.

"Lin..."

Another step and the girl's still not paying attention to him.

"Lin!"

He shouted and was about to run to her but as he blink a gust of wind blew the sand from the abandoned sandbox behind the swing and got into his eyes. After letting his tears wash the dust away, Justin look the swing again and found that the girl is gone. The sound the swing being ride on before can't be heard anymore and look as though it hasn't been touched in years.

"What the heck did I just saw?"

He shakes his head and look at his watch. It's still 8 am and he still have an hour before class starts. He just decided to go school and forget what happened. With one last look at the swing set, he set off for school.