A Story Come True

#4 Alex Sierra

Cerah lay on her bed, staring at the plain white ceiling, her mind still adjusting to the transition from dream to reality. After a few moments she pushed the blanket off herself and set her feet on the floor, running a hand through her thick, long hair, her mind still replaying her dream.

She would've brushed it off as just a dream, if it wasn't for the fact that every character in that dream were her very own creation. Every word spoken by that old man were words she had written with her own hands.

The dream had been the first chapter of the story she had locked away in her cupboard at her home.. 

Cerah sighed. She hadn't realized that her story had been so deeply embedded in her sub conscious that she was having dreams about it. Shaking her head in an attempt to ward off the haunting thoughts, she moved to get out of the bed when something unusual on her left hand caught her eye. 

Cerah angled her left wrist to catch the sunlight seeping through the gap between the blinds covering the window. Her eyes widened at the blue band on her wrist.

This- this can't be possible.

Startled, Cerah tried, frantically, to rip the band off her wrist, but the band wouldn't move an inch.

So.. Was that dream as unusual as that old man had mentioned? Was she going to dream of her story everyday? Except.. there was this one problem...

Cerah hadn't completed her story yet..

***

"Ashton Ruine, Cerah Vienna is officially the reason for your ruin."

 Simon's voice pulled Ashton out of his trance, and that's when he realized that he had been staring at Cerah for so long that everybody else, except Cerah, was staring at him. Ashton stifled the unbearable urge to let out a defeated sigh and agree with Si.

"It's not that. I'm just wondering how she could listen to even Mr.Paul's tedious class." Said Ashton, giving Si the half truth.

Ashton knew that Cerah was an attentive listener in every class, but how someone could listen to Mr.Paul was beyond him. 

"I really think I'm going crazy man." Admitted Ashton when only Si was listening. "Yesterday I completely lost control and would've kissed her, that too in front of Anna."

Hearing that Simon looked like he'd choke on air and have a heart attack.

"Anna? As in my innocent little sister?" Asked Simon with wide eyes.

Ashton nodded. "But thank god. It was Anna's presence that brought me back to my senses." At that Simon let out a relieved breath.

"You know, I think you should just tell her about how you feel man. We're in the final year. You don't wanna regret not trying at all. At least she'd know that you don't consider her your rival." Simon said, a touch of concern to his voice.

Ashton shook his head with firm refusal. "No way. You're asking me to walk off the edge of a cliff and see if I survive. It's obvious that the answer is no." He said nonchalantly but Simon could see right through him.

"You don't know if you've reached the edge yet. And even if you have, the cliff in question is not that high. So, it's worth a shot." Countered Simon. "Wait, did I just call partner a cliff?" Asked Simon frowning.

"No Si. You and I both know she has absolutely no feelings for me. I'm a fool for falling for her. Last year I at least had a hope that she wasn't dating anyone. This year she has a boyfriend too. I'm not strong enough to handle rejection from her." Said Ashton, without expression in his face or voice. "Besides, I think I would rather stay in this bubble of illusion, admiring her from afar, than step out of this bubble and have my heart ripped apart by the undeniably bitter as hell truth."