incandescent ²

07. meteor

arden

there's something wrong. there's something i should remember, but i don't know what it is.

after arya left and i had a bath, i saw very messy writing on my arm, and it was almost fully wiped off, so i had a hard time figuring out what i wrote.

it's like ink smudges and something that looks like an 'r'. i have a feeling it's something i have to remember, because if it wasn't, i wouldn't write it down. and once again, i hate my illness.

it's almost lunch period and so far the first three periods have been spent looking at the writing. i even sprayed a bit of hairspray over it to preserve it so i can use it to jog my memory. it's not working.

"why couldn't i have some other form of amnesia?" i ask myself. beside me, may — short form for mayonnaise because her parents are like that — is chattering excessively. we've just been partnered for an assignment, and it's highly convenient because she gets my "condition", and my mom sort of likes her, but not in an "i want you to date my son and have kids with him" kind of way.

at least, i hope not.

"arden, can you shut your head up for a second? i can almost hear your thoughts," she says, a worried look painted on her face.

her bright red hair is in a messy bun today, and that's attributed to the fact that she got up extra late because she stayed up doing homework. she was still asleep when i went to pick her up this morning, resulting in two tardy teenagers.

i glance back down at my hand. it feels like it's calling my attention to itself, and there's a small tingling sensation in it. i hope it's nothing serious.

maybe i'll understand this thing when i go back to the park.

i can't take this much suspense.

somehow, my pen finds its way back into my hand and i begin scribbling notes absentmindedly.

ren.

what's ren? renegade? did i do a tiktok dance last night?

i purse my lips to prevent a burst of laughter from escaping my lips. there's no way i would ever do one.

the bells ring and i gather my books. connor orwell comes running through the door at a frightening speed. for someone who's so him, he's too him.

"hey, study tonight? my place or the library?" may tosses her head to the side, a brow arched. "that's if you're down. i could just handle the whole thing."

i know she means well, but i can't help but feel like a burden—i should be able to do my own schoolwork.

"i'll see if i can drop by, but i'm gonna have to leave before it gets really dark." there's no way i'd miss a night at the park, and especially not when this feeling won't stop.

i just have to figure out what ren means.

+

the sky is falling—daylight is dwindling and the sun's almost gone. may still has books littered in front of her, but my mind is too clouded to help her. i haven't been able to focus on anything except ren, and i blame myself for writing it down. if i hadn't, it would fade, just like all the other memories.

"arden," may says, and my eyes snap to hers. it feels like i was sucked out of a black hole, like i'm finally back on earth, and the images in front of me swirl until they finally set, and i realize i'm still at the public library, and i haven't written a single word in my notebook except ren.

do you know how annoying it is?

yeah, i do.

"arden, are you even listening to me?" she snaps her fingers in front of my face. she's frowning, and i muster an apologetic smile. "god." she pinches her forehead and shakes her head. "look, i'll take it from here. don't overwork yourself. i get that you don't have problems with school stuff, but there's clearly something bothering you. go home, arden. and sleep while you're at it. lord knows how long it's been since you shut your eyes."

i bite my tongue. it's deliberate, so it doesn't hurt. my lips tug up, and i clamp my eyes shut and open them. "i think it's been a second long."

she half glares at me, but breaks out into a smile. her fingers reach out to grab the book in front of me and her eyes skim over the page. "ren?"

"ren." i nod. "have i mentioned it before? you think it could be something important?"

"forget about it. go home." she slams it shut and slides it into her bag. "i'll see you tomorrow."

+

the heavens are painted a deep blue, and a few stars are out, decorating the night-like canvas. the only sounds i can hear are crickets. not even frogs. it's unsettling.

the city's more asleep tonight than it was the night before, and for a second i think maybe some people stayed up to see the comet thing. it's none of my business, though, and it won't help me with the question that's still ringing in my head.

what differentiates tonight from any other one is the ghost that's walking towards me. i have the urge to let out a blood curdling scream, but it's not my style and it seems very out of place to even think about. instead of retreating, i approach it. it's calling me, drawing me in.

and now, it's yelling my name.

·—·
a/n

chapter overdue. i want to get this down before my exams begin, but i'm so occupied with studying and i just can't and i'm sorry to everyone who's expecting updates?

i hope you liked this^