Re(d)-Bound | GemFot

-12-

In the dim light of his room, Niran's eyelids fluttered open, but his body remained frozen, trapped in a state between sleep and wakefulness. Panic gripped him as he struggled to move, his limbs heavy and unresponsive. Shadows danced on the walls, morphing into sinister shapes, while an invisible weight pressed down on his chest, making each breath a struggle. He tried to scream, but only a whisper escaped his lips. The seconds stretched into eternity until finally, with a gasp, he jolted awake, drenched in sweat, the remnants of his terrifying ordeal fading into the darkness.

Annop who came to the kitchen to boil the water for the tea noticed something wrong about the boy on the couch. He approached him , gently tapped on his cheek, that didn't work.

" Niran !!!!! "

That hellish scream worked, the boy woke up in an instant, his torso covered in sweat. Annop mumbled ' Sleep paralysis in the morning, that's a new one '. The younger chuckled , ' That's new for me too. Never occurs until I astral project myself '. The older stopped in his tracks, stumbled that he thought he might have heard hallucinations. His reaction cracked up the younger ' You thought that was real , didn't you ? I might take that as an hint of you believing of ghostly stuff '. Annop sighed , exposing his lame weakness wasn't part of the plan. He grabbed some towels, handed that to the younger saying ' Freshen up. Got some of my oversized clothes on the bed. You can use that. Meantime, I will prepare the breakfast '.

The younger eagerly said ' Then , we can go the morning classes together '. The older smirked at him without a word. Niran playfully winked at him , entering the shower chamber, cold freezing water awakened his sense and left with the refreshing aftermath. When he came out , he was too late to notice that the older had ditched him.

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After heat drying his hair , Niran looked at the clothes resting on the owner's bed. An oversized white hoodie and a pair of baggy jeans. The boy picked it up smiling ' This looks at least two sizes up for him ', that got his mind thinking ' Wait, that means it doesn't belong to him. Then who's? He doesn't have a brother '. The loud ringing sound pulled him out of his thoughts, he picked it up. His cousin yelled on the other side ' Where the hell have you been? And why didn't you text me that you will sleep somewhere and my ass had to watch the crazy penny when it's you who promised our neighbour on the next building. She kept saying that there was something moving on the ceiling. I couldn't get an ounce of sleep all night You idiot!!!! '.

Niran smiled awkwardly knowing that it won't help the boy on the other side any soon. He promised to do the chores for the entire week, that was a good compromise for a night's sleep. Chan inquired ' Where are you by the way ? The morning class starts in 15 minutes '. Niran glanced at the clock ticking at 8.45 am , he quickly grabbed his wallet mumbling ' I slept at Noby's place and I kinda lost track of time '. It was loud enough for Chan who's on the other side to hear.

Chan screamed ' You What !!! ', Niran wrote a mental reminder to buy some holy water for his idiotic cousin. ' I made him upset yesterday, he didn't look alright, didn't pick up his phone. I didn't want to leave the situation like that. So, I waited by his door. He came home around midnight, I baited on staying the night at his place. Yeah we slept but him on his bed and I on the couch. So, Chan get your head out of the gutter. I will talk to you later, got a call from the taxi '.

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Annop POV

Someone slid next to me , it was Yuki. She asked how the trip went, I replied in a vague manner not mentioning the details but emphasising on the part that I missed her. She seemed surprised by that , ' I never imagined someone would even miss me. Good for me '. I chuckled saying ' Bad for me , anyways I got you something '. She put her hand on the desk waiting for it. I placed the petite conch shell saying Ta-da , she immediately held it up to her ear and smiled happily at the peaceful sound.

I was glad that she liked it. As always watching her being happy made me happy too. Suddenly, the last ounce of courage in my body blurted out the words ' Yuki-chan , Is there anyone you like ? I remember you being single after the breakup from the freshman year '. She looked puzzled, I agree that came out of nowhere. The girl looked nervous all of the sudden, she gave me a half smile saying ' I won't say like, but I have been eyeing someone , a boy from our department , who owns a grey cat , has the sweetest smile , kindest soul and he has beautiful constellation on his face '.

I tried to process the words, ' Grey cat ? Is she talking about munmuang ?? No way. But , wait there's no one in the department that has moles that forms constellation, I heard them constantly say that's beautiful like a constellation. What!! Is she talking about me ??? '.

Looking back at her , I said ' Yuki-chan , Are you free tomorrow? If so how about a movie ? '. She playfully chuckled asking ' Movie , on a weekend. Is that a date mister ? '. I couldn't help but playfully say ' What if it is '. She winked at me saying ' Then I would gladly enjoy the company '. I couldn't help but smile like an idiot, I don't know what possessed me today but I gotta thank whatever that was cause now I have a date with my crush. Finally, after two freaking years, I managed to ask her out on a date.

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Someone had been watching their word's going back and forth with a grim face. He placed the wallet on the desk , gaining the attention of a senior, the boy said ' Please give that to P'Annop, He left it on the table this morning '.

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