Chapter 2 Where Is This

"Where have you been all this time?"

I looked intently at the girl sitting across from me, but she did not avoid my question, she immediately answered:

"I went back to my hometown."

Her answer accompanied by a happy smile made my heart suddenly ache. But in your smile, I know it seems like your life hasn't been easy lately.

After that, we suddenly fell silent, no one said anything, and didn't know how to start a conversation. It's not that after all this time going back and forth, I see you as a stranger, but I'm afraid, I'm afraid that when I have to start a conversation, I will accidentally touch some pain that you don't want to talk about.

The cup of coffee on my table has emptied a bit, but my heavy eyes, full of emotions, are watching the rush of people out there. Looking at you like that, I thought to myself, since when could a girl like you who only likes to drink sweet milk tea love the bitter taste of coffee?

I still remember you once told me that you only like the sweet flavors of life, and you hate bitter things like coffee. So what has happened in recent times that has made you change so completely?

The tree canopy occasionally sways with the wind and the clouds, dragging remaining raindrops to the ground. It turns out that no matter how small the damage, even if it heals, it will leave a scar in the heart.

Over time, the cafe gradually calmed down. A few regular customers are still there. Each stream of people went in and out like a movie unconsciously repeating a single scene over and over again. But I'm still sitting here, silent. And my mind was confused with countless thoughts. During the time without you by my side, I never stopped thinking about you. Sometimes, out of habit, I suddenly called the number that had been imprinted in my mind. But now you're sitting next to me, even if I ask you a question, I don't dare say it.

"Is your work okay?"

I was surprised when it was you who broke the silent atmosphere between us.

"YES."

Perhaps after the breakup, she was no longer the innocent, innocent looking girl that day. Now, just looking deep into her eyes is enough to see countless deep cuts in my heart. If she didn't say it out loud, how many people would understand those pains?

The day we were together, I was happy and lively. You're like a child, always whining and acting like a baby to me. Whatever you know, you tell me first, and you talk so much that I fall asleep without even realizing it. In my eyes, the love story about you is as beautiful as a dream.

"For some reason, since I tried to be strong and tried to hide every little emotion I had, it seemed to make me even more the center of attention, everyone praised me wholeheartedly. You are special. It's true that it will make other people feel more relieved, but what about me? Has anyone thought about my feelings? No one."

I smiled bitterly.

"No matter where I go or who I come into contact with, everyone says things filled with clichés. Even though there were a few people I tried to open up to, it didn't work out and I became even more insensitive. Is it true that the more I understand things, the more reasonable I am, the more my heart wavers, the more I control myself and remember you. My heart aches so much every time I hope someone can make me forget your image, but why can't anyone do that?"

I know you're fed up with having to pretend you're knowledgeable, know everything, and understand everything, but all the boys who have passed through your life, no one knows the reason why you became like this.

I know I'm selfish, but I want you to be yourself, one more time. I want you to return to the look you had when we first met, the innocent look when you loved me and were with me. Not this strange understanding look of yours.

"You know, since I changed, there have been many times when I have been very confused, not knowing if I am living according to my true self. I used to have low self - esteem and depression about myself to the point where I just wanted to end this life as soon as possible. But at times like that, I suddenly remember what you once said that made me strong."

She said and smiled at me. When I noticed, this was probably the most genuine and beautiful smile she had ever had. How happy! When I see the girl I love is now mature in this stormy life. I'm happy for you because after all the hardships and falls, you finally found your life's goal.

Time slowly passed like that, until the regular customers of the restaurant also left. I suddenly looked at the clock in surprise, then quickly stood up and left. I also wanted to send her home like before, but thinking back to our current position, she and I were probably just two social friends who met and then left each other, so I didn't have the heart to say goodbye. I'm afraid, very afraid, afraid of the feeling of you suddenly coming to me, laughing and joking together and then one day you suddenly disappear.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, warm, familiar tears suddenly wet one cheek, so much so that I didn't understand why I was crying again.

But in the end, I still silently encouraged myself with extremely silly reasons, then quickly wiped my cheeks because of my painful past. I tried to reach for a small mirror nearby and look at myself. body in the mirror.

Still the same boy with uncut hair that hasn't been cut in two months, still a body as thin as a piece of paper, pale, thin face, eyes filled with countless tiredness and loneliness, wrinkles. Wrinkles have appeared on the face.

Without thinking much, I tried to pinch my skin hard enough to draw blood to see if I was awake or still in a horrifying nightmare. The throbbing pain just proved that this was reality and before my eyes was not my "beloved" room but instead was a room filled with red and a series of scents. of cherry petals scattered everywhere, combined with red candlelight to create a surreal space.

It felt like I had been tortured with countless wounds all over my body, blood flowing from head to toe, but my mind couldn't remember anything, I didn't understand why I was lying here, my mind was so empty. beyond this painful feeling.

I was confused, tried to look around but couldn't see anything but darkness, vague calls echoed in my head, but I couldn't understand what it was saying, it was like another person existed. in my mind trying to call my name.

Suddenly I stepped forward, stretching out my hands to feel the appearance of anything. However, only that call lasted, the sound echoed out there.

The bloody scene before my eyes made me feel so overwhelmed that I could hardly breathe.

The walls, floors, tables, chairs, windows, furniture, even the light pink cherries placed on the table were covered with dried blood. A stench from the blood stains covered the whole house, filling my mind with a feeling of fear, not understanding where I was.

But it's even scarier when looking outside at a pitch black sky, with not a single cloud in sight, not even a little life can exist in this place. A feeling when I realized I had been transported to another world.

I tried to find a way to escape the room but was surrounded by hundreds of cherry blossom petals. Although they are so brilliant and beautiful, to me right now they are no different from a curse that is haunting me until death.

When I saw the door before my eyes, it suddenly opened, bringing with it an unpleasant, prolonged sound. Waiting in front of me was a boy with a weird outfit style, sitting on an armchair, gently caressing the cherry branch in his hand.

The boy smiled, a mysterious smile, his melodious tone and slow, gentle way of speaking captivated the listener.

"Do you like cherry apricots?"

Cherry blossoms! Every time I look at them, I remember the image of that girl. Fragile and weak, but with a gentle beauty.

Perhaps if we miss just one second of the moment the cherry blossom petals fall, we will quietly lose each other forever, losing so many passionate, passionate emotions of youthful love.

And just maybe, I missed the most beautiful cherry blossom season of my life.

After being stunned for a few seconds, the strange boy spoke again:

"They are beautiful, aren't they?"

When the boy said this, he held his stomach and laughed and snapped his fingers. The snap created a pink space that covered everything. A series of giant cherry apricot stems from the ground began to sprout from the mother tree and then spread their wings one after another, emitting a fragrant scent.

The scent of cherry apricot is a bit difficult to explain in simple words, but it can be said that it is basically the same as the light taste of cherry but more delicate and sweeter.

"That dream scene, It's very beautiful, isn't it?"

"Dreamscape! Am I in a dream!"

"That's right. Play a game of chess with me, if you win, you will escape this dream and start a happy life with the girl you once loved. And if you lose..."

"I will stay here forever, right?"

"That's right."

Next, thirty-two chess pieces rose sequentially. On both sides, sixteen black and white pieces of each type turned into human figures, arranged one after another in neat positions in the middle of the chessboard.

The King and Queen are in the middle of the bottom row of the chessboard, while the knights, bishops, and rooks stand on two symmetrical wings. In front is a row of eight pawns standing tall like a protective wall for the main pieces to move.

As if reading my mind, the boy crossed his legs and said:

"You saw it. Before us there are thirty-two chess pieces: Sixteen white, sixteen black. Each piece will represent a different independent individual and they will attack or defend depending on the player's orders. However, if they don't want to move, your move will be invalidated and I will be the one to take the next turn."

It took a while for me to regain my composure and piece together the events that were happening to me right now.

I glanced down at the chess board to analyze possible moves. But assuming this is just a normal match, I will not hesitate to fight to the end to bring myself victory. In the end, that was only limited to a normal match, but in this match, no matter how countless dangerous moves appeared in my head, my winning rate was still back. an incomplete number, as if there was some invisible force that was preventing me from winning against this mysterious kid.

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