Chapter 3 The Boy in the Dream

Chapter 3: The Boy in the Dream

The school day had barely begun, and already we found ourselves sitting in the guidance office.

A heavy silence hung in the air as the guidance counselors offered their advice and reprimands.

It was almost comical, the way the very students who had caused the trouble were now playing the victims, feigning tears in a blatant attempt to garner sympathy from the counselors.

Honestly, it was unbelievable.

Yana and Adrian were visibly seething with anger and frustration as they sat there, their expressions tight with annoyance.

Devan, on the other hand, wore a worried frown, his concern evident.

After what felt like an eternity, the counselors finally finished speaking with us, and we were allowed to return to our classroom to try and salvage what was left of the school day.

The atmosphere in the classroom was surprisingly normal, considering the morning's events.

However, a knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach. I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that washed over me as I imagined my mother's reaction when she found out that on my very first day, I had already been called to the guidance office. It felt as though I had already squandered the opportunity she had so generously given me to pursue my studies.

Lost in my apprehensive thoughts, I didn't even realize that the class had ended. I must have been completely out of it the entire time.

Suddenly, Yana was beside me, her presence pulling me back to reality.

"Girl," she said, her voice laced with concern, "you look so stressed. Don't let those bullies get to you. Come on, let's go have some fun! Let's get out of here."

Her usual vibrant energy was infectious, and she seemed genuinely eager to lift my spirits.

Before I could respond, Adrian interjected, his tone firm.

"And where exactly do you think you're taking my sister? She's coming home with me." His gaze towards Yana was stern, bordering on disapproving.

Yana rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh, come on, Adrian! You're such a killjoy! I'm just trying to help Rain de-stress. Beautiful people like her aren't supposed to be stressed, especially not on the first day of school! Duh!"

Just then, Devan appeared as if from nowhere, a friendly smile on his face.

"And of course, I'm coming too! I want to join you guys; you're the only people I know here."

Yana's demeanor instantly shifted, her usual cheerfulness replaced with a playful annoyance. "And why exactly would you be joining us? You're a boy! No boys allowed!"

Devan clutched his chest dramatically. "Ouch! That was unnecessarily offensive! My feelings are hurt!" he exclaimed, hamming up his supposed distress.

Yana sighed, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Fine, whatever. You're a transferee anyway, and the more the merrier, I guess. So, Mr. Protective Older Brother," she directed her attention back to Adrian, "can your sister come with us? We're not going to get her drunk or anything!" she pleaded.

Adrian let out a long-suffering sigh. "Hays, alright, Rain can go. But I'm coming too. Rain, I need to keep an eye on you; I don't trust these two," he said seriously, his gaze unwavering.

Yana gasped dramatically. "Oh my gosh! What do you think we are, drug lords? And what is Rain, a kindergartener? Let her enjoy herself! But fine," she conceded, a playful glint in her eyes, "since you're handsome, you can come along."

A blush crept up Adrian's cheeks. "What? H-handsome?" he stammered, clearly flustered.

Yana simply smirked and rolled her eyes at him, then turned her attention back to me.

And just like that, the four of us started walking towards the nearby mall.

We strolled around aimlessly, indulging in ice cream and milk tea, and snapping photos here and there, capturing the unexpected camaraderie of our first chaotic day.

"Hahahahaha! Look at this picture of you, Adrian! You look like a grumpy frog!" Yana teased relentlessly, holding up her phone for us to see.

Adrian's face flushed with mock anger, and soon, the two of them were engaged in a playful back-and-forth of teasing and playful insults.

It was amusing to witness the unexpected formation of what looked like a budding "love team."

Meanwhile, I noticed Devan smiling softly to himself.

But then, his expression suddenly turned serious, and his gaze drifted into the distance, as if he were lost in deep thought.

I couldn't quite decipher it, but there was something different about how I felt whenever Devan was around.

It was an unfamiliar and inexplicable sensation.

"Are you okay, Rain?" Devan's voice broke through my thoughts. I realized he was looking directly at me, his eyes filled with concern.

"Huh? Oh, yeah... I'm just a little shaken up, you know? First day of class and we already ended up in the guidance office," I replied sheepishly.

Yana waved her hand dismissively.

"It's not your fault, girl! You're practically the main character in a Wattpad story! That's why those bullies are targeting you – because you're the protagonist! This kind of thing has to happen to make you strong. It's all part of the journey, hehe!" she joked, erupting in a loud laugh.

Adrian shot her a sharp look. "You're out of your mind! Did you escape from a mental institution? What are you even talking about?" he asked incredulously.

"Wattpad, you idiot! Don't you know what that is? Have you been living under a rock?" Yana retorted, her tone sharp.

Devan's attention returned to me, his gaze gentle. "Don't worry, Rain. We're here for you. We won't let them hurt you," he said calmly, offering me a reassuring smile.

"Yes, exactly!" Yana chimed in. "Honestly, I don't get why they're picking on you. Look at you! You're so pretty and you have such a soft girl vibe!"

A genuine smile touched my lips.

"Thank you, guys. It means so much to have you both here, defending me. I don't feel so alone anymore. I really appreciate it," I said, my gratitude.

"Don't even mention it, girl! We've got your back. We'll be your protectors!" Yana declared confidently, flashing me a sweet smile.

Devan's brow furrowed with concern. "What's even the point of those girls' actions? Why did they do that to Rain? Are they crazy?" he wondered aloud.

"Because, duh! Rain is the protagonist of this story! She just needs to go through these trials and tribulations!" Yana quipped, winking playfully.

Adrian promptly flicked her forehead.

"Ouch! You jerk! That hurt! You sadistic monkey! I hope you go bald!" Yana exclaimed, rubbing her forehead with exaggerated pain.

Devan chuckled heartily at their antics. I couldn't help but notice how lovely his smile was, revealing two charming dimples. He had a really beautiful smile.

Yana's expression turned serious as she finally addressed Devan's earlier question.

"But seriously, those bullies used to be my friends. But not anymore. Those bitches cut me off because they accused me of trying to steal their boyfriend. They love to step on other people, bully them, make up stories to ruin reputations, and just generally be mean. I don't know what their real motive is; they probably just lack attention or something."

"Wow, that's intense. They sound like the bullies in those Wattpad stories who torment the nerdy protagonist who turns out to be the secret child of a billionaire mafia boss," Devan remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Yana burst out laughing.

"Hahahahaha, you nailed it, baks! You totally got it!"

I straightened my shoulders, a newfound resolve hardening my gaze.

"Well, I'm not going to let them get to me. I won't let them hinder my studies. They picked the wrong person to bully," I stated firmly.

"That's the spirit, girl! That's exactly how a protagonist should be! Fierce!" Yana exclaimed enthusiastically.

Adrian, however, seemed to have had enough of our dramatic recounting.

"Alright, that's enough. Let's go home," he said seriously. Yana shot him an annoyed look.

"Hold on a second, Adrian! You're being such a killjoy! We were having a good conversation! It's only 4:30 PM! Come on, let's go do some karaoke first!" she suggested brightly, already pulling us towards the arcade's karaoke section with infectious excitement.

Yana sang one song after another with unrestrained energy, her voice filling the air.

Devan occasionally joined in, his voice surprisingly pleasant.

Adrian remained a silent observer, his expression serious as he watched them.

Kissy face, kissy face sent to your phone, but

I'm tryna kiss your lips for real (uh-huh, uh-huh)

Red hearts, red hearts, that's what I'm on, yeah

Come give me somethin' I can feel, oh-oh-oh

Don't you want me like I want you, baby?

Don't you need me like I need you now?

Yana's energetic performance included little dance moves, much to Devan's amusement, who was laughing along.

Adrian, however, looked like he was about to explode with annoyance at any moment. Even I felt a little intimidated by his dark glare.

When Yana finally finished her song, she thrust the microphone into my hand.

"Your turn, Rain! Omg, you have to sing! I wanna hear your angelic voice!" she exclaimed excitedly.

I nervously scrolled through the song list and selected one, punching in the number. "Die with the Smile" by Bruno Mars."

I, I just woke up from a dream

Where you and I had to say goodbye

And I don't know what it all means

But since I survived, I realized

Wherever you go, that's where I'll follow

Nobody's promised tomorrow

So I'ma love you every night like it's the last night

Like it's the last night

If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you

If the party was over and our time on Earth was through

I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile

If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you

As the last notes of my song faded, I looked up to see Yana and Devan staring at me with their mouths agape, completely shocked.

"Shocks! You don't have autotune, teh? That's your natural voice?" Yana asked in disbelief, her eyes wide.

"Your voice is beautiful, Rain! Why haven't you auditioned for 'The Voice' or something?" Devan added, equally impressed.

I scratched the back of my head, avoiding their gazes. I always felt self-conscious whenever people complimented me.

"Legit, teh! Your voice is like an angel's! It reminds me of IU's voice!" Yana gushed.

"Thank you," I mumbled shyly, still avoiding eye contact.

Next, Devan selected a song and began to sing.

I am not the only traveler

Who has not repaid his debt

I've been searching for a trail to follow again

Take me back to the night we met

And then I can tell myself

What the hell I'm supposed to do

And then I can tell myself

Not to ride along with you

I had all and then most of you

Some and now none of you

Take me back to the night we met

I don't know what I'm supposed to do

Haunted by the ghost of you

Oh, take me back to the night we met

That strange, familiar mix of longing, sadness, and a peculiar sense of joy washed over me again as I listened to Devan sing.

I instinctively reached up and touched my temples. A sudden throbbing pain shot through my head, and I felt a wave of dizziness.

"Rain, are you okay?" Adrian asked, his voice filled with concern as he reached out to steady me.

"Y-yeah, just a bit of a headache," I managed to say.

"Ugh, see? That's what happens when you sing so badly, Devan! You gave Rain a headache!" Yana teased, but Devan completely ignored her.

He stopped singing and approached me with a worried expression.

"Seriously? Your head hurts? Maybe we should call it a night, guys. Rain probably needs to rest," Devan said, his concern evident.

"That's probably a good idea," Adrian agreed.

As the journey home progressed, my headache intensified.

Once we arrived, I immediately went to my room to change and lie down. The household chores could wait.

My body felt heavy with exhaustion, and all I wanted was to rest.

My eyelids grew heavy, and soon, my mind drifted into the realm of dreams once more.

I was surprised to find myself not in the familiar garden setting of my usual dreams. Instead, I was in a bustling ice cream shop. An overwhelming array of ice cream flavors was on display.

To my astonishment, the shop was crowded with people both inside and out, and the entire atmosphere felt incredibly real.

"Two orders of cookies and cream, please," a voice said at the counter. It was the mysterious man from my dreams.

He turned and saw me, a warm smile gracing his lips.

I was seated at a table, and he soon approached, carrying a cup of ice cream.

"Here, have some ice cream. It's a hot day, isn't it?" he said with a gentle smile.

"Thank you. So, I'm dreaming again," I stated, a sense of familiarity washing over me.

He simply smiled and changed the subject.

"How was your first day of class? Did you meet any new friends?" he asked cheerfully.

How did he know?

Did he know what was happening in my life?

"It was... eventful. A mix of excitement and anxiety. Some bullies targeted me, but thankfully, I met some kind friends who helped me," I replied simply.

"That's awful. They're probably just jealous of you because you're beautiful... incredibly beautiful," he said, his gaze lingering on me with a soft smile.

His intense stare made me feel flustered, and I looked away.

"What about you? How are you?" I asked, trying to redirect the conversation as we both ate our ice cream.

"I'm okay. Just missing you terribly... I long to hold you and talk to you again... If only you could always be by my side," he confessed, his eyes filled with a deep affection as he looked at me.

I was speechless, unsure of how to respond to his heartfelt words.

"Sorry... uh, shall we go?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Where to?" I inquired.

"It's a surprise. We have somewhere to go," he replied with a smile, and we walked out of the ice cream shop together.

We ended up in a park bathed in soft, glowing lights.

I couldn't explain it, but the sight was incredibly comforting.

We sat down on a swing set facing a tranquil pond.

"Rain?"

"Yes?"

"I love you very much..."

"Who are you?" I finally asked, the question that had been nagging at me.

"Hmm, you'll find out soon enough... For now, I'm just happy to be with you, but I want to be with you even more... I'll search for you wherever you go. I'll never stop loving you..."

"Why do I feel this way whenever I talk to you? I don't understand. I feel both sad and happy... I also want to be with you for a long time... but who exactly are you?" I asked, my voice filled with confusion.

"Rain... the time will come when you'll know. I don't want to rush things... just trust what you feel," he said tenderly.

Tears welled up in my eyes as we sat side-by-side on the swing. I didn't understand.

Why did it hurt?

Why this overwhelming sadness? Why did it feel so painful? I couldn't decipher the emotions swirling within me.

Suddenly, the mysterious man stood up and enveloped me in a tight embrace.

"I love you..." I heard him whisper.

The entire scene around us dissolved, including him, and I snapped awake.

Just like before, I woke up to a tear-soaked pillow, my mind in turmoil.

Who was that man?

Why did he always appear in my dreams? And why did he have such a profound effect on my emotions?

I sat up and reached for the yellow rose that still sat in my room, carefully tucked away in a drawer. It hadn't withered at all.

It was the yellow rose that the mysterious man had given me in my dream.

He was handsome, and yes, I had to admit I had a crush on him. It wasn't just his looks, though; it was the strange feeling I got whenever I saw him, even if it was only in a dream.

There was an emotional connection, and I felt like he knew me intimately.

He felt familiar, as if we had known each other for a long time.

And I longed for him. I constantly wished that I could dream for longer, at any time, just to see him and be with him.

I desperately wanted to know who he was.

Who was he in my life?

So many questions raced through my mind, but they remained unanswered, trapped within my thoughts.

I closed my eyes again, hoping to dream of him once more, and to my astonishment, just moments later, he appeared before me again.

"Rain!" he exclaimed in surprise, running towards me to embrace me.

The setting of the dream had shifted. Now, we were in a grand library. I found him engrossed in reading one of the books.

"I missed you..." I said softly.

He suddenly froze, and a tear escaped his eye as I spoke those words.

"I missed you too, Rain. I've missed you so much. If only we could always be together, I don't want to lose you, Rain... I want to be with you and see you always," he said, his voice thick with emotion as he held me tightly.

It felt strange and surreal, yet the feeling I had for him mirrored his words. I didn't know who he was in my life, but in that moment, all I wanted was to be with him.

"Were you reading earlier? What were you reading?" I asked him curiously.

"Ahh, nothing much... hehehe," he replied, a hint of nervousness in his voice as he quickly tried to hide the book he had been reading.

But I had already caught a glimpse of the title before he could conceal it. It was a book titled: How to be a good boyfriend.

A comfortable silence settled between us as we stood there in the vast library.

I couldn't explain it, but a profound sense of peace and happiness washed over me just being in his presence, even without exchanging words.

His mere presence was incredibly calming.

"Rain? Are you hungry?" he asked, breaking the quiet.

"Hmm? I'm okay," I replied simply.

"Come on, let's go eat," he suggested gently, taking my hand.

We found ourselves in a Japanese restaurant. I was surprised by how long we seemed to be spending together in this dream.

He ordered a variety of dishes, and to my astonishment, they were all my favorite foods.

"How did you know my favorite foods? Were you really my husband in a past life? You know me so well," I asked, my curiosity piqued.

He simply chuckled softly in response.

"Hmm, husband... that has a nice ring to it. I wish we were already married... I really wish we could just get married," he said with a tender smile.

A blush crept onto my cheeks, and I averted my gaze.

The way he looked at me was so intense, it felt like he could see right through me.

Soon, the food he had ordered arrived: takoyaki, tempura, California maki, tonkatsu, and sushi. My mouth watered at the sight of my favorite dishes.

We ate together, the atmosphere between us feeling like a date between two people deeply connected.

Moments later, I found myself walking hand-in-hand with him.

I wasn't sure why I was allowing things to progress this way, but I felt incredibly comfortable with him, as if holding hands was something we had done countless times before.

"Did you meet any guys at school?" he asked, his tone casual but with a hint of underlying curiosity.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah... there's Devan. He's nice and loves anime. He seems quiet and serious, but he's actually friendly and kind," I replied with a smile.

"Do you like him? Is he handsome?" he pressed.

"Handsome? Hmm, he's... good-looking," I conceded.

He suddenly frowned and pouted slightly.

"More handsome than me?" he asked, looking at me with a serious expression.

"Ha? Uhhmm... what are you saying? It's not good to compare! You're both handsome in your own way," I replied, trying to smooth things over.

"Look at me, Rain... don't you dare replace me with anyone else, okay? You're mine. I don't want anyone else having a crush on you. Only me. You should only be mine," he said possessively.

"Why? What are we?" I asked him directly.

He took a step back and scratched his head, looking slightly flustered.

"Hays, what is this... just don't ask questions. Just know that you're mine and you're off-limits to others," he said like a petulant child, which made me giggle.

Without thinking, I leaned in and kissed him on his cheek. He was just so cute when he was being possessive.

"You're like a child. You're so cute," I said with a smile, gently cupping his cheeks, which were now as red as tomatoes.

"Rain, don't tease me like that. I might not be able to control myself," he mumbled.

"Ha? What are you talking about? You definitely need to control yourself because there's nothing between us," I teased him playfully.

"Rain..."

"Yes?"

"I love you..."

I didn't respond immediately.

I looked into his eyes and saw a depth of love tinged with sadness. A tear escaped his eye and traced a path down his cheek.

He then conjured another flower, another rose, it was the same vibrant yellow.

"I won't stop until we're together. I will find you, Rain... anywhere, anytime, I will always love you," he whispered, placing the blue rose in my hand.

When I woke up, everything was gone.

He was gone.

It had all been a dream.

Tears streamed down my face once again after that encounter with the mysterious man.

A heavy weight pressed down on my chest, and I felt an overwhelming sense of longing and heartache.

My eyes widened in disbelief as I looked at my hand.

There, nestled in my palm, was another yellow rose that the mysterious man had given me in my dream.

Who is he, really?