Love Mission

Audrey's drool dripped on the table in a slow slimy motion that almost looked disgusting. Her beautiful chestnut hair which splayed on the table covered the side of her face, her head was comfortably resting on her arm as she slept in class. The students, her classmates, paid no attention to her as they were all too engrossed in the teacher's teaching.

The female teacher who was known to captivate students' attention with her interesting method of teaching noticed Audrey's head lying on the table. In a bid to not divert the attention of the students, she stepped off the podium in front of the class with a pink, long, and flexible ruler in her hand. She carefully moved between the tables until she got to Audrey's table, and she hit the ruler on her table twice, causing Audrey to jerk awake.

"Sit up!" she snapped.

Audrey's eyes met with the teacher's eyes and she bowed her head slightly in apology.

"Please pay attention." The teacher said in a softer tone.

"Yes, ma'am." Audrey hid a yawn behind her palms as she watched the teacher walk away, toward the front of the class to resume teaching.

The students averted their eyes from Audrey and once again, they were engrossed in the teacher's teaching.

Audrey wiped off the small spot of saliva that had formed on her cheek, feeling a little embarrassed.

She managed to keep her heavy eyes open until the bell rang, signaling the end of the class. She lazily packed her notebooks and her colored pencils into her white backpack, tucked her hair behind her ear, and checked her thigh-high socks out of habit to ensure her scar was not visible.

She stepped out of the class in search of her best friend but she had hardly stepped out of her classroom when a loud tiny voice called out to her.

"Audrey!" Celine, Audrey's best friend called out in a high-pitched tone that almost sounded like a shriek.

"Argh." Audrey signed with an eye roll. "No need to yell when you see me, you just made my headache worse." Audrey complained the moment Celine stopped in front of her.

"What kept you awake?" Celine asked, ignoring Audrey's earlier statement.

"Are they that obvious?" Audrey asked, gently massaging the bags under her eyes with her index fingers.

"If those bags under your eyes are what you mean by obvious then yes, the whole world can see them."

Audrey signed "Restroom." she said, and they both turned toward the direction of the restroom.

"What kept you awake?" Celine asked.

"I don't know, I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, there was this light disturbing me. It was like it was shining directly on my face, but whenever I opened my eyes, it was gone."

"Did you turn off the lights in your room?" Celine questioned.

"I did, but that light definitely didn't come from the bulbs in my room." Audrey glanced at Celine to see a puzzled look on her face but she continued anyway.

"It was some light without a source, it disturbed me all night long and I couldn't sleep."

"That sounds crazy." Celine said, pushing the restroom door open.

"I know right? It sounds crazy."

They stepped into the restroom, leaving the door to close on its own. Audrey turned on the faucet and splashed water on her face, she tore off some toilet paper from the roll placed next to the basin and dabbed her face with it. When she was done, she raised her head to look at her reflection in the mirror. Her eye bags were obvious and because she was not a fan of makeup and never really wore makeup, she had no way of covering them up. Plus, makeup was prohibited in their school, although few students managed to break the rule.

"I look horrible." She said to herself, pouting a little.

"Yes, you do," Celine replied, patting her back while staring back at her friend in the mirror with a mock-pity face.

" How did you even become my best friend?" Audrey asked rhetorically, shrugging Celine's hand off her back and disposing of the wet toilet paper.

"We love each other." Celine grinned and held her hand as they both made their way out of the restroom to the school cafeteria to get something to eat.

"I do not love you," Audrey told Celine, snatching her hand away from Celine's hold.

Celine's grin didn't falter, instead, she linked her arm with Audrey's, and Audrey let her have her way.

They got their food, paid, and proceeded to an empty table, carrying with them a tray containing sausage rolls and fruit-flavored drinks.

"Did you hear? An interclass quiz is coming up, I hope I'll be chosen to participate." Celine announced in excitement as they both planted their butts on the chair and placed their trays on the table. Celine started eating right away but Audrey ignored the food on the table. Taking her bag off her back, she placed it on the floor, next to her, and leaned back into the chair.

"Lucky you, I wouldn't even dream of participating. I'm still trying hard to maintain decent grades in class, I wish I were smart too." She pouted, staring at her untouched food.

"You are smart Audrey, it's just not with books." Celine leaned forward and patted the side of her friend's head, trying to make her feel better.

"Not exactly helpful Celine." Audrey scoffed.

Celine continued eating for a while until she suddenly stopped as if remembering something.

"Will Nigel be participating too? I heard the best students will be representing the school. Then I can only hope to represent my class because Nigel will definitely emerge the best." She sipped a little from her drink through a straw and continued.

"It's surprising how the guy solves difficult questions with very little or no effort at all."

Audrey only shrugged at Celine's words, sleep was hovering over her and she felt too tired to give lengthy replies.

"You are so lucky to have a smart ass in your class," Celine added.

"I'll only feel lucky if he helps me with my exams," Audrey said.

"Maybe you should ask him to tutor you," Celine suggested.

"Who, Nigel? Oh please, he'll walk away before I even get to say anything." She pushed the tray further away from herself, creating space for her to place her head on the table.

"Then that confirms the rumors I've heard about his arrogance," Celine huffed, shaking her head as she picked up her drink and drank from the bottle through the straw.

"I really don't think he is arrogant, maybe he is not so good with words, so he avoids it." Audrey defended.

"I still think he is arrogant." Celine insisted adamantly.

"Do not judge a book by its cover, Celine. Just because he doesn't have the smiling syndrome doesn't mean he is arrogant."

"I don't think he has the ability to smile at all." She snickered.

Finishing her meal, Celine pushed her tray away from herself and focused on Audrey who was now fiddling with the strands of her beautiful chestnut hair.

"You should eat Audrey."

"I don't feel like eating," Audrey groaned, raising her head a little to peep at Celine.

"Since when? You always have an appetite." Celine reacted with a raised brow.

"I just don't feel like eating today." She replied, still peeping.

"Then you'll be wasting your money."

"You can have it." Audrey pushed the tray toward her best friend, dropping her head back on the table.

"I'm full, here..." Celine picked up the sausage roll on the tray, tore the wrap, and brought it closer to Audrey's nose. The delicious smell hit Audrey's nose, sending a signal to her brain, her stomach, and her mouth. She sat up salivating, she leaned closer to the sausage, tucked her hair behind her ear so it won't get in her mouth, and bit into the snack. A funny moan escaped her lips as she collected the snack from Celine and did justice to the rest of the snack.

Celine threw her head back and laughed at her friend, her laugh earned the attention of a few students sitting close to them but she didn't shy away or stop because she was very much aware of how contagious her laugh is, and how it lit up her whole face and made her prettier.

Not very far from their table, Nigel, the top student in Springwalls watched as Audrey devoured her food in an interesting manner. Although his eyes were focused on her, his mind and ears were absorbing and processing everything his friends who sat at the same table with him were saying.

"I really want to get this over with, it's been years. Why can't we just find the fifth stone ourselves?" Maximus, a ruggedly attractive student, cried with a disgruntled look on his face. He twirled a straw between his fingers, one of which had a thin golden ring on it. On his pierced slightly big ears were little earrings that sometimes peeped out of his long silky hair which he often dyes black.

"The stone comes to us Max, not us to it."

Rex, Maximus's twin brother, responded.

Unlike his twin, he didn't have any piercings and was decent in appearance. Despite being twins, they were not identical, they looked more like brothers than twins.

"I don't want to spend all my life waiting for the fifth stone. We've gotta find it somehow."

"Let's just wait, besides it's not like we are sitting around doing nothing. We haven't found the map nor the pillar."

Trevor, the fourth student at the table remarked.

"We need the map, fast." Nigel declared, his fruity voice laced with a hint of impatience.

"We already know where to find it, we could get it tonight," Max suggested.

"Through plan, Max, thorough plan or we'll lose it like we did the last time," Rex said.

"Then a plan is all we need to get it, we should have it by tomorrow," Nigel concluded.

Finally taking his eyes off Audrey, his eyes met with Trevor's. Unlike everyone at the table who looked strong and manly. Trevor looked rather slender, his boyish face which made him look younger than his age often made students mistake him for a junior. Unlike Nigel and Max, he was not so popular and he had no problem with being unnoticed, except for his height which drew attention to him.

"Nigel, will you participate in the quiz?" Rex asked, changing the topic.

"I don't want to." Nigel grumpily replied, leaning into the chair.

"Of course, you don't want to, do you think Principal will agree?" Max asked.

"I'll talk to him," Nigel responded.

"We would have a better chance of winning if you join us, Nigel," Trevor said as if to persuade him.

"You can represent us Trevor, I have things to do." He said the last part to himself but they heard it.

"Things like what?" Max asked, finally paying attention to his food."

" None of your business." Nigel deadpanned, his eyes slightly closing as if he was about to sleep, a habit that expresses his boredom.

He stood up. Signing loudly, he shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and said to his friends.

" Give my food to him." His gaze landed on a junior student nibbling on a small sandwich. His friends nodded, having gotten used to Nigel buying lunch and giving it to juniors he suspected were not eating well. His suspicion never failed as the juniors usually accepted the food with glee. The Shy ones would refuse to eat until the seniors leave the hall.

"I'm home," Audrey announced, her voice and movement lacking enthusiasm.

She slowly made her way toward the reflective brown stairs that looked like someone had just cleaned them. Her head was hung down in exhaustion as she made her way up the stairs.

She looked up when she heard the sound of feet descending the stairs, her eyes aligned with the silhouette which was just too familiar to her. She turned sharply to descend the stairs, she stopped at the foot of the stairs and watched her brother approach her.

"Baby girl." Philip, Audrey's adopted brother teased, stopping in front of her.

"Don't call me that." She frowned

"Missed me?"

"No." She snapped

"Don't be grumpy. How was school today?" He asked, walking past her to stand behind her.

"Sickening." She mumbled.

Philip gave a short laugh "You've always found it sickening. "

His deep dulcet voice, coupled with his ocean-blue iris were some of his amazing features. He was known for his charms and intelligence, not to talk of his height which leaves him towering over people.

His hands were neatly tucked in the pockets of his gray joggers as he spoke to his sister, and he was looking radiant as usual.

"I need to sleep," Audrey told him. She was about to climb up the stairs when he caught her with her bag and pulled her into the spacious living room.

"That's all you ever do, eat and sleep."

"Let me go." She protested.

"Eat lunch first. Mom made pasta, it's delicious, try it. I know you won't say no."

Philip disappeared into the kitchen to get the food while Audrey, who was left alone in the sitting room, planted her buttocks on the shiny black leather couch that made weird noises as a result of her weight. She tossed her bag onto a smaller couch and leaned back into the couch while stretching her legs out in front of her.

Her brother soon returned with a plate of food, the tantalizing aroma wafted in the air and got Audrey sitting up in anticipation.

" What happened at school today?" He inquired, sitting on the couch next to Audrey.

"I slept in class." She bluntly replied, eyeing the plate of food he seemingly didn't want to give her until he finished his interrogation.

"And?" He pressed further, his right brow slightly crooked up.

"Nothing."

"Nothing fun happened?"

"It depends on what your definition of fun is," Audrey said, knowing too well what her brother will say.

"No quiz, impromptu test, sport, or a fight?"

Audrey scrunched her face in irritation.

"How are you so good-looking yet so boring?!"

"How are you so pretty yet your grades are not impressive?!" Phillip shot back.

Audrey pouted her lips and blinked, trying to look cute and pitiful so her brother would let it slide, instead, his brows furrowed and his lips curled in irritation.

"Don't give me that disgusting look, I saw your grades in your grade card upstairs. It's depressing." He teased her.

"It's not that bad, I'm trying. I passed all my core subjects okay?!" She finally grabbed the plate of food from him and started devouring it.

"Come home early tomorrow, I'll teach you a few things, a pass is not enough. Pretty girls like you should be on top of your class." Philip concluded and she nodded with no sign of objection.

"Where's mom?" She asked between mouths full.

" Backyard, in the garden. Wash the dishes and go do your homework. I'll check it after dinner."

"Sometimes, I wish you were cooler." She said to his hearing.

"Sometimes, I wish you were smarter."

Philip shot back, shutting her up. With that, he left to help his mom.

Audrey quietly ate her food as her mind drifted back to the days when Philip used to attend the same school as her. Now he has graduated and is studying at a college in the next city. He comes home whenever he gets a break at school.

Audrey smiled when she remembered that her brother has always been smart. Back in high school, he was always among the best in his class, she remembered being compared to her brother by both teachers and classmates but she never felt bad about it because Phillip would get mad and tell off anyone who teased her about her grades. He had always been so protective of her, sometimes too protective that it annoyed Audrey.

Although she was not as smart as her brother, she never felt inferior because she was surrounded by people who loved her. Her family, and Celine, she thought. They never treated her with contempt nor made her feel bad. All she had to do was put in her best and they would reward her with hugs and food. She was loved by the people she loved, and that was all that mattered to her.

Audrey woke up with a startle, she tried to figure out what woke her up but didn't get an answer.

She stared at the white ceiling for a few seconds before turning on her side to check the time on her phone.

"Eleven thirty." She whispered, dropping the phone. "Great, I have homework to do." She huffed.

Rolling out of bed, she shivered as cold air hit her body, causing goosebumps to raise on her light olive skin.

Realizing she left her window open, she strolled to the other side of the room to shut it. She rubbed her palms against her naked arm to create some warmth and yawned carelessly, she stretched and cracked her knuckles then proceeded to turn on the lights in her room. The sudden brightness had her shutting her eyes, and with her eyes still closed, she remembered a faint voice that belonged to Philip telling her to go downstairs for dinner and she remembered shooing him away while half asleep.

"Now I'm hungry." She complained, finally opening her eyes.

She strolled to a medium-sized mahogany cupboard next to her bookshelf which was attached to the wall. She threw open the doors of the cupboard she never forgot to stock with snacks and grabbed a bag of chips and a bar of chocolate from it.

"I love you." She smiled, referring to the cupboard. It was one of her favorite things in her room, mainly because it always had snacks in it.

She made her way to her study desk and sat comfortably on the swivel chair. She grabbed her bag and pulled out her pencil case, notebooks, and her math textbook.

"I hate math." She frowned.

Feeling like a dummy because of her own statement, she added, " Just like everyone else in school." Then realization dawned on her.

"Except for Celine and Nigel. How do they even read this stuff?"

She tore open the bag of chips and the sound it made brought back fresh memories of how she had gotten the scar on her leg, just below her knee.

She had locked herself in her room that day. She was trying to avoid distractions as she had failed to study earlier for an exam and she had just that night to study. She tried to stay awake, and eating was one reliable way to stay awake for her.

Audrey hardly gains weight no matter how much she eats, and she makes good use of that advantage to eat whatever she wants.

That night, she ate so many snacks and had trash laying around everywhere, her room was disorganized and unkempt. She had her things laying around carelessly, not caring to pick them up and that act taught her a lesson.

She wanted to pick a book she needed from the shelf when suddenly, she slipped and fell with a thud. She slowly got up in pain, not realizing that the scissors she left on the floor had made a gruesome cut on her leg. She only realized when she saw blood streaming down her leg. The injury left a scar she had to cover up.

Since then, it became a habit for her to place everything correctly. Sometimes she would get mad when anyone left things laying around carelessly.

The incident turned her into a very tidy person.

Audrey soon rounded off her homework. She cleared her desk and after looking around her room to ensure everything was in order, she turned off the lights in her room, said a short prayer, and was soon in her bed. She smiled in satisfaction and closed her eyes to sleep, she had hardly closed her eyes for fifteen seconds when a bright light illuminated the room.

Very annoyed at the interruption, she frowned deeply, ready to battle with whatever or whoever was the source of the light.

"You've got to be kidding me!" She snapped angrily with her still eyes closed. Flinging the duvet off her body, she opened her eyes but was forced to shut them because of the intensity of the light. She waited for a few seconds before slowly opening her eyes.

Her eyelids parted slowly and her pupils dilated to allow less light into them. At first, her vision was blurry and she could only sense that she was in a bright, almost white atmosphere. She heard very distinct sounds but as seconds passed by, her vision and hearing sharpened. She had to blink twice to get everything perfect.

She was shocked to find herself amidst hundreds of people. Everybody was minding their business, she was almost unnoticed and she could have sworn that they could not see her if not for a few people who made eye contact with her and looked away, minding their business.

She tried to survey her surroundings, it felt oddly familiar yet looked so strange to her. The building's architecture was old, almost ancient yet strong and beautiful. Everyone has on them strange-looking clothes that do not fit the trends of her world. Accessing herself, Audrey discovered she was dressed in the same manner. The skirt she had on was a flared skirt and it kissed the ground, the beautifully patterned long-sleeved blouse hugged her neck and wrist.

"Hey, watch out!" A man carrying metal boxes yelled at her. He had almost hit her but was quick to navigate.

It dawned on her that she was in a market due to the bustling nature of the environment. People advertised goods and everyone seemed to be smiling.

Finally leaving the spot, she walked around the market, feeding her eyes. She had concluded that she was in a dream, a very realistic dream because everything felt so real to her.

A delicious aroma soon caught her nose. The market was filled with different delicious aromas but this one caught her attention and it made her stomach rumble. She was able to single out the stall where the delicious aroma was coming from. She approached the lady sitting by the stall curiously and on sighting her approach, the lady immediately wore a smile.

"Can I have some?" Audrey asked, her stomach rumbled again and she mentally scolded it. The lady smiled genuinely and asked how many Audrey wanted. Unsure of the quantity, she raised her index finger and the lady nodded in understanding.

She watched as the lady skillfully scooped chips that had been cooled on a large tray into a broad green leaf with a big wooden spoon, the action left Audrey wondering if the leaf was dirty or not. Her eyes quickly surveyed the stall and luckily for her curiosity, she saw some kids steaming the leaves over hot water after washing them in cold water. The kids were a few feet away from the lady, explaining why she did not notice them before.

"Miss!" The lady called loudly, finally earning the attention of Audrey who was busy inspecting the sanitation of the food to not notice that the lady had been asking her a question.

"Yes?"

"Chili powder or salt?" The lady asked, putting on the smile that had earlier wiped off her face, except the smile now looked robotic. Like the kind of false smile a trader will put on so as not to repel customers.

"Err...both," She replied with uncertainty.

"Thank you." Audrey received the outstretched package with both hands and turned to go her way but was stopped.

"Wait! You haven't paid, please pay." The lady demanded, extending her open palm forward.

"Pay, do people pay in dreams?" Audrey questioned in confusion, quite convinced she was still dreaming.

"What dream?" The lady's robotic smile dropped. "Please pay." There was slight irritation in her voice as she spoke.

Audrey woke up with a startle. Her alarm was beeping loudly, causing her to groan in irritation. She extended her arm toward it and pushed a button on top of it to stop the beeping sound.

"You could have at least allowed me to taste my chips." She yawned and stretched out her body on the bed, mumbling inaudible gibberish as she stretched. The stretch caused her to yawn again and when she was done yawning and stretching, she thought of her dream, remembering the stories and articles she read about lucid dreams.

She was on her bed for about five minutes before finally turning her head to check the time.

"Yikes! I'm late."