What was that all about?
That dream… It was so real, as if she was actually there.
Ria rubbed her face roughly. No. She's just exhausted.
Dreams usually relate to something we think about before going to bed that day and she was thinking about some odd thing she had found in this house.
Her brain made her thought a lot about it all the way to her dreams.
She didn't want to think about the nonsense she had in her sleep.
Dreams are just collection of thoughts. Right?
“Forget it, I have a lot to do now...” Ria muttered to herself.
She got up and immediately headed to the bathroom to finish her business in there.
After taking a shower and changing clothes while arranging her toiletries in the bathroom, she already felt refreshed.
Ria tried not to think about things she didn’t feel necessary, including that dream.
Ria often dreams in her sleep. Some things she didn't understand, some things scared her.
But she always forgets the dreams, even just hours after she wakes up.
That means, her dream happened because she was thinking too much about something.
Ria steadied her steps out of the room and walked towards the first floor.
On the way she saw the next room whose door was still slightly open.
Ah yes, she has not checked this room.
She opened it and the room clearly hadn't been cleaned at all.
The furniture covers hadn't been opened and the window curtains were still tightly closed, made this room a little darker.
The morning sunlight that came in through the ventilation slots, made Ria able to see quite clearly in the room that looked smaller than the bedroom she occupied next door.
All right, she can clean this up when she gets home from college. She can use this room as a place for her books or other things, thought Ria.
She closed the bedroom door and walked down the stairs.
Ria entered the kitchen and planned a simple breakfast from the toast and eggs she bought last night.
She opened the refrigerator and bent slightly, to check the ingredients she needed.
Hmm? Why is it so messy?
Didn't she arrange it neatly last night?
Ria blinked her eyes staring at the food ingredients that she remembered neatly arranged.
Eh… or was the arrangement really like this?
She saw several packages of groceries piled up on top of each other or some bottles are placed out of alignment.
Maybe last night she was tired and in a hurry.
Alright...
Ria shrugged her shoulders and took two boards of bread, two eggs and butter from the refrigerator.
She toasted the breads and fried two fried eggs.
Ria planned to bring a lunch box of simple sandwich.
Well, saving from the first day of school is a good thing right?
Biting into her buttered toast, she opened the fridge and started reaching for the bottle of full cream milk there.
Eh?
She frowned.
Why is this bread tasteless? It’s….no taste at all?
She was sure to spread enough butter.
She took another bite and chewed as she stared at the toast in her hand.
Yes, this toast was really bland.
Ria, who was still confused, walked over to the dining table with a bottle of milk in her other hand.
Ah. Was it because the butter already expired?
It could be. Ria nodded slowly looking at the bread.
She turned to open the refrigerator and took out her box of butter.
Ria leafed through the box and looked for the expiration date.
aha! Here it is.…
The date is still next year….
Ria flusteredly read again slowly and put the butter box down and closed the fridge.
Looks like she's dehydrated and needed to drink lots of water, she thought.
Ria was then curious and took a piece of bread that she planned to bring for lunch and ate it.
Ha! This one tastes great!
She took one part of the egg and ate it.
It tasted nice and just right as usual and she made it using the same butter
Aah… maybe there wasn't enough butter on the previous bread, thought Ria while nodding in agreement with her own thoughts.
All right then, she baked one more loaf with more butter.
After her breakfast was finished, Ria prepared her lunch box. Two piece of toast and the remaining part of the egg she hadn't eaten before. Don't forget some veggies too.
At least this will keep her stomach away from hunger until noon, she thought.
Ria made sure that the doors and windows were locked and she went for campus.
**
Ria decided to order an online taxi to go to campus on the first day.
She knew she wouldn't be late even if she walked.
But she wanted to get to know the surroundings first before trying to walk and explore this area further up to her college building.
She walked out of the residential alley and waited at a bus stop not far from the alley's entrance.
This place is indeed beautiful and refreshing. Ria didn't mind walking every day.
Not only it is healthier, it's also more economical.
But this time she also wanted to come earlier so she could have a closer look at her college buildings were like.
The University building she was headed for was indeed in the city's education center. Specifically in this area. There are public schools from kindergarten to University.
Ria could saw the most favorite high school building in this city adjacent to the University area.
She had heard of this high school when she was still lived in the village.
From the parents whose children made it into this school, they sounded very proud. The place was famous for its various and extraordinary extracurricular.
Especially, basketball.
Ria rolled her eyes. She doesn't really like P.E class. So, She didn’t understand basketball.
As it turned out, they had an indoor basketball court between the University and the high school building.
Well... of course. She grumbled.
She reached her campus and a bright smile appeared on her pretty face.
She silently prayed that all her efforts and hard work so that she could continue her education here would not be in vain.
Although Ria, quite difficult to get along with other people. But she is willing to change the way she gets along a little.
After all she was no longer in the village filled with people who didn't care about her.
She will meet new people.
She entered the campus area and started mingling with others.
**
Ria already participated in several activities. Introduction to the University, their major in specific, lecturers and also the courses they will take according to the semester level and their respective majors.
Each major take place in each different building.
The campus is indeed spacious.
Of course she made some friends who were in the same major as her, because they happened to be in the same college building.
Now Ria and her new friends were sitting in the cafeteria taking a break and having lunch together.
They sat around a table and Ria took out her lunch.
At first, Ria was a bit reluctant to take out her lunch box. But apparently one of her new friends, Loren Newt, took out hers too.
“You ladies are really diligent…” Thomas, a young man with dark hair and brown eyes pointed at Ria and Loren's lunch.
“My mother insisted that I bring this. Well, nothing to lose either, hehe…” Loren took a bite of her sandwich.
"I don't want to be extravagant on the first day of admission..." Ria answered briefly while biting her delicious toast. She answered as her friends all stared at her.
She wasn't used to sitting and eating with people she just met. But Ria tried to look normal.
“Yeah… I thought it was a good idea…'' Hans, a young man with dirty blonde hair and a sweet smile, stared at the food he and Thomas bought.
It could be seen from the pile of food, they were two hungry men.
“Hehe… hey, we're boys, we need a lot of calories in one day…” Thomas defended himself while smiling shyly and rubbing his neck.
Ria smile internally seeing the reaction of her new friends.
And everyone could certainly see that her beautiful smile, didn’t appear so often.
"I heard them whisper earlier that there would be a welcoming event for new students this weekend. Like a party and stuff. I can't wait to see it…” Loren said excitedly.
“New student welcome event? A party? It should be as lively as it sounds, right?” Hans looked at Ria and Loren in turn.
"Well, it should be. The high school farewell party alone was very memorable. It's impossible for a party during college to be boring…” Thomas chimed in.
Ria didn’t know that. She most likely couldn't compare those things.
She didn’t come to her high school farewell ceremony.
"Ah! What a shame… if this party we were already 21 years old. They must have provided us with alcohol…” Hans poked his meal using the fork. His face was sullen.
"My mother said, back when she was in college, at the welcoming ceremony the students were allowed to drink alcohol that the committee had provided..." Loren said, which was then greeted by the heavy sighs of the two young men at this table.
“Tsk, now we have to wait a few more years to be able to enjoy alcohol at cool parties…” Thomas said resignedly.
"Why not now?"
Ria's three new friends all looked at her with raised eyebrows.
Oops… She asked that loudly?
"Oh yeah, I forgot that Ria definitely doesn't know that story because she doesn't come from this city. After all it happened before we were born…” Loren realized something.
Hmm? What don't I know yet? Ria looked at the three of them asking for an explanation.
“Ergh… that's right…” Thomas scratched his chin and Hans nodded in understanding.
“So basically, in the past, the age limit for consuming alcohol was 17 years and over. But there was a ridiculous accident that caused a young man to die in a ridiculous way because they were partying and drunk." Thomas explained.
“... a new regulation was made and people with the age of 21 are the limit for drinking alcohol…” He added.
"Why did he die?" Ria asked again. She was curious what kind of ridiculous death Thomas meant...
"He choked his own vomit to death ... while he was sleeping." Loren chimed in.
What the…?
That… was a tragic way to die… but well… Ria didn't know if it was ridiculous or not.
She had never drunk alcohol nor drunk before. So, she didn't dare to judge that person's death.
“Ohh…” She responded as best as she could and started to eat the rest of her lunch again.
Yuck! How come the fried eggs had no taste at all?!
Maybe Ria forgot to put more butter while fried the egg? or not? ;)
"What is it? Are you alright?" Hans asked Ria who looked uncomfortable with her food. Ria smiled a little and tried to swallow her food. “I'm fine, thank you…” Ria tried to swallow the bland fried egg in her mouth. She almost spat it out, thank God it didn’t happen. If she did, she would be considered strange and no one would want to be friends with her anymore. At least that what she thought. It had been a long time since Ria had friends at school. Even though it felt awkward but she felt a little happy that someone wanted to sit with her. Moreover considered her as one of their friend. At least nobody here thought she was a weirdo. Or those who think she is jinxed and stay away from her like a disease. “Ria, tell me if you go shopping to prepare for the party! We'll go together
Unfortunately, today she was occupied with her activities in school...Some of the schedules and classes that she had to follow were so hectic, that she instantly forgot about what she was going to do with the dream.She will take care of it later when she returns home…On campus, Ria took part in various classes until the afternoon. She didn't want to be left behind because she was very excited about her study here.In this place, no one seemed to bully her anymore .In this place, no one saw her as if she was a disease.Ria was very grateful to be able to live her new life in a positive environment like this.For that, she must doing everything whole-heartedly.When it was time to go home, Ria decided to walk as usual.“Ria!…Wait!” Someone yelled, not too far behind her
The point of view of “…..” on Ria's first night living in that house.She had been gone for some time.She didn't go out of fear, did she?Judging from her aura, it's impossible. She was no longer afraid, instead she looked excited.Ria she looked like she wanted to go shopping, maybe she'll be back soon.This was all my fault. Actually she was very excited and wanted to welcome Ria who would live in this house.But sometimes I forget, that I am no longer a living being.I forgot, if the slightest change that I make will look strange in the eyes of humans who see it.I went downstairs and stood in front of the window in the living room, looking straight at the small garden in the grounds.Staring straight at the gate.Ho
There was… someone sitting on the couch… I didn't know exactly what it was. But from its shape, it was clearly a person. However, he was transparent... His whole body was like a see-through faint light. From this distance, I could still saw the couch and the scenery behind it. “What… are you…” I muttered. I wasn't sure if this figure heard me. I was so shocked that my voice barely came out. This figure is tall, I could saw it from the way he sat. He sat down casually, like he was leaning on the sofa. His knees bent down because his long legs touch the floor. I saw his face. He stared at me unblinkingly. I dared myself to step forward, forcing my weak knees to support my trembling legs. What am I looking at here? Have I gone crazy? I s
The University library is huge and Ria very excited to explore it. She felt like she was on the other side of the world when she was here. How could she not. She did not expect that this room had such an extraordinary interior. The library has high ceilings and spans two floors. The pillars of the building are very tall and large, made her felt like she was wandering in a land of giants. She was given instructions by one of the librarians how to find the reference books she was looking for. And she was looking for books that related to ghost or paranomal things. She picked up several books, articles, and also novels. She didn't know if it would help but it seemed like those horror novels she could read in her spare time. Ria will indeed borrow some books and will read some of them here. She chose a seat near the window and started reading there. ** "What are you reading?" The sound of someone whispering just above her head made her almost jump. “Loren!” Ria whispered yelle
Ria looked at him and she was like bewitched there.Was the ghost really looking at her like that?Isn't he just a memory?A couple of second later, the figure disappeared.Ria regained her senses and shook her head slowly.Whatever it was, he had helped Ria chase away two thugs who had clearly malicious intentions earlier.She walked into the house and looked for the ghost but found no one.Ria only hoped that he didn't suddenly appear just like that. It would took her by surprise and she didn't like that feeling at allAfter turning on all the lights inside and outside the house, Ria decided to take a shower.**After she felt clean and fresh. Ria immediately went downstairs and made dinner in the kitchen.She will be making two servings today.Of course, one portion will be for the ghost.If previously she always accidentally made two servings, now she had deliberately made one more for him.Because she wanted to thank him for helping her earlier.She didn't know if the ghost was
After finishing dinner full of surprises and unusual situations, Ria cleaned up all the dishes and leftover food after Kevin finished eating. She then decided to rest. While walking towards the stairs Ria thought about something. How come she could see ghost? People like Loren had seen strange things like that since childhood. While her? This was the latest phenomenon in her life. Had she not been paying attention all this time? Ria didn't think so. She put her step on the stairs and looked back at Kevin that was also walking in the same direction as her. Ria frowned and looked at him warily. Kevin understood her expression and raised both hands as a sign that he didn't do anything. "I'm not following you. I sleep in the next room. I mean I stay in the next room. Don't worry, I won't bother you." He said seriously. Ria stared at the ghost for two seconds longer and nodded once then continued on. When they arrived in front of the doors, Ria turned around and looked at Kevin
Ria had already sent Loren her home address when she was getting ready.So when she was outside the house, a car stopped right in front of the fence.Ria closed the fence and saw the front window of the car open slowly.“Holy shit!…” Loren gaped at the house behind Ria.The girl frowned at the horrified expression of her friend.She looked back also thought Kevin was showing himself which was impossible.But she saw no one there. The curtains are still closed as she left it that way."Something wrong?" Ria asked confusedly. She squinted her eyes at the glare of the sun."Oh my gosh.. Do you really live here?" Loren asked in disbelief."Yes of course. This is my house." Ria nodded looking at Loren and her house in turn.What's wrong with this girl? Did the house look weird?"Nothing... let's go in..." Loren said, tilting her head to the side to signal Ria to get into the car.Ria nodded, got into the car and sat in the passenger seat beside Loren who was holding the steering wheel.Lor