Chapter 1: Lost

The flame started to illuminate the paper. Aiko is always fascinated with anything luminous, especially the ones that stand out in the dark. She carefully placed her lantern down to make it float in the water.

“She was the one who pursued me.” She heard Goo continued. He was almost out of breath as he was talking while blowing into his cupped hands.

Aiko smirked at the guy next to her then watched her lantern move towards the others. The lanterns floating in the water is beautiful beyond words. She put her hands together and bowed. “May our wishes be granted.”

“When I finally realized that I am starting to feel the same way, she dumped me like a hot potato. She doesn’t even respond to my calls now.”

Aiko stood up and faced the guy. “She’s been crushing on you since the start of the school year. You brushed me off when I told you she wanted to date.”

“Let us call this karma.” Miya giggled.

Goo looked away. It was colder than the usual.

Aiko looked at her bestfriend who was yawning. It’s too early to be on bed but for a girl who has been awake since dawn, Miya surely isn’t to be bothered.

Miya turned to Goo with a serious face. “You really hurt?”

He nodded, his eyes still glued somewhere far.

“You’re over Rina now?”

No answer.

“Look at you. Still not over Rina but already complaining about another girl. Remind me how boys can jump from one to another like a grasshopper when I go gaga over a guy.”

“Rina is a different story.” He mumbled.

She agreed in her mind. It is easier said than done to part ways with someone you’ve been in love with for years. It’s like tearing a piece of you which had your memories but you just can't let go. Ugh.

“I’ll just buy some candies,” Miya announced.

“Imagine how we’re just a microspeckle in this universe yet we deal with so much pain.”

Aiko didn’t know how to respond to that, instead she pulled him towards her. “Goo, the guy you were talking to last night, didn’t you say he’s your basketball teammate in your previous school?”

Goo followed her gaze. “Oh, yeah, that’s Kalli. Why? You like him?” He teased.

“Fool! I was just curious.” She didn’t tell Goo that the guy had thrown him a meaningful look when he was talking to him.

Goo waved at the guy who was already on his way to them.

“Gunn, didn’t know you attend festivals?” They made a weird gestures clasping their hands together.

By the way, Goo’s real name is Gunther. Hehe

“Yeah, not fond of it but my minions are really into this one, right?” He turned to Aiko while raising his brows.

Aiko rolled her eyes and looked the other way.

"By the way, this is Aiko, Rina’s sister. Remember, Rina?”

Kalli nodded. “Yes, your girlfriend.” At the same time, Kalli extended his arm to shake hands with Aiko.

Aiko didn’t know how to react at first. She was quite hesitant to correct Kalli that Rina is no longer Goo’s girlfriend and to take Kalli’s hand, the gesture was too formal when he actually looked like a

snob when she saw him last night with Goo. It didn’t suit him. But she took his hand anyway.

“Aik, let’s buy corndogs!” It was Miya who came from behind.

When they raised their gaze at the food stands, it was swarmed with people.

“Do not go there. I’ll buy for you.” Goo told them.

Aiko placed her hands on her hips. “There he goes again, acting like a big bro.”

“I am a big bro.”

“No one wants you.”

“What did you say?” Goo was about to tuck her under his armpit but he remembered Kalli was there.

“Hey, Kalli. Join us if you have no one with you.”

“No, Kalli. Save yourself from this tyrant.” Aiko laughed while she pushed Goo’s arm away from her and  later chased him with her purse.

Miya sighed. “They are really like siblings. Well, it almost happened.”

Kalli caught the word. “Almost?”

“Humm. Goo and Rina broke up last summer.” She paused. “And she’s engaged now.”

After few seconds, she tapped her mouth lightly, “Aah, I’m sorry, such a big mouth, I’m Miya by the way.”

They finally got their corndogs and milk tea after waiting for minutes on the queue. “Let’s play! Let’s play!”

They went around playing on the fair ground. Goo and Aiko teamed up at first but because Kalli was good at betting on the color game, Aiko decided to leave Goo and allowed Kalli to use her money for the games.

“Look at you! You lost all my money to games now you go to Kalli. You brat. Miya, com’on! Let’s team up.” Miya laughed at him and went behind Kalli.

“Look at these girls. You want me for free ride, free food, and free games. But you can’t even give moral support.”

“Okay, okay.” Aiko held his arm, “Let’s go watch the show over there.”

It was really crowded but they were able to squeeze themselves between shoulders to go near. The show displayed people in spirits' and demons' costumes and there were blazing fire dancers.

"Woooo!" Aiko shrieked when the dancers rubbed the demon masks on the audience for added terror. It was chaotic and fun.

“I’m too tired. I’ll just buy something at the store, meet me there after the show.”

Aiko worriedly followed. “Let’s go too.”

They were just lazily going with the flow of the crowd when Kalli shifted his attention to her. “Where are we gonna meet her?”

“I think she said mart.”

“But I can’t see Goo.”

“Oh, okay, let’s move to the side so I can text them.”

They both typed on their phone.

“I think we should take this alley to avoid getting mobbed.”

Aiko glanced at the map on his phone. “Oh, okay. Let me just send this.”

They retreated to take a different route. The other side is much more serene compared to the main street.

They saw the sign of the mart at a distance.

“Woah!” she was surprised. “Look, over there, there are fireflies!” The other side of the road was poorly lit. There are bushes and trees and another alley that leads to the village. “I rarely see fireflies nowadays. Let me just take a picture!”

Before Kalli could even respond, Aiko already crossed.

Aiko was disappointed looking at her photos. “Expensive phone but can’t even give justice to the beauty my naked eyes can see. Grrr!”

She kept swiping left when a notification appeared on the screen reminding her that she wasn't receiving signal. Then, it became too quiet. Their town isn't as noisy as the metro but…the absence of any sound is distubing. She looked around, it was darker than how it was awhile ago. She used her phone to light her path and traced her steps but the place suddenly felt different. She was sure that she didn’t move far off. Then, someone grabbed her arm.

“I was calling you!”

Aiko sighed when he recognized Kalli’s voice. She flipped her phone to see his face. The guy squinted his eyes, “what happened?”

“Kalli, did we walk too far?”

Kalli raised his eyes then looked around.

“That’s where the store should be." She pointed. "Few steps won’t mess up with my sense of direction.” But the place they were in didn't seem to be the same village.

They heard some clamours from a distant. Kalli held her wrist and lightly pulled her behind him. They walked towards their supposed rendezvous. Their eyes were adjusting in the darkness.

“Ssshh… I have a bad feeling about this. We might encounter some gangs.”

Gangs?

Suddenly, they heard footsteps, not of a single entity. They leaned their back against the wall and waited for the sound to disappear.

Kalli peeked over and she followed. They were tiptoeing when there was a sudden loud bang, like a sound of a drum or a gong.

Aiko was quick to pull Kalli behind the bushes. Their eyes widened to see who are making the noises. Kalli bit the side of his fist to stop himself from making any noise while he also covered Aiko’s mouth as she was about to scream. The entities are roaming the street, they are wearing a white long tunic with hood over their heads but they do not have distinct features because their faces have melted. Behind them is a boar-like creature which is emitting a stinky smell. Aiko removed Kalli’s hand and pulled her shirt collar up to her face to smell the detergent she used on it just so she won't puke.

They’ve stayed behind the bushes for a long time.

“What has happened?”

Kalli covered her mouth when a shadow appeared from nowhere. It is making a grunting sound.

They waited for it to leave.

Just as she closed her eyes, her cellphone beeped. She felt horrified. She was imagining that the creature was probably towering over them. But when she raised her face, the place was well-lit and the store re-appeared.

Kalli was already on his feet. She followed as he went out of the bushes and scanned their surroundings.

“Kids nowadays. Can’t wait to be married. Can’t even get a room.” It was a woman few meters away from her. But she was still traumatized of what has transpired she didn't even think about what the woman said.

The beeping continued. Her phone regained signal.

Miya:

Aik, where are you? I saw Goo.

He’s getting mad.

You’re still with Kalli, right?

Are you guys on a date?

Why leave us though?

Should we go home?

Aikoooooo

15 missed calls

Aik, I’m not feeling well. You still have fare for taxi?

The fireworks started shooting in the sky. It meant the festival was over.

Aiko: Yes, I’m still with him. We got lost. On our way home now.

Miya: Oh, finally. I felt guilty leaving without you. But I’m suddenly burning with fever. Sleeping now. Love you.

She didn’t reply and put her cellphone in her purse. She’s trying to wrap her mind around what they saw.

Kalli noticed her behavior. He was also shocked and confused but he had to do something. Otherwise, they won't get anywhere. “I’ll send you off.” He offered.

She did not respond.

The cab stopped in front of the dormitory.

“It’s already 1AM. Will someone open the gate for you?”

“Probably no. Can you help me get up?”

Kalli furrowed his eyebrows as if he can’t believe what she said. Although these things are usual in the dormitories.

Kalli supported her foot while she pulls herself up. That’s when Goo apeared out of nowhere. He seemed to have planned this scene.

“We were lost.” She explained right away.

“Yes, in 21st century with phones in your hands.”

“For real. We even had this weird encoun —“ she didn’t know how to continue. She gave Kalli uneasy glances.

Silence.

Goo placed his hand on his hip. “You’re only 17, Aik. Kalli is 18. This is against the law. You can’t be in a relationship.” He kept shaking his head while saying these.

Aiko briefly forgot about her trauma. She rolled her eyes. “We’re not in a relationship. And you got the law twisted, it’s only illegal if we —“ Aiko pulled her hair down.

“See? see? What if you get pregnant?”

“Oh, now I’m pregnant. I haven’t even kissed a guy.”

“You, teenagers.”

“You’re also a teenager.”

“I’ll tell your sister about this.”

Aiko is getting irked so she said, “You’re on her blacklist.”

“WHAAAAT!?” That's all what it took to mess with Gunther.

“Ooops.”

Goo followed Aiko as she ran towards the gate.

“Am I really on her blacklist?”

“Why don’t you make a call?”

Silence.

“You’re afraid to know. If you call and it rings, Rina will know you haven’t moved on yet. If it doesn’t, you’ll be brokenhearted for the second time today.”

Aiko chuckled. But she still gave Goo a sympathizing look. “You’ll get over her… Now, give me the keys. I know you got it for me.”

Goo pulled out the keys and handed it to her.

“Bye, see you on Monday.”

“Why not say something like… ‘I still root for you to be my brother in law?”

“Because I don’t?”

Kalli walked past Goo. “I think it’s time to leave.”

“Kalli, don’t you ever go out with Aiko. Let her be a spinster ‘til I’m no longer on her sister’s blacklist.”

His words fell on deaf ears.

“Kalli?”

“Did you get the keys for us?”

Goo shook his head.

“What!? Help me get over the wall then.”