Chapter 6: Dream (1)

There must be an explanation for all of this.

Ria walked along the alley, brought her groceries in both hands.

Even in the night, this area was not so quite. Some people still passed by and the street light was all on, so she thought it was still pleasant to walk a little at this hour.

She needed to think.

Maybe, Trisha came back to the house and cleaned up a little after she left.

Maybe…

She could not accept any illogical explanation for whatever happens in that house.

Well, her brain refused to.

In this world, there must be some logic answers for every little thing that happens.

Even the old once said many things out of myth and belief, it turned out that they just didn't know what really happen yet.

Once they said rainbow is a bridge for angels. They descend to earth using the rainbow ladder to a lake to bathe.

When she was little, Ria really believed in the story and admired the rainbow because of the beauty of the colors and its function as a bridge for the angels.

At school, she found out that rainbows are water droplets that are refracted by light.

But even so, she still admires the beauty of the rainbow. Although she would never imagine the angels descending from there again.

People in the village also say that if you want to travel far, you are forbidden to bring eggs or raw meat. If you violate it, you will have bad luck along the way.

This is not proven fact. If there’s something bad happen on the way when we bring some of it, then it's just a coincidence.

What does misadventure have to do with raw eggs and bacon?

If we buy raw meat at the supermarket and bring it home, then…will we always have bad luck every time we buy groceries?

Ria almost laughed out loud to herself remembering their words at that time.

But even so, she still respects that tradition even though she didn’t believe it at all.

She would not denounce anyone who adhered to his beliefs or traditions. It is everyone's right.

And so she has the rights to hold on her own belief.

She belief in science, logic answers for everything

She could not be assured in any myths the old once said.

She didn’t believe the ancestral spirits.

She could not be convinced by the existence of the ghosts. How could she? She never once saw her parents after their death.

Heh. Ghosts... it's just an imagination created by our head when we're afraid. Ria shook her head.

That’s why, there must be some logical explanation she had yet to come up with for some of the strange things that had happened in that old house.

While a lot of thoughts in her head, she walked into the neighborhood. She looked around, some people were still seen outside the house. There were two cars coming in and out passing by her.

For the size of a small housing complex, this place is actually not too quiet.

It's just that, Ria, who was used to living in a village, did felt that in the city, people don't really socialize with each other.

In her village, if there are guests or new residents, everyone will come out to see them and say hello. They are even invited them to go around and visit residents' houses one by one to get to know to each other.

That will be so awkward in here…

Ria didn’t say that the people here are unfriendly, they are nice. But the traditions of each place must be different.

Since Ria left the house earlier, several neighbors who happened to be outside the house smiled at her or looked at her with curious faces.

She smiled kindly and they returned her smile with warm gesture.

When she almost arrived at the front gate, an old woman came out from a house opposite hers and carrying a plastic trash that looked quite heavy.

"Good night, Grandma .." she greeted friendly, the old woman looked at her and smiled gently.

"Good night sweetie, have you just been out shopping?... Oh you're very kind, it's okay really..."

She asked and Ria nodded while put away her bag paper on the ground. She politely took the black plastic that was in the old woman’s hand and threw it into the nearest trash can.

"It's okay... Yes, I was just shopping,groceries and stuff…  I just happened to be moving today..." Ria walked back towards the kind-hearted grandma.

"Thank you, dear, oh you are a lovely beautiful girl... Did you move into that house?" She asked… Her tone was a bit doubtful, her eyes moved to the house in front of them.

"Yes, Grandma." Answer Ria politely.

The grandma took a deep breath and smiled again.

"Okay, take care of yourself, sweet child. Be careful, that house has not been inhabited for a long time. If you need anything, just come to grandma's house here. I’m here anytime you need me…” She said softly.

Ria nodded and said thank you for the kind grandma's concern and immediately went home.

She opened the door and immediately went inside feeling a little nervous.

Even though she had already convinced herself that it was possible for Trisha to come and clean after they left, she still couldn't get rid of this strange feeling towards this place.

It wasn't the paranormal thing that she was most afraid of in this world.

But human.

Humans are scarier than demons.

What if a psychopath secretly lives in this house and harms anyone who dares to disturb his home?

Ria shook her head trying to dismiss the thought, she turned on the television in a fairly loud voice so that this loneliness would not make her overthinking even more.

After unpacking the groceries and making dinner, Ria went back upstairs to clean the bathroom and take a shower.

This house is actually very comfortable. Despite the strange things she encounter, Ria felt she feel at home here even if she didn’t have anyone to talk to.

After all, she used to living alone.

Ria made sure all the doors and windows were locked, then went to sleep.

**

She didn't know how long she had been sleeping, but now she woke up to the sunlight so bright that it was blinding.

She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

What time is it?

She looked around, and why did something feel strange?

“Uughh…” a man's groan came from beside her and she shrieked loudly in shock.

“Aaah!! What the hell are you doing in my room!” She screamed in panic and immediately got up from the bed.

She quickly grabbed a pillow and ready to attack.

She couldn't see his face clearly because of the sunlight blocking her view.

Or.. She thought it was sunlight…

Ria put her hand over her forehead to protect her eyes from the blinding sun, but it didn't work.

She still could not see the face of this man who was now sitting while stretching his body.

What the hell?

For an intruder, he was enjoying his time. She felt really irritated.

The man was even wearing pajamas.

He was already planning on sleeping here?

"Who are you?! Get out of my house!” She snapped at the stranger again.

Similarly, this time not only did the man not hear her, in fact, even though Ria could not see his face or eyes, she was sure that he did not even see her.

What? What the hell is going on?

The sudden ringing of the phone rang loudly, making her jump.

She looked around, still on alert with soft pillow tighten in her hands, but the man casually picked up a telephone receiver that was on the table next to the bed.

Huh? Turned out there was a home telephone here? She didn't see that before?

This was the same house right? Was she the one who entered the wrong room instead?

It's true this was the same room, Ria knew immediately this was the same room.

It's just that some furniture such as different colored sofas, darker curtains, brown mattress covers, standing night lamps, and home telephones? She was positive didn’t see any of that before.

"Hello?"

Ria turned towards the strange man when she heard his voice talking on the phone.

“I just woke up..

…I know…

…of course I’ll come, this is important for our match…”

Ria put down her pillow now that she was sure that the man didn't see her at all.

She silently watching  the man who was awake now and headed towards the window with the receiver still to his ear.

"No, don't invite him... Come on D, you know he'll only disturb our concentration… ordering us around like a boss…"

While trying to see the stranger's face, Ria listened to his conversation with the person on the phone.

She could see only his back view.

He is definitely a young man. Around her age? Not so sure. But he is way taller than her.

She also was curious, where was she?

Why did it feel like this environment was so bright but foggy?

"Relax, I can go and come home anytime... you know, no one forbids me.."

Ria approached the window and struggled to open the thin white curtains.

Her hand penetrate through the curtain?!

Holy shit! What?!

“Living alone is good? Heh…”

Ria slowly turned her head towards the man, the hair on her neck got goosebumps when she realized that the hazy and bright face was now facing her.

As if now this stranger realized she was there.

"Such a state isn't always such a nice thing to be in, is it?"

Even though Ria couldn't see his face clearly, but the man's tone sounded sad.

And Ria was somehow sure, if the man is not talking to someone on the phone but with himself.

….or her.

“Welcome… to my home…”

She heard him.

The next thing she knew was that she woke up and sat up straight on the bed.

Ria felt her heart beating fast. Her head pounding so much that she closed her eyes to stop it.

She immediately looked around. All the furniture she knew before she went to bed were there, even the curtains were the same gray now.

She looked at the bedside table and found no landline there.

She patted her chest to relax herself.

Ria took out her cell phone and the clock showed five in the morning.

Ria looked around again. That's right this was the same room as before she fell asleep.

So… She had a dream.

She had a dream, in this room with a different atmosphere.

There's a strange man sleeping here… and picking up the phone..

What did he just... say?

Ria frowned trying to remember her dream.

Oh yes ... "Welcome to my home?"

What kind of dream was that?