Chapter 1: Nini's Problem

⚠️ ATTENTION ⚠️

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This story is unedited so expect typographical errors, grammatical errors, wrong spelling. English isn't my first language and I hope you understand.

PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME!!!

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Nini

I keep running through the endless trees here in the forest.

Branches creaking, wind whistling around the leaves.

It's night and there's not much light around.

The only things that give me light to my way are the moon and the stars in the sky.

The trees are a blur. My world gliding past me. I don’t dare to look back.

I feel cold, heavy breathing and I can feel the hair in my arms rising.

In my extreme haste in running, I did not realize that there was a log in front of me causing me to trip.

I fell to the floor and couldn't stop screaming because of the pain I had got.

I slowly looked at my knee and saw a wound. I tried to stand up but I immediately fall.

I bit my lip as I moan in pain.

Great, I sprain my ankle! Thanks, bad luck!

I tried to move but I couldn't, the wound I sustained was too painful.

"AAAH!" I shouted.

I try to calm myself from screaming but I can't. The pain caused me is too much.

"GRAAWR!"

I immediately looked behind me when I heard a growl.

It's getting closer!

Though it's painful, I forced myself to stand up and run away from whatever kind of monster was chasing me.

I still tried to run faster from the monster even though my knee and ankle were hurt.

I am limping badly.

"When do these trees end?"

The fear I felt was replaced by joy when I saw a light in the distance.

I looked behind me and saw the monster, it's still chasing me.

I didn't hesitate to run forward where I see the light.

"Help! Help me!" I shouted while running.

Tears started to fall from my eyes.

Finally, this nightmare is-

The smile on my lips faded when I saw what I had arrived at.

I stopped running.

"No..."

I was at the end of a precipice and had nowhere else to go.

"No... this can't be." disappointed I said.

I looked behind me and there I saw the monster, who's been waiting for me for a long time.

I couldn't help but feel nervous.

As it walked towards me I slowly walked two small steps backward.

Is this it? Am I going to die?

I stopped walking backward when I could no longer feel the ground.

I look at what's underneath me.

Sweat poured down my body as I stayed still as possible.

I have no choice but to jump off.

It's either I die by getting killed by a monster or I die jumping off a cliff.

Now choose, Nini.

"GRAAWR!"

I immediately closed my eyes when I saw the monster approach me.

"NO!!!" I shouted.

I wanted to run for safety, but my feet would not allow me to do so.

My heart was throbbing in my ears, loud and irregular, but I barely heard it, for my mind was clouded with fear.

"Nini..."

"Nini..."

I can hear my name being called over and over.

"No! Get off me!"

"Go away!"

There I heard a mysterious voice calling my name.

"Nini, open your eyes."

I didn’t follow it and kept my eyes closed.

I was not frightened nor was I was afraid. What I felt was beyond such mere nouns.

I can't even try to move any parts of my body because of the terror washed over me.

My eyes dilated when I felt a hug. I don't know how but, I feel my heartbeat gradually returned to normal.

I felt its hand stroking my head. I can also hear a song humming while calming me down.

"It's alright, Nini. Everything is now fine," it said as it continues to stroke my hair.

I couldn't stop but feel sleepy, I must admit, this person knows how to calm someone down.

I comfortably put my head in its chest.

She's a girl.

“I thought I was going to die,” I said to her while crying.

"I was so scared, I didn't know what to do."

She stopped stroking my hair.

"But you face your fear, Nini."

"No, I didn't face it, I ran away from it instead," I explained to her.

She slowly distances herself from me. I looked at her.

She is wearing a beautiful white dress, she also had long brown hair and holding a pink baby blanket.

"Why do you know me?" I ask her.

A few seconds passed and she did not answer my question.

"Who are you? And why did you save me... again?"

I can’t be wrong, she is the woman I always see in my dreams.

The woman who's always there but I don't know her face nor her name.

"You'll know me when the right time comes, Nini," she said so I frowned.

She turned her gaze a little on me. I tried to stare more at her face but I couldn’t see it.

"Just always remember this, someone will always be in your side when you think you're alone, someone who's waiting for you and eager to see you."

I couldn't help but get confused.

"And someone that you may not remember but always remains in your heart."

Who is she? Is she a part of my life? And who is this 'someone’ she is talking to?

"It's time to wake up, Nini. They're already waiting for you."

Wait, wake up? But, I'm awake.

"Waiting? Who-"

I couldn’t even continue what I was about to say when I heard the loud alarm from my alarm clock.

I woke up immediately and found myself in my bed... again.

I just sigh.

"It's another dream," I said as I got up.

I immediately turned off my alarm clock and stretches my hand.

"Nini, you sleepyhead! Your alarm clock is ticking, move that body of yours and get out of the bed!" I heard grandma shouted.

"You'll be late for your field trip today. Your food, your bag, everything you're going to use are all ready, you're the only one we’re waiting!"

I just smile. My day would always start with grandma Lyd's voice.

"Coming!"

I immediately made my bed, went to the bathroom, and did the rest of my morning routine.

"Good morning Nini." Daddy greeted me as soon as I came downstairs.

I kissed him on the cheek.

"Morning too!"

I approached the table, moved the chair, and then sat down.

"You young child, you were told to go to bed as early as possible, but what did you do? Read a romance book until two in the morning, how great," Grandma Lyd said as she prepared my plate on the table.

I took the bowl of rice and scooped some, I also put two hotdogs and a sunny-side-up egg to go with.

"Eggs and hotdogs wouldn't be complete without this," I said as I drizzle the ketchup on my plate.

"Thanks for the food," I said and picked up the spoon.

I was about to eat my food when Grandma Lyd stopped me.

"Why, look at this child. I'm still talking to you, Nini," she said while lowering the spoon I was holding.

I feel frustrated there. I looked at my food and I can't help but starve.

Look at those juicy hotdogs and the yummy egg. Gosh, I'm starving...

"And why did you sleep late?" I heard she asked while taking a glass on the cupboard.

I looked to my right when I heard the sound of a glass putting in my placemat.

I looked up and saw grandma Lyd waiting for my answer.

I took a deep breath before answering.

"I don't want to go on our field trip," I replied directly.

I looked at daddy's position when I heard him hissed. I saw the coffee in his mug was overflowing.

He immediately lowered the thermos and went to the sink to get the table cloth.

"Nini? Did I hear it right?" Grandma asks.

"Grandma Lyd, I didn't stutter. It's hard to believe, but what I said is true," I replied to her.

"My God, you child! Do you even hear yourself? Do you know-"

"Yes, daddy paid a lot for this trip so I can join, you all also prepared this day for me because you wanted this day to be memorable." I continue what grandma would say.

"Look at this child. Nini, you know how your dad prepare this day for you, right?  Why don't you come? What's the problem?"

I grab the spoon with some food on it and put it in my mouth.

While I was chewing I saw grandma Lyd pouring some orange juice on my glass.

"I know this is stupid but, I don't want to go, Grandma," I said and swallow my food.

I lower the tone of my voice and said,

"Instead of helping you here, there I am, in the forest doing tiring activities with other people."

Besides, I would rather read a book in my room than exhaust myself with all of those exhausting activities or whatever they call it.

I felt Grandma Lyd's grip on my shoulder.

I just keep eating.

"Nini, you never change. That's the reason why we want you to attend your trip so you can get used to socializing with other people," Grandma said.

"But I'm socializing with other people," I replied while chewing.

"You call that socializing, Nini? You barely talk to people, unless they talk to you first," dad replied.

I looked at him and gave him a 'really?' look.

Oh, come on, dad. Don't you know the daughter-father sign?

Grandma sits down next to me.

"Nini, sometimes we need to talk to other people, sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zone. You can't be stuck in what you're comfortable with and that's what you're going to do for the rest of your life." grandma explained.

"There's nothing wrong with trying to make friends."

"But I do have-"

I eventually stopped what I was going to say.

"Yeah? What do you have?" Grandma asked.

I gulp and look beside her there I saw daddy looking at me as well.

"I do have books. I have an imaginary friend there in the book." I excused myself and averted my eyes.

"You still don't know how to make believable excuses yet, Nini. Better luck next time."

Well, at least I tried though.

"Look, making friends is hard, I know it, cause I've been there too," she said and hold my hand.

I turn my gaze at her.

"So as friendships and it takes a lot of work to maintain them. But without friends, things are, let's just say harder."

After hearing those words I can't help but frown.

"I don't get it, grandma. Those friends and friendship you were saying, it will fade away sooner or later."

"So, why make them in the first place?"

She just smiled at me, I watch her go to the couch and open my bag.

There she put my lunch for this day and pocket money.

"You know what? You are right, friendships are complicated, you never know when will it last. Friendship is chaos," she said as she closed the zipper of my bag

I drank the remaining orange juice in my glass. When I finished the juice, I went to grandma and took the bag from her hand, and slung it over to both my shoulders.

Guess I have no choice but to go on our trip.

"But, when the time comes your walls came down, you will see the truth, Nini."

"Believe me, you will feel that something is missing and you'll see it and know it soon when you were in that position," she said as she placed something in my hand.

I looked there and saw keychains.

I looked at her again. I saw her staring at me while smiling.

"Now go, make some friends. Make sure you tell me how was your time there, okay? Make every second memorable," she said and pointed outside.

There I saw daddy already in his car and I was the only one waiting.

I was about to speak when she stopped me.

"No more talking, Nini. Get in the car and the bus will leave soon when you don't move yet," she said.

Looks like I can't do anything anymore to stop them.

I just sigh in defeat.

"Okay, okay. Bye grandma Lyd, I'll sure miss you!" I said and kissed her on the cheek.

I felt a tight hug in return.

"I'll miss you too, Nicolette."

I immediately let go of my grandmother's arms and ran to the car.

"You sure took a lot of time to realize you're not gonna stay home, huh?" daddy said before I entered.

"Yeah, yeah."

I waved to my grandmother one last time.

"Ready?" he asked and I nod in response.

I looked at the other keychain grandma gave me. It's a keychain with friendship quotes on it.

"Making friends huh?"

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To be continued...