Strange Day

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The setting sun cast long shadows in the hallway as Chihara dragged her tired feet up the stairs. “I’m home!” she called out, her voice echoing faintly in the quiet house.

The hallway was adorned with a gallery of family photos—each frame capturing a moment of shared joy and warmth. A faded tapestry of memories hung on the walls, giving the house a lived-in, nostalgic feel. The light from the setting sun filtered through the lace curtains, creating a warm, golden hue that bathed the space in a comforting glow.

Her mom, Adelia Joy, emerged from the kitchen, an apron tied around her waist. The apron was decorated with cheerful, multicolored flowers that seemed to match the vibrant and welcoming ambiance of the kitchen. Adelia wielded a spatula with practiced ease, the aroma of a home-cooked meal wafting through the air.

“Welcome back, honey! Are you hungry?” she asked with a radiant smile that could brighten the dullest of days.

“No, Mommy. I’m tired. I’m going to take a nap first,” Chihara replied, her gaze heavy with exhaustion.

Chihara’s tiredness was palpable—her posture was slouched, and she emitted a heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of her day. Her voice was barely a whisper, and her eyes bore the telltale signs of sleepless nights and relentless academic pressure.

“Sure,” Adelia said, her smile faltering slightly as she watched her daughter. She sighed, shaking her head with a mixture of concern and resignation before heading back to the kitchen. The clinking of pots and the sizzle of cooking resonated as she went about preparing dinner.

---

Turning the doorknob of her bedroom, Hara walked in and closed the door behind her with a soft click.

Hara’s bedroom was her personal haven, a sanctuary filled with a mix of academic awards and personal treasures. Shelves lined with stacks of textbooks and neatly arranged mementos created a sense of organized chaos. The room was dimly lit by a single lamp on her study desk, casting a warm pool of light onto the cluttered surface. The curtains were drawn tight, shutting out the outside world and cocooning her in a comforting darkness.

She dropped her heavy bag and a few textbooks onto the study table, which was situated in the corner of the room. With a huff of exhaustion, she sank into her chair, letting her shoulders slump in defeat.

After a grueling day of tackling college assignments, Hara felt completely drained. Despite her impressive academic record, the relentless workload was taking its toll.

Resting her elbows on the desk, she buried her pounding head in her hands and closed her eyes, seeking solace in the darkness. She didn’t understand why she felt so drained. Her body ached all over, a stark contrast to how she felt yesterday. The weight of today’s responsibilities felt heavier than usual, casting a shadow of unease over her.

Hara’s thoughts were a tangled mess of frustration and weariness. She was overwhelmed by her academic obligations and haunted by a vague sense of dread she couldn’t quite identify.

Shaking her head to dispel the unsettling thoughts, she decided to push them aside for now. After a few minutes of trying to calm her racing mind, sleep began to pull at her.

‘Maybe I should really take a nap,’ she thought, her eyes growing heavier.

With a resigned sigh, Hara sat up, her movements slow and deliberate. She walked toward her bed, peeling off her clothes with the casualness of someone too exhausted to care, leaving herself in just her underwear. She pulled the soft, inviting blanket over her body and settled into the bed, the plush mattress cradling her as she quickly drifted into a deep, much-needed sleep.

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“Hara! Wake up!”

The voice pierced through Hara’s dreams, and she growled in response, gripping the pillow beneath her head and hurling it toward the bedroom door in a futile attempt to block out the sound.

“Five more minutes, okay? Please?” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

Her foggy brain was on the verge of slipping back into slumber when the same voice, now sharper and more insistent, called out again.

“No! No! No! Hara, five minutes for you will turn into five hours! Get your lazy self out of bed!”

Before she could react, the blanket was abruptly yanked off her, leaving her exposed and shivering slightly.

Growling, she forced herself into a sitting position and opened one bleary eye to see who was interrupting her precious sleep. The woman standing in the doorway had her left hand on her hip, her stance exuding impatience.

Hara’s eyes widened as she took in the figure before her. The woman wore a pink silk dress that reached her knees, the fabric shimmering slightly in the dim light.

“Where are you going?” Hara yawned, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.

The woman’s face flushed slightly—maybe pink, or even red—and she rolled her eyes with an exaggerated sigh. “Maybe I should just cook her brain and feed it to the wolves.”

“Hey! I heard that!” Hara glared at her.

The woman threw the blanket back over Hara’s head with a dramatic flourish.

“You deserve to hear it! And for goodness’ sake, can you please take a shower? You smell like—”

“Fine!” Hara interrupted, her patience wearing thin.

Pushing the blanket aside, she grabbed a towel from the hook on the door and trudged into the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind her.

The bathroom was a quaint space with vintage tiles, their faded patterns adding a touch of old-world charm. The rhythmic sound of water hitting the tiles created a soothing backdrop.

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Hara closed her eyes and let the warm water cascade down her body. Suddenly, a vision flashed in her mind, sending shivers of shock through her. She snapped her eyes open, scanning the bathroom with increasing panic.

Her heart pounded heavily in her chest, a frantic drumbeat that seemed to echo in the silence. She caught a fleeting glimpse of her face in the mirror over the sink, noting with a shudder that there was no trace of blood.

“It’s okay...there’s no one here...” she whispered to herself, trying to steady her racing heart.

After a quick shower, Hara emerged from the bathroom with the towel draped over her shoulder, the damp fabric clinging to her skin.

This was her worst daily habit—She had not worn any clothes when she came out.

Opening her closet, she pulled out a short black-and-white dress that reached her knees.

[Wear the dress on your bed.]

The words, sudden and unexpected, made her gasp.

Covering herself tightly with the towel, Hara scanned her room, her eyes darting from corner to corner. The voice had an ethereal quality, echoing as if coming from a great distance.

‘Oh my god! I think I’ve learned my lesson.’

‘Don’t get naked even if you’re alone.’

‘What’s worse is that it was a male voice!’

“Who...who are you?!” she asked, her voice quivering with panic.

Her eyes raced around the room as she clutched the towel, her knuckles white.

[You’ll know soon. Go and wear the dress on your bed,] the voice commanded.

“What if I don’t want to?” Hara’s voice was defiant, though tinged with fear.

[I’ll make sure you regret it when we meet later,] the voice warned ominously.

Hara bit her lip, torn between following the command and her own defiance.

‘Should I obey him?’

‘I don’t even know him!’

‘Right! Who the hell is he to tell me what to do?’

She glanced at the white dress she was holding, the soft fabric rustling slightly in her grip.

[Don’t even think about wearing that dress.]

Hara’s lips tightened into a thin line. After a few minutes of silence, the voice returned with a teasing tone.

[Nice body.]

“Ah! Pervert!” Hara shrieked, her face flushing with embarrassment.

She stomped toward her bed and discovered a beautifully decorated rectangular box resting on it. Her eyes widened in surprise.

‘It couldn’t be Bella, could it?’

The red silk dress inside the box was luxurious, its fabric feeling cool and smooth to the touch. Intricate embroidery adorned the dress, sparkling subtly under the soft light. The dress was nestled in a velvet-lined box, embossed with an elaborate design that complemented the dress’s detailing.

Hara gaped in awe, her fingers brushing against the delicate fabric.

‘It’s beautiful!’

‘Fine. Let’s do this.’

With a mixture of resignation and curiosity, she donned the dress, applied light makeup, and slipped on her black high heels. Her nerves were on edge, and a creeping feeling of being watched made her skin crawl.

She glanced at the clock on the wall—it read 7:30 p.m. Hara glared at it unhappily.

‘Why did time have to move so fast?’

“I haven’t even finished my homework, and I took a nap for almost four hours!”

‘Huh...what a strange day.’

“Well, let’s see what’s going to happen.”

Hara adjusted the red silk dress and took one last look in the mirror. The dress fit her perfectly, and she felt both beautiful and uneasy. The sensation of being watched persisted, making her skin prickle. She took a deep breath, trying to dispel her paranoia, and headed toward the living room.

As she passed through the hallway, a cold breeze brushed against her, sending a shiver down her spine. She glanced around, but there was no one in sight. The house was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that seemed to scream.

“Hara, is that you?” Adelia’s voice called from the kitchen, breaking the oppressive stillness.

“Yes, Mom!” Hara replied, her voice trembling slightly.

She made her way to the kitchen, where her mother was busy preparing dinner. The aroma of freshly cooked food—roasted vegetables, simmering stew, and freshly baked bread—filled the air, providing a comforting contrast to the chill she felt.

“You look stunning!” Adelia said with a warm, approving smile. “Where are you off to?”

Hara hesitated, her gaze flickering to the clock on the wall. “Just out for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”

Adelia’s smile faltered for a moment, her maternal instincts sensing something off but choosing to overlook it. “Alright, just be careful.”

As Hara left the kitchen, the voice echoed in her mind once more.

[Be careful, Hara.]

Her heart raced, but she shook off the unsettling feeling and stepped out into the cool evening air, the quiet hum of the city welcoming her as she ventured into the unknown.

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