CHAPTER 3
IT’S BEEN two days since I received that message. And since then I haven’t slept well. There is always something bothering me in sleep so I always wake up at dawn. I can’t tell this to Mommy because she won’t believe me again.
I don’t want to ruin her trust in me anymore so it’s better if I just don’t tell her.
During the two days I was stayed here in the room, I did nothing but think about the underground. It just keeps coming to my mind and I can’t be bothered.
I am aware of how I feel because it has happened to me once. Because I was so curious about something, I couldn’t sleep at the thought of it. I can’t be bothered until I know the answer. Eventually, I was almost doomed by my curiosity.
And it’s happening again now just because of our simple underground here at home. I’m exhausted. I feel like I’m going crazy with so much curiosity. Add to that that I have nothing to complain about so it really accumulates in my mind.
But I feel different now. Usually, when I feel curiosity I immediately remove it from my system. I don’t want to do the same thing again. But now, it’s really weird. I don’t feel like I’m going to be ruined by my curiosity even if it’s contrary to what is written on the paper – which to this day still terrifies me when I read it.
“Sazha? Hey!”
I snapped back in reality when my Mom clicked her fingers in front of me.
Mom is here in the room now and she said she will hang out here until this afternoon. He was also bored because I was not in the living room.
“Y-yes?” I blinked.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re not on your own. Are you sick?”
“Uh, no, Mom.” I shook my head. “I was just thinking of something.”
She bit his lips. “Is it about the underground again?”
My eyes widened and shook violently.
She can never find out about the underground again. I have a strange feeling about this underground and just in case, I don’t want her to be affected by my curiosity.
“No, Mom. I-I was thinking of what should I d-do in my stay h-here.” I chuckled nervously.
She nodded. “Maybe you can do yoga to relax your mind. Or read some books, because the next school year is near.”
I nodded in no time so that Mommy would be calm as well. “Sounds great, Mom!”
She smiled happily. “Do you want to do it now?”
I nodded. “Okay, Mom. I’ll just go get change.”
I went into my walk-in closet and looked for something to wear for exercise. At the end, I just wore a maroon sports bra and black leggings. I tied my hair in a high ponytail to avoid obstruction when we exercised.
I went out of the room and saw that Mommy was gone. Dressed well maybe.
I searched for yoga exercise videos on YouTube on our TV for something to follow. I also lit anti-repellent candles so that we would not be bitten by mosquitoes. I also turned off the aircon and opened the window to let in fresh air.
The sun was not very high yet so the heat was just right. I looked at the clock and saw it was only nine o’clock.
Soon Mommy arrived. I smiled when I saw that we were wearing the same color sports bra while hers was beige-colored leggings. Her hair was tied back in a bun so the clean look.
You wouldn’t think Mommy was in her 30’s-40’s because she was a teenager to look at. It’s fun.
“You look good, Mom!” I praise.
Shee laughed at me. “Of course, dear!” Then she winked at me so we both laughed.
“So should we start now? I want to relax my mind.” Mom said while stretching her arms.
“Yep. I’ve downloaded some stretching exercises then yoga afterwards.”
“Alright, let’s do it!” she cheered happily.
“GO, Sazha! You can do it! Go, go go!”
Earlier Mommy was cheering while I was stretching. After all, the difficulty of the videos we watched. The pain in the body because other exercises you need to be flexible. E, I’m not like Mommy who even in her 30’s has a soft and flexible body.
“Mom, I can’t really do it!” I frowned.
Earlier I was trying to do the last exercise we watched but I couldn’t. How, I have to bend my body backwards while raising my hand. When I bend my back I will apply my palm to the floor to cover my body and my back will not fall completely.
It’s like I’m doing a gymnastic stunt but not flexible. Mommy is still just the basics for her!Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
“Well, of course! You don’t even have physical flexibility!” she whimpered.
I just got bored and decided to choose yoga exercises. My back really hurts with the exercise I did earlier. Most of it is just basic stretching but I don’t think that stretching will include that gymnast stunt!
We decided to have a drink first before proceeding to our yoga exercise. We sat on our mat, inhaling the fresh air coming from outside.
“Play it.”
I played the video and we started to copy the yoga exercises on it. I can say that my brain is relaxed because of our gentle breathing. It also includes fresh air coming from outside.
I just closed my eyes in the entire exercise. We also did breathing exercises, teaching us to breathe property so our lung will be also healthy. It can save us from lung problems.
I didn’t think that with the long closing of my eyes, what I could imagine …
It’s dark. The surroundings are very dark. I don’t see anything.
“Sazha …”
I looked behind me when someone called to me. But I could see nothing but pure darkness.
“Sazha… ”
“W-who’s that?! Show me!”
Somewhere I turned my gaze but I could really see nothing.
“Hey, i-it’s me…
“W-who are you really?!
I can only hear the man’s voice. I’m confused!
“Help me… T-the book… G-get it… ”
“H-huh?”
Moments later a light shone on me. It was so bright, dazzling. I still have to block my face with my two arms so that I don’t get dazzled.
“W-who are y-you?” I asked in nowhere.
“It doesn’t matter. Help me to get the book.” The light said.
“W-what book?”
“The book of fairies.”
“F-fairy?” My forehead creased.
“Yes, help me find the book …”
I can’t tell if he’s a man or what because I can’t recognize his voice. It’s deep and echoes all around. Not like the man before.
“W-who are you first?” I can’t help him if I don’t get to know him.
“I’m your girlfriend.”
My eyes widened. “B-boyfriend?! When else did I have a boyfriend?!
“I know you don’t know me yet. The day will also come, you will know me.”
“W-why don’t you introduce yourself to me now ?!”
“I’m sorry, my dear. But I can’t meet you yet.”
“H-how can that help you?” I’m depressed. I don’t even know if what he’s saying is true.
How did I have a boyfriend I didn’t know?
Where am I?
Is what the light in front of me says true?
Where can I find the book he says?
“Just follow my direction, dear.”
He started walking so I just followed him. I was shocked when I couldn’t even get close to him as he was getting farther and farther away from me.
He’s gone. I can no longer reach him.
I tried to run but my feet didn’t even step. I am tired. I didn’t even catch up with him.
“SAZHA!”
I opened my eyes and Mommy opened up to me with a worried face. Only now did I notice that I was full of sweat and I was gasping for breath as if I were running.
“M-mom?”
“What is happening to you? Are you okay?” She rubbed my face, still a streak of concern on his face.
I nodded quickly, still panting.
What was that? What did I see? Is that premonition?
And I was out of breath! Do I really tell the truth about what I saw and what I did? I’m not dreaming?
But what is that? Who is my boyfriend? What’s in the book?
I’m in a mess! One after another comes to me. First, the message last night. Second, this in turn.
Is Grandma’s story about the underground really true? Does that have anything to do with what happened to me before?
“You’re spacing out again.”
I was back in a trance when I heard Mommy’s serious voice.
“I-I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Tell me the truth, Sazharina.”
I looked at him. I gulped when I saw Mommy’s serious face.
Has she noticed me yet?
But I was dumbfounded at what she said next.
“Are you on drugs?”
I bit my lower lip to stop laughing. I quickly shook her while still suppressing a laugh.
“What’s funny?” Mommy’s question lingered.
“N-nothing.”
She stared at me so I couldn’t help but grin. I even pinched my snout just so I wouldn’t be able to laugh harder because of Mommy’s bad stare at me.
“I- HAHAHAHAHA, I’m sorry, Mom, “I laughed apologetically.
“Hey, hey, you take care of that. I’ll just prepare our lunch!”
I just shook as I stared at the door that Mommy closed.
I sighed and went to the balcony to breathe some fresh air. To this day I’m still a little out of breath, probably because of my laughter earlier.
I roamed my eyes from here on the balcony while breathing in the fresh air.
I looked in one direction and my eyes widened when I saw that.
When else has there been such a thing here? As far as I know, it wasn’t there the other day, was it?
Am I really being toyed with? Is this real?
Tsk. I went back to my room annoyed by what I saw. It’s like I’m just being toyed with.
I looked there again and laughed sarcastically. Whatever the mystery in the underground, I’ll make sure I can solve that too.
I guess I should ask Mom when there was a bookstore here with us. The name is still strange.
“Encanto Underground BookStore”