Chapter 3

Chapter 3

My eyes are hurting and I purposely went to the school clinic to borrow a cold compress for my eyes. I see the nurse and tell her my needs while she's kind enough to give me a cold compress. I lie down on the bed with my eyes closed. Yumi is already in the classroom. She told me to go to the infirmary to treat my wounds. I obeyed her and got treated by the nurse. She also patched my wounds. I close my eyes and try to relax. I didn't intend to but I fell asleep after lying on the bed. 

I open my eyes and it's already sunset. I skip classes. I heard the bell and I plan to go to the kindergarten Haru told me about before. It was the school where Daniel, Penelope's brother, is attending. I need to make sure that his brother will survive the accident.

I hurriedly left the infirmary and went to the classroom to get my bag. I see the students preparing to go home. I saw Yumi who was taking my bag. I went to her and she smiled when she saw me. 

Yumi needs to go home quickly while I need to go somewhere. I waved her goodbye at the entrance gate of our school. Many students are using cars while I forgot to call at home. Sometimes in the past, I purposely didn't call someone to fetch me because I'm always riding in Yumi's car to do my evil deeds. 

I remember the kindergarten near Yumi's favorite Antique shop. I saw Penelope there in the past while fetching her younger brother. I hurriedly ran to the nearest bus station. I remember the bus number Penelope often rides in. I waited for the bus feeling nervous. This will be my first time riding a bus and I was scared but I ignored my feelings. 

I waited at the bench hugging the bag in my arms. Some students from our school are also waiting, that's why my anxiety lessened. The right bus stops in front of me. I am overwhelmed by the students who quickly hop in and I realized that I was the last one in the line. I gaze at the students trying to find a clue but only see students tapping their wallets near the driver and then walking in to sit inside. I was confused and took my wallet out. I innocently tapped my wallet but it didn't make a sound as it happened to the other passengers. I tried it again but only to find an indifferent look at the driver. 

"Miss?" The driver asked me after looking at me. My face is heated and I don't know what to do. It's my first time riding a bus and I don't know how they pay for the ride.

I was about to go out and just took a taxi but someone in my back extended a hand and two beep sounds were heard from the machine. 

"I already paid for you." He said in my back. 

"You can sit now Miss." The driver told me and looked at me annoyingly.

"I'm sorry," I said and bowed my head to the driver and to the person who paid for my fair. I didn't catch his face because I quickly needed to go inside to sit. 

I sat in the last row near the window. I let out a sigh and thought of the antique shops later. Now that I think about it, Penelope has a part-time job near her younger brother's school. I just don't remember the right store but I plan to stop by at the antique shop to buy Yumi a gift before she goes to the US. I remember the piano music box that Yumi gifted to me in my past. She said that she likes it but she insisted on it as her gift to me. I wonder what I did to that music box? I don't remember seeing it in my room. 

I'm still anxious but I remember the place correctly. I know where the bus stops. After a few moments. People are leaving the bus and I anxiously look at the window. I remembered the coffee shop then the bus stop.  As my eyes never leave the window... I saw the familiar coffee shop. I smile widely after confirming I’m in the right place. The bus stop and I thank the driver before I go out. 

The orange sunset and the cold wind made me feel that I am alive again. I silently appreciate the view while I walk to my destination. I run after I see the familiar streets and see the crossroad. I bit my lip after feeling excited as I waited for the traffic light to turn red. I cross the street and run again... I halted when I saw the familiar Antique shop. My heart beats faster and slower, I resume my walk. 

I open the door and the wind chime sounds ring on the door. The place is still the same, There are a lot of old things like plates, figurines, keychains hanging on the wooden board. I smile when I see the familiar music box that is designed as a small piano. I heard a wind chime sound again and a person came to the shop. I got the music box and opened it. 

The nostalgic lullaby coming from the music box played at the shop. My heart hurts and I closed it because I remembered painful memories. 

I also checked the other wooden shelves to see if anything was interesting to them. I saw a key chain of an angel. It was made of wood and had cute wings on both sides. I also got it and a cat keychain. Yumi likes cats so I plan to buy this for her. 

When I was satisfied, I went to the cashier that is located at the left-wing of the shop. I saw two people talking and my eyes widened when I recognized them both. 

Penelope is wearing our school uniform and a brown apron with the shop name engraved on it. She is happily talking to Yejun, who is a customer buying in the antique shops. I tremble after seeing them together. My fear of getting near them made me nervous. I stop walking to breathe some air. I calm down but the heat in my chest is painful. 

I stop three meters away from them and silently wait for Yejun to finish his transaction. I am scared that if I go near them, the illusion of someone getting hurt because of me. I was scared but I tried my best to act okay.

"Jia?" I heard my name and shifted my gaze to them.

"I-I will buy..." I stop talking when I mumble words in my mind. I see both of them looking at me. 

Penelope is smiling at me while Yejun is standing near the counter looking at me with his poker face. I feel the heated pain in my chest with his gaze. I shifted my eyes and waited for Penelope to give Yejun's order. I waited for him to finish. 

"Jia, it's your turn," Penelope said and smiled at me. 

I gave her a small smile and handled the things I wanted to buy. I feel Yejun's stare on my side. Why was he still here? I thought but got the answer after realizing his relationship with Penelope. He must be waiting for her... 

"I'm sorry, but can you wrap it like a gift? I plan to give it to-" I stop talking when Penelope looks at me. I saw her face in trouble and I quickly told her that a normal paper bag will do. 

"I'm sorry Jia, The gift wrapper was out of stock." Penelope apologized to me with her troubled face. I got nervous looking at her sorry face. 

"It's okay. The normal paper bag will do." I managed to say and assured her. 

"Thank you for purchasing," Penelope said, smiling at me. My trembling hand got a yellow bill in my wallet and put it on the counter. I saw Penelope smile and handed me the change. 

I quickly get my change and just put it in my bag together with the things I buy. I bow to Jia and Yejun who are still standing beside me and hurriedly leave the shop. I run near the convenience store and sit on the ground. The heat in my chest is painful. I grabbed my chest and closed my eyes as I tried to breathe normally. 

"Are you okay? Why did you run?" a voice came from my back asked me. 

I saw Yejun frowning while staring at me. The heat exploded and an excruciating pain envelops around my chest. It was so painful that I almost lost my consciousness. I see Yejun panic after seeing me gasping for air while grabbing my chest. He quickly empties the paper bag with the things he buys at the antique shops and uses it as air oxygen for me. Tears run down my cheeks as I breathe for air. I remember Haru telling me that I will feel the pain after two days but why I'm feeling it now! I wanted to call him but I still can't breathe normally. It will only hurt for a minute. I need to concentrate.

End of chapter 3.