Nightmare

***

Everything was dark

I am running and every time I turn to look behind me, a black hooded figure is chasing me. I turn back around and continue to run with adrenaline pumping through my blood, but fall on my knees, scraping them. I get up again and this time the surrounding was the same forest from my previous nightmares with my mother.

I start to run again and when I turned to the side my mother wasn't there. I trip on a thick branch once more and fall. The person who is chasing me looks down on me and I can't see their eyes but they smirk and laugh. This time the laugh sounds familiar. Where have I heard this laugh? The hand reaches out towards me and covers my eyes and everything is black again.

***

I wake up sweating and breathing hard, my heart beating rapidly out of my chest. I rubbed my eyes and look at the time. It was still early but I decided to just get ready for school and go early.

I get dressed and do my morning routine and leave for school.

As I walk towards school, I can't get the nightmare out of my head. The image of the figure reaching out towards me is burning at the back of my head. My maid had always emphasized how dreams had meanings, but I couldn't find any meaning in these dreams. What did they mean? Was I in danger of sorts?

I walk and hear footsteps behind me. No one is on the street this early. I stop and the footsteps stop. I slow down to confirm that the footsteps behind me are aligned with mine. I turn around quickly and see no one on the road behind me. It must've been my imagination, the nightmare must be putting me on edge.

I keep walking and I feel a hand come down on my shoulder. I turn around and backhand the person behind me. I turn to see a surprised Dae Hyun holding my hand from hitting his face.

"What exactly are you doing? You will never get anyone with this slow of a reaction" He says smirking, letting go of my hand to put his hands in his pockets.

"Oh, I thought you were someone else," I say, my mind pre-occupied with the dream and turn around to continue walking.

"Hey, let's walk together." He catches up to me.

"Why ruin a good morning with YOU?" I retort, walking faster in hopes of losing him.

"Hey, if you want to walk around while there are gang members around and pervs..." He smirks, "Then be my guest!" He finishes and then starts walking ahead of me.

"Okay, wait up, I'll walk with you but when we get close to the school go behind me. I don't want people to misunderstand." I say and he stops walking and waits for me. I can tell he's holding back a grin, masking his smile with a stern face.

"Fine by me. Now hurry up," He says while nodding his head over to his side. I catch up to him and we start to walk side by side.

"How is the project going?" He says.

"Mateo and I worked on it more after you left. There isn't much left to do now."

"How long did you stay to finish it?"

"I don't remember, but it was pretty dark outside." There was a quick pause in our conversation. I look over to Dae Hyun to see his eyebrows scrunched in between like he was mulling something over in his head. He looks at me momentarily and I look away, wondering what was so serious for him to say. Finally, after a few seconds, he sighs and brings his eyes to mine once more.

"What do you think of Mateo? As a man?" He says hesitantly as if he's treading thin ice with his question.

"I don't know, what do you mean as a man'?"

"I mean, what do you see Mateo as?" He answers, still hesitant for my response.

"He is very handsome and nice to me-"

"So is that a yes?" Dae Hyun interrupts.

"Let me finish, But I don't think I like him like that just yet. I barely know him."

Daehyun looks at me and the same expression comes back to his face. Why was he asking about Mateo and I all of the sudden? Where was all this newfound curiosity about my "love life" coming from.

"So if you get to know him more would you like him?" He asks and stops in front of me.

"Well, I don't know. It's a possibility I guess. but I probably won't. I wouldn't want things getting complicated in our friendship."

Dae Hyun smiles a little but it disappears as quickly as it came.

"Since we are on the subject... Never mind it's not my business." I say hurriedly and continue to walk away.

"What were you going to ask?" He says as he catches up and looks at me.

I wanted to ask if he was dating Kim Hyerin, and if so why would he say all that he does to me, but it would make me look like I was desperate for him. So instead I ask,

"Do YOU like Mateo??"

"WHAT!! What kind of question is THAT?" He yells his eyes widen out of shock and his cheeks turn a light shade of embarrassment.

"Judging based on your reaction, it can be our little secret. Your secret is safe with me!" I say playfully and walk ahead.

"H-Haru! Come back here!" He says running after me.

" Don't worry..." I say while running, "I won't tell anyone! haha."

" Are YOU STILL TALKING???!!!" Dae Hyun puffs out while gaining speed.

"Yah I am tired timeout," I say while I slow down and try to catch my breath. My lungs are burning and my legs quaking. I was very out of shape.

"You think I am going to let you go??" Dae Hyun says while putting my head under his arm and started to walk.

"Yah... I was joking let me go!" I said while I struggled. Dae Hyun looked down at me and started to laugh at my meaningless struggles against his much bigger arms.

"***cough*** Dae Hyun-ah p-please let go....I can't b-breathe" I say while slowing down against his strides and coughing.

He lets go and pulls me up.

"Haru?? I didn't mean to hold you so tight. I am sorry" He says worriedly as I mask the escaping grin I have creeping up on my face.

I quickly flick him in the forehead and run away. Dae Hyun catches up to me and looks mad but he just starts laughing. I laugh too, enjoying this moment with him as I start to see the school.