"Milika! Where are you going again?" her father asks her.

"I'm going to play with my friend! I'll be back in 5 minutes, Dad!"

Her father sighs, "You always say that and don't come back in hours."

After coming back from kindergarten, Milika always stays with her father in his store until her mother comes to pick her up and helps him by passing the things that are close to her. But recently she made a new friend. It's a good thing. But she stays out for too long.

-----

"Who are you?" Milika asks upon seeing the girl who is a lookalike of her in front of her.

The girl in front of her smiles softly.

"Why are you here at this hour? Dad said the store is closed during this time and no customers come."

"I have permission," the other girl replies.

"Really?"

"Yes, why will I lie?"

Thinking for a while Milika hums in agreement.

"What is your name?"

"My name was Wasnia," the girl replies.

"Was? Then what is your name now?" confused, Milika asks.

"I am not sure. It was supposed to be Wasnia if they wished to keep my promise."

"What do you mean?" she frowns which looks more like a pout.

"Nothing, hehe. Let's go play, big sister," Wasnia asks playfully.

"Big sister?"

"I am supposed to be younger than you. So you are my big sister," Wasnia smiles brightly. Even though her speech is kinda chilly, her appearance is bright, gentle, and like a tender elder sister.

Hearing she is her big sister, Milika forgets that this girl, Wasnia, is weird and suspicious. She agrees, "Sure! Let's play! Where do you wanna play?"

*****

That's how they get to know each other. It's been a week.

*****

"Wasnia, where are we going?" Milika asks as she realizes they are going in the direction of her home.

"Let's go to the mountain behind your home, big sis."

"Eh? But mom said I can't go there. It's dangerous," she hesitates.

"You can if you go with someone who knows it well."

"I can't yet."

"It's fine. No one will find about it out!" she encourages.

A child's curiosity never ends, a little push and Milika agrees.

*****

"Wasnia, what are you finding? We have a touch. Is there anything we need?"

Before going to the mountain, Wasnia said they need some things. Now that they are passing beside Milika's house, they should take them.

"Yes, and now we have all of the necessary items. Let's go! It's been so long since I last went there. I kinda miss it now."

"Eh?"

"Nothing important, let's go, big sister."

"Hmm," she agrees.

*****

Milika never thought Wasnia will harm her ever. Because she feels like they have a connection. Never did she think she will think of this friend of hers as her real sister in a few months. Wasnia is like her elder sister mostly. But sometimes she is like a little sister. Never did she think she will disappear without a trace or a proper goodbye. Well, maybe she told her but she didn't understand it...

"I love you and your parents. I don't want to leave you guys," Wasnia says one day.

"Eh?" Milika doesn't find it strange anymore. Wasnia always says she loves her and her parents. But why is she saying she doesn't want to leave?

"Nothing."

Milika hums. She offers a cookie and says, "Would you like some cookies? My mom makes the best cookies."

Wasnia smiles and takes the cookie, "I also love her cookies."

*****

10 years passed since they last meet. The day after Wasnia says she doesn't want to leave, she left without a trace.

Suddenly Milika starts dreaming about her. She had almost forgotten her. Now that she remembers her, she doesn't think much about it. It's been years. But she finds Wasnia even more suspicious now.

She remembers it better than yesterday now if she thinks about it. Wasnia used to tell she loves her. That's normal. But she also used to say she loves her parents. She never met them. Why then? She always used to tell her stories like stories about her grandmother and grandfather. She always used to take her to places they should not go.

For a few more days, she dreams about Wasnia.

"Milika, did you ask?"

"Big sister, did you ask?"

These voices she hears in her dream. Sometimes she sees Wasnia in a white dress like she always used to wear and sometimes she sees someone else in white.

Milika ignores it. She was taught to never answer anyone calling her in her dream. She must not have a conversation with them or else she might be easily possessed. But she wants to answer them for some reason. Sometimes she thinks to answer because she also knows that spirits wearing white are supposed to be friendly.

[Note* In Chinese, the spirit wearing white are friendly spirit. I'm not an expert, if I'm wrong, please correct me.]

Tired of the dreams, she decides to ask her father. She gives her father the exact description of her. When she looks at her father's reaction and finds him completely frozen

"Dad?"

"Ah, Milika..."

"What's wrong, Dad?"

"Let me tell you a story."

Milika becomes attentive to him.

"Your mother became pregnant when you were three. Soon after your grandmother passed away. She loved us all. Before dying, she told me that she wish to be reborn as my child and your younger sister. She wanted us to name our second daughter if we had any, Wasnia, her name."

Milika notices water in her father's eyes.

"I believed it will be your grandma's reincarnation. We kept it a secret to surprise you later. But after four months, your mother was in an accident and had a miscarriage."

The very day before Milika meets Wasnia.

"The friend you described, looks exactly like your grandmother."

*****

"Milika." an old woman calls her.

"Big sister!" suddenly the old woman disappears and Wasnia appears.

"Did you ask?" she can hear two voices.

"Yes," she replies.

"Take care. I love you and your parents. Tell your mother to make cookies more for you. I love them."

Milika wakes up.

[The End]

A/N: Thanks for reading! If you liked it, please press the star over there. It's really easy to tap, right? Comment what you think about this story.

You: Ok, but where is the horror?

Me: There's nothing really scary though. I thought it will be scary. It's a paranormal story.

You: And the light angst?

Me: I thought I will kill some people. But to be honest it's not angsty at all.

You: So why did you not remove the tag?

Me: Some may find it a little angsty. Like, you know. Her grandmother wasn't able to be reborn.

You: Ok... Then the title?

Me: Title? What's that? Do we eat that or use it as shampoo?

You: ...Nevermind.

Me: Hmm? Ok, see ya in my already finished horror one-shot. *Waves*

Edit: Why am I cringing?