Ah, freak out!

***

CHAPTER 7:

GRAVITY

When I opened my eyes, I was grinning. The gentle breeze, the shadows dancing on the ceiling in the sunlight, the sweet scent of flowers... Any one of these, or all together, could be the source of my happiness. Maybe I had a delightful dream, too. I stretched happily and rolled over in bed. At that moment, I saw the window in front of me and the pink world beyond it. Then, other details flooded back to me. The bookshelf over there, the wardrobe beside it, the study desk diagonally opposite, and Tamagotchi by the pillow...

No!

I sat up straight like a mummy awakened from a hundred-year sleep, mouth agape, making choking sounds because I couldn't find the words. The impossible memories I had forgotten while asleep were back in my mind at an impossible speed. I knew this room. I recalled the events that led me to this room. And since I was still in this room...

"It was all real!" I whimpered. The Principal, the Dorm, Ursa... and my death. Real, real, real, and real. Damn it!

I collapsed back onto the bed as if falling off a cliff, but then froze as I heard a sound. The mailbox by the door had suddenly sprung to life. It was trembling, rattling, emitting a purplish light. After swaying for a while, it suddenly stopped, and the lid opened. From where I was, I could see two letters stacked inside.

Remembering Ursa's warning about the importance of the mailbox, I jumped out of bed eagerly. One envelope was dark, the other light mauve. Because the lighter one seemed friendlier to me, I started with it. Inside was a paper with Daily Schedule boldly written at the top. There was little to read, as only one item was scheduled for my first day.

O R I E N T A T I O N

The notes section stated that I had to attend this orientation with my soulmate, whose identity I would find in another letter that had arrived. While textbooks and notebooks were not mandatory for orientation, having them was recommended. The envelope also contained a sketch depicting the Dorm's sections on the front and a map of the Dorm grounds on the back. I was rather pleased with this; at least I wouldn't have to rely on asking people for directions.

And now, it was time to find out who my soulmate was. I opened the second envelope with a bit of curiosity, a lot of excitement, and plenty of fear. Being matched with an inadequate soul was like being assigned to a weak project group and failing the course. My fate was dependent on my partner. I wasn't sure what to anticipate, but I certainly didn't expect to see a name I recognized.

"Mars?" I repeated to myself.

Yesterday, in the hallway, Pam had uttered that name. I remembered it vividly because it was so unconventional. Mars... Was that an abbreviation for something? Was it a boy or a girl? Who would call their child like this, for heaven's sake?

Despite these unanswered questions, he was undeniably my soulmate. But when I recalled Pam's mention of missing Mars's performance, I couldn't help but grimace. He was probably an artist, which meant he was most likely messy, disorganized, and lacking in discipline. Why on earth had they paired me with him? I was the exact opposite of all these. No, my star wouldn't align with this Dorm.

I trudged to the bathroom, dragging my feet along the way. I took a quick shower, hoping it would lift my spirits. It did until I opened my wardrobe. Gone was the single pajama set from yesterday; now, it was bursting with all sorts of clothes. But...

"What in the world are these?" I exclaimed, reaching for one of the dresses.

Everything was in various shades of purple or pink, adorned with different flower patterns. It was like peeking into a doll's wardrobe. Frilly blouses, tulle sleeves, tutu skirts, beaded jackets, lace dresses, ribboned ballet flats...

"Nope, not happening," I declared, shaking my head.

They couldn't seriously expect me to wear these, could they? With a frustrated sigh, I slammed the doors shut. But despite my anger, I found myself back in the wardrobe, helpless and curious. Upon opening the doors again, I was greeted with a different sight. The clothes were still overwhelmingly pink and frilly, but now, a few pants and shirts were mixed in.

I squinted at the wardrobe as if expecting it to provide answers to life's great mysteries. Despite my logical protests, I opened and closed the doors again out of sheer curiosity. And voila! The clothes had changed once more. Now, I had simple jackets, V-neck sweaters, and sneakers.

"You can do better," I muttered, closing the doors with determination.

Then, I made about twenty more attempts like this. The Dorm was not giving up without a fight. While it did slightly adjust the clothes to suit my taste each time, it always added one detail I vehemently disagreed with. Unfortunately, there was no arguing with a magical building. It had won in the end. I settled for the simplest dress possible, paired it with a basic cardigan, and slipped on some sneakers.

There was no escaping the purple or the frills. But there was a more pressing issue than my attire: no matter which hair tie I used, my carefully braided hair kept coming undone and cascading freely down my back. It felt like an invisible hand was determined to thwart my efforts. After the fifth attempt, I threw in the towel and let my hair fall freely over my shoulders.

With my daisy-patterned backpack slung over my shoulders, I was ready to tackle the day. I made sure to attach my Tamagotchi, still snug in its egg, to the zipper of my bag. My porcelain doll face smiling back at me in the mirror was so irritating that I had to escape this room pronto.

Though I needed to figure out where to start, I recalled Ursa mentioning meeting up for breakfast. Since most souls would likely kick off their day with a morning meal, my chances of bumping into Mars there seemed highest. According to the sketch, the cafeteria was opposite the library, where I had my little mishap last night. It should be easy to find. But... Chaos ensued the moment I opened my room door.

Oh my gosh...

How many souls were there? And how many animals... I could count at least a hundred of my peers: souls waiting for the elevator, souls chatting by doors, souls flirting in corners... It felt like a throwback to the hallways of my high school, except this high school was also part zoo. The virtual pet catalog I perused last night was now manifesting itself before me in three dimensions. Rabbits, birds, pigs, bats, snakes, and other creatures defying description...

Thankfully, both souls and their critters were preoccupied enough not to notice—or care about—me. Relief washed over me when I spotted some souls taking the stairs instead of queuing for the elevator. This meant I could avoid unnecessary interactions. Making a beeline for the stairs, I managed to navigate to the cafeteria without any awkward encounters.

The cafeteria was another hive of activity, with tables filled with teenagers in various shades of purple and pink. But the aroma wafting through the air made me forget them all. It was... otherworldly. I couldn't help but widen my nostrils in awe. Stepping inside, my eyes darted around the grand hall, taking in the sight of round tables decked out like wedding cakes. Draped with white silk tablecloths, they were adorned with an array of tempting food.

I drifted through the tables in a trance-like state. Instead of the usual metal trays, souls were dining off porcelain plates, using silver cutlery, and sipping from handcrafted cups. Now I understood why everyone started their day with such jubilation. Even my stomach, which should have been dead, growled in appreciation at the sight.

But there was more. If anything could rival the food's beauty, it was the decoration of the hall. Marble statues, vases, chandeliers, art on walls.... With one wall of the cafeteria entirely made of glass, it felt like we were dining in the heart of a garden. Beyond those windows lay tables scattered among the pink grass.

As I pictured myself sitting at one of those tables, indulging in these delicacies, my heart skipped a beat. I thought Mars, orientation, classes, and even the world could wait a while. Before I could even ponder further, my feet had carried me to the nearest table. Before me lay an array of cookies, cakes, pastries, bread, and rolls, all laid out impeccably. My heart raced as I grabbed an empty plate and filled it with a piece of banana bread and an almond cookie...

It all felt surreal.

Then, amidst this perfect scene, another perfect thing emerged, nearly causing me to drop my plate. I caught a glimpse of him, peeking out from behind cupcakes, above strawberry tarts, beyond creamy cups.

It's him! I shouted inwardly.

The third person in the equation was the boy I had bumped into at the library last night. He was here. His hair was even brighter blond now, his eyes clearer blue, his skin more radiant, but I knew it was him. Today, he was alone; his attention focused not on a girl but on the sweets before him.

He didn't seem to notice me. Or maybe he didn't recognize me. The library was dimly lit, and he was preoccupied with other matters, so my face probably didn't register. But I wasn't leaving it to chance. I needed an escape plan. I even considered dropping the food on my plate and using it as a shield for my face when another familiar face caught my eye. Pam...

Forgetting her or her name was out of the question. Today, she was rocking a pink, spaghetti-strapped mini dress that matched her hair flawlessly. I briefly panicked, thinking she was heading my way, but she ended up beside the blonde guy. A perfect chance to slip away, right? Instead, I found myself intrigued, my neck craning left to catch every detail.

"You were late yesterday," Pam remarked. "Then you vanished."

Her tone was worlds away from when she conversed with Ursa. The way she looked at him, her posture... It was dripping with allure and overflowing with anticipation. No doubt she had the hots for the blonde dude. It was apparent she was hoping for some carnival chemistry between them. I couldn't help but feel sympathy for her, knowing she wouldn't find what she sought. I'd witnessed firsthand why the boy was late yesterday and who he was late for.

But...

He surprised me by throwing his arm around Pam's shoulder. "Then let's make up for lost time today," he declared.

The flirtatious tone in his voice even made my heart flutter. My jaw dropped when he leaned in and kissed Pam's cheek, dangerously close to her lips. I was so stunned I didn't even notice the cookie plummeting from my plate or its collision course with a towering vase of flowers.

But gravity never takes a break, even if I did. The cookie tumbled and struck the glass vase, sending it toppling onto the metal tray with a cacophonous clatter, shattering it and spilling flowers everywhere. Time froze. Sound ceased. Several heads nearby swiveled in my direction. My face must have been more purple than anything else in this Dorm.

I managed to shift to the right before Pam noticed that I was the one causing the commotion. Now that the plate was almost empty, I could shield my face with it and run away. But then, there was no point in hiding anymore because someone was calling my name at the top of their lungs.

***

Admit it, were you more hyped about the cakes 🍰 or the blonde bombshell 🔥 ? :p 

Whether you chalk it up to fate, cosmic design, or the author's whims, our girl seems to keep crossing paths with this blondie. And trust me, this won't be their first or last rendezvous.

I'm REALLY excited for the next chapter, where we'll finally meet the main crew. The characters who will be with us until the very last page are about to step into the spotlight.

Until then, may the universe keep serving you sweet treats!

Smooches, EC.