The Chosen One

Little time had passed, and now time to make breakfast ready.

As Maya walked back to the group after being alone for a few minutes, her mood seemed back to normal, and she even seemed happy. Her friends couldn't believe how quickly her mood had changed, and they voiced their surprise to her.

Maya smiled and shrugged, saying, "I didn't even know I had this talent. It just came with the transformation, I guess."

Her friends exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.

Finally, one of them spoke up who was Minho, "Maya, we know this has been hard on you. If you ever need to talk or if there's anything we can do to help, just let us know."

Maya's smile grew wider, and she hugged her friend. "Thanks, guys. It means a lot to me."

"We need some wood to start the fire," Minho said as he arranged the ingredients.

"I'll get it; just wait a minute! Daehyun, come with me," Jaebin instructed his best friend.

Maya interjected, "There's no need to trouble yourselves. I can take care of it."

Suddenly, Maya clapped her hands, and her hair began to grow rapidly. In no time, the group had gathered enough wood to start the fire.

"Wow! Your hair is amazing, even though they slapped me last night but still, their work is brilliant. I wish I had hair like that so I never have to do anything by myself, I just lay down all day long." Minho started daydreaming.

Seola spoke up, "Well, you're not the only one who got slapped last night, but..."

Jaena shot her a warning look, and Seola quickly stopped talking.

The group pitched in to prepare breakfast together. Maya couldn't believe how delicious it was, and she thanked everyone profusely. It was the first time in three years that she had enjoyed such a satisfying meal.

The group continued to joke and tease each other, enjoying their time together. As they sat down to eat, Jaena proposed another game, and everyone groaned.

"Come on, guys! It'll be fun. We can play Truth or Dare," she said excitedly.

Minho rolled his eyes, "Last time we played that, you dared me to run around the school in my underwear."

Jaena grinned mischievously, "And it was hilarious!"

Daehyun, who was sitting beside Maya, whispered to Maya, "Hey, you know what I was thinking? We should start a hair salon. You'll be the main attraction with your wild hair, and we'll make millions."

Daehyun persisted, "Come on, Maya. You have the craziest hair I've ever seen. People would come from all over just to get a glimpse of it. We'd be rich in no time."

Maya rolled her eyes, "I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult, Daehyun."

Daehyun chuckled, "No, no. It's definitely a compliment. Your hair is like a work of art. We just need to find a way to monetize it."

Maya couldn't help but laugh at Daehyun's enthusiasm. "Well, if you're so convinced, I guess I'll have to start practicing my hair-cutting skills." Daehyun clapped his hands, "Yes! Our fortune is sealed. 'Maya's Mane Attraction' will be the talk of the town."

Maya looked at Daehyun and shook her head, "I think you've officially lost your mind, but I'll go along with it. For the sake of our future empire."

The two friends laughed, enjoying the absurdity of their conversation.

As Maya looked around at her friends, she couldn't help but feel grateful for their crazy ideas and the joy they brought into her life.

***

After finishing their hearty breakfast, the group was determined to set out on their mission to find Maya's parents. Minho, with his sharp mind, was quick to ask Maya if she had any information that could lead them to her parents. But to their dismay, Maya had lost her parents' contact number along with her own phone when she got lost.

Maya revealed that her parents had recently purchased a new phone and SIM card after losing their previous one. She also couldn't remember her sister's phone number, which left them with no other option but to rely on her memory. Minho then asked Maya if she remembered her home address, to which she nodded and instructed him to jot it down.

The group breathed a sigh of relief, feeling optimistic that they had finally found a lead. Jaebin volunteered to go to the nearby village to call for help, but before he could make a move, an unexpected force hit him, causing him to collapse on the ground.

Maya was quick to identify the mysterious energy and shouted at it in a fit of rage and frustration. Jaena was bewildered and asked what had happened, while Daehyun rushed to his friend's aid. Maya explained that the energy had been following her ever since she got lost, and she had no idea why.

As they brushed off the dust from Jaebin's clothes, a sudden gust of wind swept through the area, causing chaos and panic. Leaves flew in every direction, and birds fluttered their wings in fear. They found themselves caught in the middle of a tornado-like situation, and Maya screamed for the energy to stop.

But her pleas fell on deaf ears, and suddenly, everything went eerily silent, and Maya collapsed unconscious. The group was left stunned, wondering what was happening and what they had to do now.

"Maya! Wake up! Please, wake up!" Jaena's panicked voice echoed through the forest as she saw her friend's lifeless form. Everyone crowded around Maya, their faces etched with concern and worry. But little did they know that Maya was in the midst of a profound experience, a vision unlike any she had ever had before.

In her mind's eye, she saw a mysterious woman, who looked almost exactly like her. Her long hair flowed like liquid gold, and her body glowed with radiant light. Maya was mesmerized by her ethereal beauty. Despite the woman's hazy features, she spoke with a commanding and soothing voice that made Maya feel safe and at peace.

"Maya, my child," the woman spoke, her voice resonating like music in Maya's ears. "You can't leave like this. Your purpose is not yet fulfilled. You must understand why you are here and what you must do. You are the chosen one, and your path is waiting for you. Follow your heart, and let the feeling guide you to where you belong. Europe. Embrace the change, let it push you onto a new path." And with that, the woman disappeared, leaving Maya feeling exhilarated and confused.

Slowly, Maya's eyes fluttered open, and she was back in the real world, surrounded by her friends, who were all asking what had happened. Maya smiled weakly, realizing that her life had taken a new turn.

The vision had awakened something inside her, a sense of purpose that she had never felt before. With newfound determination, she knew that she had to find her way, no matter what it took.