Dreamer

Dreams may or may not come true but... nightmares are also dreams.

That is what she always thought to forget. To forget asking the reason for her to live like that.

...

'Mom, I'm hungry.'

A little girl with thin hands, scrupulous look, and crying face said while pulling what seems to be her mother's clothes.

'Can't you see I'm busy?!'

Instead of food, all she received was a strong push. It was enough to shove her to the floor, with just wood in front of her eyes.

A shadow then loomed over her. She looked up and all she saw was disdain in those eyes.

'Fa - '

'You're so useless, always like that!'

The man left her there. Despite the whole family around her, no one seemed to hear her cries.

...

A sudden jolt woke Kaella up.

"That again..."

She just laid on her bed once again. And while staring at the ceiling...

"KAELLA! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO CALL YOU?!"

A voice calling her echoed in the house.

She hurriedly stood up and did her morning routine, as if a monster would eat her if she's late even a second.

"Mom, can I have a piece of egg?"

A familiar voice was heard from the dining room.

"Of course, sweetie. So how did your exams go?"

"It's me, of course I nailed it."

"Honey, just look at Krishna, isn't she just so good?"

A sweet honest voice from her mother that she never heard directed at her.

"That's right. Why can't your sister just do as well as you?"

A proud towards someone while an insult was directed at her.

She slowly emerged from the doorway. The once happy atmosphere went gloom when she entered.

Kaella just quietly sat down while daggers of glares were pointed at hour. She slowly ate as the food was stuck in her throat.

"It's almost time, why are you so slow? Your older sister will get late!"

Her classes were earlier than her sister's but she kept quiet as she continued to eat.

"It's alright for you to get late but not for your sister, she's an honor student!"

Without finishing her food, Kaella stood up and took her things to go out.

"Look, you didn't even finish your food. Next time, I really won't cook for you anymore."

Not minding her mother, she went out and got into their car.

Their father was already there but not her sister.

"Sorry, I had to print some notes!"

The voice was from afar and seemed to be running towards them.

"It's fine, it's because you did something important."

...

Throughout the travel to their school, only the voice of the older sister reading her notes was heard.

"Oh right, your allowance."

Their father stopped for a bit and handed them their allowance.

Kaella rejected to take it but her father insisted so albeit the hesitation, she took it.

Their school is not that far nor near, just the right amount of distance to arrive in 20 minutes with or without heavy traffic.

The sisters then separated ways as soon as they arrived at school.

The reason for that is the gap of five years between their ages. The older sister attends the university in front of Kaella's school.

Due to the fast travel time, Kaella arrived 30 minutes earlier than her classes. Thus, she decided to take a nap as she waits the time. Unfortunately, she never got the chance to sleep.

The reason for that is usually her not being able to sleep just anywhere. However, that is not the case.

A person woke her up and asked to talk to her.

"I heard you told the teacher that I did not help with the project?"

It was Samantha, her classmate and group member in a certain project.

"We did not tell him that. We told him that you lack effort."

"Effort? I did what I could help but whenever I ask you, you never listen to me."

Kaella did not want to respond in anger and luckily, another group member arrived. This time, he was the one to talk. The conversation continued without Kaella talking again. This irked Samantha off.

"Look here, you're not listening to me again."

Due to irritation, Samantha walked away and left the two.

"Are you alright Kaella?"

"I'm alright, thanks Jamie. I'm just scared she might use some stories against us. I don't want to drag you all down."

With that, Kaella went back inside the classroom and towards her seat.

Just on time, their classes started. However, Kaella's mind wandered off to the previous conversation.

She soon regretted that as they had an exam right after the lecture that happened. She wanted to rely on her previous knowledge. Sadly, it didn't work and she barely passed the exam.

It might've been fine that she passed the test, but that was not the case for her.

It is a dreadful thing. Something that she could not perfect was the same as not getting any scores.

That is because, that was how she was brought up.

She was brought up to be a tool to success and perfection. But maybe the way she grew was flawed. Because...

she became a monochromatic dreamer instead.