Chapter 4

A familiar feeling of waking up, but Tia knew she wasn't fully awake.

Oh, was this a dream?

Interesting. She was conscious that it was a dream.

"Tia. Wake up, you'll be late for school!"

Her ears detected a somewhat enthusiastic voice. Was that a male's voice?

It took Tia a few seconds to decipher who was talking to her.

"Dad?"

Tia's eyes started to widen when she saw a figure of a male standing beside her bed.

"Hey, good morning, kiddo. You're awake! Now go shower and head downstairs for breakfast before you're late."

Her dad pulled her up.

This was just a dream, anything could happen in it.

Yet it warmed Tia's heart.

She jumped out of her bed to hug the father whom she missed so dearly.

"Dad!" she exclaimed, hugging him tighter with every second she clung onto him.

Was this some type of alternate universe she shifted into?

"What's the occasion?" her dad laughed.

Tia held back her tears, just wanting to enjoy being in her dad's arms even though this wasn't going to last for a long time.

They talked for a while and Tia had never ever felt this happy just because she saw her biological father.

A tear made its way out of her eye.

Gradually, Tia woke up.

She rubbed her face right after sitting up on her bed. A dream of a perfect family. A family that she longed for.

Ugh, why did she have to wake up? She could've stayed there.

Tia blamed the universe for giving her such a childhood.

Alas, there was nothing she could do at all.

At least she hopes that her alternate self can be much happier than she is right now.

Hoping that that version of hers was living the life she had always wanted to live.

Sighing, Tia looked around for Kenny to find him relaxing near the bed.

Another day of existing, but there was a slight chance of change.

To her surprise, Tia was genuinely looking forward to today.

She's looking for a difference in her new everyday life.

Thanks to yesterday, she realized maybe there's a ray of hope shining onto her and her mother's broken relationship.

A ray of hope didn't mean that it would finally open up the whole path to a better future to her and Tia knew about it.

If she wants a better life, the change must start from her.

Tia prepared for school yet once again.

Let's see what she could do for the second day.

A plan was in mind already, Tia wanted to socialize with her new friends, Mia and Reggy. They were seemingly nice people and Tia could not survive without friends.

Standing in front of the mirror after half an hour of preparing, Tia looked as neat as she could be. She snatched her school bag, running down the stairs and heading for the kitchen to eat breakfast before leaving for school.

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Tia arrived at school as early as she was yesterday just to come to a realization that the moment she opened the classroom door, there would be someone that she needed to face.

'Tia, why on Earth did you think coming earlier would be a good idea? You're putting yourself in an awkward situation!'

Right now, she was standing in front of a grey painted wooden door waiting to be pushed open.

She prayed for someone else to come and rescue her from this uneasiness she has been feeling for quite a while whenever it comes to Theo. At least there would be another person in the same room as them.

A sigh was almost let out when someone patted Tia's shoulder.

"Good morning."

The voice was angelic, soft and so calming and gentle.

Reggy was there, giving Tia a small smile that Tia found very encouraging.

It must be nice having not only a fancy name, but also being a perfect person in general.

Tia opened the door for Reggy while also greeting her a good morning, too.

Just as she expected, Theo was there. Like the day before, Tia sat on the desk she picked.

Once again, Tia has always felt like there was something she's forgetting. Something important. A missing memory she was pushing herself to remember.

As Tia wanted to take her books out and read before class starts, her mind reminded her of something.

'Why'd you break the promise?'

She flinched. She was wide awake this time! Was that a daydream?

Tia's instincts made her turn to Theo, but the boy was just relaxing while reading some kind of novel.

It made her think of what Theo said yesterday.

What if at some point in her life, she did meet up with Theo?

Did she experience memory loss? Amnesia, perhaps?

Come on, why was her life so complicated?

Tia decided to focus on her studying materials again and shake all the thoughts off.

The classroom got full by the next ten minutes, and classes went by.

A rather enjoyable day for Tia because she managed to socialize with the girls she met yesterday, which meant that now she's not going to be as lonely.

On the other hand, Theo wasn't really socializing well.

Every time Tia stole glances at him during break or lunch, it seemed like Theo did not really have friends.

No matter how bad the person is, if they look lonely somehow, Tia had an ounce of pity for them.

Apparently, Theo had been in the school since elementary school, grade 5. That was what Tia heard from Mia and Reggy who had been there since kindergarten and became the best of friends ever since. Last year, the two were separated in terms of classes but it seemed like they got lucky this year.

Often, Tia felt the urge to talk to him and make him a friend, but she never had the chance because the girls kept her quite busy.

There were times where Tia would notice that Theo was not paying any attention at all and was just playing with his pen or doodling and she chose to ignore it.

Whenever Tia focused on her studies both during class time or studying at home, the time would quickly just fly by.

Who knew it was dismissal already? That was quick.

Two girls approached Tia's desk so they could all go home together.

It was sweet of both Mia and Reggy.

The class became empty after a while, and Tia walked home with her friends, not knowing that there was a boy who had his eyes on her, being very careful not to get caught by anyone.