Chapter - 9 : Muga Part - 3/3

Apparently, after that talk it was hard to continue the meeting, so we were dismissed.

I was ready to go back home–I hadn't watched any anime recently, so that was my plan. But once again, I was dragged off by those twins. Just like me, Lia was pulled along too: she just laughed–not exactly a happy laugh, more like she'd just accepted her fate.

They took us to a hotel with a wide spread of different foods, each dish more mouthwatering than the last. I couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement, and I could see that Lia was pleasantly surprised too. It's rare for me to be in a place like this; I don't get many chances to hang out with others or go on outings with my family. In fact, the last family outing I remember was a visit to my mom's parents' house.

This was all new to me, and while I hadn't expected it, I couldn't deny the excitement building inside. And judging by the look on Lia's face, I guessed it was the same for her. This place was expensive, a luxury her family couldn't normally afford, so it was natural for her to feel a bit delighted.

But what really shocked me was how casually the twins ordered almost 5,000 rupees worth of food. It was an outrageous amount, but to them, it seemed like pocket change.

As I was savouring a sweet I'd never tried before, the red-haired twin looked over at me and said, "Hey, you cutie." I assumed she was talking to Lia and continued eating, too engrossed in the food to pay much attention. But suddenly, she snatched my plate away with a teasing grin. "Oh, enjoying yourself a bit too much to hear me, huh?"

She had been talking to me the entire time.

"Er, sorry, I didn't hear you…" I replied, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"No worries," she laughed. "It was fun watching you both eat like that!"

"So…?" I asked, hoping to get to the point.

"Oh, straight to it, huh? I haven't even asked your name yet. So, tell me."

"Max."

"Good name!" she said, clapping her hands together with a grin, giving my plate back.

I glanced at Lia, who sat beside me, engrossed in her food. A flurry of questions raced through my mind—her eyes changed to red, right? But no one noticed, not even Lia herself. I turned my gaze to the ceiling, lost in thought. Who was that? The one who was inside Lia?

"Ohh~ lost in thought," Lanchanbi, the brown-haired girl, waved her hands in front of my eyes, looking at me with a teasing expression. "Are you there?"

"What?" I asked, snapping back to reality.

They exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. I took a bite from my plate, observing them as they leaned toward each other, seemingly in sync, like they were communicating telepathically.

"Hey!" they chimed in unison, their eyes sparkling with excitement. "Wanna play a game with us?!"

Their enthusiasm was infectious, but I hesitated, unsure what they had in mind. Still, I figured it might be fun to let them lead the way. "What game?" I asked.

"You'll play?!" Their excitement was palpable.

"But tell me what game," I insisted, crossing my arms.

"It's simple! If you lose, you'll have to do what we say," Lanthoibi explained, bouncing in her seat.

"You have to guess what I'm thinking! You get five chances," she continued.

"And what if I win?" I asked, intrigued.

"Then we'll do what you say," Lanchanbi added, her grin widening.

"Okay, then…" I agreed. I had nothing to lose, and if they were going to play around, why not join in? But I couldn't help wondering why they were focused solely on me instead of including Lia. Ha, no use overthinking it.

"Hmm, a… ca-" I began, but before I could finish, they shook their heads in unison. How did they know I was going to say "cat"?

"Then, dog?" I blurted out, feeling a mix of confusion and frustration. I was guessing all the wrong answers. With my next guess, I quickly lost four of my chances.

"Nothing, you're thinking of nothing," I said out loud, the words slipping from my lips before I could catch myself. I had given up hope of winning and stopped trying to think. I just wanted to go home. Lia, having finished her meal, listened with growing excitement.

"Correct!!" Lanthoibi exclaimed, pointing at me. Wait, what?! "You're correct; I wasn't thinking of anything!" They all clapped, and I felt bewildered by the twist. When they asked what I wanted, I simply wanted to go home. I was bored now, and I had no desire to extend this conversation.

"But what do you want to do with me?" I asked, half curious and half resigned.

"Crossdressing!" they squealed in unison, their enthusiasm unabated. Lia seemed excited too.

"We think you would look–" Lanthoibi started, but I cut her off as I stood up.

I didn't want to continue this any longer. I just needed a break from all the chaos and a chance to breathe.

***

It had been a long day—too much information all at once. I felt my head was about to explode, like a firecracker ready to burst.

As I reached home, I noticed a pair of man's shoes by the door–Diamond, my big sis's boyfriend must come, but I have nothing to do with him.

"Max!" Diamond's voice called from the living room, pulling me out of my thoughts. I thought about ignoring him but felt a little guilty. "I'm too tired," I muttered, dragging my feet up the stairs to my room, leaving him behind.

My life is going crazy like a wild ride—sometimes too fast and sometimes slow, But that was just how it was, and I couldn't complain to anyone.

***

"Big broth…..er!!" A voice called from far away.

"Who?.." I murmured, confused.

I found myself in a small, cramped house. The air was filled with the smell of food from a recent meal. The room was messy—two beds pushed together, an old TV flickering in the corner, clothes tossed on chairs, and a few items neatly packed in a cupboard. In the centre, a table was covered with plates from a hurried meal.

"Take… this!!" The same voice called, now joined by another voice—a mix of laughter that made me feel warm inside.

"I can… take this must!!" They sounded playful, like distant chimes.

Suddenly, I saw two figures—kids—lost in their game, their laughter bright and joyful.

The scene changed, I was outside, in a familiar neighbourhood bustling with life.

It felt like a long-lost memory.

"Ha haha~ he is sooo cute…" A cheerful voice floated through the air.

I saw adults carrying a child on their shoulders, their laughter blending with the warm breeze. The boy's face lit up with happiness, his cheeks flushed.

"My... son... Aalalalalaaa!!" A man, probably the father, made silly faces, drawing giggles from the boy

The scene changed again, now two old adults must be his grandparents.. The kid now looks around 6 or 7 years old.

The scene shifted again. Two elderly figures appeared, their faces filled with kindness. The boy, now around six or seven, smiled up at them. "Hehe~ Grandma… I love you the most… from both my mama and papa…!!"

The world around me changed once more, but everything still felt familiar.

"I'm… Ad…."

The child's name echoed in my mind, connecting with something deep inside me. I felt a bond, but I couldn't figure out why.

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed to sadness.

I found myself in a sombre scene—people gathered, tears streaming down their faces as they mourned over a lifeless body. An old woman lay still, while a man in the front, probably her son, shook with grief. The same child stood at the back, lost in a sea of sorrow.

Who was this boy?

The scene shifted again, and I was in a classroom.

"Hey, c'mon!" one of the kids called to the familiar child, who sat quietly, his eyes downcast.

What was happening? The pieces of memories swirled around me like autumn leaves caught in the wind, hard to grasp.

An important memory I should never forget…

The child sat alone behind a car, tears on his cheeks. Nearby, other kids played, their laughter echoing in the distance, a sharp contrast to his loneliness.

"Broke… my p-pro-promjse…" he said, his sobs filling the empty space. I wanted to reach out to him, but I felt frozen, stuck in someone else's story.

Now, I found myself in a house again. The boy sat on the floor, fear in his wide eyes. His parents stood over him, their voices harsh and loud.

"You… useless…!! Why are… you so differ—"

The father's words were cut off when he hit the boy with a stick. The sound echoed painfully in the room. The boy winced, but the marks on his skin faded quickly, like they were healing.

"All them… are fake… just faking…!!" he shouted, anger bubbling up inside him.

"I wish…."

The scene changed again, plunging into a deep black void. Normally, the dark would have frightened me, but this darkness felt different—heavy and thick, yet oddly calm.

What was happening to me? Confusion swirled in my mind as I drifted through these memories, trying to find something real.

"Max….." A voice broke through the fog, soft yet urgent.

"Max….. What happened…" a woman's voice filled with worry

I blinked, my vision blurry. I was lying on a cold floor, my limbs feeling heavy as if chained. I tried to move, but my arms and legs refused. My head ached, heavy and slow, every small shift like pushing through mud.

I forced myself to look around. Dim light showed scattered plates on the floor, and the faint smell of chicken curry lingered in the air. It didn't make sense—this room, this smell.

"Yo, woke up?" A voice, it was a man's voice… I struggled to turn my head, but it felt like an invisible weight held me down.

"Don't bother," he sneered, footsteps echoing behind me. "You know…" He paused, his voice full of contempt. "Why are you, a mere human, trying so hard?"

His words settled in my mind, twisting there. Me? Trying hard? What was he talking about?

"Can you stop that? It's gross," he muttered with disgust. I couldn't answer—my mouth was numb, my throat tight. His words were strange, like he was speaking about something only he understood.

"You foolish humans —@_-#&a–always in my way…" His voice cracked, shifting to a woman's voice..that voice I heard many times before. Who is she?

"Ohh!! By the way, you were said to be the one who will save the world… hahhahaha—human prophecy is sooo funnyyy.. " she said.

"Oh, and by the way," she continued in the mocking tone, "you're supposed to be the one to save the world? Hahaha! Human prophecy is so…amusing."

My heartbeat thundered as I tried to make out his shape. I only saw legs—a blurred figure moving just out of sight, frustratingly out of reach. The voices overlapped again, eerie, like two people sharing one body.

"Max… what's happening?" Another voice called out, fragile and familiar—my mother's voice, a lifeline through the dark.

The mocking laughter returned, echoing as it faded. "Oh, look, time's up… bye~" The voice melted into silence, leaving only the heavy beat of my heart.

***

I shot up, gasping for air. Sweat clung to my skin as I took in the room around me, my breaths shaky. My mom was there, sitting close, her face full of concern.

"Plop…" A tear fell from my eye, landing on my hand.

"Max, what happened?" she asked, her voice soft, pulling me back to reality.

I took a deep breath. "It was… just a bad dream." But deep down, I knew it was more. The feeling lingered—a weight, a warning I couldn't shake.

What was that dream? Who was that?