Chapter 3: Who are you? Really?

Sounds of chiming bell grew as my finger pressed a small button beside a blue door, designed with a silver lining that is shaped like a rose. Room number 107. Hana's flat. I waited for at least five minutes but still, no little blonde girl in front of me. Ringing the doorbell once more, I looked to my left and saw a hall of apartment doors and also a familiar face.

The same janitor who always greets me despite my grasping for air social status of my high school life. Slightly lifted my hand and greeted him from afar. Never knew he would be cleaning at this establishment also. It must be hard though.

"Hi, Alex what are you doing here?" The sound of the huge vacuum cleaner stopped. He then took his hazelnut colored hat off and started whipping his sweat.

"Visiting a friend, nothing that interesting" I hope.

"Oh, the blonde kid?" smiling back at me, saw his name tag. It was "Benjamin".

"Yeah, hey...Uhm, never knew you had a spot here".

"Oh..." Benjamin laughed slightly.

"I have two part-time jobs, every morning till noon the school is my cleaning arena. Now evening till midnight I'm stuck here". Not taking off his smile.

"Family to feed...?"

"No, no, I leave alone...."

Does he feel lonely? Living alone? It must be pretty good not worrying about anyone in your life, but yourself. Despite working morning till who knows what time he may finish. Yet you can see the happiness and contentment in his emerald-colored eyes.

"So, how's the school?" While fixing the vacuum for some reason he asked me.

"Is that a joke...?"

"No, no I didn't mean to offend you or anything..." letting off an awkward smile. Then lifted both of his arms.

"Still hellish as always, I suppose..."

"Well...if you need anything, you can count on me..." After letting down a big smile and patted my shoulder, the world suddenly glimmered with sparkles in the background. He's a good guy.

"Y-Yeah...Thanks for that...."

"Alex...?" drifted my attention at the door, I saw Hana with her apartment door swung open, and looking at me. Confused because I didn't notice her not even a single sound of hers. The heck is she a ninja?

"H-How long have you've been standing there?" Hana asked with her eyebrows folded in confusion.

"O-Oh...I was just talking to-" drifted my attention back at Benjamin, surprised. He was nowhere to be found, with no traces of his huge vacuum for cleaning tile floors. Blinking rapidly and rubbing my eyes, he's still nowhere to be found. He vanished. Maybe he continued cleaning the other floors.

"Talking to who?" Hana tapped my shoulder from the back.

"Nothing, nothing...." Then a thick atmosphere suddenly covered our entire conversation. Looking at Hana she averted her gaze at me. She just looked at the ground. A cool breeze touched both of us. We're standing in an open hallway with a ton of windows opened.

"About what happened...." I was going to cut to the chase when...

"Wanna go somewhere to buy something to fill your gurgling tummy?" I didn't notice my stomach was being noisy.

"Convenience store? I'll buy, you cook". My allowance is available for this time so I can treat her something.

"Sure!" She then took her keys and lock the door. Wearing a white shirt with a baby chicken in the middle of it, spirit animal maybe? With a matching black zipper hoodie, wearing only shorts and flip-flops. Seeing her with a home outfit kinda feels like she's a middle schooler. If I told that right in front of her face she would punch me in the face without hesitation.

My only problem is now…what am I going to cook for this evening. Well, I guess buying eggs and other veggies for making egg rolls would be fine for the both of us.

"So where is the convenience store?" we walk side by side towards the apartment exit.

"Just right outside at the left corner…I'm surprised you didn't saw it when you came from the front apartment entrance"

I'm not paying attention at that time cause I have a ton of questions meddling in my brain for at least as long as I can remember. We went straight to the elevator down to the entrance when I came from, still no words from Hana until we reached the ground floor. She always starts the conversation whenever we hang out but, this time it's my turn to do something in this awkward silence caused by the both of us.

3…2…1…

The elevator lights glimmered at "G" and yet no words came out…

"H-Hey…Uhm…"

Hana suddenly let out a sigh.

"Okay, okay…so I'm kind of freaked out also from what happened the night before…It all happened so quickly, I didn't go to school because I'm still in shock alright?"

What the hell did I do? It's not that serious, right? It's not like I killed someone? I hope…not.

"Lemmie ask you this…" Hana stopped walking and stood at her spot. Not a lot of people walking by so both of us are not worried to bother people walking by.

"Do you really don't remember what happened…?"

I just nodded.

"The night…" She then stopped talking, I can see her eyes trembled in fear.

"If you don't want to tell it it's fine…" I don't want to force her…that night really took a portion of our sanity.

"No, no…You need to know what happened that night…"

"Before that can we please, uh... start walking…" noticing the people on the sidewalk became crowded all of a sudden. The people might think that we're having a lovers quarrel. Hana also noticed her face began to turn like a radish.

"You idiot, you could've told me earlier". Again we walk side by side, but now keeping our phase.

"I think cooking for this time is too much work for the both of us…" Hana suddenly then blurted.

"I got my keys here, and I also locked our apartment, my parents are not going to be home early. So…what about some coffee…" Hana then pointed to a café across the street. Thank god she got that idea because I just saw my wallet. And it was not beautiful… I thought I got cash but…

"Actually…that's not a bad idea…" I replied.

"But still you're going to treat me right?"

"It depends…if the coffee is too much then pay for yourself then…"

"You said 'If' hehe…" She smirked at me.

"Okay, okay jeez…can we go now?"

We crossed the street using the pedestrian lane, and yes the lights were red, I'm not having a death wish. Reaching the café the aroma of brewing coffee tickled my nostrils, it was kind of relaxing and it was great. A lot of people brought books, and even laptops at their tables while sipping coffee. The chairs were wooden, tables are made of glass, and finally teapots at every at the top of the table.

"Let's take these seats…" We both sat down face to face.

"Hi…I'm Stella your waiter for this lovely evening, may I take both of your orders please…" A lady wearing a maid outfit approached us. It was cute. Her black long hair is suited because of her uniform.

Hana kicked me from under the table.

"What was that for?"

"Are you going to order or not?!" She exclaimed.

"Oh…One, coffee with fresh milk…"

"One, cappuccino also please, thanks…" Hana ordered while looking at the menu, wait there's a menu? Forget it I already ordered… The maid bowed to us, I'm surprised.

"Wait, Hana is this what I think it is?"

"Yeah, an actual maid café here in our city…probably the owner is Japanese, awesome right?"

"Yeah, it's cool I bet the coffee here is nice…"

Then Hana fixed her posture and suddenly stared at me. My anxiousness started rising.

"Hana, you don't have to force yourself, if you don't want to tell it, its fine…"

"That was fast…" Our coffee came and the aroma was relaxing and somehow delicious, I took a sip and it was really tasty and creamy, Hana on the other hand, just stared at her drink blanky.

"No, I have to…" Hana breathes heavily… "Okay…here's what happened"

"Heh!? Not breathing no more boyo? How boring…" The Man squeezing Alex's throat laughed. The man covering my mouth and holding my upper body did the same thing.

What am I going to do? Alex is no longer breathing? What should I do? The man holding me started pulling my hair and forced me to lay down on the grass part of the path…

"No! What are you? No! Someone! Anyone! Help!" The man started to lift my skirt up, trying to kick him but it was useless, he was too heavy. I just screamed my lungs out hoping someone would help us.

"I think my dinner is served today don't ya think bro?" The man asked the other guy. The guy was just watching and lighted a cigarette.

"Just do it already you bastard and we're out of here…"

"Yes, Yes…! Now? where did we left off? Ah yes…your quite cute huh?" He started undoing my uniform…I begged him to stop but he didn't listen. Looking at the lamp post from afar I saw Alex laying down not even moving a single muscle.

"Please…! Stop…I'm begging…you…!" My cheeks are drowning in tears.

"You should be thankful young lady…Someone will take you on now!" He then laughed and started licking my cheek. Someone! Please…Anyone…?

"H-Hey…Scumbags…" Someone from behind called out using a cold tone… noticing the silhouette it was Alex trying to stand straight.

"Oh? I thought you were dead? You stupid brat…" The guy flicked his cigarette in Alex's face. He was facing down, the cigarette just bounced on his hair.

"Alex?! You…?" I screamed, the guy who was cowering on me was dumbfounded.

"Bro! I thought you killed that dude?" He exclaimed.

"No worries! This is fun! I can kill him again…"

"Why not try your luck this time, you disgusting piece of sh*t…" Alex lifted his head, his aura was different, his eyes are blank, and it's the first time in all my times that I'm with him that he cursed.

"You two don't deserve to live…but I'll give you a chance…If you kiss my foot I'll let you go without a single scratch…" Alex lifted his left foot. The two guys both burst into laughter.

"…pretty amusing kid really…But this time…" The guy pulled his knife from his back and started to run towards Alex.

"Alex! Look out!" I exclaimed, but instead of running, he just faced down and stood his ground.

"Die…" The guy tried to slash Alex, but Alex dashed left avoiding the attack. The guy tried to stab left but Alex hopped backward.

"Heh…?" The guy stood his ground mesmerized at Alex because of how he was dodging. My jaw almost dropped. Is this real Alex? I can't even tell…

"I told you…just kiss my foot…" Then he pointed at me, "And let that girl go…" The man cowering above me laughed.

"Nah! We're having fun right now, right?" The man touched my cheek with his index finger.

"So, kid what's it going to be?" Facing Alex The guy started playing with his knife again. Then all of a sudden Alex rushed in front of the man with incredible speed. The man couldn't even react.

"I gave you a choice but you didn't listen…" he kneed the guy in the stomach.

"You bastard how did you…?" The guy was coughing blood, watching in both shock and fear. Is this supposed, my friend? The pushover? The bullied? While kneeling Alex stood and stared coldly as if staring like an owl with no expression whatsoever.

"Shut up…" Alex punched the man on the face, blood splat on the ground followed by the guy laying down flat unconscious. Alex was smiling down, stepping at the man's face, then letting out a psychotic laugh. The atmosphere is terrifying the way he laughed and the way he talks and the way he acts violently.

He turned his icy gaze at the man who was above me. He stood and approached Alex violently.

"Don't F*** with us kid!" The man balled his fist, his punch landed in Alex's cheeks. But Alex just only stood and he didn't even flinch. Alex grabbed the man's arm, screaming in agony, but Alex didn't have the slightest decision to let it go.

"You bastard! Let go!"

"Heh…? Why…?" Grinning down at the man, the tables have turned. Whipping my tears I tried to stand but my legs were shaking.

The man punched Alex using his left, Alex just took it and grips the other arm harder.

"You MotherF-" A breaking sound of something hard suddenly came out of nowhere, my eyes widen, Alex using his knee broke the man's arm like a tree branch. The man screamed in agony and blurted bad words. The man rolled in pain on the ground crying his lungs out.

"I told you…You just have to kiss my foot and we're done…" Alex standing and enjoying the view. He grabs the man by the hair.

"If I see you both of you again…I'll kill you and your family. I know where you piss every day…Now lay here and die you piece of sh*t…" He just let the man cry on the ground and walk towards me. And offered his hand. I was hesitant, I don't know what he'll do to me.

"It's okay…I'm not going to hurt you…He'll be mad if I did…" I look at him and Alex smiled back. I took his hand and pulled me up, my head leaned on his chest. I hugged him and cried.

"A-Alex…I was so scared…" Alex pulled out a handkerchief in his pocket and whipped my cheeks. He fixed my uniform and held my hand.

"Let's go home…" pulling me straight and not even looking at me.

"W-What…A-About them?" I asked.

"What about them? Those people must suffer and learn what did is wrong. Greedy and violent people must be punished…" He took out his phone and dialed the police emergency number. Over the phone telling them there are two criminals unconscious on the road, he told them what street, after that he hung up.

"Alex…?" I mumbled.

"Yeah?" Still not facing me.

"Are you A-Alex…?" He looked at me and smiled.

"A part of me" a deep and gurgly voice entered my ears followed, chills down my spine as we walk together towards the station. He just held my hand until we reached the station. But despite what he did I felt safe while holding his hand.

"I'll walk you home…Don't worry about a thing you're safe…" He whispered, both of us trying to stand still while the train continued to move.

But still. This is not Alex, a part of him maybe but... still bothers me. After the train ride, both of us went to my apartment. He didn't enter he just stood on the doorstep and waved goodbye.

"Wait! A…" What should I call him? "Who are you…!?" I exclaimed. Alex stopped walking and turned in my direction.

"I'm Alex…" He smiled and walk straight again.

"And yeah…That's what happened…" Hana took a sip of her coffee and smiled. I just stared at my drink, did I really? Did all that? Maybe she's lying? No, she can't lie…After all, I can see her eyes trembling in fear while she was telling what happened. I'm a wimp with issues. I can't just dodge quickly and beat up two huge adults with violent tendencies. This is unrealistic…

"Just…tell me the truth…Hana, I'm not in the mood for your fictional shenanigans…"

"Wah!? It's the truth…! What? Did you think I made everything up? I'm not your bullies…" She's got a point but I still have doubts about this…How can I do such things? To the point breaking an arm of an adult. I opened my phone and checked what time it is.

"Did you tell anyone what happened?" I asked.

"No…it's not like anyone would believe if I told them you beat up two criminals with your fist…"

"Did your parents? And what happened to the guys who I 'beat up'?"

"I didn't tell my parents also, those two are in jail…You dialed the police hotline…Or if it's really you who dialed it…"

I let down a sigh…I don't know what is happening…there is still part of it that doesn't make sense.

"It's getting late I think we should get going, my parents may be worried right now…" I drank all the coffee in the cup and called the waiter. Hana did the same, after paying our bill, we went out. I offered Hana to walk her but she refused because her house is near so I don't have to worry. I waved goodbye and went in another direction towards home.

What's happening to me? Is this all real? I don't remember what happened back then but…AGH! This is really! Confusing! Not to mention, my step-dad also told me last time that I'm acting weird when we were eating breakfast… And Hana also mentioned I went to the school when I was out in a cold. Am I doing something without my control? Am I me? My head started to ache again. Massaging my forehead, the pain is excruciating, I need to take medicine again.

"Why are you home late? Young man?" After opening our door, Mom who was standing infront of me smacked my head.

"Ow…I just visited Hana…She was sick…" I replied.

"Jeez...Can you call me if you're going home late? Teenagers these days…"

"Go change your clothes dinner's ready…" Mom walking towards the kitchen… "Oh, I'm not hungry, I'll skip mom…Thanks…I already ate"

"Okay rest up you have school tomorrow…"

"I will thanks…" I went straight to my room and locked the door. I didn't change I just went straight to bed. Looking at the ceiling, I slowly dozed off.

Standing and seeing a mirror in front of me, looking at it my reflection appeared but, its pupils were green like an emerald.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Why are you using my body?" I exclaimed. He let out a laugh.

"Don't you get it? You need me… your weakness is disgusting, what? Do you think you can survive in this world with that kind of mindset? Damn humans… You're going to have me always, I'll be speaking in your head… that sweet revenge you always wanted I could help you out…I can help you live better and easier…No more self-isolation and bullying. Just accept me…and you'll be fine…"

"I will not do that! You monster!" Pointing at the mirror.

"Hahaha! We're are amusing! That's why I'm obsessed with us…"

"What do you mean 'us'?"

"I told you, you're me…and I am you"

I need to wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up…!

"You can't…You're in the Alter… it's useless trying to wake yourself up…" Alter? What? What's he talking about?

"I'll let you go for now, for the time being… think about what I said…" He turned around and walked into the mirror and disappeared. I suddenly woke up, covered in sweat. Did I experience sleep paralysis? I opened my phone. It was 3 am. Breathing heavily, I'm thirsty…

"Accept huh?" I murmured.

"Who are you? Really? Why are you doing this…?" seating at the edge of my bed I decided to open my computer and started researching my problem. Opening the internet and searched for specific questions about my experiences. Nothing was close, I keep scrolling down and opening research articles and opening new tabs, but I couldn't find the answer.

Then something caught my eye…

"Split Personality Disorder…caused by trauma or tremendous stress…" I continued reading and watched the videos on the recommendation about the disorder. I think this is it? Or is it? Something also caught my attention. It wasn't a psychological, but more supernatural occurrence.

"Parasitic entity…Possession and stuff…feeding on a person's emotional state…" No, it can't be, this is all too crazy… What's really going on with me? Why is this happening?