October 11

I know I'm dreaming. A very long dream. In this dimly lit hallway, there are many doors with various stories. Because I enjoyed it too much, I realized that now I had arrived at the 31st door.

I should be quite satisfied. There's a lot of nostalgic intention. I am starting with happy, sad, angry, bitter and sweet. All are evenly distributed in 30 narrations from previous wards.

I don't want to wake up. I want to enjoy the whole story from all the booths here. Not knowing when to dream of something like this again, I tried to re-enter some of the doors that hold the most memorable and missed moments.

Since this passage is mine, and there's only me here, being a little selfish is understandable, right? Moments ago I even had time to find the key to door number two to let myself be stuck there forever. What is presented in it is the best.

Based on the 2nd door era, I was still around twelve years old when my first meeting with Father happened in the middle of a very hot day. After stumbling once, I finally caught up with him who had left the station pavement—to be more precise, the Mercedes Dad was riding suddenly pulled over again, pumping my spirit to run again.

"Here's change, you." I overtook his words which had not even been spoken.

The middle-aged man did not immediately accept the twenty thousand that I folded in the dice—I wrapped it in such a way so that the thousand and five hundred rupiahs inside would not fall apart.

For a few seconds, we just looked at each other. In the time that made my arm ache, I could see Dad arched an eyebrow, the corners of his eyes raised a few miles, and the veins around his right temple twitched twice as his jaw moved as if he was biting something. At that time, I thought he was chewing gum, which tasted very bad. How could I not think so when I saw Father's tense expression.

"Thank you for using my services." I forced the money into his left hand before turning around.

The man's behavior with a tuft of gray hair on the right side of his head no doubt made me a little irritated. My time was wasted staring without a response. Besides, my shoulder could be dislodged if I kept waiting!

I thought that all rich people were that annoying before Dad managed to turn me on with a question that was so unexpected for a kid my age.

"Why did you return it?" He looked at the unkempt bundle.

Replace my frowning brow with confusion. "Of course, because you have excess money."

"I did it on purpose." He blinked, looking back at me. The closer he came, his expression looked like he was in a daze. "You didn't know or pretended to run here to get my sympathy?"

My patience seems to be broken. "So this is how you view us?"

Even though the sun was directly above this burly man's head, even though the glare was blinding, my field of vision was not disturbed. I can still clearly see his scornful grin. "Then, how should I view you?"

I growled. I kicked his shin quickly. He almost fell if he did not immediately restrain himself by placing his right hand on the asphalt. I could tell that this man wanted to strangle me in a split second. At this time, I didn't know that being able to see the details of movement at any speed like slow motion was one of The Reader's abilities. So, before the neck grabbed me, I stepped on the back of the hand that was still on the road and grabbed the collar of his shirt.

I smirked wryly when I realized something. This man seems to be acting weak, whereas there are people who only wince when they touch the asphalt surface in broad daylight, especially with the state of being stepped on like this. Ordinary people don't just curse in pain.

Tighten the grip. "It should be like this."

His ash bead widens. I chuckle in satisfaction at his reaction before throwing my arm away. It was then that I realized I had attracted a lot of attention from other road users.

"You have no idea how sore it is for me to have to look up to talk to you." I rubbed the side of my neck while tilting my head left and right. "If you can't feel it because you've become an adult with such a big body, can you lower your self-esteem and squat down?"

The man's face was filled with undefined wrinkles. His mood was too complicated for me to guess. Or maybe in fact, I'm too lazy to serve arrogant humans like him. It's hot, thirsty, hungry, and tired, it's no use anyway. Ah, I should have turned a deaf ear and just left in the first place. Looking for another guy whose shoes I'm willing to polish feel a lot better.

I picked up the sweat towel that fell an inch from His feet. I shook off the filthy cloth before draping it around my neck. "Perhaps that way, you will know that people like me are not as petty as you think."

I heard him chuckle loudly as I extended my leg on the second step. Indifferent.

But once again, the question he shouted managed to freeze me with a million misunderstandings for the second time.

"Want to come with me?" He even made himself comfortable by changing his prone position to sitting cross-legged. One hundred percent ignore the excited shouts of the surrounding audience.

I put on a horrified look. Did he go insane because I pushed him too hard?

"Be my son and call me 'Father'."

Crazy!

"Oh, so this is how you act!"

Screams of disapproval just turned my head in all directions. Why does that sound like Danial?

"You're awake, right? Open your eyes?!"

Good grief! That's right, Danial. But the figure doesn't exist?! How can this be? Isn't this my dream? Could it be that The Echo could do something like—my back hit something?

"Brother Adam!" Irina's shrill vocals that I know very well belong to Screaming in surprise.

The pain behind me intensified. This body also feels stiff and heavy, bound by iron chains. The more I come here, I can also feel the stinging in my throat.

I groaned softly. Half of it was because my body wasn't okay, the other half. After all, I wasn't willing. A ray of light that tried to open the eyelids melted the memory of room number two.

"Look at what you did." The same woman still uses the high notes. "Brother Adam really just woke up!"

I was laid back on a soft mat. From this supine position, the unfamiliar silhouettes around me gradually became clear, including two people of the opposite sex arguing to my right.

"I'll prove your point after I test it—!"

"—FUCK!"

I'm upset. Irina punched Danial's right cheek just as my alertness was fully gathered. The young man made a long groan because the table lamp on the nightstand hit his head.

As a result, the commotion they caused made the sliding door at one o'clock open. Several nurses and patient visitors gathered around curiously.

"Why don't you believe—!" Irina's eyes widened. She found me giggling in surprise. "Brother Adam?!" She pushed me to the edge of my bed. "You're awake? Oh my god!" The girl turned her head frantically. "Please call a doctor—!"

"Shut up, idiot." Danial covered Irina's mouth as she stood up, which the woman immediately pushed away.

The young man made his mockery clear with a smirk. He pressed the red button on the wall next to me. "There 's a caller alarm in case you forget."

I closed my eyes. I took a deep breath.

Can't I continue with the dream?

***

"Anemia, malnutrition, acid reflux, typhoid symptoms." Danial shook his head in concern. He walked away from the door to my inpatient room, then turned left. He took a basin of cold water and a small washcloth which he placed on the glass table before leaving the room. I was left alone for a moment because the young man escorted Irina to the parking lot.

Ten minutes or so, enough for me to digest what had happened after collapsing in the car. Though I thought I was dead…again.

I glanced at the wall calendar at nine o'clock, then shook my head slightly. The date when I suffocated was October 8th. Apparently, it's been three days since I lost consciousness. It's no wonder I analyze my illness as much as Danial dictates.

The low stool to my right shifted. The squeak caught my attention. Danial brought the chair closer to the nightstand and placed his cup in the space where the sitting lamp had been overturned, right behind the fruit basket from Irina. I think the office boy brought the light in for repair. I hope I get to see him again to give a little tip.

"This is the first time you've been so lousy." Danial cracked a laugh. He re-compressed the bruise the woman had created.

I gave him an innocent grin while scratching the back of my head non-itchy.

"Just take some time off, Brother." He settled himself on the back of the chair. His hands were still in a position pressing the bruises. "You need healing considering there's been a lot of trouble lately."

I ran my eyes in any direction while putting on a sour expression. Acting pretentiously disapproving was thought to be wise enough so that this kid wouldn't think I'd changed too much. Danial can only believe that I ask too many times for the day, date, month and year.

"I'll help you fill out your leave form." Danial glanced at my fingers which were squeezing the blanket over my chest. He frowned when he found a tremor so apparent for such a trivial thing. "Consider it, please. "

"Tomorrow I will open the web." Danial turned to the vessel. He squeezed the orange towel gently. He ignored my gaze. "I'll bring you a change of clothes."

The lines of disapproval on my face loosened drastically. I suddenly remembered something vital after he mentioned 'clothes'.

"Thank you…"

Danial raised an eyebrow. I managed to catch my gesture of worrying about something well.

"…Where were my clothes when I was unconscious?"

This young man was stunned. "Good thing you asked." Danial stood up. "It's in the laundromat near here. Gosh, all this time I forgot to take it."

I nodded slightly. My tongue froze with a follow-up question that went unanswered.

The novel I put in my coat pocket before passing out. Did you take it with you, get it crushed by the washing machine, or...or...where is it?!

Danial's indecision and dexterity made an excellent combination to prevent my lips from speaking again. Because I was too late in deliberation, I realized that the young man had made his way to the guest sofa rather hastily, put on a bomber jacket, checked small items such as wallets and cellphones, then carried his sitting backpack on the end of the table.

"I'll take it, Brother. The place is close. About fifteen minutes because I was walking and you were on the fifteenth floor. Please be patient." He gave a five-finger smile, then approached the door.

"Oh yes." Danial stopped just as the motion sensor detected his presence. The automatic door remained in the open position, waiting for him. "What do you need? I'll buy it."

My forehead is twitching. Indecision left a little room for my determination to keep asking. If Danial brought my clothes to the laundry, he must have first checked the bag's contents, right? I'm afraid the kid might even be interested in the pocket novel?!

But if you don't ask and he brought it… well, actually it's the same thing. Both are suspicious. He'd be wondering why I wasn't looking for such a personal item. After all, Danial knows very well that any items I carry or keep in an easily accessible place must not be random objects.

"Brother?"

I blinked. Danial widened his question mark eyes.

"There is no." I shook my head. "It's just," I raised my eyebrows. "Did you bring my cell phone?"

"Oh my gosh." Danial laughed bitterly. "Yes, I brought it. But it is currently being investigated by Alpha's supervisory team. They need to thoroughly investigate to find out whether certain parties are possibly trying to harm you until you faint for three days." He waved his hand, still with a slightly scattered chuckle. "Stay cool. I didn't open your phone. At all."

Instead of me flying laughter. Sounds forced. I hope this bastard doesn't notice.

"Seeing how nervous you are, you must be hiding something, huh?" Danial giggled. His face was red from the over-polished cheekbones. "Moreover, I noticed that you typed something often."

Argh!

"I've been curious for a long time. But I don't think you want to introduce me to her yet," Danial cleared his throat. "And don't forget Irina too. You know that she is the one who hopes that your single status will be released — ! "

When an apple shot between his legs, the young man stepped over the threshold.

Oh, shame. This body is too weak even to throw a handful of fruit!

"I go first. Oh," He bent down to pick up the apple that had rolled to the side of his leg after hitting the wall behind him.

"Thank you, Brother." Danial laughed out loud while holding up the red-skinned fruit.

I sighed as I massaged the bridge of my nose. Deeply grateful for Danial's misunderstanding. Who would have thought the situation would develop in a more favorable direction for me like this?

"That means just looking for the novel I kept in my coat." My hands clenched unconsciously. "At the same time, thinking of the most plausible reason if it turns out to be in Danial."

I'm sure I've got it. If I provoked it like that, Danial didn't open up the discussion about 'things in my coat pocket', where exactly is that book? Could it be that the young man chose to be dishonest?

I hope the book will grind to a halt in the washing machine.