Protagonist Syndrome

2

I'm awoken by the rattling sound of a bed sheets getting snapped in the air, followed by the noise of someone fluffing up their pillow. What time is it now? For sure if I dont get out of bed I'll be late for school. But I'm too tired to even move. Almost as if I've pulled an all nighter. My head hurts but fortunately the awful cold fled my body.

I grudgingly peak my eyes open before pulling my self up with a yawn. Jia's running around the room with her hair tied up and her uniform uncrumbled.

This is a first. For once, it almost looks like she's actually getting ready for school. Normally, she'd still be in bed deep in sleep at this hour. But even if she's woken up, it'll take her at least an hour to get ready.

Which is why I always go to school on my own.

"What time is it?"

I ask while rubbing my eyes. Last night, I dreamt I was vacuumed into a black hole only to open my eyes in a whole different world. The world of Jia's favorite book. It was little weird if I'm being completely honest.

I dreamt of the Male leads and I even surprised myself from how my mind was able to structure their face in perfect detail as per the descriptions were written. The dream appeared to be so vivid even thinking about it now brings a chill down my spine.

"Seven thirty."

My mind rattles the same time I jerk my head to look at Jia, a horrified expression on.

"What?" She said seven thirty. Class starts at eight.

She checks her phone while simultaneously slipping her shoes on. "Make that seven thirty two."

Before I can waste more precious time, I throw my blanket away and jump out of my bed, neatly tripping in the process.

"Why didn't you wake me up?!"

Clothes. I need clothes. Where are my uniform? A shower is clearly a big no. It'll only waste more time. My backpack's already prepared. Shoes are downstairs. Check. Check.

After splashing my face and brushing my teeth, I run back to the room and discard my clothes before sliding my uniform on. I'll need a lot of perfume if I don't want to smell like I didn't have a shower.

"I can't believe I over slept."

I think I broke the record of the most quickest button locker. If such thing ever existed. Mom and dad probably left for that overseas meeting again together with our brother. It'll take them another two months to return again.

Fortunately, we've managed to reach the school's building ten minutes before the bell could shatter my perfect attendance chart. I'm racing towards my classroom with Jia not far from my tail. Just a while ago, I think I saw a red Lamborghini drive it's way through the school gate.

I found it rather odd. Given the fact that I know no one with a car like that. Apart from waking up late today, I keep hearing the word A4 crossing the conversation of the passing students.

The more I dive deeper into the hall, the more I notice something off around me.

When did the school get themselves a vending machine? And so manh at that?There's also an extra window that wasn't even there two days ago. Is it possible to install a window in just two days?

Not only that, the color of the wall's changed from an ugly green to a prestige dark blue. The ceiling looks way too detailed to belong to a school too. And it's not this floor only. The whole school went from the color green, plain ceiling, to a newly blue and intricate ceiling.

I was just absent for a day. Who knew something as big as this could happen in just twenty four hours.

It doesn't take long before we're nearing our classroom. My footstep abruptly halts at just the entrance, causing Jia to clash against my back.

"What is it?" She asks, confused as to why I stopped.

But I'm confused too.

I open and close my mouth like a fish, wandering my eyes around the classroom. I'm in the wrong room aren't I? I walk back out to check the label at top of the door.

A-12

It's my classroom. But when did it have an air conditioner inside? Did the school find itself a sugar daddy or what?

First the walls, the window, the weird conversation about A4 and now my classroom, that used to be so dull and not to mention small, had expanded and looks so comfortable and shiny you can practically eat from the polished floor.

The tables and chairs look furnished and new, window's doubled in quantity as sunlight pierces through, and everything's shining and clear as glass. Even the walls don't have scratches.

What on earth is happening?

"Are you coming or what?"

I'm still trying to process the whole thing in.

Things like this can happen right?

It's just that, I can't help but connect what's happening around me with the description I read from Jia's book. The school wall's were blue and they also had a hall dedicated to every kind of vending machine.

I shake my head and disperse the thought. I'm thinking nonsense. As If something from a book could come to life. That's not even logical.

"Guess what."

Jia raises her eyebrows. "What?"

"I didn't study for today's quiz." I tell her with a grin. "So it's all you okay?"

"If I say yes, will you stop acting like an i***t and get in?"

I let out a satisfied humm before following her in.

I was only kidding about the whole 'it's all on you' thing. But it did surprise me when she easily accepted it without a remark.

The atmosphere in the classroom suddenly changes as the once loud chattering room begins to tone down. I look up in curiosity only to find someone settling on their desk while staring at Jia. Erase that. More like glaring.

I don't think I've ever seen him before. But judging by the way these two are silently killing each other by their gazes, tell me more than enough.

He's the first to look away, inclining me to nudge Jia by the elbow.

"Do you know him?"

Without looking at me, she tsks her tongue and answers bitterly.

"Who doesn't. It's Rehan King."