Choices

Chapter 2 - The Blue Leaf

"WOW, JUST WOW," I exclaimed, surprisingly.

I don't know if I should be happy about it, or should I sulk about it. I want to see that kidnaper right now so I can give him a punch. Just one punch... or maybe two will be enough.

That kidnapper has the guts to give me milk tea? It's strawberry, which is my favorite flavor, but I am not gonna drink it even if I'm d.amn thirsty, because who knows if this beverage has poison in it? I am only twenty-four and I am getting married. I don't want to die. I don't even know why I am still holding it, but I can't find a trash can to throw it into.

Since this is a children's park, I can't dispose of this carelessly. Some kids might be able to drink it and die because of my carelessness. I may be a rich b.itch, but I value life because I have to.

However, I know that I am not sure if someone really kidnapped me or what, but who can I blame at this point? I badly wanted to blame someone because I was so frustrated. And just remembering the situation I am in right now, I pulled the strands of my hair even though it hurts.

S.hit, I am sure that Drake is looking for me right now. I can even imagine his brows frowning because I am not answering his calls, or maybe he already saw my phone at the side table?

I just hope that right now, he will call the police again just like he always does before when I don't go home because I'm drunk. But, what would he say to the police? That I am kidnapped at Annika's bar? It will surely hurt the bar’s reputation and will decrease the stock price! Oh no, why is this happening to me? Is this because I am a spoiled brat?!

I just massaged my forehead in annoyance, since I don’t really know what to do now. Goodness, I hate my life.

I looked at the trees as I continued walking. The elegance of the blue leaves started to give me the chills... as if I had seen them before.

But wait, is there a tree in this world with blue leaves? I don't think so, but, why am I seeing this right now? Am I dreaming?

"No, stupid," I answered myself as I confirmed to myself that I was not dreaming.

If I am dreaming, why is it so vivid? Am I lucid dreaming? I can even remember anything. I can even see the little details. I can even feel my foot hurting. Aside from that, I don't have the skill to lucid dream. I heard that lucid dreaming requires some skill before you can actually do it. I am not sure about the facts, but I'm certain that I am not dreaming.

According to my observation, the people here don't mind the blue leaves. It means that blue leaves are normal in this park. But this is really the first time in my life that I have seen blue leaves. I can’t even remember if I have seen artificial trees in the past.

May I have your milk tea?

"What the heck?" I stopped walking for a second as I held my head because of the sudden memory.

It's weird, why did I suddenly remember the story that I was reading before? I've finished reading it for a long time already.

To be exact, it was not finished. I think that the author decided to stop the story because it gained more dislikes than likes. More hate than love. More criticism than appreciation.

Maybe it's because of the unique plot? Is it because the protagonist is a mistress? I shook my head subconsciously when I started to remember the negative comments that the story had before. I don't even know why people love to ruin other people's lives.

Who gave them permission to bash someone just because the author wrote a plot that is uncommon for the readers? As if the author forced them to read the story... but she didn't, right?

If they don’t want the story, then just leave it. It's just nonsense to leave bashful comments on the story. It just makes them look pathetic.

That story was a bop for me, anyway. I felt so thrilled since I can choose what will happen to the character, who is a mistress. I don’t even know if I can call her a mistress, though. It's just a pity because she just wanted to love someone, but unfortunately, it’s not the guy that she should love, because no matter what happens, it will still be wrongful in the end.

However, I still pitied Camilla, the female character, but other people judged her without even thinking about what she’s feeling at the moment.

"You love the empyreal tree, don't you?"

"I love you just like how you love them."

"Oh!" I exclaimed as I suddenly remembered the other parts of the story. My pointed finger is also pointed at the sky.

It was Sam's line, if I'm not mistaken. He's also one of the main protagonists in the story. He's Camilla's forbidden boyfriend. It's just so amazing that I can remember the lines and some of the scenes now, even though I have read them for like... two years already?

"Hi!" I almost had a heart attack when a kid showed up in front of me. "May I have your milk tea? Please, give it to me. Just so you see, I am really hungry."

I looked at the kid who was even putting his pouty eyes in front of me. He's wearing a plain white shirt, blue pants, and red rubber shoes. He looks messy though because of the chocolate scattered all over his mouth. He's holding a chocolate ice cream in his right hand, and yet he still wants my milk tea?

"Have mercy on a cute little child like me, please."

"I am sorry, but I don't even know where this milk tea came from," I honestly answered. "If you want, I can buy you another one—"

I stopped talking, not because I am too ambitious to say that I will buy another milk tea even if I don't have one dollar in my pocket, but because I realized who this kid in front of me was.

Is it...

"Andrei?"

"Andrei!"

I was gonna ask the kid if his name was Andrei because this scene is uncannily familiar, but I stopped when someone approached him.

I vividly remember it.

This is the first scene in the story. This is even what Andrei looks like. Plain white shirt, blue pants, red rubber shoes... This is what he wore in the first chapter.

Same as his dad. I suddenly remembered that they were wearing the same color t-shirt on that day.

"Andrei, when did I ever teach you to be greedy?"

"Sam?" I asked, unconsciously. I don't even know why I asked that!

"Do you know me?" he asked back, confusion was written all over his face.

And as he locked his eyes into mine, I felt something strange in my body. And in the blink of an eye, he was gone out of my sight.

That’s the time I realized that I am not in the children's park anymore.

Suddenly, it seems that all of my memories are fading except for what happened in the park. What is happening? Why does it feel like I am going back in time? The feeling makes me wanna vomit, to be honest. What the heck.

THERE WERE LOUD NOISES. It was loud to the point that it gave me a headache. I scrunched my nose and I don't even know why I did that.

"Welcome to the world, Alexandria Crane! Are you done daydreaming? I've been talking to you many times already!"

"Ah, Annika, do you know that your voice is so loud? And stop calling me by my full name. You know how much I hate it," I said while scratching my ear. It was hard to adjust since I was in the park earlier. "Anyway, how did I get here?"

I had to ask that because as far as I remember, I am in a... children's park. How did I get there, anyway?

"What do you mean how did you get here? You're already here? Like, what?" She asked back, confused.

"I was in the children's park earlier—" I was going to explain but she flicked my forehead. "It hurts! How dare you!"

I desperately wanted to hit her back but I suddenly remembered that it was her birthday. I need to be kind, even for just this day… Wait, why does it feel like it's déjà vu?

Maybe I’m crazy? Wait, is it her birthday? Did I remember it right? Why does it feel like I already lose track of time? But, oh. Maybe it's her birthday today. That's what my memory says, so I should trust myself.

She’s now twenty-three years old, and I am so proud of her for owning a prestigious bar like this at a young age. I know for sure that she’s going to be more successful in the succeeding years. I am one of her major shareholders and her number one supporter, so of course, it would!

"Anyway, happy birthday, b.itch. You’re twenty-three now, so where's my gift?"

"Here," she said and she flicked my forehead again. "F.uck you. Will you stop daydreaming, or maybe you're just drunk? It's not my freaking birthday! Did you set your greetings three months in advance?"

I suddenly wasn't able to answer, not because I was drunk, but because I am certain that it wasn't a dream.

"Now, I am sure that you're drunk," she said as she patted my back a bit. "Sober up, girl! I'll just hook up with that hottie out there, and you can have a wild s.ex with Drake later, okay? I bet he's fantasizing about you by now. Bye!"

How great. She didn't even let me speak. In the blink of an eye, she was already making out with that random guy, as usual. Why should I be so surprised about that?

"You really have a wild dirty mouth, don't you?!" I shouted back but she didn't answer.

Or maybe she wasn't able to answer because someone was dominating her sinful lips by now.

I shook my head in amusement and embarrassment at the same time.

I am not even focusing on Annika. I was just thinking if I am really daydreaming earlier. But no, I am certain that I am not. My foot is even hurting. I can even remember Sam and Andrei vividly.

What the hell is happening? All I can remember is Sam and Andrei, but it feels like I am missing something that I can't remember.

"Wait, what's this?" My mind suddenly came back to reality when I noticed something fell out of my shirt.

My eyes widened when I saw what it was. I picked it up and checked if I was really seeing this right, or maybe I was really drunk so I am unable to distinguish my dreams from reality. I can't even remember if I drank alcohol earlier... but, is this the confirmation that I need to know that what happened earlier was not a dream?

A blue leaf?