The Next Day (6/2/2009)
The morning light filtered through Mansh's window, gently pulling him from sleep. He groggily sat up, rubbing his eyes as he stretched.
As he began getting ready for school, a sudden thought hit him like a bolt of lightning.
The novel!
His eyes widened in panic. He had completely forgotten to check its name!
Heart pounding, he grabbed his phone from where it had fallen the previous night and quickly opened it. His eyes scanned the screen, searching for the title.
"Novel of Reality," he muttered aloud, reading the words displayed on his screen.
He repeated the name a few times in his head, making sure he wouldn't forget it again.
Deciding to take his phone with him that day, he slipped it into his pocket before picking up his school bag. A quick check of his stationery and books assured him he had everything he needed.
Just before leaving, curiosity got the better of him. He reopened the novel and read a few paragraphs of the chapter he had started the night before.
That's when he noticed something.
His brows furrowed. Something about the story felt… unusual.
No—interesting.
His grip on the phone tightened. He needed to tell Ankhush about this.
Without wasting another second, he slung his bag over his shoulder and rushed out the door. Ankhush had been eagerly waiting for Mansh's recommendation. He trusted Mansh's taste when it came to novels and games—whenever Mansh suggested something, it was always worth checking out.
That morning, as soon as he stepped into the school grounds, his excitement grew. He couldn't wait to hear about the novel.
Meanwhile, Mansh had already arrived and was seated at his desk. He absentmindedly tapped his fingers on the surface, his mind still occupied with the strange coincidence he had discovered.
A few minutes later, Ankhush entered the classroom. The moment he spotted Mansh, he hurried over, unable to hold back his curiosity.
He dropped onto the bench beside Mansh. "Hey! Did you figure out the name of that novel?"
Mansh looked up, snapping out of his thoughts. "Oh yeah! It's called Novel of Reality."
Ankhush nodded, eager to hear more. But then, Mansh leaned in slightly, lowering his voice, whisperingin Ankhush's ear.
"You know, something weird happened,"
