Chapter 1

Returning to the place where I grew up might ignite a thrill in most folks, but I find myself questioning if I share that sentiment. It's been over half a decade since I've set foot in my hometown, so I'm somewhat skeptical about whether anyone there would still recall who I am. I'm holding onto the hope that my old pals do, though. Would they still recognize me after all this time?

I can't help but feel a flutter of nerves at the thought of returning to school, given the drastic changes I've undergone. I've transformed so much - I've chopped my hair off, my skin has finally achieved that clear, soft glow, my style has undergone a complete revamp and I've changed my daily routine entirely. Will they still be able to identify me? Would they still recognize the 'me' in me?

Oh, how I pine for my old buddies from this place. Back at my previous school, I failed to make any fresh acquaintances, which, surprise surprise, doesn't astound me in the least.

“We are here honey..” My mom squeals.

“At the new house? Great.” I say sarcastically.

Oh, I'm simply thrilled by the sight of their new house purchase. I don't understand. This house looks like my old house from the other town.

As I enter the new house, I hurriedly proceed to choose my supposed new room. Given that summer is nearing its end, I supposedly have scarce time to get myself settled in this unfamiliar room.

Maybe it's worth it to give this change a chance. Possibly this new shift could turn out to be beneficial. It might be. I just need to try. Oh, look at me, opening my bag to find all the color palettes I so wisely kept for my next inevitable move. I really had it all figured out, didn't I?

There's an unsettling aura surrounding this particular change, it emanates a sense of peculiarity and ambiguity, at least to my perception.

I direct my attention to the color palettes, decisively choosing the hue for my walls. Periwinkle, Glaucous, Amaranth, Gamboge, Celadon. These unconventional colors radiate beauty and uniqueness in my view.

Perhaps Celadon would be the ideal color to bring new life to my room. It's an intriguing and stunning shade of green that I find quite charming. I have a particular fondness for rare and distinctive colors. Standard colors like red, blue, or green don't usually captivate me. I'm more drawn to unique shades. Indeed, as reported by The Awl, this shade was once a special hue exclusive to high-priced ceramics in royal collections. This delicate pale green color emerges from a blend of 67.5 percent red, 88.2 percent green, and 68.6 percent blue according to the RGB color chart.

My fondness for these particular hues is boundless. Indeed, I've actually gathered sufficient funds to personalize my room as per my desires. Over the past 6 years, I've held down four jobs.

Gently, I venture downstairs and seek my parents' approval to step out and get acquainted with our new surroundings, perhaps do a little shopping. To my relief, they agree. I leisurely stroll around town and come across a charming local shop, conveniently located close to our new home.

I eagerly scan the store, finding the paint aisle in no time! I hunt for that specific color I had in my mind, and to my utter amazement, they really have it! I eagerly scoop up the paint, nestling it into my cart, as I excitedly scour the store for vibrant decorations to adorn my brand new room. With the convenience of self-checkouts, I quickly breezed through one and darted back home. Overwhelmed with excitement, I practically twirled my way straight to my room.

I lent a hand to my parents by carrying all the boxes inside, and transported the ones that I'd packed myself up to my own room. In addition, I put together the bed that I had recently purchased just for me. I mused to myself, given my quick painting skills, there's a good chance I could complete painting my room before the sun sets!

I diligently arranged a stack of boxes just outside my room and carefully transported all the painting supplies inside. Gently, I adorned myself with some painting attire and began to apply the stunning color I had handpicked onto the walls.

A few hours later…

I was so close to completing the painting of my room, with just a few remaining patches on the wall left. The color truly popped, and thanks to the windows in my room, the sunlight made it glisten. Soon after, I managed to finish painting the walls just as the sun began to set. Carefully, I stored all my painting equipment back in the basement before heading to the living room upstairs. I chose to spend the night on the couch, giving the fresh paint time to fully dry and settle.

With the break of dawn, I gently rose from the couch and made my way to my room. I tenderly touched the walls as far as my reach could extend, and to my delight, the wall was completely dry. I began to unpack my beloved possessions from their boxes and lovingly put together my bed. With my bed now perfectly assembled, I moved on to my nightstand, arranging it just the way I like. I then started to carefully fold my clothes to fit into my surprisingly spacious closet. I'm thrilled to say that I even have my own private bathroom!

I dash downstairs and join my parents for a lively breakfast, swiftly, before I race back upstairs.

“Becca!” My father beckons me to join him downstairs.

“Yes?”

“What's the hurry about? What's going on up there that's got you so busy?”

“I'm just settling in nicely and making this place feel more like home... Currently, I'm adding personal touches to my room.”

“Hm, alright then. Just come down in about 10 minutes okay?”

“What? Why?”

“You’ll see.”

“Um.. okay.” With a weary sigh, I retreat to the sanctuary of my room. It truly annoys me when my parents utter those words.

I diligently unpack all remaining items, proceeding to decorate and clean my room. In due time, I successfully complete the task, and I am pleased to assert that I'm satisfied with the outcome of my room.

Remembering what my father said, I quickly sprint downstairs.

“Dad! I’m he-“ I snapped my mouth shut and whipped my head to the side, my eyes landing on the figure standing next to my dad. She seemed oddly familiar... oh my gosh, it was Samantha!

“Sam?” I cried out.

“Hi Becca.. Long time no see!” She squealed.

I dashed towards her, enveloping her in a gigantic, warm hug before whisking her off to my room. She's always been my closest confidante, my forever friend, even before I moved away. Losing touch with her brought a touch of melancholy to my heart. But now! Now that we're reunited, I'm practically bursting with joy! I can't wait to catch up on all the adventures and experiences I've missed!

“I’ve got to say, Becca, I love this new room! Your old room was kinda boring..”

“Eh, you missed a lot. I’ve changed.”

“I can see that.”

We chatted for ages and really enjoyed our time together. As it happens, she's relocated too. But only to a nearby street. Now, she's just a few blocks away from me. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to catch up with her again. She shared with me all the essential information I required for school. She helped me understand who I should perhaps steer clear from and the nature of various groups, as well as providing insight into the temperament of the teachers.

It's truly unfortunate that she had to depart earlier than expected. It feels so sudden, doesn't it? And with school resuming on Monday, this is our final Friday before being plunged back into school. Tomorrow might be Saturday, but the looming prospect of school casts a shadow over it. I genuinely don't want to return. I feel as if I'll be lost, unsure of what I'm expected to do.

Before she took off, she inquired, seemingly out of the blue, about my brother.

“How’s your brother?”

“Uh.. why don’t you go ask him?”

“Nah that would be a waste of time. I gotta bounce now. I’ll see you at school alright?”

I simply shake my head as she walks away. What could possibly prompt her to suddenly inquire about my brother? Can't she just confront him directly? I wander towards my brother's room and sneak a glance. I notice there's an additional person present in the room with him. Could it possibly be one of his friends? I decide not to disturb him... But who could that be? And what might they be up to?

I head back to my room and just chill for the rest of the day. Gotta admit, it was pretty dull since I had nothing to do. But then, things picked up when my brother popped in.

“Becca?”

“Yeah?”

“This came for you.. did you buy something?”

It was a box. For me.

“Uh, no?”

He casts a doubtful eye at the box, and he seems to notice an envelope resting on it.

“Well I guess someone must’ve mailed this to you because there’s an envelope for you.” He sets the box down beside my bed and then supposedly retreats to his room.

Pausing to set the box aside, I haven't fully considered unveiling its contents yet. As I recline on my bed and begin perusing my phone, an irresistible wave of curiosity about the box's contents washes over me. Could it be something unexpected? What mysteries might it hold?

Enough! I leapt from my bed and made a beeline for the box. I meticulously detached the envelope from it and positioned it nearby. I unveiled the box only to find a teddy bear. It was appealing, but what's with the teddy bear? Its plush white "fur" invoked the smoothness of silk.

As I gently unfolded the envelope, I discovered a letter addressed to me. It was from a secret admirer. The content of the letter conveyed,

“Beloved Becca, this teddy bear is but a reflection of your honeyed softness, the gentle warmth of your heart. Each moment my gaze finds you, my heart dances a beat of joy. Your eyes, as verdant as emerald fields, gleam against your soft, lustrous tresses of brown.

Until our paths cross, your silent devotee.”

Bizarre, yet delightful. I'm curious about who this could be... I suppose I'll just have to bide my time until Monday to discover, won't I?

I stride toward my closet, placing the empty box inside with purpose. I position the teddy bear neatly on my bed and set the envelope prominently on my desk beside my nightstand. I collect my night clothes and don them. Afterwards, I slide into bed and decisively close my eyes, waiting for sleep to take over.

With the gentle sunlight touching my eyes, I warmly embrace the arrival of Saturday. I dedicated the entire day, nestled in the sanctuary of my room, pondering over the intriguing mystery of my secret admirer's identity. As I glance out the window once more, I'm surprised to find the night has unfurled its blanket already. It feels as if the morning had just greeted me.

Today unfolded just like any other day. The weekend felt dull and something seemed a little off. I experienced a swirling sensation in my stomach, as if someone was causing discomfort from within. I struggled to breathe, feeling unusually light-headed. I attempted to make my way to the door for some fresh air, but I ended up bumping into it instead. I collapsed to the ground, clutching at my belly. The sound of approaching footsteps gradually became more distinct. My sight blurred and all I could see was someone flinging open the door and rushing towards me. It was my brother.

“Becca!” He cried. “Becca are you okay?” He held me in his arms as he tried to get me to answer him. I felt weak. “Hey.. hey, Becca.. look at me.” He finally said as he tried to calm down. He felt my heart racing with fear. “Becca breathe, you’re okay. I’m here with you.” He said it so calmly which made me a little better. I was horrified. Maybe it was anxiety? Maybe I panicked?

I've regained a bit of my composure and my breathing is back to normal now. Thanks to my brother, he's been there for me throughout this entire ordeal. He never left my side. I hold a lot of love for him. I feel truly blessed to have him as my brother.

All day long, my brother chose to stick by me, just in case it happened again. We were together the entire day. While some sisters might find spending a whole day with their brother a bit too much, I personally cherish these moments. You see, my brother isn't just a sibling to me, he's my best friend. My affection for him is immense. I can't envision a single day without him. He means the world to me.

In the tranquility of the night, we chose the comfort of the couch, immersing ourselves in films. We enjoyed at least three captivating movies before sleep gently took us in its embrace. We cherished each other's company throughout the day and he remained by my side throughout the night. My heart is filled with profound love for him.

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