Time & Tomorrow

Time moves the same for everyone—but not everyone moves the same with time.

Some people lose sleep over things they can control. Late night calls. Forgotten deadlines...

Some lose sleep because their own body fights them, making "a normal life" a luxury they can't afford. Like the boy who should be in school—but isn't.

It's like tracing out a dream you might never fully reach. Waiting for a tomorrow that might never come.

Or the painful truth that no matter how tightly we hold on, time never waits for anyone.

...~•~...

On my usual spot on the rooftop, I'm wide awake—enjoying the midnight air. Phone in hand, ready for the tea.

"Alright, Kim." I whisper, barely containing my excitement. "Spill it."

On the other end, all the way from Finland, Kyle hums, "Where do I even start?"

"Start with the part where he unknowingly exposed himself."

He snickers. "Oh, you mean the part where his brain screamed her name the second she was mentioned? Or the part where he immediately panicked overthinking her safety like an old husband?"

I gasp dramatically. "No. Way."

"Yes. Way."

And just like that, we throw our sleep schedules out the window—because some things? Some things are just too good to wait until morning.

...~•~...

"Then??" — "How bad?"

"Oh, you don't even know. First, he's all proud of her, right? Like so happy she made it. But then—oh no, danger, what if something happens to her, I must protect her at all costs—

"Aww... That's his sweet side..."

"...and then he remembers.”

I raise a brow. "Remembers?"

Kyle: "There were two mind readers in the room."

Silence. And then I burst out laughing. "That's bad..."

"Ohhh yeah." — "You could see the exact moment he realized. Man was full of, oh no-oh no-oh no, on a loop. I almost felt bad.”

I wipe a tear. "Almost?"

Kyle: "Almost."

Melody: "Dang... You're getting evil."

Kyle: "I learned from the best." — "...Or worst."

Melody: "Okay, okay, so now the real question." — "What do we do with this information?"

A pause. A devilish hum.

Kyle: "...Save it for later."

"Alright." I smirk. "Bet Arika saw it first tho."

"Oh, 100%. She was giving me the, you heard that, right?"

"Pfft, of course she was." I pause, then grin. "Hey... about her..."

Kyle groans. "This is not sounding good."

I cackle. "C'mon Kim, it's only fair. You just dropped some of Eric's tea, I think it's time we revisit yours."

Kyle: "This wasn't supposed to be about me!"

Melody: "Plot twist~"

He groans dramatically, and I grin, swinging my legs over the ledge. Yeah, this was worth the sleep loss.

...~•~...

I chuckle, shaking my head.

Melody: Speaking of you... And...

Kyle: "Melody, Please."

Melody: "Arika Kimura..."

Kyke: "We aren't talking about this, Ixora"

Melody: "We absolutely ARE. This is the moment where the tables turn—"

Kyle: "That's different."

Melody: "Is it? Is it really?"

A long pause. Then:

Kyle: "I might hate you."

Melody: "No, no. You LOVE me. In a totally platonic way. Unlike a certain someone from Japan—"

Kyle: Goodnight.

Melody: It's barely past midnight—

Kyle has left the chat.

I burst out laughing. He ran. Oh, I win.

Still grinning, I hoped off the roof back into my room. Time to try to sleep before tomorrow slaps me in the face.

Because knowing my life? It absolutely will.

...~•~...

Nevermind.

Because sleep?

Sleep who?

I was going to grab whatever hours I had left before morning, but no, past me must have hate me.

I stare blankly at my screen, the words on my half-finished essay blurring together. Due on Monday.

Not next Monday.

THIS Monday.

Which is tomorrow...

Well. It's not like I haven't done this before. If I can survive 4 days and 3 nights of no sleep, one shouldn't be that bad... right?

...~•~...

The next morning, I'm barely functioning, but hey, my essay is done.

I'm standing in front of my mirror, trying to do something decent with my hair for school when—

Thump. Creak.

My attic door swings open, and in comes my sister, poking her head up like a judgmental meerkat.

She squints at me.

Lovely: "Sleep? No?"

Melody: "No luck, Love..."

Lovely: "That's what you get for gossiping on the roof all night."

I sigh, already exhausted. "Kim and I weren't gossiping."

Lovely: "Oh, so it's Kyle again?"

Melody: "You sound weirded out."

Lovely: "Kyle is a boy."

Melody: "Everyone knows that."

Lovely: "Yeah, well, your gossip partner is a boy!"

Melody: "He's not my—"

Lovely: "Why a BOY??? you're weird, no offense..."

Melody: "What about it?" — "And we never gossip, young lady..." — "Write that down."

Lovely: "So what?"

Melody: "Chatting, sipping tea, speaking harmless facts?"

Lovely: "Mhm..."

Melody: "You're being nosey." — "He's my crime buddy. You shouldn't be surprised."

...~•~...

School is... well, school.

People stressing over midterms. People talking over a new student who was supposed to show up around two months ago but still hasn't. It can be heard through the hallways, bouncing off lockers and classroom walls.

"Maybe he transferred somewhere else?" — "Nah, I heard he's in and out of the hospital a lot." — "So... is he ever coming?" — "Dunno. But midterms are next week, so if he does, good luck to him." — "Or maybe he'll come after midterms?"

I don't know why, but for a split second, Excell flashes through my mind.

The person I barely talked to, yet somehow always noticed.

...Weird.

I shake it off. 'Cause what the— No. No time for that.

Besides, the hottest topic right now isn't midterms or the missing student.

It's the new chemistry teacher.

Apparently, he started today, and half the girls in school are already in love.

If they hadn't been so vocal about this topic. I wouldn't know this soon. I've been at my desk, head down, lost in my book, scribbling in while the world around me chatters away.

That's untill the devil came up. "You look deep in thought. Thinking about me?"

I didn't even look up. "Oh... Peter, it must be exhausting—carrying all that ego around."

Peter: "It's a burden, truly." — "So? What's in the writing today?"

Melody: "Simply none of your business."

Peter: "So me, then."

I finally looked up, squinting at him like he was a particularly annoying insect.

Melody: "Do you ever feel embarrassed?"

Peter: "Nope. But you seem to be thinking really hard about something. And I'm the most interesting person you know, so—"

Before she could respond, a few desks away, someone sighed dreamily.

"If only he wasn't a teacher... He's totally my type." — "Oh my gosh, there he is!"

I looked towards the door, and there I saw the chemistry teacher in question, walking down the hall.

And just like that, Peter's smirk faded. His eyes? unimpressed.

I noticed and lips twitched. Oh, this was good.

Then, without warning, he reached over and flicked my... Forehead!?

Peter: "Focus on me instead."

I blinked.

Then, with zero hesitation, I closed my book shut and smacked him with it.

Melody: "Get. A. Grip."

...~•~...

I don't know what's worse. The fact that half the school won't shut up about the new teacher—

Or the fact that I can't tune it out?

It's everywhere. In the hallways, in the classrooms, even in the bathroom.

"Did you see him?" — "Oh my god, he's gorgeous." — "I wouldn't mind getting detention if he's in charge."

I nearly choke on my water at that last one. That was unhinged.

I shake it off and keep walking, slipping through the crowd as I head to my next class.

But then—I see him again.

And suddenly, all the noise fades.

Not because of his face—though, objectively, I guess I can see the appeal.

It's the way he smiles just enough to keep them hooked—but not enough to mean it.

Something is off behind the well-placed smile. The careful posture. The way he lets people orbit around him without ever really letting them in. Like someone wearing a suit that doesn't quite fit.

A mask he wore for a role he's learned to play.

Then he looked at me—And I saw recognition in his eyes.

That felt unsettling.

A quick flick of his gaze, but it hits like a collision—Like he's flipping through pages in his mind.

The unsettling bad feeling got worse when he smirks for himself.

I swear I saw him murmuring something— "Hah. That was easy."

And just like that, he looks away like I was never even there.

I have a feeling I'm not going to like what comes next.

...~•~...

[Meanwhile, Excell]

I should be at school right now.

Instead, I'm here—In my room.

Miss Betty has entered full-on concerned mode, which means reasoning with her is next to impossible.

"I'm fine."

She doesn't look convinced. To be fair, neither am I.

But that's not the point.

Because I need to be at school. I want to be at school... Like everyone else.

Because I can't keep doing this—watching life pass me by, falling further behind, stuck on the sidelines.

I already know what she'll say.

"Excell, you landed in the ER last night."

I know. I was there.

"You need to rest."

I've done enough of that to last a lifetime.

"You need to take care of yourself."

I do.

More than anyone realizes. More than I probably should.

I also know my limits. I know exactly how far I can push before my body pushes back.

And I know that if I don't start living like a normal person now, I might never will.

So I try again. "I'll be careful, miss Betty."

Yet, she's still not convinced—no luck for me.

And just like that, I know I've already lost this round.

Tomorrow, then.

I'll try again tomorrow.

...~•~...

That evening,

In a garden on Enchanteur, a million stars away...

The twilight sky burned gold and violet as Mariposa perched on the branch of an ancient tree, her wings shimmering like fractured glass.

Below, her beloved, Arachnid, watched, dark, many-faceted eyes. Between the branches, he had woven a web—to cradle. A delicate lattice of silver threads, swaying like a dream.

"You always do this," the butterfly murmured, wrapping her wings around herself. "Catching moments before they slip away."

"If I could weave time itself," he said, his legs curling through a thread, "I would make it hold you forever."

She fluttered down beside him.

"That's why we make memories," she whispered. "So even when I'm gone, I'm still here."

His grip on the silk tightened. "It isn't fair."

"I'm afraid, life never was..."

They sat in silence. No words for the years she wouldn't have, nor the loneliness he would endure. Just stars above, soft wind through the trees, and the warmth of each other.

A memory worth keeping.

...~•~...

Then, with a soft hum of magic in the air, a letter appeared. It drifted closer towards Mariposa. The letter shimmered, unfolding midair as if inviting her to read. She recognized the handwriting immediately—her friend's, the guardian of time & space.

Arachnid traced slow, gentle patterns on her wings as she read.

...~•~...

Dearest Princess Mariposa,

It's been some time since the last we met. I miss you. Really...

The world will keep moving, and the stars will still shine, and the people we love—the ones who change us—never truly leave. You have given me so much, dear Princess. More than I can ever repay. So if I can give you anything in return, let it be the promise that I will carry your kindness forward. In every lesson, in every choice, in every life I touch, there you will be.

I will pay a visit to Enchanteur after my midterms on Earth.

May we meet again, but untill then... Be well, my dear friend.

Yours always,

Ixora Aetheris.

...~•~...

Mariposa let the letter fold itself with a gentle flick of magic, holding the words against her heart. Arachnid said nothing. He just watched her with a tender gaze, as if by sheer will, he could shield her from the fate neither of them could escape.

...~•~...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***