He blended a hot Americano with the mass of an immense void...
Because the moment he stepped out of that house, everything from then on would be without purpose. The house where he had grown up since childhood gradually shrank... smaller... and smaller... until it disappeared from sight.
The young man glanced back at the rearview mirror, letting out a heavy sigh. The scent of the Americano he drank before leaving the house still lingered in his senses. It might fade away completely before he even reached his destination.
The small pickup truck, borrowed from his part-time job for hauling items, drove through a cluster of crowded homes before parking in front of a dormitory near the university. The blazing heat scorched like the sun was only a few train stations away. He did not hate the bright sunlight that made the sky clear, but he despised the oppressive heat it brought.
"Hello, are you Akson?" an elderly woman approached, noticing the young man loitering near one of the dormitories. Dressed in an oversized white t-shirt and faded jeans, he furrowed his brows.
"Yes, I am. Are you the dormitory owner?" Akson asked promptly. The woman nodded with a smile, prompting him to raise his hands in a polite wai.
"I only knew you'd be arriving today, so I've been waiting since morning."
"Apologies for making you wait," he replied.
"I'm just teasing; no need to worry," she said with a tone of humor. Her light-colored eyes shifted toward the large bags and belongings piled on the truck. "Quite a lot of stuff, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Shall I get someone to help you carry your things?"
"No need, thank you," the young man replied evenly before following the elderly dormitory owner to complete the paperwork and agreements they had previously arranged over the phone.
"Why are you moving in so suddenly? It's lucky this room happened to be available."
"There were some issues," Akson responded evasively as he sat down to read through the dormitory rules he was required to follow. The elderly owner kept smiling warmly.
"Come to think of it, it's quite strange. This room has been vacant for years, and whenever someone planned to move in, something always came up to change their mind. Almost as if it was waiting just for you."
Akson shrugged, feeling a slight chill—not because of her odd story, but because it was the first time anyone had called him "Nong."
"I've already had the maid clean it thoroughly. You can start bringing your things up now."
"Yes."
"Besides me, there's always a security guard on duty. If you need anything, just call for help."
"Yes."
The elderly woman, as if talking to herself, smiled broadly, observing the young man as he silently read through the details. His reserved demeanor contrasted with the faint softness in his eyes, creating a curious contradiction.
"Is everything settled?" Akson asked after signing the contract and paying the deposit. The elderly woman immediately gathered the documents before stepping outside to watch him unload his belongings, as though excited to finally have a new tenant.
"Is this all you have?"
"Yes."
"You can ask the security guard to help."
"No need, Auntie. Thank you."
"Be careful on the stairs," the dormitory owner said, watching closely as he began carrying his large suitcase up the stairs first. If she were stronger, she would have gladly helped him move his things.
Akson stopped in front of Room 204, his assigned room. A gentle breeze brushed against his face as he opened the door and stepped inside. He surveyed his new living space with interest. It was a spacious room, fully equipped with amenities. Though he would need to take on extra work to cover the rent, which he was now paying on his own, the arrangement seemed worth it.
By late afternoon, most of his belongings were organized, though there was still a significant amount left to sort. Exhausted, Akson collapsed onto the large bed, staring blankly at the plain white ceiling. His mind was as empty as the ceiling itself, as though it had temporarily ceased to function after deciding to live independently.
He was entirely alone in this place.
The open balcony let a breeze drift into the room. Akson turned to look at the sky, now tinged with a soft pink hue. He closed his eyes lazily, hoping to embrace the tranquility, lingering in it for a while before drifting off to sleep.
In the depths of his slumber, Akson heard a song echoing from a distant, faraway land—so remote it felt as though it belonged to an entirely different universe. Was he dreaming?
The melody seemed almost tangible, yet at the same time, unreal. Akson listened intently with his eyes closed, as though fearing the sound would vanish the moment he woke.
How beautiful it was. Why had he never heard such songs before? Perhaps in dreams, the human mind could compose music to lull itself into rest—much like a kind woman soothing her child to sleep with their favorite storybook.
And the prince and princess lived happily ever after...
What would it feel like, lying down and listening to your mother tell you a bedtime story? He had never known.
Crash!
A sharp, shattering sound jolted him from his reverie. Yet, the melody he thought existed only in his dreams was now vivid and unmistakable. Akson sat up abruptly, glancing around the room. Could it have come from the room next door?
His sharp brows furrowed tightly as he noticed something moving in the corner of the room. Despite the room being dark, illuminated only by the absence of sunlight, something in the far corner glowed unnaturally bright. Slowly and cautiously, he rose to his feet, stepping closer.
The large mirror, standing alone and unassuming, seemed somehow transformed.
It no longer reflected the room but instead displayed a far-off, alien place. Akson held his breath as he approached. The closer he got, the louder the melody became.
Until, standing directly before the mirror, his reflection disappeared—replaced by another young man!
The figure in the mirror, crouching as though picking up broken shards of glass, froze and slowly lifted his face. It was as though he could feel Akson’s gaze. The boy in the mirror looked startled, no less than Akson himself.
Their eyes widened. Both their bodies froze. And in that instant, as their gazes locked, the music ceased.
Akson felt as though the Americano coursing through his veins had evaporated, leaving behind an inexplicable void. A vast emptiness, devoid of answers.
A cold wind struck his face, its chill echoing the stars scattered across the sky—stars that seemed to crowd closer, as if bearing witness to this fateful moment.
This was the first encounter between two people, through a mirror, in two entirely different worlds!
NEXT Chapter 1: When a Letter Meets a Memory
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