Deja Vu [ Lilian Ashley ]
22. Escape

MY EYELIDS opened slowly, spontaneously glancing at the wall clock which still showed the time of seven o'clock exactly. Just like before, it did not change even in terms of minutes.

Something is strange. From the upper ventilation gap, a dim light is seen. I peeked at the window that was covered with curtains, and found the moonlight accompanied by a dark sky.

Did I fall asleep at seven in the morning and wake up at seven in the evening? As I walked back to the bed, I realized that there was a presence of Kurt on the floor sleeping in a sitting position. His head was placed on the table we used to eat. Looks so slumbering and surely he was so tired during the daily life.

I smiled at her willingness to sleep in an uncomfortable position. I took the blanket I used to warm Kurt. However, my eyes became misfocused on a mobile phone lying nearby.

It was my phone that I took out of the bag earlier.

I slowly grabbed the phone and tried to turn it on. This phone is alive! I became wondering how could Kurt charge my phone.

Time is 23:00. July 24th, not July 22nd as I thought. I saw a spam notification I'd never seen before. When I opened it, it contained various stabbing insults towards me.

Inbox || [Unknown Number 0] : J*lang don't know custom, where are you?!

Inbox || [Unknown Number 1] : Vin is looking for you everywhere, disgusting. Could make my man wait for you!

Inbox || [Unknown Number 2] : Woi woman br*hsek!

Inbox || [Unknown Number 3] : You're blind to our messages, huh?

Not from one person, but more.

I can assure you that these messages are from Vin's fanatical fans. They terrorized me. Actually, what's the matter with Vin and his fans? I need to finish it immediately. I became worried about the condition of my apartment, it could have been broken into by them.

Before I intended to leave Kurt's apartment, my eyes accidentally saw a different message on my phone.

Inbox || The Mysterious : Lo to manakan the Ashley, Kepar*t?!

Inbox || The Mysterious: Tell Ashley where!

Effective aggressive message. Not for me, but for Kurt.

Slowly and without a sound, I picked up my bag lying next to Kurt. Then, I stepped towards the exit on my tiptoes.

My eyes unintentionally looked towards the kitchen which was still bright with lights, not about the kitchen, but a medicine parcel on the floor. I picked up the packet of medicine and I was shocked to hold it hard. It was a sedative, the effect of which was to fall asleep for twelve hours.

It was only fitting that every time I woke up, my stomach was so empty and my body was so limp. It was because for twelve hours I did not get any intake.

I quickly walked away from Kurt's apartment and managed to escape without a hitch.

The night was so quiet, dark and silent. I can't go back to Kurt's apartment because I'm halfway through and I'll be there soon. I avoided the road through the railroad tracks that I thought were so dangerous, even the road that needed to cross at the traffic lights. Now, I have to walk around so far. It's okay, at least I survived. Something was thought of by me.

I had an accident twice before and got up twice in different places and different circumstances. It was a paradox as Kurt said. Whether it's real or not, I believe his theory. Although I don't know exactly what the definition of paradox is.

The first time I had a painless death was on July 23. The second is the 24th. Sequentially and I had a feeling that my death threat would occur on the next date, which was the 25th. I see the time on the phone still shows at 23:25 and soon it will be in the middle of the night right. July 25th will arrive.

I arrived on a narrow road and now passed through a construction building that looks so dark and is still 30% of the construction period to the perfect stage. My ears caught the sound of footsteps behind me. Immediately, I turned on the flashlight on my phone, then illuminated the area behind me with uneasiness.

"Hallo's? Is anyone there?" I said looking at the whole area like an eagle looking for prey. There's no one.

"Whoever, come out" I nervously walked back slowly.

I turned around and started running with fear, because my brain just remembered that there was a guy named Zack who had terrorized me at night before. It is undeniable that he exists in the present with the same nature. I hope he's not here.

Just a few steps away from me to get through the construction area, footsteps that were heard running after me appeared again. There really is someone behind me.

"Wait on! Stop that!" ask the person behind me in a panicked tone. I could not understand the words of the person because the fear had spread throughout my body.

My feet keep running and hope as soon as possible to get out of this narrow road. My hand was clasped by someone's hand, then my body was pulled firmly until it fell backward.

Instead of falling on the ground, someone made his body a pedestal as my fall.

TRANGS!

My body froze, my eyes widened when I saw a large iron building had fallen from where I was standing before.

I'm salvaged.

"Thank you for saving me" I said, looking up at the man's face.

I flinched and immediately tried to get up. My feet ran as fast as I could to get out of the narrow street. The one who saved me was Zack, the guy who was so ambiguous about his identity.

His appearance was always jubilant in my mind. From his pale white skin that was seen at night, his eyes of vision were supporting his violent face. Ah, I can't even think clearly about what that guy really wants from me at night like this.

Instantly drizzle came and I made the bag as a shade of my head for a while. In the end, I got to my apartment and got as good as before I left it.

I picked up the diary that was on my desk and it was locked like never before. It means there's something important in it.

I searched for the key from the lock, but did not get any results. In the end, I took out a pin and started breaking into the tiny padlock until it opened.

The book that was previously empty, now contains full of writing.

"Hour 20.17 nights. It was great to see the zoo with Kurt. Vin would be surprised at my progress!"

" At 21:00 p.m. What if I ask Kurt to pick him up. Shame on me, but I have to try."

"Hour 18:00 p.m. Vin is the best! He is my best friend who understands love. But, the fans sucks for telling me to stay away from him! Just yummy. I won't take it that easy. Who do they think I am? Haha."

" At 07:30 before leaving for college. It was so bad yesterday that I was hit by Vin's fans. But I'm ordinary, it's those who are afraid! Cih, they think I'm a cupu?"

So, before this I was always bullied by Vin's fans.

This diary is full of information. My eyes were focused on the last page. Just on the nineteenth of July, the day before I was present after my last death.

"Hour 20.18 nights. Tomorrow is the deciding day for me to declare my love to Kurt! I have this plan finalized, and Vin agrees!"

I want to express love for Kurt and the truth is that I'm not dating him. It turns out that what Vin said the moment I met him at the caffe, was true.

I realize I've been lied to. But I refuse that. This was what Vin had meant before about the plan he was talking about.

"ASHLEY!"

My heart was cringing when I heard the screams of my name with the sound of a door opening loudly. I forgot to lock the apartment door.

"Ashaley!"

I turned my head when I heard a scream saying my name was near me.

Kurt was standing in the doorway of my room with a breathless breath and a deathly pale face. His eyes showed relief when he saw me. He walked over and hugged me.

"Why should I run away?" kurt whispered in my ear which implied a feeling of worry and fear.

I paused for a long time before replying, "why should I lock me up with a sedative?"

Kurt released his embrace and looked at me with a surprised expression. He rubbed his front hair as if he was thinking of answering. I just realized that the glasses that used to hang on Kurt's face were gone.

"You're in too much of a hurry to forget your glasses, huh?"

Kurt smiled wryly. "I often get hit by things on the street because it's so panic."

Now I feel guilty.

"I'm sorry, I had to hold you in my apartment" Kurt said, looking fixedly at me. "It's been quite dangerous for teenage Vincent's fan women to threaten your safety. So ...,"

"So you fucked me without my knowledge?" I made Kurt speechless. My head lowered and continued my words. "And you used my memory loss to justify our relationship?"

"Sorry" Kurt whispered as he hugged me. "I had to."

The impromptu hug made the book that was in my hand come loose and fall open. Kurt was immediately provoked to turn his head and see the source of the voice he had heard.

"Actually, you don't have to do that, Kurt." I stared at the diary Kurt was picking up. "Read."

Kurt looked at me for a moment, then started reading the last pages of the diary. Whether it's violating my privacy or not, I feel Kurt has the right to know that he feels the same way as me and he doesn't have to lie like before.

For a while, Kurt finished reading and held his forehead with one hand, as if showing disbelief in what he was reading.

"I can't believe you have the same feelings as me." Kurt smiled and his eyes closed to tears.

"Not what," comfort me while calming Kurt by stroking his back.

Scroll the clock on my nightstand and show twelve o'clock exactly. It is now July 25th.

Suddenly my sight faded. Not sleepiness, but dizziness. The world turned round and I could not control my body. The balance was gone, my legs were out and when I started to fall, Kurt caught me.

"Ashley's? You why?" ask Kurt in a panic.

Kurt's screaming voice and questions became faint, just like before I gained loss of consciousness.

Semuanya menjadi hitam, dan apakah kali ini aku akan mengalami kematian tanpa sebab akibat tanggal 25 juli hadir?

- ♧ -