The One Thousand Days

Chapter 9. Nightmare

Alice says that Geral will return to being herself. I remember clearly this afternoon he said it. I also believe because at dinner Geral looks calm and well\-just fine. It's just, I don't know why when I opened my eyes he was here. More precisely he is above my body.

I tried to open my mouth wide\-wide as my breathing started to tighten. My eyes widened, the figure was now smiling ferociously right in front of me. The face was cold then a few seconds after that a vile smile rose on his face. I'm trying to move. Release her grip on my neck. This foreign youth is now oppressing me. His long fingers locked my neck making it hard for me to breathe.

“What did you do to me?” his hoarse voice echoed in the dark room.

This sound pressure is not at all Geral. Geral would not speak with such a pressing tone. If not Geral then who is this young man?

“Jawab!”

I can't answer– nor do I want to answer any questions from him. Even if I were to squeeze my brain right now, I would not find a single reason to defend myself before him. I cannot face the judgment that comes suddenly\-sudden. There was no compelling reason to lock Geral's soul inside the body of the young man who was currently strangling me. The only reason I love Geral. No less and no more. But that reason obviously wouldn't apply to him.

I hit\-hit her hand with a fingers. Sia\-sia alone, her grip was too strong. My mouth was open trying to find a little oxygen to sustain life. The young man smiled faintly. The abomination I had seen had disappeared completely. Sadness was on that face. His black eyes seemed to pierce through my eyes. There was no cruelty in those eyes. Only sadness is reflected in it. Those tiny lips still poked out a thin smile. His attitude change was too quick. I swallowed spit. He's probably a psychopath. I'm getting scared. Gigilan attacked my body as cold sweat began to puff up. He's really\-terrible.

“You know how unfair this is for me?” his words were sharp but there was no anger in his voice.

My ears might be troubled from not feeling the anger in his voice. Not angry then strange, if he was the owner of the real body it should have killed me now in this place as well. However, I almost heard the sadness in that voice. His grip loosened a little but he didn't let me go. He must have wanted to torture me. He'll kill me with a sigh of relief and pain. It must be like that, what more do I expect.

Tears began to roll in my eyes. It's not fair to him. I am guilty of all this cruelty. But God is more unfair to me. He took my Geral suddenly. He took my Geral when I was totally\not ready to lose.

If this young man is the victim of all this then the villain is not me or him, but there are other actors in this ridiculous play. He was the one who crossed the road until Geralku had to have an accident. He is the one who should blame this man. The young man lost his body, while I lost my heart. This young man was injured and I was also injured just like him. If I wish we were even, I'm fooling myself. In this mess, this young man was indeed a real victim. He is indeed innocent. I'm the one guilty so he can curse me. However, am I wrong if I use my body to call the person I love?

I'll just borrow his body for a thousand days. He will only lose his life for three years. I promised I'd let go and I'd pay for everything. I'll pay for my mistakes. I will atone for my sins on this young man no matter how. I want to say all that, it's just that the grip on my neck right now really\ really makes it hard to talk.

“You know what my name is?” voice raucous. Weight is also deep.

‘What?’ batinku. Whatdoes thatmean? I don't know his name at all. Damnit damnit!

His grip that had originally loosened now strengthened again. I was still staring at him while my legs were hitting the bed\-hit as my body started to spasm.

“You definitely don't know!”

A horrible sound came out of my throat. My neck may have been severed when my eyes started to fog. The last breath came off so easily from my lips. I'm gonna die right now. Died before a thousand days. I nodded and opened my eyes. My eyes were staring at my quiet room. No one–including the young man.

Uh, dreams?

I hurriedly wake up. Fear of having nightmares that repeat. I walk towards the mirror. Staring at my neck in horror. I'm pathetic. A matted face and dark circles under the eyes. My white pajamas were soaked in sweat and now clung tight to my body. My hair is sticky and wet. I walked down. My neck feels hot. No hand marks or giggles. However, the small blackened wound felt hot and throbbing.

“Enza!”

“You're up?” geral's voice sounded from outside.

I'm still silent. Doubt to answer. To be honest I was scared to see Geral at the moment. Although the smell of coffee and savory cooking that was coming out entered my nose began to make me waver.

“You're up apparently?”

Geral stood in the doorway with a cute apron bearing the image of a panda head wrapped around her body. I still haven't moved. Those eyes are looking at me now. Black eyes that demand an explanation from me. Her tiny lips covered the same smile. The same smile as the young man who strangled me.

“You why the hell?” Geral approaching.

I'm moving backwards. Dare not look at the young man's face. The face of the young man who overstretched me and strangled me a moment ago. It's not his grip that scares me. However, that injured expression still emanated in those eyes as he demanded an explanation. That's hurtful.

“Enza!”

I flinched and brushed off Geral's cold hands as she touched me. Geral frowned. He really\-looks confused.

“Colah!” Geral pulled my hand.

A smile spread across his face. Deep dimples embossed on her cheeks. Geral also has dimples. There was Geral's soul in the body of this foreign youth. I almost forgot about that. My geral is inside the body of this foreign youth. His smile grew wider as I welcomed his hand. Geral wrapped an arm around my shoulder. Guide me out. He pulled out a chair and let me sit down. It's probably true Alice said that Geral would come back to be her and everything I saw was just a dream.

“You made this?” I was amazed when I saw the heart-shaped fried rice that was now waving in front of me.

Geral was still standing behind me. He now stuck out his neck until his cheek touched my ear. His head nodded slowly. I smiled and tried to calm myself. I'm just paranoid.  This sweet treatment proved to be another proof that he was my Geral. Maybe I should remind myself many\-times that the incident was just a dream.

“Enza!”

“Hmm.” I started scooping the fried rice on the plate until choosing to mumble.

“Do you know my name?”

I choked, the rice stuck in my throat. I still coughed as Geral's hands began to circle around my neck. A chill ran from the end of his fingers. The horror began to crawl through my spine. My breath's stuck. My neck is stiff in place. I was too afraid to look. He's gonna kill me. Now he's gonna finish me off.