One
Loud wails that could be heard 3 blocks away rang out.
“Fuck!” I bawled, “No way Hyuna just died! What the fuck!” The first and second stages of grief.
I, Ren, am currently weeping over the sound of Wiege playing. Right now, on Valentine's Day, an hour before I have to start getting ready for school, I am crying over the newest Alien Stage release.
“Oh my god…” I whined, “This is the worst one yet.” …The fourth stage of grief?
“It’s so over,” I whispered to myself. I replayed the video over and over again, crying harder with every repeat. There wasn't any room for theories, Hyuna just died. The fifth stage of grief.
“Put me in there. I'll save everyone with a gun.” I commented while I ran my hands down my face, stressed. Now, the third stage? You’re grieving in the wrong order, Ren.
“… ‘m not going to school today.” I wipe the tears off my wet cheeks and grab my phone. I type a quick false text to my mom about having an upset stomach and tuck myself back into bed.
“Not like I have a valentine waiting for me,” I mutter to myself. I start to feel myself get drowsy, and my eyelids struggle to stay open.
‘Huh, I can sleep today? Maybe it’s all the crying…’ I thought before I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
.
. .
. . .
That's what I’m expecting, at least. My eyes have been closed for a good while, and I have not felt sleep come over me yet… Did I jinx myself?
I crack one of my eyes open and close it immediately at the bright lights shining in my eyes… Wait, Bright lights…? I sit up and shield my eyes with my hand. I look up at the blue walls painted with white clouds. Where am I? Is this a child’s room? It kinda reminds me of Anakt Garden… Wait again!
Am I slow? I whip my head around to look at my surroundings. Around me, there are several hills, trees, and kids. I look down and see I’m wearing some kind of short-sleeved dress. I feel the fake, plastic grass digging into my knees under me. I pinch my arm, and wince when I feel the pain.
I just fucking isekaied to Alien Stage.
… Or did I? It looks like I have memories of being in Anakt Garden. Did I take some other kid’s body? No, I can tell I’m still me. I’m just way smaller. What the hell is going on?
Maybe it’s because I said to put me in Alien Stage? No, I don’t have a gun on me. Then seriously, What am I doing here!?
Actually, I shouldn’t be mad. I’m inside Alien Stage, what else do I do other than save my faves from their doomed fate?
I should start moving I probably look so weird sitting here and looking down. I push myself onto my feet and start walking. Somewhere in the middle of the room, not too far away, there are a bunch of kids playing on the hills. I don’t know where I am in the timeline right now, but if my memories are correct, I should be in the 49th class, the same class as Luka and Hyuna. My eyes water even mentioning them… pull yourself together, Ren! It seems I’m a loner in this world, too. That’s all right, that just means fewer people are bothering me during my rescue mission.
I reached the hills while I was thinking. Maybe I should stop thinking so much… Whatever, I can't help it. I walk to the top of a hill and look around. Sitting all alone, I see a small blonde kid sitting by himself. In the corner of my eye, I can see two brown-haired twins walking towards him. I could recognize those figures anywhere! Is this their first meeting? Damn, this is good timing… Stop, No time to think, this is my chance to befriend them!
While Luka counts on his fingers, Hyuna comes in and helps him, smiling when he looks up at her. Luka takes a second before he smiles back at her. Here's where I come in.
"Hi!" I shout randomly. All three heads turn to me. There I am, in all my dirty, messy glory. Okay, so what if I tripped while coming over here? I still made it before I lost my chance so it doesn't matter.
"Do you, uh, c-can we... I... Friend...s...?" I forgot I'm a loser.
It's silent for a few moments, and I can't bring myself to look at their reactions. Just as I'm getting ready to apologize, find a way to sneak into the main cast's class, or maybe end myself, I hear Hyuna speak up.
"You wanna be friends? Sure!" Hyuna chirps, and I sighed a breath of relief.
"Noona!" Hyun-woo yells like Hyuna just did something wrong. I forgot about his bad personality.
"Be nice, Hyunwoo!" Hyuna scolds him.
"I don't wanna be friends with the blond one! Why would I wanna be friends with the weird one?" Hyun-woo shoots me a dirty look and turns away. I want to bury myself underground and never be seen again.
"We have to take care of our Hubae!" Is she talking about Luka?
"I'm older than you..." I'm not surprised since I knew that already, but I should act like it.
"..." This silence is a bit much, though... I guess he does look my age.
"... We have to respect Unnie!"
"I'm... Younger than you...?" Do I look older than I am or something? I'm 7 in this body...
"..." Silence again?
This is so embarrassing. Suddenly, I'm regretting everything.