We drove south on York Road, passing the large brick house that always stole my attention. I peered past my mother's arms and the steering wheel, to take another long, unblinking look. The exterio ... [+]
"Boreas!" My consciousness gradually gathered, as the can of iced cola touched my skin, sending a chill. The smiling face before me gradually became clear in the soft light. "See that girl outside the classroom? Wanna make a bet?" the owner of the smile said.
"...Wanna make a bet?" A familiar voice echoed from deep within my mind, echoing like an electric current coursed through my skull, and I shuddered.
I stared at the person before me with difficulty, recognizing him—my childhood friend, Lotus, who had died in an accident three months earlier.
I stared at him blankly as he pulled the tab off the can and poured the cola down his throat, his skin trembling slightly, his face a look of enjoyment.
I turned to look at the girl he was talking about. She looked exactly like the one standing outside the classroom three months ago. If I remembered correctly, he was going to wager whether the girl was waiting for a boy or a girl. The price for losing was ten minutes of the winner's command after school. Then, as the loser of the bet, he died instantly in an accident during the ten minutes I was in command—making the word "bet" my darkest nightmare.
I was overcome with emotion and nervous, desperately hoping this incredibly realistic dream was reality. So I pinched myself hard, and as the pain spread, joy welled up, bursting into tears.
Lotus looked at me, seeing my eyes welling with tears, puzzled. I met his questioning gaze and said firmly, "Yes."
"That girl keeps looking towards our classroom. Is she waiting for a boy or a girl? The winner gets to command the loser to do anything for ten minutes. I'm betting on a boy." He finished his words without pausing, fearing I'd beat him to the punch.
"Then I'll have to bet on a girl." Although he was puzzled by my unusual lack of a few complaints, he still showed his smugness first. When he saw the two girls walk away arm in arm, his face fell, just like the last time, and he said dejectedly, "Okay, you win."
"It's easy. Let's go home arm in arm after school." I stated my request directly, and unsurprisingly, I saw a look of disgust on his face.
Walking along this country path again, the scenery remained the same as the last time. Tipsy clouds hung in the sky, and the setting sun bathed the green fields. This should have been a beautiful day. I clutched Lotus's arm tightly, the scene from the last time involuntarily replaying before my eyes.
"You always say you know this road so well you could walk home with your eyes closed. Today, I'll give you a chance to prove it. Just walk for 10 minutes with your eyes closed and see how far you can get."
"Okay," he readily agreed. The road was wide, flat, and sparsely populated. Even if there were cars, it was still light and drivers would be able to spot a tall, muscular man like him. Besides, I was watching him from behind, ready to catch him in a pinch. So, we didn't even consider safety.
To prevent him from cheating, I even gave him a blindfold I'd found in my schoolbag. Unable to see anything, he pointed in one direction, then in another, asking if there was a tree there, then a bush of wildflowers. After getting a "yes" to each one, he suddenly sprinted forward, looking back as he ran, saying, "Wanna bet on who gets home first? This time, it's gonna take—one year! I'm betting on me!"
"I'm not sleepy anymore if you say that!" I sped forward, too.
Then my smile froze as a hulking truck approached in the distance, moving at a rapid pace. Perhaps because it couldn't see anyone ahead, it didn't slow down at all. Lotus was already far away, and to make matters worse, he tripped and fell.
"LOTUS! Danger!"
The splattering blood made my shouts futile, and my steps felt like they were weighed down by lead.
The truck roared past me, and I could almost smell the scent of blood carried by the wind. But my senses were gradually dulling, and my vision was blurry. I squatted beside Lotus, his face blurred in a pool of blood.
Numbly, I pulled my phone from my bag and called the emergency number, even though I knew it was too late.
By the time a voice reached the other end of the line, my vision had already darkened and I was unconscious.
When I woke up, I was lying in the hospital. I struggled to sit up and anxiously grasped my mother's hand, asking about Lotus. I saw a complex mix of emotions in her eyes, a hint of relief. She opened her mouth, hesitated, and finally whispered, "He's gone."
I was pulled out of my memories, only to find that peaceful evening before me.
Someone on a bicycle passed by, giving us strange looks. But for Lotus's safety, even strange things were allowed. Or rather, if he could avoid the mortal danger that was his original fate, I would give anything, even myself in his place.
Time slipped quietly, but the truck never appeared. Lotus and I remained awkwardly close all the way, rarely speaking. Ten minutes had already passed, and he didn't ask me to let go of his arm.
"We're here," Lotus pointed to the left.
"I'm so happy I won the bet today, I'll take you home first." My nerves were on edge, and I didn't dare relax because of the absent truck.
"What's wrong with you? Have you been stressed out by studying lately?" Lotus had been holding back his question for the entire journey, and now he asked cautiously.
"No. Yeah, I'm fine, actually," I replied absent-mindedly.
I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until Lotus's house came into view.
"Remember to call or message me if you need help. Remember, tell me no matter what difficulties you encounter." I stared into Lotus's eyes sternly, and only when he nodded in agreement did I let go of his arm. A dark stain had already formed on the area where I'd held it, and the cold sweat on my palm only began to dry the moment I released it.
"Why are you back a little late today?" My mother's eyes were filled with worry. Even though I'm almost an adult, my mother still often worries when I'm late for home.
"Because I sent Lotus home first." I understand her concern, so I don't feel annoyed.
My mother's expression darkened when she heard Lotus's name. After I turned and went upstairs, she went into my father's study, so I couldn't hear her say to him—"Lotus was clearly dead before, and yet he reappeared today. When will she realize that Lotus is just an imaginary friend?"