Chapter 1 - Awakening (1/2)

When I came to, I was on a bed, looking up at wooden panels above me.

My mattress was lumpy and uncomfortable. My slight movements caused creaks and squeaks to sound out.

Lying down with my hand reaching up, I, ”Huang Yu”, was hit with a sudden throbbing in the head.

My body was wet with sweat, though it wasn't because of the heat. Rather, it was a cold sweat that sent shivers down my spine.

Twisting and turning in the bed, the throbbing in my head was like an unbearable torture.

I could feel bile coming up my throat, but I forcefully swallowed it all down.

As the throbbing in my head slowly faded, a sense of relief filled me. Finally, the unbearable torture was beginning to subside.

”W, what is going on?”

I slowly sat up on the bed. The creaks and squeaks of the old mattress frame protested loudly from my loud movements.

Looking around, I noticed that I was in a room. I didn't recognise this room. Despite that, I felt a sense of familiarity here.

Gently getting off the bed, I stumbled and fell face first onto the ground.

The thump was loud. A loud groan emerged from above me. It appeared that I was sleeping in a bunk bed.

I ignored the person's groan. I was more surprised than hurt from the fall.

Slowly getting up, I looked down at my body. My arms and legs were strangely small.

It felt really strange. My body felt too small. Yet somehow, I knew it was my body. It was that strange sense of familiarity again.

Sighing gently, I made my way to a mirror and took a good look at my reflection.

I was met with the body of a child. A handsome child, but a child nonetheless.

There were rather striking features on me, namely, my spiky, red hair and my similarly coloured eyes.

I slowly sighed. I had a bad premonition about this.

I turned around to look at the person in the bed above mine. He was beginning to wake up and I could tell that he was around 9 years old.

The pain in my head was all but gone now, but my memories were still fuzzy at the moment.

”Hey Huang Yu, you ok there bud?”

I looked at him silently for a few moments, trying to recognise his face. The fuzz in my brain was beginning to clear up.

I still had no recollection of this person, yet I had to give an answer. As I collected my thoughts, my mouth began moving on its own.

”I'm fine Cheng Yan. Just feeling a little bit under the weather right now.”

”I can tell. You look horrible.”

Cheng Yan gave a yawn as he got off the bed. He approached me with his eyes still only half open.

”Do you want some medicine? I got some antibiotics in my bag.”

”No thanks. I just need rest. Can you tell the teacher that I won't be going to class today?”