Four years ago
Almira's POV (18 years old)
"Mom! Can't you see? I can't able to enter into a relationship!" I said then stood up in my seat.
My parents and I are in the living room now and we are talking about my future... AGAIN! This is making me sick, They don't really know how I feel because of the things they do. They just want to be followed. How about me? I want to be free. Right to make decisions on my own.
"And why Almira? What is your reason for not wanting to?" Mom asked me. "Tell me, Almira... Are you still waiting for that girl? the one you talking about when you were young?"
Because of her question, I was stunned and my eyes widened.
"What?! N-No Mom!" I answered and frowned. "No! Okay? Look, Mom... I just really don't like it, okay? And another Mom... I just want to focus on my studies." I added and then sighed.
"Do you think I'll believe what you're saying? Almira... You're a woman, And on top of that, you are our only daughter. And we want someone to love you and be with you in life." she said and held on to her temples.
I looked at my father. Hoping... he would side with me, and he could change my mother's mind. But I was wrong... He shrugged and looked at me seriously.
"Your mother is right. We just don't want you to be a disgrace to our family. You know that your mother and I have a name that we're protecting, right?" said Dad.
Yeah sure... Name... That's all they have in mind. Name. I hope I'm just like my older brother. Who has freedom of his own...
"We just want you to be better Almira." said Dad and rubbed his forehead.
"Really? For my best? Or maybe it's really best for you two! God Dad... I'm tired of this sh*t..." I said and then rubbed my forehead.
"Watch your words Almira!" annoyed Mom said and pointed at me.
"Look... sweetheart we know it's hard for you but... You have to do it. Because we just don't want people to hate you." said Dad and stood up then touched me on the shoulder.
"But I don't want to Dad. I-I'm just... just not really ready yet." I answer and looked down.
Mom stood up and turned around looking like she was going back upstairs.
But before he went up, he said something that made me even more annoyed.
"I'm giving you two weeks Almira, Two weeks... So that you can present to us with your 'boyfriend'. And when you have nothing to present to us. We are sorry Almira. We ourselves present you the man you will marry. One of the sons of your Dad and I's Amigas. " she said and then go upstairs without looking back.
I bit my lip and ran to the other stairs of our house where my room was located. I even heard Dad call me but I ignored him. As I ran I could feel my tears trickling down my cheeks. When I opened my door, I immediately slammed it shut. I immediately took a pillow that I immediately covered my face to shout so that they would not hear.
I am so mad at my mom and dad. They can't feel what I feel. They want them followed. So I couldn't get out. To show everyone what I am.
"I HATE YOU! MOM AND DAD!" I shouted as the pillow covered my face.
I just sobbed with so much resentment. I don't know why they are like that to me. Why don't they accept what I really am? They want to insist that I am not really real.
I gasped and accidentally looked in my mirror where a necklace was hanging. The necklace that was given to me by the girl I met ten years ago.
Flashback
I was just quiet while playing in the sandbox on the playground with my older brother. Our parents are gone because they are busy with their business, and only my older brother and our babysitter are with me every time we go out. I'm not going away from the two of them. But that day... Things were different.
I noticed that there was a girl standing right in the middle of the road looking like she was looking for something. She turned to her left even though I also turned there and there I noticed that a large truck was approaching in her direction and the driver obviously could not see her. The girl just standing was like a statue. So I immediately went to her. After a while, the truck was approaching her so I accelerated my run and when I got close to her I immediately pulled her back to the side of the road. Fortunately, nothing bad happened to the two of us. She looked terrified... She hasn't spoken since I pulled her. I sighed and helped her to her feet.
"I-I thought... I-I'm going to die." she whispered as she looked down.
"Ahh, If you don't mind me asking, May I know what you're doing in the middle of the road?" full of astonishment I asked her.
She sighed and bowed in front of me. I was even more amazed at what she was doing.
"I'm sorry... I'm looking for something." she says.
"What are you looking for?" I asked her.
"Because I was separated from my companions. After we entered the portal I was suddenly stranded here and right there in the middle of the road I was stranded." she said and then stood up properly.
I was just even more confused at what she was saying. Portal? Portaaaaal?!! What's that?
"What do you mean portal?" I asked her.
"Well uhh... I came from another dimension." she replied and then smiled. "Hi, My name is Maddie." she added then she laid her right hand in front of me.
I smiled as well and reached out her hand to shake hands.
"I'm Al." I answered.
"Well, Al... Thank you for saving me. Maybe if you hadn't saved me I might be dead by now." she said and then laughed.
"So you're saying you're from another dimension?" I asked her.
"Yeah..." she replied.
I asked her to sit on a bench not far from the seat where my older brother and our babysitter were. she sat down and continued what she was saying.
There I learned that there are princes and princesses in their world and the magic is real.
"If you don't believe me... I could show you some." she says.
I frowned as I looked at her hand. Gradually she begins to cast a spell and there is a piece of small ice forming in her hand.
"Do you believe me now?" she asked while smiling.
I just nodded and then giggled. She also giggled as well and then looked up.
"The flashing lights!" she says.
"The what?" I asked her.
She did not answer but suddenly stood up and ran. I followed her immediately to see what he was saying earlier.
"Professor!" I even heard Maddie say as she ran towards a garden.
"Maddie! W-Wait!" I called out for her but she ignored me and just kept running.
I noticed that she stopped and I immediately grabbed her by the shoulder.
"You are such a fast runner." breathless I said.
Noticing that she did not answer I looked up. and there I saw a bright thing.
"Maddie?" a gentle voice came from there and gradually there was a woman already wearing a blue coat.
My eyes widened when I saw the woman out of that bright thing.
"W-Wow." I whispered.
"Maddie... We've been looking for you everywhere. All your classmates are worried about you." it said to her.
"S-Sorry Professor Hills, I entered the wrong portal so I was separated from you." said Maddie and then looked down.
"It's okay... As long as you're safe, Maddie." smiling said her Professor.
Her Professor seemed to notice me so she immediately asked Maddie.
"Who is she Maddie?" question her.
"She's Al, Al... This is the professor that I told you about earlier. She's kind and very good at teaching magic!" Maddie said happily. "Professor, Al also saved me when I was almost run over by a truck." Maddie added.
"Oh god, Thank you for saving my student Al. We owe you one." said the Professor to me.
"It's nothing, Ma'am." I replied and smiled.
"Maddie. We need to go back. Everyone's too worried about you being separated earlier." said her Professor.
"Can I ask for 3 minutes? I would like to talk to Al before we go back." said Maddie.
"Sure... take your time, But only 3 minutes okay?" it said to her, and waited for her on the side.
Maddie took my hand and pulled me close to a garden. She looked down and touched her necklace.
"T-This is my locket necklace." she said and slowly she took off her necklace. "Here... take it." she said and then handed it to me.
"I refused... That's yours, your parents might get angry when they look for your necklace." worried I said.
"They won't, that's why I'll give it to you. I wish before I go back to our world, I have something left for you." she says.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I want ... Something to remind you, me. I have a picture inside that locket. For sure you can't forget how I look because you can open it to see my picture." she said laughing. "You are a very good friend. You are my lifesaver, Even for a short time... I'm glad to meet you. I hope I have a chance to see you again. So I give you this necklace of mine so you can remember me." she said and then put her necklace on me.
"In that case ... This is what I will give you." I said and then immediately put my pearl bracelet on her hand.
"Thank you, Al... For sure I will always remember you even though our dimensions are different." she said and then smiled. "I will cherish this forever." she said and then hugged me and I immediately hugged her back.
"Maddie! Come on, we need to go back before the portal closes completely!" her Professor calls her.
She broke away in a hug and held my hand tightly.
"This not 'Goodbye' yet... It's just a 'See you later' so always be careful. I won't forget you." she said and then walked closer to her Professor.
She turned to me first and then smiled before entering.
"WE'LL MEET AGAIN MADDIE! I WILL WAIT FOR YOU!" I shouted.
She just gave a thumbs-up and there the portal closed completely. I don't know why it hurts so much when I see that she has left forever. Even though we weren't that deep together, it hurt me to see her leave.
I immediately wiped away my tears before returning to the place where my older brother and our babysitter were.
"I'll wait for you. Maddie." I said while holding the necklace she gave me.
End of Flashback
To be continued...