"Damn things are so expensive here." Maple said as he picked up potatoes from the vegetable isle in the super market.

"They are in rupees, dumbhead, much cheaper than USD." Loraine said and handed Maple a calculator. "You can do the calculations now." Maple put his hand into his jeans pocket and took out his phone.

"Why are you carrying a freaking calculator?"

Loraine felt embarrassed and left.

"Geez and you call me dumb." He laughed and roamed around the isle until he found a lady who seemed to struggle with something. "Hey, ma'am, do you need any help?"

She got startled, seeing the blonde haired.  "You should be the one who needs help, dear. Are you from the US?" She smiled.

"Ah, yes." He laughed nervously. "But I can still help if you need."

"Actually today is the death anniversary of my late fiancé." She looked at her basket.

"Wha-"

"So I want to make something for dinner. His favorite dish. He's everywhere. I feel. He'd be here for dinner." She said quite emotionally. Maple gulped and helped her pick the ingredients she needed.

"She reminds me of the girl they talked about in the news." He said to Loraine as they watched the lady leave the supermarket.

"Nonsense. Indians look the same."

"No, I've only seen her who looked exactly how they described her. And Arorhea too, since they mistook her." Maple said seriously. "And that lady told me that today was her late fiancé's death anniversary. I believe it's her. But she seemed depressed about it. I don't think she did any-"

"Innocence. If she's the one, you were fooled by her innocence."

"No, I wasn't. Hey wait-" He paused. "What if it was Arorhea?" Maple ran out of the building to ask her name.

"Arorhea is a school girl, silly!" Loraine facepalmed and ran after him.

* * * * *

"Life is weird. You have a great childhood, you have an annoying younger brother, you go to abroad, you meet a guy, you start liking him and then your life is turned miserable by his admirers. And in no time, you're blamed for a murder. When you're just 15."

Arorhea lied on her bed, staring at the ceiling fan. "And then you're back to the country and feel uneasy with another boy from school. Life is weirddddd! Why can't I just pass on?!"

"What are you yelling for?" Jessica comes in with some snacks.

"You're not my mom, don't ask me to behave. I had a bad dream and I feel tired now." She spreaded her arms on the bed.

"What did you dream about?" She asked, placing the tray on her bedside table. Rhea looked at her and then back at the ceiling fan.

"I can't tell you. It's weird."

"Uh, just tell me. Did you see your crush in your dream?" She laughed.

"I-" She got up. "I played back my memories in my dream. And also, some glimpses of memories I don't even know exists. I witnessed death, someone leaving me, sweet autumn clemetis, suffering, losing memories and...another death-"

Jessica was stunned by her words. The one who was so into the 'meaning of dreams' topic was now completely out of words as she listened to Rhea's.

"So...w-what was common in both of your memories and those weird glimpses?"

"...Ember..." She said as a teardrop escaped her eye. "I used to dream of someone like him constantly until I finally met him." She wiped her eyes. "And I dreamed of him again. In the weird dream. Again." She stared at the carpet blankly.

"Does that mean you're gonna meet him soon?"

"I don't know. I don't know if he's doing well. I don't know if he's healthy. I don't know if he's alive." She started crying heavily and rushed into the bathroom to lock herself in so that no one can see her cry.

The day went on and she went back to her normal self. She found the canvas in her wardrobe which she didn't use for long. It was taken out and colors where brought. She stood at the balcony and the sun rays of the setting sun landed on her face. She turned around to see the moon peeking out from the clouds from the opposite side of the sky.

"I remember how I met you on the day of the painting competition." She sighed.

Neel stood at his balcony to watch Rhea paint. She didn't notice him until she was done with her work. But she only noticed him when he left.

"That guy doesn't seemed to understand. I don't like being with him." Then something struck her mind. "Neither did HE."

* * * * *

"Hey, have you seen a girl with brown hair and brown eyes?" Ember asked a random stranger he could find on the street. She blinked at him rapidly with her eyes widen in surprise. She had never seen anyone wearing a beanie and sunglasses at the same time in real life.

"Uh..." She brushed her hair.

"Ugh, she has short hair!" He looked at her and her expressions were still the same. "I mean, a girl with short brunette hair who has brown eyes and who is NOT you."

"Oh?" She said. "No."

Ember: 😑😑😑

"Nevermind!" He ran away.

"Weird!"

* * * * *

*ding dong*

"Ah! Must be mom! I'm starving! Hope she brought something to eat. I'm so tired of that girl's cooking." Noor danced to the door and opened it with excitement. "Oh..." Then his excitement fade away. "Come in." He had a longing face after seeing Alicia at the door.

"What's with that face? The most beautiful girl in the whole world is standing in front of you. And after all, I'm an elder to you. Pay some respect, yaar." Alicia nagged and walked to Arorhea's bedroom.

"Geez." He closed the door.

"I made cookies." Jessica said.

"Really??" He popped like a spring and bounced on the floor with excitement.

"But aren't you tired of this girl's cooking?" She smirked.

"Ugh!" He snatched the plate from her and rushed to his room.

"Give it back! It was to be eaten when I watch my favorite TV serial!" She ran after him.

* * * * *

"Alicia!" Rhea greeted her. "How have you been lately?"

"Nevermind that. Tell me why haven't you been to school!"

"Uh...because...no reason?"

"Nevermind that as well. You know today has been so strange!" She nagged.

"Well what happened?"

"I dreamed of death! Do you know what that means?? Dreaming of death means something is going to end!"

She was taken aback for a moment. "T-that doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing. Maybe your favorite drama is ending this week." Rhea laughed.

"No! It isn't! I'm serious, Arorhea!" Alicia gasped. "And it's not one, two deaths!" Alicia said. "Remember we once had strange dreams in the same night?? Ugh my head is spinning right now and I'm having a stomachache I guess!" She grabbed a pillow for comfort.

"A-are you okay?" Rhea concerned. "Can you tell me what was that dream about?"

"J-just random scenarios. Including my childhood. I know it was me the whole time, but some glimpes were hard to recall."

"And how did it end?"

"It ended...with me passing out."

-to be continued...

"Who is the brown-eyed girl you're looking for?"

—Arorhea Laghari, Afterlife Of Ember And Rhea!