Another strange dream

She went out, back to her room. Her hands picked up the books one by one. Then she placed each of them at the empty bookshelves until the last book. She then put the box in the corner, along with the books that had been sorted out for damage.

Her lips curved into a wide smile. Her hand picked up the book she was currently reading. She went to bed and there, continued reading.

》His smile is wicked, almost demonic.

"It's time," he breathed.

He rose and - 《

Jewel yawned and set the book aside. She felt sleepy all of the sudden. She tried to rub her eyes to prevent her consciousness from falling, but that didn't stop the weight of her eyelids. And even before she closed her eyes, she saw someone standing at the foot of her bed.

Later, she woke up breathless. She hastily sat up and panted hard. Her fist closed tightly as she recalled that weird dream. Then, she heard a ring. It was the constant ringing of her phone that made her woke up.

She reached for it and answered the call without looking who's the caller. "Hello," she breathed.

"Hey, you won't believe what I'll say."

She recognized Hazel's voice. A frown was on her forehead. "What is it?" she asked and leaned her back on the headbaord. Her eyes closed as she tried to recall her dream.

It's the same dream again.

But this time, not in a room. They were in the open sea. She was lying on the sand while the man was on top of her. It was dark. Stars were twinkling in an endless dark sky.

"Ara Toga accepted my friend request!"

Hazel's loud cry pulled her from a trance. She coughed a bit as her cheeks started to turn red in shame. She was thinking of that lustful dream while talking to her friend. "W-Well, that's nice. But who's that?"

She heard a laugh on the other side. Her lips pressed against each other as her brow raised. She took a deep breath to calm her troubled heart as her mind wandered again in that dream.

There was something in that man. Whenever she thought about how he held her in his arms, she shivered and she didn't know why. Other people might thought of him as her literal man of her dreams, but she rather had a man in real life than to ponder on a faceless man on her dreams.

Hazel's laughed had stopped. "You don't know her? That's sad, girl. Ara Toga is the most followed erotic author in Bokipad!"

Her consciousness was pulled from trance once again when she heard Hazel yelling from the other line. Her face contorted. She was not deaf for pete's sake!

But she put on a fake smile even though Hazel could not see it. "Is Bokipad the app that you've -"

Hazel cut her words off. "Oh yes!" The girl squeaked. "You're right, girl! Come on, I told you to install Bokipad on your phone. You'll never regret it. There are millions of erotica in Bokipad. You don't have to hoard all erotica in bookstores, girl. Leave it to the others!" And Hazel laughed again.

Her lips formed an 'o' as excitement entered her system. "Is everything erotica?"

"Nope. There are good stories there. Actually, almost all genres are in Bokipad. So, it's not solely for erotica."

Her excitement died down and she shook her head. "I prefer physical books though."

"Duh, try it. And you'll eat your words."

She laughed. "Confident, eh?"

"Of course! That's what I'm reading right now."

A smile was plastered on her lips. She got up and went straight to the bathroom. "Alright. I'll take a bath first," she chirped.

"Okay. Message me when you've installed it."

"Okay."

She turned off the call and put the phone in the bathroom sink. She then took a shower for a while and then she washed her undies. There was something there that seemed to come out from her. She didn't want to let Dalya wash 'em. It's embarrassing.

She came out of the bathroom and put on another dress. She sat up in bed and entered the app store of her phone. She searched for Bokipad and downloaded the app. A few minutes later, she saw it on the homescreen. She created an account and she finally got into the app. A smile tugged the upper corner of her lips as she skimmed over hundreds of professional and unprofessional book covers. It seemed like what Hazel told her was true at all. There were a lot of books to choose from.

She messaged the girl.

[To Hazel: Installed. Suggestions?]

After few seconds, she received an incoming call which she answered immediately.

"Hey! Isn't it awesome? I told you. There are many books in Bokipad."

She rolled her eyes. "Okay. What now? I've already saved some books in my library. Any suggestions?"

"Hello, don't you know that Aranew Taliman has a Bokipad account? Search her profile now!"

"What username?"

"aranew."

"What's with that username? The stench is audible."

They both laughed.

"So? You found it?"

"Yeah. I'm browsing her profile. Mmm... 32 works? Erotica all?"

"Oh yes! Happy long weekend, girl!" Hazel laughed.

She grinned. "Alright. I'll read that -"

She was startled when there was a knock on her bedroom door. She sat up straight on the bed.

"Jewel Laine?" someone called outside the door. It was her mother's voice. "Open this door."

Her eyes widened. She quickly picked up all erotica books on the bed and hid it under the mattress. "Haze? You call later. My Mom is here!" she said in a low voice.

She didn't wait for Hazel's words and immediately turned off the call, exited Bokipad, and placed the phone on the bedside table.

With wide steps, she went to the door while fixing her hair and her dress. She also fixed a smile on her lips before opening the door. "Yes, Ma?" she greeted.

Her mother's eyebrow rose when their eyes met. "Your father told me you fell into the river. Is that true?"

She scratched the back of her neck, a manner she exercised to show off her shyness in front of her mother. But she jumped in surprise when her mother shouted. "Don't scratch your neck, Jewel Laine! Stand up straight!"

She deliberately swallowed hard and complied.

"Answer me properly. Understood?"

Jewel nodded. "Yes, Ma."

"Who gave you permission to go out early? Three o'clock? Are you out of your mind?"

Her shoulders shrugged. "Sometimes...?"

Her mother snorted and deliberately dragged her back inside her room. Her eyes widened. The books might be discovered!

"Ma -" She cut her words when her mother shoved her inside the walk-in closet. She sighed. Almost!

She turned to her mother who was skimming over the dresses. "What's the matter, Ma?" Jewel asked, confused.

"The Mayor is downstairs and you need to dress up. They're here to ask for your hand in marriage."

"W-What?" She wanted to protest but words were trapped in her throat.

Her mother picked a blue dress and handed it to her. It had a simple yet elegant look.

"I'll send Dalya here. Prepare yourself. I'll spank you if you'll look ragged in front of the Mayor. Don't embarrass our family name. Hurry up and they've been waiting downstairs for a while." Then her mother left her caught in surprise.

It was their second time to ask her hand for marriage. Slowly, a frown was drawn on her face. It was... strange.