shortstory

Supernatural powers.
I'm not sure what it is with those types of movies but it's one of the strangest obsessions in my life - counting in both normal and sexual ones. I mean, aren't kids supposed to be infatuated with that kind of stuff? I'm not a kid, so why am I so intrigued by such things?

Actually, I do know why. I want to live an easy life, so I try to imagine that I have these superpowers, thinking about how it could have changed my existence. They're full of good things and experiences, so it'd be a win-win situation. The one I really want is called Panmnesia. Come on, being able to remember everything you read or encounter? It'll be easy scores for my tests and exams! Pfft, if only they were real in the first place.

Last week, I chomped down the popcorn within five minutes while I was watching the newest release of ''Avengers'' with my boyfriend, Daniel. I loved the trailer so much that I begged him to watch it with me on the first day of its arrival. He wasn't that big of a fan when it came to action or fantasy movies, but I still insisted. He accepted his defeat and came with me that day. I love him.
I laid on my stomach as the ending credits began to play. I took up the remote and switched off the television. I have not realized how frigid it was until I crawled out of the blankets to stretch. I had been on the floor with a pile of blankets and pillows. The room was small. The whole area was a mess. There were clothes on the floor and countless numbers of piled books and papers on the desk. I'm not sure what those were, but I really hope they weren't homework that was due tomorrow. Turning off the lights, I gazed the faint moonlight that was illuminating the area from the window. I slowly watched the curtains sway as the cool breeze silently flowed through me. The cold air crept and brushed my skin as I shivered.

''You know, you should probably come back here and rest...''

I turned my head in a quick motion towards the voice. It was coming from the blankets that I just writhed out of.

''Daniel...?''

''Who else would it be? Come on, you're going to freeze if you stand there.''

I couldn't see where he was, since it was just, really dark. I thought he was already asleep but I think my obstreperous shuffling woke him up when I tried to get out, or the volume of the movie was simply loud enough to keep him awake this whole time.

I squirmed back into the blankets and came out of the other side. Resting my head on the pillow with a thud, Daniel placed his right arm around my waist and pulled me close. Jeez, he could have given me some time to feel comfortable or something. Hearing his warm breaths made me feel a little uneasy, but I didn't mind it. I placed my arms around his neck and snoozed off.

I opened my eyes, waking up on a bed. The alarm clock that was sitting on a desk beside me had just begun to ring. Pressing the large ''RESET'' button on the clock, I got out and took a glimpse of the room.

It was rather large and neat. My desk was clean, along with the indication of zero blankets on the floor. Everything felt, odd and strange - like it wasn't the house that I used to live in. However, the window looked awfully familiar. The curtains were dancing to the breeze of the wind. The air reminded me of something I've felt before.. but I couldn't quite place what it was. I made my way to the door and started walking down the staircase, towards the washroom.

Something didn't feel right when I walked downstairs... I knew the way to the washroom even though I didn't know where it was.

''Mag? You better be up by now! You have an exam to take in an hour!''

''Yeah I'm awake mom! I'm just getting myself ready!''

An exam? I didn't realize I had an exam today, let alone study for it. Hold on, Mom? I thought I lived alo- o..oh! What am I thinking? Of course, I lived with my mother. I did study for the exam too! Now I remember!

Turning on the tap water, I scooped up a handful amount of water and splashed it across my face. I looked at my reflection on the mirror. At least there wasn't anything odd about my face - it's still as fresh as I remember.

I made my way back to my room, opened my wardrobe and took five minutes trying on different types of outfits. Did I have this many clothes?

Nevertheless, I ended up wearing a close-fitting white t-shirt and a maroon zip-up hoodie, along with shealth-like black jeans.
I rushed to school as I quickly waved to my mom. I was running late and this exam was supposed to be my everything. An entrance examination to the University I want to go to! There was absolutely no way I was going to be late for this.

I began running in a direction I didn't know. Something told me that this was the way to the test site. Fifteen minutes later, I made it to school. Well, it felt more like an apartment - it was way too small to be a school. Did I study here?

I inspected the exterior of the area. Yep, this is definitely a school, and I definitely studied here. The whole building was a dull brown with a basketball court next to it and two glass doors at the entrance. On the outside, it felt like a literal prison.

''Mag!''

I turn to the right, watching the smallest of figures running towards me. I don't know how I heard it from this distance, but I'm pretty sure they were calling my name.

I watched as the guy trip over the one rock that stood out. Everything happened in slow motion. The guy flew a great distance as I widened my eyes with horror the closer he got to me. It felt like being hit by a truck - though I've never been wreaked by one, that was the only image which I could best describe it as.

''Ah I'm really sorry Mag! I uhm, didn't mean t-''

''..Can you p-please get off me...,'' I said as I tried to gasp for air. This guy was sitting on me.

''O-of course!,'' he said as he jolted out of the weird position we were in. I'm pretty sure we were the center of attention for at least, ten seconds.

He offered a hand and pulled me up. I cleaned off the dust that got onto my clothes. He was wearing a black t-shirt, along with black trousers and a black scarf... this guy really loves his blacks huh?

He looked sorry, worry etched on his brow. My expression was indecipherable but inside I wasn't mad or anything. He took it the other way.

After several minutes of 'sorry' and 'I didn't mean to do that', I finally remembered who he was. An acquaintance of mine, Dennis, who used to be my groupmate every time when we did a project. Strange, I don't remember doing anything like that...
Needless to say, we were talking about certain topics that were rather, explicit, as we walked up the stairs. I wasn't aware that he was into, THAT kind of stuff...?

We parted ways as we approached his classroom. I entered mine that was a few blocks ahead of Den's.  It was your average sized classroom. Every desk and chair were neatly placed, just like how it is during the week of hell. Sunlight from the colossal amount of windows reflected the seamless blue painted walls, just like the skies above. The floor was made out of wood, which worried me a little. What if it cracks? Wouldn't we fall towards the floor beneath us?

I'm being way to be anxious about these things. I just decided to walk in, putting aside these pointless fears.

There were already a couple of students who set foot inside before me. Some of them were doing some last minute study, while the others were chatting away with their friends. When they saw me, their expressions dimmed. It felt like they didn't want to continue the conversation anymore, and got back to their seats. I was confused. Why'd they do that? Did I do something wrong?

Soon enough, the classroom was filled with students, and so, began the exam.

It went smoothly. No, too smoothly. There was no way I was able to confidently answer every question in the paper. There were questions I've never seen before, yet, the answers were always at the back of my mind. I couldn't forget it. It was the same way towards everything I've seen today. The washroom, my mother, the way to get here, Dennis, and now, the piece of paper. How could I possibly remember everything within a flash? Is it, some supernatural ability? It could be.. Wait... It has to be... I've read about it! Panmnesia! Just like in the books! The ability to remember everything! Emotions, encounters, experiences, starting from early infancy!
Each student left by one until I was only one left inside the classroom.

To ability, to remember... everything...

When they saw me, their expressions dimmed. It felt like they didn't want to continue the conversation anymore.

The remember... everything...

Why'd they do that? Did I do something wrong?

everything...

The answers were always at the back of my mind. I couldn't forget it.

''Then that means, the bad times will still linger as well, won't they?'', said a voice in my head.

Air quickly rushed onto my body. It felt like I was being blown away by the strongest winds in the whole universe. The ceiling and the walls began to tear apart, revealing nothing but a black, dark void behind them. The desks and chairs were easily thrown away by the powerful gusts that were now pushing me as well. But I still held on. Until the floors were next. The crumbling made me lose my balance. I fell down, rolling on the floor, grabbing onto a crack before it was too late.

However, it didn't matter. The whole floor cracked into pieces - it was made up of wood anyway.  I was free falling in the darkest pits of the void. I couldn't see anything. Not even my hands, though I could feel them, which reassured me a little.

There was a faint white light at the direction of where I was falling. I reached out my arm to it, hoping it'd be an end to this mess. The light got bigger, and bigger until it engulfed me. But it wasn't the light I was expecting.

It was spirals of whites and blacks, with each white spiral representing a chain of events that happened throughout my life. No... none of them were good... NO! STOP!

''STOOOP!'', I screamed as I was remembered of all the things that used to break me down. It made me reminisce my days as a bully. Verbal abuse, physical abuse - you name it, I did it. It now makes sense as to why those students from earlier didn't want to talk anymore - they used to be bystanders, young students who used to watch me bully some kids.

It didn't stop. It only continued. It felt like torture. Each memory played piece by piece, detail by detail. It felt like it was an eternity until it finally ended.

''Fine.'', I said as I sobbed defenselessly, defeated. ''You win. I lost this fight.''

''With great power, comes great responsibility.'' replied the voice.

I woke up with a jolt. Panting like a dog. I looked next to me, and my dearest Daniel sleeping, reverberating with his loud snores. Apparently, he shifted towards the opposite side of where I was sleeping, so I didn't accidentally push his arm elsewhere.
I got up and walked towards the window. I gazed out at the glamorous view.

Panmnesia, the ability to recall everything starting from early infancy. The supernatural ability I wished to have, was more terrifying than I thought. It was when I realized that not only do you gain the power to remember all your studying materials in an instant so that you can ace your exams but in return, you will recall every single bad moment you've had. The worst which you simply never want to remember will creep up on you once it is triggered by something, and you won't be able to stop it. This isn't just for this ability, it's for everything else too. Every single superpower has drawbacks that will you reconsider your choices.

Perhaps, it isn't so bad being powerless after all.