UNDRESSED BY THE KING

~ Nicolette ~ When I was young, my father always told me the best profession on the planet was being an archaeologist. Considering he was one probably explained his admiration for the job. He was so dedicated to it; so into his work that every time he returns home, he always brings with him a piece of his discovery. You could only imagine how our house looked like with all the relics and stuff.And probably, that’s the reason why I became an archaeologist myself even though I graduated with a degree in Education. I became fascinated with it too.He said the work entailed long hours of digging, getting dirty, and getting dried up under the sun, but the result takes all the tiredness away. We get to discover a new world, a new life, or a new object that was worth our time and effort.Another reason why he said that was because of a one-in-a-million chance. A chance that we get to be in two places at the

~ Nicolette ~Mango juice, beef with broccoli, and mashed potatoes—those three were my order right after I sat inside a restaurant right across my apartment. It was my food for the night, being that I didn’t want to stay at home and cook. This has been my routine ever since I left my family’s house to live on my own. I love this restaurant; its interiors were the best and the food great, plus the new environment gave me time to ponder more on what happened to me yesterday evening.Even though I considered it just a dream, the memory of that unusual place was still fresh in my head. Every bit of it, from the colors of the water and the sky, to the smell of the place, to the feeling of being there.It was indescribable. It was with no explanation.First thing in the morning, af

 ~ Nicolette ~ “No, I can’t go, but thank you for the invite,” I replied, looking at Professor Malorie who most graciously took the ancient mirror out of my apartment. Oddly enough, when he admired the thing and even touched it, nothing happened to him. It led me to believe that its curse—if it was even called one—had already stuck to me and it was nowhere near transferring to another poor soul.But whatever. I am just happy enough that it’s out of my hair for good.“Are you sure? You are a donor, too. You helped us quite a lot in establishing the museum.” The professor looked at me in disbelief.I avoided his gaze and stared at the carpeted hallway of my apartment. “I...I have other plans for the night, pro