Had there been any moment in my life where I would took the time to gaze upon the blue sky? I do not recalled such impression. If anything, I was more accustomed with gazing upon the starry sky when I walked back home from my late night part time job. Even the sound of the birds singing on the tree branches as the breeze of the cold wind caressing my skin set my heart at ease. A feeling of liberation I never had.

It amazed me seeing people chattering while harvesting the rice by hand amidst the wide field. The grin on their face as they wiped off the sweat raised a question in my mind. Were they not tired of their job? How were they able to find contentment under the gleaming sun? Was it not burdening for them? When I saw a man was patting the shoulder of his friend - perhaps - I thought to myself, was it the connection they had that made them so resilient? Envy. I bit my lower lip. My heart was filled with jealousy. I too, wished, I had someone whom I can share my joy, my worry, and my grief.

[Host?]

“What?” This adorable little panda must have been confused by my silence as I have been dazing around since we arrived here. Not that I could continued reading while on a walk now, right?

[Was there anything on your mind?]

“No?”

[You seem out of it.]

“It was nothing,” I said, wracking my brain to shift the topic. “Did you know his specific location?”

[Scanning location… Location detected… He currently went fishing at the back of the mountain]

“By himself?”

[Yes, host. He is alone, apparently.]

“Guess I’ll be strolling around for a bit, then.”

As I went deeper into the mountain, my breathing became uneven. The thin sole of my old shoes brought not only discomfort to my feet, but also increased the throbbing pain with each step I took on the rocky path. I wanted to slap myself for even had the idea that with just having an adult body, my immunity and strength would increased. That shall remained in my dream with how bony my ankle and wrist were.

[Warning, host! Your health indicator showed you are not in the best condition right now! It is best that you took some rest first!]

Everything gone haywire. My mind was fuzzy and my vision went hazy. I kept consoling my heart, just a little bit more and then I would rest. Again and again, as far my feet could go. When I think back to the days I would work tirelessly and taking two to three part time job in one day, I became unable to let myself rest. This is nothing compared to those day, I thought. It was then, I saw my oasis before I fainted due to exhaustion.

When I came around, I was in a place foreign to myself. I was laid upon the soft and silky bedding that I would never imagined to have and never had. The high ceiling was decorated with the most beautiful spiraling chandelier I ever seen. Plastered on the back of my hand was the cannula attached to the extension tubing for IV drip.

“Dehydration, malnourished. On top of that, fatigue from pushing yourself to the brink of death. Might you were trying to end your life, I apologized to intervene. However, please do so away from a private property.”

Searching for the owner of those husky yet gentle voice, my eyes caught on the cold indifferent gaze from the enchanting hazel eyes of the man. Ah. Somehow, I just knew, it was this man whom I was looking for. He took his seat by the bedside. His jet black hair was still wet, probably just got out from bathe. Maybe that was also the reason for this sweet scent that permeated into my sense of smell.

“What were you doing there?” he said, furrowing his eyebrows.

“Hm?”

“You had trespassed into private property.”

“Sorry. I—I didn’t knew. I just… I was taking a stroll, then at some point, I got lost.”

Give me a round of applaud, please. Can’t believe how smooth those words of deception came out from my mouth. Well. Maybe because it was not really a lie. It was true I was taking a stroll. Only that, I was not lost. I was there because that was where you were.

He rubbed his forehead and the wrinkle between his eyebrows dissipated. The glower from his eyes sent a shiver to my spine. Attractive and petrifying at the same time. Sighing, he said, “after the drip, get out of here.”

“Um!” Grabbing his sleeves, I muttered, “could you tell me how to get to the nearest inn or motel around here?”

The astonished look on his face was one like he was looking at a fool. “You. Have you not made any reservation before coming here?”

“Do I have to?” I came in a rush, just to get a glimpse on his face. I thought I could just get a walk-in room while at it.

“There’s only one small inn here. Because of that, any tourist would make a reservation first to get a room. There hardly any extra room for walk-in guest.”

“Eh?”

My twelve long hour in the bus was for this? I held back from the nausea and headache caused by motion sickness for nothing? I laid there morosely contemplating my decision. It was as if all the weariness from the moment I opened my eyes in that white space until now had just caught up to me. My face lit up as I felt my skin warmer. My view get clouded with water.

Now that I think about it, I have not rested my body yet before I passed out due to exhaustion. My mind must have reached it weakest state. There was time when I would bawled my eyes after a long tiring day, complaining to the wall how unfair life treated me. Next day after I woke up from my sleep, I would act as if nothing happened the day before. The cycle repeated itself again and again. That was how I cope with the emptiness within my heart.

“You can stay here.”

His voice echoed through my ears like a saving grace I always dream of. I could not understand how could this man became the key person to the world destruction. I could not comprehended reasons why deviant would go as far as manipulating the fate of this man. I only know one thing. For now, just let me be by his side.