[Music Recommendation: "Sunny Mornings" by Peter B. Helland (instrumental only)-available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

The idea of not having Hora with me for the next two days was beyond dreadful. If I experienced separation anxiety when Crystal was gone, what more would it be without Hora? She's been with me since forever! Even in my previous life. We're like salt and pepper—never the same without the other! Haaaah… how would I ever survive this weekend?

But more than my measly worry, what's more important was Hora and her aunt's family. I hope they're all okay…

'Ugh… Silky. You're just a teenager but look at the mess you caused. Now, everyone is worried about you and your family. What in the world is going on?'

How I wished I could just confront her about it but Hora insisted not to. I had been wondering why though. It's not like a teenager could do something worse—okay, maybe she could since she already managed to put all this trouble for us.

At times like these, I couldn't help but overthink and try to solve the mystery—no thanks to my ever curious mind. Just this week alone, I probably thought of about a hundred scenarios that could have happened. But I had no proof of them so theories they all remained.

Anyway, today was Saturday, my first day of not having Hora around. I somehow managed to survive last night with barely any sleep. Now, I'm not sure how I would survive the rest of the day. Maybe I'd start by not thinking about her too much. It would be fine. Let's be positive. Right. Positivity that I barely had.

"Maybe I should try writing for today," I murmured to myself as I laid in bed, with my head hanging on the sides. I felt lethargic due to my lack of sleep. And since I lacked sleep, would I even be able to write anything? "Coffee… I need coffee." Yup. Just the thing I needed to wake every cell in my being.

Pushing myself to get up, I rang the maids and asked them to bring coffee in my room. Then, I took my laptop and sat at the couch, pushing the coffee table nearer to me so I could work on my writing. I didn't fancy writing on my bed since normally, just being on my bed was enough to make me sleepy. And my study desk was a mess because of all the books I left open there last night while trying to finish all my homework since I couldn't sleep. So the only safe place to write right now was on the couch. Or actually, I could transfer to the balcony—there's also a table and chairs over there. Perfect with the view of the garden from below. Ugh. But I'm too lazy right now. I should just do that later.

Few minutes passed and the maids were back with the coffee set, and some cookies and biscuits for snack. It was still too early—five in the morning. Yeah, my dawn body clock was still alive and kicking. I would probably keep waking up before dawn even when I'm older. As they said, old habits die hard.

And so, I tried to continue my new book, or rather, second book, since it's not really that new anymore. I already wrote a few chapters of it. Writing it, I figured it would be best as a series and not just one book. I'm already done writing half of it and I'm still barely at the surface of how the whole story would play out. Right. Four Volumes should suffice. Or maybe… this book would be best as… a series, not a movie? There's just so much going on that I couldn't imagine it being summed up in just one movie. Or it could be a series of movies, too? Hmmm… well, whatever. I'd let the Producers work on that—if ever this book would be good enough to impress them.

Unlike my first book, this second one, "The King's Beloved"—just a title I thought up for now—was something I had to create from scratch, especially the world and how magic worked in it. From its flora and fauna, to its complex politics, and down to its inhabitants which I called "Magi", everything was fully conceptualized by me.

In Armageddon, somebody else created the world and I just had to add things from there to form the lore, and then the characters. World building was a really complex thing to do. One thing I learned as I wrote this fantasy story and from the lessons at school, was that the world building itself could make or break a book. I mean, if I'm a reader, I wouldn't want to read about a story done in a world that didn't make sense. Or a world that was lacking or incomplete in many ways. Or maybe it was just me being too much of a perfectionist? Either way, world building was really important. That's why it would often take years for great books to be made such as Henry Potter, Harnia, Seragon, and so much more.

Apart from world building, what's really special about this book was the concept of the "12 Trials" for the male lead. I still couldn't figure out how I'm supposed to squeeze in those twelve trials into one book—it's impossible. Maybe I should cut it in half? Actually, even that might not be enough. Each trial could be a movie of their own—that would be 12 movies! That's too much. Haaah… Right. I should think thoroughly on how I wanted it to be showcased in the future.

As I busied myself with writing down random ideas that popped into my head, I didn't notice that someone came in and sat on the couch in front of me.

"It's so early in the morning but you're already busy."

It was Kaiden—wait, what?! Kaiden, awake at dawn? This early? For real?

My eyes widened in shock and I immediately stopped my writing.

"Kaiden! You're there. What brings you here? And yes, so early in the morning. Are you fully awake now?" I replied, in an almost shouting manner.

"If I said I'm not, will you let me sleep here some more?" Kaiden asked, smiling mischievously— enough to make me blush.

'Isn't it a bit too early for us to flirt?'

"W-Well, if you want. My bed is free since I'm busy here."

"Oh," he replied, sounding dismayed. Then, in a murmur, he continued, "I thought you'd join me."

OMG! I almost spilled my coffee! And my face was starting to feel hot. Yes, Sena. That's what you call the "Kaiden Effect".

Kaiden stood up, transferred to my couch, and sat beside me. Seeing him up close, he seemed to be still sleepy and looked like he forced himself to wake up. But why? He didn't have to.

"Are you okay? If you're still sleepy, you can—"

Suddenly, Kaiden, who was staring at me intently a few moments ago, slid down the couch and laid down, with his head using my thigh as a pillow.

Badump! Badump! Badump!

My heart went wild in my chest.

'OMG OMG OMG! What is the meaning of this? W-why is he suddenly… Kyaaaaaaa!!! I can't take this. He's too cute! Don't tell me he went here just to cuddle? Is he having a hard time sleeping, too? KYAAAAAAA! That's so adorable. My heart.'

"Can I sleep here?" Kaiden asked, his tone softened and a bit husky. He seemed to be really tired. Maybe I was right. He's having trouble sleeping, that's why he came here.

"S-Sure! Go ahead. Wherever you're comfortable."

Kaiden chuckled. "Yes. This is a very comfortable place."

"I'm glad you like it."

"Senara."

"Yes?"

"Are you feeling okay?"

Ah. I knew it. He's worried about me. Somehow, that fact alone warmed my heart. He's really so sweet, and caring, and everything. How could others see him as a grumpy person when he's so kind like this?

"Actually… not so much. I'm worried about Hora, and her aunt's family. But I'm trying to be positive. Maybe we're just overthinking things, you know. And hopefully, we all are. That, and Hora's absence is making me a bit sad. I'm not used to it."

"What a clingy friend," he jested.

"Ha-ha-ha! Yes, I am."

"Ahhh… this boyfriend is jealous."

"Pft! Ha-ha-ha-ha! What? Say that again!"

Seeing I enjoyed hearing it, Kaiden replied with a strict tone, "No. I'm not repeating it."

"Oh, come on. Please."

"I said no."

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! So you're jealous of Hora? Do you want me to be clingy to you, too?"

"That doesn't sound so bad."

Then, pointing at him laying his head on my thigh, I asked him, "So… is this you being clingy to me?"

Kaiden chuckled. "Yes. Can't I?"

"You definitely can."

We ended up smiling sweetly at each other. Then, he got up and kissed my lips. Wow. I should really get used to this kissing. It's driving me crazy again. These warm, soft, and smooth lips…

"Ahhh… Kaiden," I moaned through his kiss.

"Yes?"

"… I love you."

"I love you, too. So please, stop worrying and hurting yourself unnecessarily."

"Yes. I'm sorry."

And just like that, the heavy weight on my heart was gone in an instant.