Thin line between dreams and reality

I sprinted away from the terrace without a second thought. 'A man on a neigbouring terrace.'

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. The house behind ours had always been empty, and encountering a stranger there was a first for me. Fear gripped me, and I placed my trembling hands over my racing heart, desperately trying to calm myself down. 'I encountered a stranger and not just any stranger a handsome one.'

In an attempt to distract myself from the encounter on the terrace, I decided to play karaoke.

As the infectious rhythm filled the air, my feet couldn't resist its vibrant beat, moving in sync with the music. Lost in the sway of the melody, I found myself dancing without a care.

But in the blink of an eye, fate intervened to dampen my exuberance. I lost my balance and collided with the bookshelf, a silent guardian beside my sofa.
Ahhhh

A large book, seemingly provoked by my uninhibited dance, crashed down onto my feet with a deafening thud. Pain shot through me, and with gritted teeth, I turned to the offending book.

"How dare you?" I muttered, anger pulsing through my veins. "Out of all the places to fall, why did you choose my feet?"

Despite my frustration, a chuckle escaped my lips as I realized the absurdity of my reaction. I cast a sarcastic glance at the book and remarked, "As if the book could understand me."

I Kneel down to restore the fallen book to its designated spot, But then it caught my eyes, I was captivated by the intricate design on the cover. An inexplicable urge surged within me, pulling me into a mysterious realm I had tried to keep at bay.

I remembered that this book I now cradled had been an unusual gift on my 17th birthday, accompanied by a beautiful antique watch.

The watch found its place above my bed, a captivating piece that had stolen my heart from the moment it adorned my room.

I asked my mom to keep the book safely somewhere. Since I was engrossed in reading romance novels, I hadn't paid much attention to this book, infact i forgot about this book compeletely.

As I focused on the cover, an unknown shiver raced down my spine. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though those penetrating blue eyes were watching me. Today, the image was so evocative that it felt as though the characters were not confined to the page but had come to life to engage with my very soul.

Embracing the book in my hands, I gravitated toward the sofa, feeling the enticing pull of its pages and the unspoken promise it held within. I reclined on the sofa, a soft pillow cradling my head while my legs were folded beneath me. With the book resting on my thighs, supported by my hands, I eagerly opened its pages, ready to immerse myself in its world.


I was immediately drawn into the narrative, it took me to his world.

A young woman with mesmerizing emerald eyes captured the center of the scene, her flawless complexion glowing like moonbeams, and her flowing blond hair shimmering like a silken cascade, Juli Hahn.

To her right stood a tall and confident figure, a man with a warm, enigmatic smile gracing his lips. His piercing grey eyes fixated on the woman in the center, Keylup Witlock.

On the left side of the female lead was the character who had captivated my attention, "The Villain." His sky-blue eyes were like looking into a clear summer day, deep pools of mystery so intense that they seemed to draw me into their depths. His raven-black hair framed his ruggedly handsome face, and his demeanor was both possessive and alluring as his right hand rested on the woman's waist, claiming her in a way that was unmistakable, Adrian de Louis.

I lost track of time, engrossed in the novel from morning until night, eventually falling asleep on the sofa while holding the book.

The book came alive in my dream, I felt as if the very existence of this had been summoned for me. The writer had whispered secrets to the ink, imbuing it with the power to conjure a character to shake my world and Adrian was calling me secretly to reach him.

I saw Juli's first encounter with the second lead, Keylup Witlock, occurred unexpectedly outside her school gate, where boys were strictly prohibited from entering. This chance meeting at the convent school for women marked the beginning of a significant connection, one that would shape their futures in unexpected ways.

Keylup, a youthful 14-year-old, embodied his name's dynamic and kind essence, a lively spirit that seemed to harmonise effortlessly with the world around him.

As he stood there, waiting to pick up his sister Rose, his affable nature was immediately apparent. He was the sort of person who could light up a room with his presence, a magnet for those seeking warmth and friendship.

People gravitated toward him, drawn by the allure of his kind heart and his playful spirit. In him, the boundaries between looks and character blurred; he was the living embodiment of both beauty and benevolence.

Keylup Witlock hailed from a lineage of wealth, with his father, Henry Witlock, at the helm of a prosperous jewellery empire.

His mother, Alexandra Witlock, brought elegance and grace to the family, their names synonymous with refinement and opulence.

The Witlock family's business extended its reach far and wide, entwining itself in the fabric of Europe's jewelled tapestry.

Within the boundaries of their grand estate, the Witlocks lived amidst a world of abundance. A testament to their affluence, they possessed not one, but two Mansion—a summer Mansion to bask in the golden warmth of the sun, and a winter mansion to be embraced by the icy fingers of winter.

Yet, amid all the material wealth and grandeur that surrounded them, Keylup and his sister Rose remained rooted in simplicity.

Their feet touched the earth with a lightness that defied the gravity of their family's riches.

Juli's introduction to Keylup came as as courtesy of his sister, Rose, who was not just been her classmate but also a close friend.

It was in that moment of crossing paths that their worlds converged.

Keylup's gaze on Juli was like the hand of fate, he was inexorably drawn to Juli.

Her beauty was unmistakable, her smile as radiant as the sun, and her green eyes, like emeralds, represented the vibrant young forest in the bloom of spring.

In the depth of that moment, as their eyes met, Keylup felt a connection that transcended words.

He knew, in that heartbeat, that he wanted to explore the mysteries of the world she carried within her.

He smiled seeing her. And then he and Rose strolled toward the awaiting carriage, Juli couldn't let them depart without offering her heartfelt wishes.

Juli raised her voice, a clear and sincere projection of her well-wishes for their journey. " Have a wonderful Journey!"

Her words hung in the air like a gentle breeze, carrying the warmth of her sentiments.

In response, Rose turned with a radiant smile, a silent acknowledgment of Juli's kind words. It was a smile that conveyed gratitude and friendship.

Keylup, ever the charismatic and spirited soul, halted in his tracks, his eyes locking onto Juli. In that moment, as their gazes converged, the world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them.

With a steady gaze, he declared, "See you soon."

It was a farewell that felt more like the prelude to an exciting beginning, leaving Juli with a lingering sense of anticipation and curiosity for the encounters that lay ahead......

****

The alarm clock jolted me awake at 7 am, pulling me out of the dream world. My home was bathing in sunlight streaming through the large balcony door as Gazing at the book lying over me. It was like the book was hugging me.

I took a refreshing cold shower after wonderful dream and a nourishing huge breakfast.

And then i was ready to dive back into the pages of the book, eager to unravel the mysteries of its characters and their tales, all from the comfort of my familiar spot on the sofa.

However, thoughts of the man I saw on the terrace yesterday intruded into my mind like an unwelcome guest, scratching at the edges of my consciousness and it was demanding my attention.

Though I wasn't entirely sure why, I found myself takign a step towards the terrace once again, compelled to seek out the man I had seen there yesterday. Was it a longing for human connection after months of solitary living, or is it the allure of his striking appearance that pulled me towards him?

I am doing something again forbidden. Did i become rebel in 4 months?

With my heart racing faster than ever in excitement, I cautiously opened the door to the terrace, Taking careful steps onto the terrace, I cast furtive glances around, feeling like a thief who is sneaking into someone else's domain.

He was standing right there, where he was yesterday, smoking a cigar, his gaze was fixed in my direction. A smile played on his lips, as if he had caught onto my true motive for being on the terrace.

Once again, i found myself panicking. My body was ready to run again.

However, his voice cut through my fear, drawing me back from the edge.

"I am Dion." he said calmly, prompting me to pause and i turned towards him.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"I am..." I began, hesitating as I struggled to find my voice. Slowly, I lifted my gaze to meet his, I was unable to tear my eyes away from his intriguing yellow orbs, which seemed to glow like the sun.

"I am Sirin." I hastily blurted out my name before turning on my heels and running away to my comfy sofa, leaving him behind on his terrace.

"I spoke to a stranger," i could not believe myself. I was feeling a rush of excitement akin to a child tasting ice cream for the first time in summer.

Giggles were escaping my lips as I relished the thrill of conversing with someone so handsome.

But that excitement did not last long; I felt someone's gaze lingering on me. I Glanced over, my eyes fell upon the coffee table where the book laid, It was whispering to me, sending me a tempting invitation to dive back into its once more.

From afternoon until night, I became so engrossed in the novel that I didn't even realize the passage of time again, forgetting to eat or check the clock.

I reached the concluding pages of the novel, a bittersweet wave of disappointment swept through me.

My heart held a yearning for an answers to questions that seemed just beyond my grasp.

The book's final chapters left me like faint echoes in the silent corridors of my mind.

The disappointment that gnawed at me was directed at Adrian, the villian.

Why he couldn't find the words to express his feeling? Why he couldn't break through to see his own feelings towards Juli?

Tears started to roll through my eyes. I felt his pain. I did want to feel pain.

Just maybe, a different approach, a more candid expression of his emotions, might have allowed Juli to understand the profound sentiments that lay hidden within him, like treasures buried in the depths of an ocean.

I yearned for Adrian to seize the opportunity to unravel the enigma of his own heart, to offer Juli a map to navigate the labyrinth of his emotions.

Perhaps, I believed, in doing so, they could have forged a connection that transcended the barriers of misunderstanding and miscommunication.

The author's decision to end Adrian's story in a painful tone served as a reminder that not every narrative is woven with threads of happiness and fulfilment. The journey of love is rarely a straightforward path.

I went inside my room, i looked at the picture of Adrian in novel, a character who had stirred my emotions.

I witnessed his struggle to understand the language of his own heart through the pages. He, unable to articulate his emotions, grappled with understanding the depths of his own feelings.

Tears were still streaming down my cheeks, a testament to the intensity of my uncontrollable emotions. I longed to see his happiness, to witness the beauty of his love story.

I closed my eyes, gazing outside the window, and prayed, "I wish you discover the happiest path, where love will be the only thing blossoming for you."

After making my wish, I brought the novel close, containing a single picture of Adrian. I drew the image of him nearer to my lips, placing a gentle kiss on his lips and then i captured his picture through my phone.

"Who are you?" Distant sound like in my dream i was hearing it.

I mumbled his name “Adrian “, in a half-conscious daze.

But then, in response to my utterance, I heard a voice,

"Interesting."

'Did i hear something?'

I considered the possibility that I might be hearing things. The night before, I had cried myself to the edge of sanity, and the remnants of that emotional tumult lingered in my senses still.


"Who are you?"

Chapter end