Flimsy whimpers and unsteady gasps caught my attention, propelling me to open my eyes from my slumber the next morning.

My body moved under the duvet on the bed seeking for the uncanny dismay until I puffed and realized it was not the alarm but a person's unrhythmic breathing.

I shutter opened my eyes and sat abruptly to find Vian sleeping on the small couch that even he had to fold up his legs to conform to on the couch.

Recalling how I protested to sleep on the couch because of my diminutive self but all he did was taking a pillow and slept on the couch ignoring my little rant.

I felt my insides churn, seeing his sleeping figure shuddering and mewling like he was in a nightmare.

Getting up from the bed and caressing my arms because of the ice-cold weather, I went closer towards the couch. "Vian..." I whispered in his ear while caressing his messy hair.

Unlike the ice outside, his body was warm, sweat beads on his forehead making his frizzy hair bangs stick to his forehead.

"Hey, it's okay, calm down..." I said to his unconscious figure, who was in pain.

"Vian!" I spoke a little louder, my voice coming out hoarse because I felt abominable seeing him like this.

I admit, it was not because I was pitying him, but because I cared for him. A lot. Whatever had happened to him was in the past, I just wanted him to be blissfully happy now. It was when I started to cognize that maybe... maybe I like him?

That's what the universe is trying to tell you for a very long time now. Applaud.

Just as I took his name once again, he shot opened his eyes and stayed still in the same position, just his eyes roaming around making him realize a different environ he was transferred into.

His eyes met mine, and he immediately got up, sitting quiet with me beside him. "Take deep breaths, everything is fine, okay?! It was just a nightmare," I said and cupped his face in between my hands.

"Nightmare?" He asked shakily, to which I nodded at him. I hugged him and caressed his back to calm him down.

He brought his hands tardily towards my back and wrapped his hands softly around my body, and tightened his grip gradually.

"I- I-" he tried to speak, but I shushed him and said, "it's okay, everything is okay now!" I continued to pat his back until he was breathing normally, and I broke the hug.

Bitch, at least listen to what he wants to say.

Let him be okay, first?

Are you dumb? What if he wanted to share something which you always wanted to know?

Well, too late now.

➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶

I was busy imagining about how tired I was going to get after the trek we were about to go on.

The professor had sent information about the day's activities. And today's activity included gathering for breakfast at first, then trekking inside the forest within the limited area or casually a rest for all the tired freaks followed by lunch and dinner timings.

In short, just fill your tummy with food and rest? Dream!

I heard the clink sound of the doorknob twisting, catching my focus all of a sudden. I got up from the bed and knitted my eyebrows in confusion at the esthesis, but then I realized it was not the sound of the main door but the bathroom.

Likewise, I shifted my gaze and witnessed the unreal, Vian walked out of the shower, his hair drenched in water ruffled messily. My eyes cast around his form, when I gaped at his strong and muscular arms, sharp clavicle, his perfect torso showing his hardcore abs.

A towel was wrapped around his lower body, and immediately I internally slapped myself and turned around, closing my eyes shut.

"Sorry- I-" I managed to tell and tried to get out of there with my eyes closed when another embarrassing incident happened in my life when I hurt my pinky toe with the bed's corner, bringing out excruciating pain to my foot.

I told you to be careful with your pinky toe, remember! Damn! It's always this can't you hurt your other toes for a change? Or better not get hurt at all for a change?

"Hey, watch out!" He said as I was about to fall forward when he held me by my arm firmly to stable me but being the clumsy me I thumped my other foot on his, making both of us lose balance and fall on the bed.

Here's your crown, clumsy Queen.

He backed his body immediately by being on his elbows to not crush my form under him. My heart started racing abnormally again, seeing him this close to me.

With his eyes not leaving mine, I was too mesmerized by him, that I didn't dare to move. With his face just a few inches away from me, I could see the light cuts on his face, which he had tried to cover up but were still visible if one could see closely.

Without even me knowing, I trailed my finger at those cuts on his face which seemed old but were fresh in his heart as his eyes searched mine even in this closeness. "Doesn't my flaws affect you?" he asked in a deep alluring voice.

"It would have impacted me if you were flawless. So, thank you!" I whispered and bit my lip.

He tilted his head towards my hand and chased his eyes off to my lips then to mine again and leaned closer slower than ever.

I didn't know what I was doing, but it felt just right. I lifted my head a little and attached my lips to his.

He kept his one hand under my head and started moving his lips teasingly slow.

I closed my eyes and reciprocated the kiss with the same warmth. Our lips moved in sync and from a teasing slow kiss, sooner it turned into a more sweet and passionate one.

I let out a small moan as he tilted his head more to deepen the kiss, and so did I to the opposite side, until I pulled out first to catch my breath.

The only sound in the room was our breathing mixed with each other. He rested his forehead on mine, and we stayed in that position for a few minutes until he kissed my forehead and then gave a small peck on my lips again before flaunting me his best smile.

I couldn't help but blush the deepest color of red in the history of colors, and he chuckled at my diffident form.

Finally, your first kiss!

Getting up from the bed, he walked to change into his clothes while I kept recalling my first kiss. With him. I touched my lips and giggled while hiding my face with the pillow.

What are you doing to me, Vian!? I asked myself and looked at the ceiling. That freaking smile, not leaving my face even for a slight second.

What are you guys now? You can't say, friends!

We need to clear this. Soon.

➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶

We were ready to forgather in the common room as per the instructions of the professor.

He wore a navy blue high neck sweater and a black overcoat over it, pairing it with black pants. His hair was messier than ever, but it looked groovy.

"Pastel colors left the chat," my tongue slipped. Shit.

That was my line! What the hell is wrong with you? Don't you need me now?

He checked out his outfit at my comment and commented back, "You know, I have all the colors. I just wear black. No wonder my sky is dark, but you carry all the colors for me in your eyes."

OMG! Is he flirting?

I blushed at his remark, and before I could manage to say something, he walked towards me and stood closer than ever. My heartbeat was messed up at this point and if I did get an ECG test, my report would be abnormally suspected.

"For my hair, they seem to be messier too, right?" He asked and leaned closer to my ear and whispered, "style them as you want."

The day was bright, and the light was enough for my every expression to get noticed by.

He got back and ruffled his hair again to make it messier but to his contrary wish I spoke, "I have kept my diary, will meet you outside, peace out!"

He chuckled at my crimson face. This time, I was the one running away from him.

Admit it, you wanted your hands entangled in his hair.

Shut up! Shut up! Shut upp!!!

I stomped outside the main gate and wandered around for a while until I reached the common meet-up spot.

The village was even more beautiful than what I had witnessed under the moonlight. The sun rays descending on the small cottage houses with greenery surrounding the place looked ethereal.

Vian joined me after a while and after having our breakfast, we started to explore the forest. He intertwined his hand with mine, but I detached it instantly and hugged his arm without saying anything. His faced turned from a confused look to the sweetest one in a flash.

I could witness, other folks had started writing for their plot and many pairs came into sight while our small trek. Some were writing under a huge tree, while some enjoyed writing alone with this pleasant aura of nature.

Where I wanted to explore more to find the most cozy and ethereal place where I could let out all my fascinating imaginations and creativity on the very piece of paper of my diary.

I found a tree swing and I knew what I wanted. I tug at Vian's arm to grab his attention, who was lost in his own world.

Making a cute face, I pointed at the tree swing, and he moved his gaze there. He asked me with his eyes that if I really wanted to swing over on that, to which I nodded my head multiple times.

I sat on the wooden plate tied to the leash to the tree. He checked for the ropes once and then leaned forward towards my side profile, standing beside me.

He pushed the swing a little and gradually the speed modified, I giggled as nature welcomed me in the embrace of the aerial free-fall caressing my face and I heard a similar giggle.

Like someone was there before too and giggled the same way. Right here.

"Who are you? And what are you doing in this restricted place?" An old woman shouted at us.

I got up from the swing and Vian turned around towards the origin of the sound.

A stick was in her hand to which she was supporting her body. Her wrinkled hands and face depicted her later stage of life, a frown forming on her face turned into a shocked expression as soon as she took a view of our faces.

"Your majesty?"

I was confused as hell, as I didn't know why she called out that.

"We are sorry, we didn't know that it was a restricted area," Vian politely said to her, to which she brought her one hand to her mouth.

"Are you okay, ma'am?" I asked.

"It was written. And the unchanged encountered. Destiny brought you over again, this place will illumine up again, the day has eventually come through."

"Wh-what?"

"Welcome abode, Prince Marshall and Princess Bella," she said and bowed at us.

"What are you saying, ma'am?" I asked while raising my eyebrows in confusion.

"I apologize for the incommodiousness reasoned. It'll not happen again, after all this entire place belonged to you, there is no restriction."

"Excuse me ma'am, but I think you have got a wrong idea... we are not you think we are or... are we?" Vian said and looked at me, completing his sentence.

Their eyes were on me while I was busy thinking about how did she know our last names.

She took out a folded paper from her shredded bag and opened it, which had something written on it in Swedish and two pictures of a couple in it.

"I'm going to die this night. Promise me, you won't part with me, you won't cease loving me, promise me you will encounter me in my following beingness." ~Marshall.

"I'll be there for you not till death make us apart, until our souls, our psyches are severed. I give you my soul promise." ~Bella.

"That's the last thing they penned before eloping in the night towards the lake.
And this is their last picture where they were spotted. After that, only their dead bodies were found," she spoke and started crying.

This text? I have heard this before. But how? Was it precognition? How can it be when according to her this all happened in the past?

I looked at the photographs where one showed their backs not giving so much evidence while the other showed their face.

My eyes didn't agree with what was in front of me, as it was a picture of... us?

I looked at Vian searching for his expressions while he had the same one as mine.

"How do you know this?" Vian asked her.

"I heard about this place's history from my great-grandfather because he had witnessed everything with his eyes."

"How can we believe you? The continuum of this place can be found on the internet too," I stated.

"My great-grandfather told me that two youngsters will get together again to reunify the squandered sprightliness. They will come back for what they had promised on this very piece of paper, their souls will reconnect again as promised... I'm glad to see you two here, unneurotic because that means your souls have found each other again. The invisible string has pulled you both together for once and for all," she remarked.

Vian held my hand and dragged my body away from her. I could comprehend her saying, "the purpose of my life is fulfilled. You will believe me one day, I'm sure. You are past life soulmates. But Prince, remember the curse."

Curse?

I glanced back at her, but she was not there.

"Vian, Vian!" I snatched back my hand from his grip.

"What happened?"

"What she said?" I pointed to nobody.

"I don't know."

"What about our photograph? And she knew our last names!"

"Look, let's reach out to where everyone is, for now, we will discuss this later on," he remarked.

Even if it's true, how could she know everything till now?

Duh! At that time too, people were always there.

─•❉᯽❉•─

Thoughts?🦋