"Emma! How long has your mind been wandering?" An oval-shaped face with 2 beautiful hazel eyes is zooming on her view. Emma backed up a bit to take some fresh air as she got a cold in the spine.

"I am sorry Ivory.." Her eyes lash down as her voice barely sounds. Seems like she was talking to a ghost.

"Who stole your soul away today?" Ivory gave out a deep breath, her voice cooled down and sounded calm. Emma found a hand on her shoulder. Maybe it's time for her to get back to the Chemistry laboratory room too.

"If there is anything, I hope that you'll be willing to share them with me. We are friends." Ivory left her place and quickly her figure blended in with the crowd of students. Left little Emma with mixed thoughts.

—

It's been a while since Emma last saw this ash-gray door. As her sensation activated and sent her signals from the brain that told her that this door is wet. She removed the warmth she gave the holder of the door immediately.

It seems like the weather wants her to leave immediately. She has no desire to find peace in the cemetery anymore. The clouds are roaring as it gets darker and darker.

The lyrics are whispering into her ears. Telling her events that aren't really about her, things that she does reflect on as her feelings. The song sounds even better when the rain background comes on. At this point, Emma can't define which of the drops are rainwater and her tears. It doesn't matter anymore when all of her is wet and heavy. Like a rat on the street, being disgusted by everyone. Damn, you see. The lyrics affected her, it led her to things that... At least hopefully no one thinks about her like that at the moment.

But she likes it this way, she loves how hopeless romantic she is right now. At least she could express and stay in tune with the feeling of a rollercoaster. The romantic songs repeatedly came into her mind, soul, heart, and body through the ear. The cold feelings when thousands of needles approached your face, then immediately vanished when they only touched the surface. The wet and humid smell of water, of clothes that are stuck into the body, of the hair that might need a warm shower to clean all the dust, and yes, of course, the heart's pieces that are jumping around inside the crystal skin in every move she makes forward. Which is multiplied by the number of pieces it became.

"Oh gosh Emma hurry up inside, you will catch a cold!" Emma's grandmother opened the heavy brownish door for Emma. Emma agreed as the water drops fell after her.

The water from the shower gave her a shake, at least it is Friday. She can sleep if she wants and needs to.

Her steps feel like slow motions. The faster her legs move the lighter and more lack of balance she became. The less than 5 meters road now seems to be 5 miles instead.

As Emma peacefully lands on her soft bed, smelling the familiar cozy scent around her and the warm blanket all over her cold skin. A smile was created on her face. Even though her head seems to break into two, she still managed to think about her love.

Before she accidentally gets into the lucid dream again.

—
The first thing Emma saw when her eyes started to show her the scenery around her. It wasn't the beautiful trees and leaves falling on her like the last time she shifted to this reality. It wasn't the ceiling and she is not covered in the blanket that Aleck gave her when she slept in the guest room. What is in her view is many white clouds with different shapes slowly moving, like they are trying to procrastinate the destination just to take a look at a human being coming from nowhere. The grass feels like feathers when it touches her hand. Emma finally stood up after a few minutes of struggling because the wind was almost able to fly her away. Emma took a look down and realized she is wearing someone else's dress. Turning around like a blind person, trying to find the owner of the dress. But it seems like she is the only human being within 1 km.

After an endless walk, Emma managed to see a village at the end of the hill in front of her. It could be real, or just a moment her hallucination came up because of thirst and hunger. Her feet feel like wings the closer and bigger the houses became.

All of the house seems to be old-fashioned. At least in the last 90s. Emma tried to call someone, maybe her voice wasn't loud enough, or no one is living inside the house. This reminds her about the back room level 94. A fear rises inside her like a monster quietly asking for its food. But she knows it won't stay calm for long.

"Hello?" She is standing in front of a big house that is made of wood and white bricks. After a lifetime of silence, Emma took the rest of her courage. The answer she got was her echo and the silence. Emma slowly pushed the door and it showed her a living room. All the furniture seems to be clean and new. Finally, Emma can take a normal breath when she sees the flames inside the heater. At least there is a sign of life.

"Who are you?" A man's voice came from behind as Emma entered her first step into the kitchen. Her body's temperature sinks as all of the joints seem to freeze for a few hours. Even her heart seemed like it had stopped beating.

A hand touches her shoulder, then her whole body turns back like a spin. An ugly old man smiles at her with a very perverted face. As her face turned white he got closer to her.

"Look like this young beauty has lost her way, let me help you." He said as his breath got heavier and Emma swore that his under there was pointing at her.

"Don't run away. We all have plenty of time." Her back reached something round, hard, and long. When he was 5 cm from her she hit his back head. A scream and someone holds his head. Emma took the one-in-a-million chance, but a force pulled her hair back and she just felt like her whole body was flying away, or at least her soul did. One side of her cheek is burning.

"You fxcking wh0re. Who the fxck you think you are to behave like that?" When Emma's head stopped shaking and her ear heard the words that the monster said his fat figure was already in front of her. She wants to kick him on the d- but it seems like both of her feet are swollen.

"Great, I am going to be r@ped." Emma is ready to end her life as she is holding a little knife she took with the bake roller that she used to escape earlier. She would rather die than give her living body to this disgusting monster. She doesn't want to be a killer for killing this monster though.

Her eyes are covered in the dark, ready to su.c.de when his first nail lay on her. Her thoughts are running like a time machine in reverse. She misses her family, friends, her twin flame, and of course... Aleck. The time she spent with him was so magical.

"I'm sorry, I can't continue being with you anymore.." The knife is shaking inside her hand, but she is ready as the heavy breathing was next to her right ear. It wasn't a satisfied whisper, but rather her creepiest dream.

But someone or something kicked her knife away, the sharp yet sweet slim cut at her right arm forced her eyes to open. The monster seems to be unconscious. Laying next to the window behind the dinner table. A familiar, tall, and strong figure is having their back to Emma's blurry view. Even so, her guts tell her immediately who it is.

"Damn it!" That figure left out a swear, then Aleck's face slowly appeared closer to hers. Emma feels like her whole body is boneless and soft like a rag doll as he lifts her and carries her. She never experienced being this tall before.

"Aleck..you don't have to carry me.." Aleck shook his hand, he gave her a stern and determined look. "You are injured, very injured. I will take care of you." Emma turned her head away because her face is getting unusually hot like a pancake being covered by a light layer of jam. This is the first time she is being carried by Aleck.

"We should hurry out, this place is unsafe. Hold tight little rose." The only reaction Emma could do is holding tightly to Aleck's white blouse as her hair constantly flew forward. If anybody who doesn't have a clue would think that Aleck is kidnapping her because of his reaction, her clothes, and her sore body as the witnesses.

Emma closes her eyes and lands her head on his wide and stable shoulder. This is one of the moments when she is allowed to be close to him, physically without being unbecoming. She must write down the details in her digital diary when she comes back to her reality.

"You can open your eyes now," Aleck whispers in her ears with warm breaths, which makes her whole body tense up. A bunny she is and he is the (innocent) wolf that successfully gave her shivers, good ones. Responding to her silly reaction, Aleck giggles and gives her a scratch on the head, and waves at someone from afar. He lets Emma land on a couch outside a building that seems to be a hotel in American cowboy movies.

"Little rose, don't you know that you are sometimes too lovely?" Aleck's finger touches her hair and puts it behind her ears as the wind creates relaxing sounds when it gets across leaves on the trees. His gentle eyes got an extra light that makes it even more lively than normal. Oh God Emma loves those eyes so much. So gentle, so light, like an angel.

"Aleck. Are you flirting with a young lady during the daytime?" A middle-aged man in a horse wagon lands on the ground with a grin. Emma turns herself immediately as Aleck's cool fingers leave her skin.

"Fun joke Edvard, I have to admit." Emma finds herself being helped to stand up and one of Aleck's hands on her shoulder. "This beautiful young lady is my new friend. She was in a..complicated trouble and thank God I was there to save her at the time." It's when Emma's hands cover her body again and tremble with embarrassment. How could she forget her situation?

"I see. So where will we be heading?" Edvard looked away, and Emma claimed it respectfully. Aleck seemed to sense her awkwardness, pulling her closer to himself just to make his heart beat so strongly as the sounds came to Emma's ears.

—

"I am sorry for putting you into such a situation." Emma covers herself with the weapon's curtain.

"It's nothing wrong. I have to say sorry to you." Oh no not again... was Emma thought when Aleck gave her that sorrowful look. The one she saw when he talked about her. She never wants to make him sad in any possible way.

"Why should you do that?" Emma was startled when Aleck came closer to her, holding her small hands inside his. Emma gasped, not because his hands are very cold. They are chill. But because her hands fit perfectly in his one hand. The size of her hand has never been a trigger for Emma until now.

"Because if I came there earlier, that monster won't even have the choice to touch you." A wind from the window behind them lifts Emma's long hair. As Aleck lifts one of her hairpieces behind her ear. It felt like she was his woman, not a friend.

"You did your best.." Emma looks away just to hide the transparent liquid attempting to fall from her eyes.

"Did he hurt you somewhere?" When Emma shook her head, her eyes widened because of the unprepared hug from Aleck. Her whole body is again covered by his, the scent of him, the strong and stable shoulder, the delicate and gentle voice, all of them from the man she loves. Emma let out a small cry and she doesn't know why. She just felt so weak, scared, and helpless. Helpless because she could not protect herself like she usually does. Helpless because the man she loves had to see her in that situation, in those clothes.

"I promise I won't let anyone hurt you. If I become a ghost I'll follow to protect you-" Emma puts a finger on Aleck's soft lips. "Don't say these unfortunate things. You're gonna live long, even longer than me." Aleck opens his mouth, but Emma knows what he wanted to say when she said: "Everything is alright now, so there is nothing to worry about in the present."

Aleck did not say anything, he just stared at Emma for the rest of the trip, with those gentle eyes. The beautiful scenery outside the window was doing its best to show her how beautiful this man is.

The smells of fresh air and daisies eventually make Aleck's eyes close. Slowly but carefully. Emma gives him a soft forehead kiss. Just to find out Edvard was smiling at her from his reflection window. Emma smiles back and puts her finger on her lips again.

—

"Which one do you find more suitable for me?" The dress spread itself, making Emma become a flower. The way the silk just falls from her palms makes Emma feel like she is a real princess.

Aleck looks at her while she walks back and forth in front of the two dresses. She a dark blue long silk dress with a long scarf that sticks with a hat made of white pearl and a wine-red dress that shows her curves of her. That red is connected with a black fur coat which looks so classy on Emma. Emma looks so gorgeous in them, any man could be fallen for that-

Aleck shook his head, what the heck was in his mind? Such inappropriate thoughts. Emma is still a minor. "Those thoughts were so disgusting, thank god that she can't read my mind..." But maybe his expectations were far when Emma's hand landed on his cheek, which made him realize how red they were.

"Are you alright? Is this place too warm?" Aleck stood up, trembling inside.

"Yes, I feel a little dizzy. Let's go and let me pay for you." Emma shakes her head with surprise.

"That would be too expensive, I haven't paid you anything back since the last time we met." Aleck raises one eyebrow, he never wants her to feel like she owes him anything. Because he gives them all to her with pure willingness.

"No Emma, all of the things I did for you are with pure willingness. Because you are my friend, I am willing to help you until you luckily get out of this world completely." Emma does not say anything. Because if she opens her mouth the cracking and bitter feeling will pour out.

"Thank you very much. I will wait outside." Quickly she disappears from the room before Aleck could say anything. She rather acts weird than show her emotions through her tone.

"That would be 200 dollars total." The tall and skinny woman in front of Aleck calls his name twice, he finally wakes up the third time.

"I am truly sorry, Mrs. Thompson. I was distracted by some thoughts." Mrs. Thompson smiles. While she folded the dresses and put them into a bag, she asked Aleck something that stole his attention from her instead. Or her question.

"Why does that young lady who is now standing outside of the store look ill? Maybe it's a bit too windy today. Soon it's winter already."

"Is she?" Now it's Mrs. Thompson's turn to raise an eyebrow at him. And again her response made Aleck confused so much, as a weird feeling started to tingle inside him.

"Isn't she your new lover? You should have a better look than me." Aleck's face became itchy again, like the way it felt when he had those inappropriate thoughts about Emma.

"No, we are just friends." "She is a minor." Mrs. Thompson gasps and then looks around. Make sure that no one was nearby except them two. Then she put something inside Aleck's palm.

When he opened his arm, it was a few coins. Always like usual, Mrs. Thompson explains her action.

"You know, there is a coffee shop nearby, where you two can buy something warm to drink." Aleck nods immediately, now he understands what she meant. He had been so blind to be a gentleman.

**

"Here you go, one for you and one for me." Aleck winks and Emma's eyes light up like a candle in the middle of the night, even though the lamps inside the coffee shop are turned on. The classical music and sounds of coffee seed grinding together with the delicious smell of the hot chocolate cups gives her a sense of comfort. Aleck stops drinking when he realizes Emma hasn't even touched her cup for once. She just kept staring at him with thoughts that he can't see through.

"What's wrong, little rose? You don't like chocolate?" Emma shakes her head a bit, her eyes moving down at the hot air from her cup, then back to Aleck.

"No, please don't get me wrong. I just.. think that it is very cute and relaxing to watch you drinking and enjoying your own company. Did I make you feel unpleasant?" Aleck stunned himself for a few moments, then shook his head.

"Why should I feel uncomfortable? I was just curious." Emma nods and takes a sip from her cup, the heat through the ceramic turned her finger's skin from pale to slightly pink.

"I don't know how to say this without being weird. But I do enjoy your company." Aleck starts the conversation, breaking the invisible ice wall between them. Emma couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, wondering why he started this conversation. Even though she knows that it probably isn't anything bad at all.

"You are a kind, beautiful, loving, and mysterious person. I am glad we are friends." Emma has no clue if Aleck notices the weird time timing when she took a sip of chocolate when he said the word "friends" as she knew that he would say that.

"Can you do me a favor, because you are the only one that can help me?" Emma let her breath out of her chest, she was afraid of something else that came from him. Could not help to hide a slight of happiness, Emma continues.

"Go on."

It takes a while for Aleck to say what he wants to say. When he finally made it Emma senses a feeling of sadness yet happiness at the same time. She can't say which one of them is stronger than the other.

"I know things between me and her are over. But I just want to make sure she has a good life with the one she married. Can you update me about her life sometimes? It might help me to get over her, which I know it's hard but not impossible.." Little did Aleck know, or he does but Emma has no idea yet. But she never can reject this man's request. As long as it does not harm other people she loves and stays against her morals.

"That wouldn't be a problem. Would you like me to tell her that-" Aleck puts a finger on Emma's lips, which was something she never expected. She gave out a small squirm and Aleck removed his hand so fast that it made her skin's hair stand up on her face for a second.

"Pardon me. I just... Please don't tell her. I just want to care about her from afar." "Good." Was the thought inside Emma's head as she sincerely held Aleck's hand and he did not push her away. She did not hold his hand in a tight and forcing way. But a tender and soft one. As he is made of glass or crystal.

"It seems like Aleck Riverbow is not just a handsome, rich, and young gentleman, but he is exquisite too." Emma tried her best to not blush herself when she luckily activated the blood veins to converge on his cheek. 

"Hey I am not that good.." Aleck looks away but Emma knows he secretly likes that compliment. Look how red he has become.

"Alright alright. I was just telling the truth." Aleck's face slowly zoomed into Emma's and then...

"Auch!" "That hurt!" Emma let out a small whimper. Touching her forehead and rubbing the area that turned slightly red. What she got back is a giggling smile while Aleck moves his head left and right like he enjoys her reaction.

"That is what you got for teasing me way too far," Aleck said as he rang the metallic bell next to him. Which creates the sound and properly the vibe of Christmas too. Who can Emma blame since the bell has snowflakes drawing on it?

"Yes, may I help you sir?" A young woman, around 20 ran from the back room toward them. And Emma was sure that she fell in love with Aleck immediately. Look how sweet her voice became and her weird "gestures for customers" things. But who can help but fall in love with this stunning man? That is ineluctable.

"I would like to pay for these drinks." The woman nods and calculates the prices. Emma questions herself if she has no patience or if this woman increases the time to stay close to Aleck.

"That would be 15 dollars, sir." Aleck gave her the money and she gave him the receipt. When Aleck saw the phone number written behind the paper. She has already gone inside.

"What can I do with this?" Aleck searches for help from Emma. She takes the paper and puts it under the candle. "Now she knows that you're not interested."

"Well, I did not expect things to be this easy." Aleck smiles with satisfaction. Yet Emma gives him a cold shoulder. "Not all the cases."

"At least when I was with her." Emma stops smiling. Here he brings her up again. Why does every moment between them have to include her?

"I think I better go..." Emma quickly walks out of the coffee shop. She must accept the truth that he does not belong to her. That this is not her world. That she is in a dimension that she shouldn't be.

Aleck runs after her and holds her hands.

"Mio caro amico, what have I done wrong?" His eyes are full of fear and disappointment. Why give her all the care and passion yet call her a friend?

"Aleck, I have to go. I have an exam tomorrow. In my real world." Aleck loosened her hand. It was a white lie she made.

"I'll see". Good luck, and do your best. I'm waiting for you in this world." Emma nods and turns away. Then a piece of paper is pushed into her small palm.

"This is my phone number. You can ask someone to call me when you get lost. In case you can't bring your phone with you here.." Emma made out a smile that she did not know she could manage in this situation. "I'll call you in need."

While she struggles to find a way to turn her emotion on. Aleck hugs her tightly. With her blurry vision. He said sweetly: "I know that I can help you return to your world."