I sat up in my bed, just in time before my nightmare reached its climax. 

The night was quiet and peaceful. The distant sound of ruffling leaves echoed in my ear. My eyes caught the sight of the stary night sky over the wide-spread woods below.

I remember taking walks there as a child along with my dad and my siblings. My dad used to carry me the whole way since I was so young that my feet couldn't keep up with other's speed. I remember the singing birds and hopping rabbits. And the tree house...

It was clear I wasn't going to get any proper sleep for the rest of the night, no matter how sleepy I am. Just the thought of having to revisit the nightmare pulled me away from sleep. There is no way I am going to relive the worst memory of my life just to get a moment of rest.

I walked around my big room, my feet finally hovering near the window. The wall beyond it wasn't that tall...

Without a second thought, I pulled on my jacket and jumped out the window. With a little to no struggle, I climbed over the wall and landed with a thud on the other side. Quickly regaining my balance, I took off towards the woods. 

Memories rushed in. The smell of mud and grass wafted my senses. The quietness of the night was only disturbed by the slow dance of the leaves in the air and the occasional melody of the insects. 

My legs kept walking until... it was the most beautiful serene place I've ever seen. The lake glowed with bio luminescence. A huge tree stood near it, showering the lake with its flowers. Stones large enough to sit decorated is banks. I went ahead and plopped down on the stone that was just below the tree. 

I guess I just found my escape spot. 

I don't know how long I sat there but only when the orange glow of the sun decorated the sky did I realize that I stayed here the whole night. 

Jayden's going to freak out when he notices that I'm missing. I quickly pull out my phone and text him that I had just gone on an early morning jog and that there's nothing to worry about.

I received a reply almost immediately. I never imagined him to be a phone person.
"OK, stay safe," he had replied. "But be back before the training session starts."

I send in a quick ok and start to actually take a look around my surroundings. The image of the spot during the night was magical and energetic. Right now, it was serene and peaceful. Two sides of the same coin.

I walk around the forest a little more, leaves crunching beneath my feet at every step.

Deciding it was time, I finally reached Shiba house. 

"You went for a jog in your PJs and a jacket?" Jayden questioned me the minute I entered.

"Yes," I replied nonchalantly and went ahead to do my every day work. The whole time, Jayden kept pacing around the meeting room, his jaw clenching and unclenching. I remained silent, waiting for the reason to be clear. 

When I went into the kitchen for a drink, Ji silently stood beside me with a look on his face.

"What?" I asked him, feeling creepy under his gaze.

"Your brother visited your room yesterday night," he said and suddenly the world made sense. I hit my head in regret. Ji simply stood beside me, offering no advice nor scolding. 

"What now?!" I asked feeling defeated. "It's up to you," he said coolly. "He's your brother."

Not looking forward to the conversation ahead of me, I slowly made my way towards the meeting hall. Jayden was now sitting with his head in his hand. Rocking back on my sole, I cleared my throat to find my voice and said, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" He sounded angry. Suddenly, he kicked back his seat and faced me with such vigor that i stumbled back. "You don't disappear in the middle of the night and just come back with a sorry!"

I was petrified and too stunned to speak.

He shook his head, his hands weaving through his hair, slowly rubbing circles on the back of his neck. I could see the nerves protruding on his temples and his neck. His knuckles had turned white after clenching it shut for so long.

"You know the worst part?" He walked near. "I wanted you to tell me the reason. I wanted you to communicate with me. I wanted you to tell me the truth!"

His chest rose and fell with every raged breath. 

"Jayden—"

"I searched the whole night for you! Every room in the house, every street in this place, every place in the city..."

"Jay—"

"And then you send me a message in the morning telling me you've gone on a walk?!"

"I HAD A NIGHTMARE, OK!" I yelled, unable to keep up.

"And you didn't think of coming to me?" He looked hurt.

"I didn't want to disturb you! Jayden, if you have to stay with me every time I had a nightmare, you would have to stay every second of every night!"

"Bloom—"

"No! I'm talking. You listen. Allow me to fight my own battles. My mind is a freaking war zone and I'm the only one who is allowed the control of the fortress. I'm the only one who knows its secret entrances and weak points. You can not help me in this matter and that's the truth! I don't like it either but I have no other choice!"

Jayden sighed. I closed my eyes to calm myself. 

"How about we fall into a compromise?" I opened my eyes and came across a thoughtful Jayden. "I'll let you fight your own battles but you'll let me know if you pull off something crazy."

I stayed silent. I was stressed, yes. I screamed at him because of stress. It still didn't justify what I did. What I did was wrong. I shouldn't have just climbed over a wall like that...

"I'm sorry," I breathed out.

Jayden wrapped me in a hug and silently stroked my hair. "Where were you last night?" He finally asked.

"In the woods," I said, my words muffled in his arms.

"Should I expect you to go there often?"

I thought about it. "Maybe..."

"In that case, how about you show me the place so that I know where to search for you when necessary."

It seemed like a reasonable request, so I nodded an yes.

Soon we were out together to the woods in silence. Even though the journey to the lake was filled with tension, the way back got lighter. We laughed and joked about the good old times we used to come here as kids. Those days were amazing. 

By the time we came back to the Shiba house, we had reached a new sense of understanding for each other. An understanding that wouldn't have come if it weren't for the incident. 

I guess the saying really is true...

Whatever happens, happens for good.