"Our path will never be easy, but every time hardships come, I will remember how difficult it was for us to be together again, in the midst of an unending storm."
"Good morning…" Sera rubbed her eyes, her voice still hoarse, her hair messy, but a small smile slowly formed on her lips. Last night, she had slept soundly—no dreams, no terror, only peace. And somehow, she knew it was because Liam was there beside her.
"Morning… have you been up long?" she asked, her voice still heavy, as though she had just been released from the arms of a dream.
"Yes. I'm a morning person, so… it's just my habit." Liam turned to her, his gaze briefly sweeping over Sera's face, which still looked tired yet beautiful in its own way.
"I already sent a message to the bakery, so you don't need to go to work today. You need rest. Your body looks thinner than the last time I saw you."
Sera paused for a moment, then gave him a faint smile. Perhaps Liam was right. Lately, she hadn't been sleeping well, eating only enough to get by, her mind constantly tangled with worries. She had been too busy holding herself together, pretending to be okay.
"Thank you, Liam…" she whispered. Just two simple words, but her tone carried a deep sincerity.
Liam sat on the chair near the window, letting the morning sunlight stream in, casting a soft glow on his skin.
"I don't want to see you fall apart, Sera. You've been strong for far too long, carrying everything on your own. Let me…" his voice dropped slightly, tinged with hesitation, "…let me be the one who protects you, even if only for a little while."
Those words warmed Sera's heart, yet also made it tremble. Her hands tightened on the blanket resting on her lap. She gazed at Liam—the man she once thought would only pass through her life briefly, now standing so vividly before her, their relationship finally bearing a name strong enough to hold them.
"I don't know if I deserve this, Liam…" she whispered, her head bowing low.
Liam's eyes softened. Slowly, he stood, walked toward her, and sat on the edge of the bed. Placing a cup of warm tea on the small table beside her, he met Sera's gaze with calm but resolute eyes.
"You deserve it, Sera. You've always deserved it."
His hands gently cupped her face, lifting it so she could meet his eyes. Their gazes locked, a silent connection anchoring them both.
"Then don't just protect me for a while," Sera said, her voice trembling yet filled with hope.
"Protect me… forever."
Her words struck Liam deeply. He moved closer, his knees lowering to the floor as he knelt before her, holding her hands as though he would never let go—not even for a second.
"You know," he began softly, "our dreams… they've intertwined. Do you think all of that was real? Do you think we were truly destined to be together? There's one thing that convinces me it was fate that brought us here."
His voice faltered slightly as he asked, "Now let me ask you this—do I deserve a love as vast as yours?"
Sera's eyes softened, her hands rising to cradle his face. She looked into his eyes tenderly.
"If either of us feels unworthy, then let's grow worthy together," she said with a gentle smile, her voice steady and filled with resolve.
Liam raised an eyebrow, holding back a small laugh.
"Are you… asking me out on a date right now?"
"If you don't make the first move, then I will," Sera replied, a playful glint in her eyes.
Liam shook his head slowly, then met her gaze with unwavering seriousness.
"No. I'll do it. Let me be a man worthy of you."
He paused, taking a deep breath as though gathering all the courage within him. His fingers pressed against his knees, a futile attempt to steady the nervousness rattling inside him.
"Sera… will you go out with me? I mean, be my girlfriend or let's face the future together…"
Sera's head snapped toward him, her eyes widening slightly. Her voice quivered as she replied, "Why should I say yes?"
Liam froze for a moment, then chuckled softly—not mocking her, but laughing at his own nervousness. When he looked back up, his smile was warm, but his eyes burned with a quiet determination.
"Because I believe you are my destiny. I want to spend the rest of my time… always by your side. With you, I feel alive—real. You make me believe that I am worthy of loving and being loved in return."
He lowered his head briefly before adding, almost in a whisper,
"Sera… I've lost you once before, even in my dreams. I can't bear to lose you again in this real world. So please… go out with me."
Silence fell between them, broken only by the soft patter of rain outside, falling gently from the roof to the earth, as though bearing witness to this fragile, beautiful moment.
Sera bit her lip, trying to contain the storm of emotions surging within her chest. Slowly, her trembling hand reached out, clasping Liam's cold, nervous fingers. The touch startled him, his head lifting to meet her gaze once more.
"Liam… you're really terrible at saying things like this."
Sera's lips curved into a small smile, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"But maybe… just this once… I'll be 'terrible' with you."
Her voice was tender yet teasing, filled with affection.
Sera's eyes glistened, her smile growing brighter as her breathing grew shallow and uneven. Her heart pounded wildly. She lowered her head briefly, collecting herself, before lifting her gaze back to Liam, a look of raw truth shining within them.
"Liam… I want to," she said softly but firmly.
Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet strong enough to make Liam's breath hitch and a wide, relieved smile bloom across his face.
"Really? Is this… is this really what you're saying?" Liam asked, his voice trembling with disbelief.
Sera nodded, pressing her hand against his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart that mirrored her own.
"Yes. I want to try… with you."
Liam laughed softly, a warm sound that seemed to release all the tension coiled inside him.
"Sera… you know, I won't waste this chance. I promise to prove that everything I do for you is real, and I'll always be here for you."
For the first time in so long, Sera's heart felt at peace. She smiled, her voice barely above a breath.
"I believe you, Liam. I believe… you'll stay here, with me."
Liam swept her into his arms, spinning her around slightly as laughter spilled from her lips—bright, unrestrained, and full of hope.
It was the first step toward something unknown.
What awaited them?
What storms would try to tear them apart?
But one thing was certain: the tangled thread that had once been knotted was slowly returning to its true form, even as other threads sought to weave themselves into their story.
And as Liam held Sera's hand tighter, they both knew—no matter what came their way, they would choose to walk forward together, even if the world itself tried to tear them apart once more.