In a dimly lit room, with only a few beams of sunlight slipping through the window, a scene played out once again: a young man lying on the bed woke from a deep sleep. His vision still blurred, he grumbled sleepily. Rubbing his tired eyes, he rose and looked around the strangely familiar room.
A delicious aroma of well-made coffee soon floated into his nostrils and helped rouse him. His golden eyes — once brighter than the sun itself — were now dulled, vacant, cold, and soulless. The moment felt strangely familiar, and his eyes widened as memories crept back into his head.
- Huh? — he murmured, pressing a hand to his forehead as if nursing a headache. Memories he'd rather forget ran like a film reel; those heart-rending scenes seeped into every part of him.
His face was worn and tired. His chest tightened with pain and sorrow. From a room beyond the door, two female voices could be heard — their conversation mixed with laughter reached Evo's ears. His heart began to pound violently as realization washed over him: everything he had lived through… or thought he had lived through.
Panicked, he threw back the sheets and scrambled to his feet, racing for the door. When he reached for the knob, he froze. Fear gripped him — fear of everything he was experiencing upon waking; fear that it was all a trick played by the deepest desires of his heart; fear that the whole scene was an illusion meant to mask the wounds in his chest.
- What if it's only my imagination? What will I do then? — he murmured in a hoarse voice, face blank, but his hand on the knob trembled violently, betraying the calm he tried to show.
He bit his lip, mustered his courage, and pushed the door open. Light flooded the area and forced him to shield his eyes with his arm — they were still sensitive from sleep.
Once his vision adjusted enough not to hurt, he scanned the room and fixed his gaze on a particular corner. A small kitchen: the sound of coffee dripping blended with clinking cups; conversations filled the space with the steady rhythm of droplets hitting the pot. In the middle of that domestic scene were two breathtaking beauties in their nightclothes. The dark-purple-haired woman wore a black apron as she washed dishes while the blonde stood beside her, taking plates and cups to dry.
Evo stared, his eyes trembling in quiet reverence.
- Freya, Ravina — he whispered their names like a sweet, gentle melody, saturated with an unspoken love.
He dropped his face and covered it with one hand, muttering words no one else could hear.
- It was just a nightmare… Hahaha, just a damned, stupid nightmare… Hahaha. — He laughed, and for a moment the wounds in his heart loosened, though they were still there. The pounding headache that haunted him eased.
He straightened his posture and approached with a small, present smile; the lifelessness in his eyes showed now the faintest hint of a gleam.
- Freya, Ravina, good morning! — he announced.
Both women turned with radiant, delighted smiles. When their gazes landed on him, something shattered.
Trinnnnnnn!
The cup in Ravina's hand slipped and fell, smashing on the floor. Her eyes went wide and her face flushed crimson. Freya pressed against the counter, choking; her eyes nearly bulged from surprise. She too blushed visibly and, astonished, murmured:
- Enormous!
Evo raised an eyebrow at their odd reaction and asked what had caused their shock.
- What's wrong with you two? Why are you acting like this? And why that look, Freya?
He fired questions at them. The two exchanged looks of comprehension.
Seeing he hadn't noticed, Ravina decided to tell him.
- E-Evo! — Ravina stammered.
- Yes? What is it? — he asked, listening.
She pointed at him; he was the reason for their reaction.
- Y-your clothes!
- Huh? What do you mean, woman? What's wrong with my clo—
He cut off when he looked down and realized something — something that explained their behavior. He uttered with the same shock they had.
- My clothes? Where are they?
His eyes widened as he realized he was completely naked. Evo always slept without clothes — a habit he'd brought from Earth. He couldn't sleep dressed; garments felt heavy and uncomfortable. He always said the only proper way to sleep was the way he was born.
But with so much on his mind, he'd forgotten and come out like that. The morning breeze kissed his exposed skin.
- Brrr! — he shivered, hugging himself. — Damn, it's cold.
The two women, hearts in their mouths and faces aflame, turned toward the sink.
- Ev, please get dressed! — Freya murmured softly, still reeling from the sight.
Seeing their embarrassment, Evo grabbed a cushion and held it against himself.
- Okay, okay, I'll be right back! — he said, then retreated toward the bedroom, slightly less embarrassed than them.
Despite the awkward moment, Evo remained calm. Joy returning to his chest muffled the temporary shame.
He dressed while humming quietly, the smile on his face growing more visible. When he finished, he glanced at the small rack beside the bed where his pocket watch — his most beloved object — sat. He picked it up.
- Hm? What's wrong with this watch?
The watch felt warmer than usual. Ripples seemed to run through it as he gripped it tight. At times he thought he heard a voice in his head: "Dani, Dani, get out of there now!"
It was so faint he simply shrugged it off as imagination.
- Hmm! I must be imagining things; I'm still a bit shaken from last night's nightmare.
He performed his morning routine and returned to the women.
He leaned on the counter and reached for a cup of coffee. The bitterness, with a whisper of sweetness, melted over his tongue — just the way he liked it.
- This coffee is delicious, Freya! It's really good! — he complimented as he sipped.
She basked in the praise — he rarely complimented anyone. She stepped to him and nestled her head against his chest.
Evo savored the peaceful moment, stroking the head of the mature, purple-haired woman.
- You're such a little spoilt thing, — he murmured. — You look like a kitten begging for affection all the time.
He said it teasingly. He didn't mind; he adored spoiling them and would do it a thousand times a day if he could.
- You pest, leave me alone! — she replied, feigning offense.
But, as with all good moments, peace lasted only briefly. Ravina's words shattered the calm — at least for Evo.
- I'll get jealous if you two don't stop clinging! — she clapped her hands. — Come on! We've got a lot to do today; we need to get the hall ready for tonight's ball.
Evo froze at her words.
- Heh? — he grunted aloud as his body began to tremble without him noticing.
His face went ashen. Cold sweat dripped from his temple; the arms that stroked the woman's hair began to shake violently. Freya, pressed to him, felt the tremor and looked up into his eyes. She found them focused entirely on Ravina, visibly trembling; his face was pale and strained. This was not normal — not for Evo, who usually kept his composure in any circumstance, or so she thought.
Little did she know it was a lie. What she didn't understand was that she and her friend were Evo's kryptonite, places where he was utterly exposed.
- Ev, are you okay? Your expression is awful!
Evo didn't hear her question; his mind was everywhere at once.
- What is happening? Wasn't it only a dream? Then why… why am I living this nightmare again? It wasn't supposed to be like this! What's wrong with me? This was precisely like that nightmare! Am I overthinking? Are they just coincidences? Or is there something else I don't know? Was it really just a dream?
He hammered those questions into his skull. Reason told him the truth while his heart lied, masking it so he wouldn't suffer further.
- Whatever the case, I absolutely cannot let these two go to the ball tonight—no way! — he said, looking into Freya's violet eyes; the expression that had vanished returned — and with even more force. — Because if they go tonight… — he bit his lip hard until blood welled at the corner of his mouth. — I'll lose them both again!
- I won't let that happen again, no matter what!