Jack, Emeline's brother, was engaged in a serious conversation with Aster. He explained that cuts and lacerations on the hands and knuckles were the most common injuries resulting from punching the mirror. It was likely that swelling and bruising would manifest the next day, but the possibility of bone fractures in the hand or wrist was ruled out.
As Aster listened attentively, Jack, a young doctor, and Emeline's younger brother, shared the details of the care he had provided. Upon receiving Emeline's plea for help, he rushed to her house, promptly answering his sister's call.
Aster absorbed every word from Dr. Jack, feeling the pressure and responsibility weighing on his shoulders. The use of a tranquilizer to calm Damián was a necessary measure, but now he wondered what else he could do. He felt lost, unsure of where to go or what more could be done at this delicate moment.
As the hours passed, anxiety hung in the air, and Aster felt a knot forming in his stomach. His hands trembled slightly, aware of the fleeting time and the urgency to find a solution before Damián woke up. Every beat of his heart seemed to resonate in the tense silence, urging him to act, to seek answers, even if they seemed impossible.
Aster remained alone in the apartment while Emeline had gone to the gallery. As tension built up, the atmosphere seemed charged with electricity. Every faint sound, every noise escaping from the outside world, seemed to echo in his ears, creating an agonizing soundtrack for his restless thoughts.
After a moment of silence, Aster approached Damián, who was still peacefully asleep. Observing his friend's tranquil face, he decided it was time to awaken the "Sleeping Beauty." For Aster, everything needed to be confronted, sooner or later.
Aster admired Damián's striking features, perfectly complemented by his reddish-blond hair. Each strand seemed to carry the essence of the sun, emitting a vibrant and captivating aura.
Determined, Aster approached Damián and whispered, "Wake up, Sleeping Beauty."
As Damián gradually awakened, his eyes were a lush combination of brown, amber, and hints of blue in the area closest to the iris limbus, creating a mesmerizing effect. It was as if a universe of colors merged within his eyes.
Spencer handed him a cup of coffee. There was a minute of silence.
Josh asked Spencer, "What the hell is going on? Am I in a coma somewhere? Part of some damn government experiment?"
Spencer was taken aback by Josh's craziness but realized that addressing his concerns directly was necessary.
Spencer: Josh, I understand your distrust and your questions are valid. But believe me when I say that I'm not in control of any government experiment, nor are we living in some kind of simulation.
Josh crossed his arms, staring intently at Spencer, searching for any signs of deceit.
Josh: And how can you be so sure of that? How can you explain this bizarre situation we find ourselves in?
Spencer took a deep breath before responding, carefully choosing his words.
Spencer: Josh, I know all of this seems surreal. But I also woke up in a strange body, trapped in this confusing reality. I don't have all the answers, but believe me when I say that we're not part of any government program or experiment. We're facing something completely unknown.
Josh nodded, expressing his skepticism.
Josh: And how can you be so certain?
Spencer looked into Josh's eyes, conveying sincerity and determination.
Spencer pondered for a moment, evaluating Josh's words.
Spencer: The situation is complicated, I know. It seems like we're in a parallel world, a dimension intertwined with ours. About ten years ago, during a mission, I had the opportunity to read a book that depicted this world and the people in it, named Damián and Aster.
Josh interrupted with a mixture of confusion and suspicion on his face.
Josh: What mission was that? Who was with you? And who introduced you to this book? And why the hell did you use the names that appear on our boarding documents?
Spencer took a deep breath, preparing to answer Josh's questions.
Spencer: I stumbled upon the book by chance; it belonged to the French agent from DGSE, Pierre Durand. As for the names Aster and Damián, I chose them because Aster Flowers were Emma's favorites, and I found the name Damián quite pleasant.
Josh nearly choked on Spencer's response and quickly replied, emphasizing his point of view:
Josh: I don't like that name, and I can't understand why you used it. This is getting stranger by the minute. Tell me there's a switch to turn this off or wake up from it.
Spencer began narrating what little he knew...
In the world depicted in the book, Aster and Damián are characters with troubled histories, serving as antagonists. Aster is tormented by a deep hatred towards the Phillips family stemming from an attempted murder by his stepmother. His obsession with revenge is intense.
Aster, a bastard child, was born from his omega father's first love, and Jared Phillips, but they never got married. Years later, Jared and Aster's mother had an extramarital affair, which resulted in the accident that led to the mother's death and Aster's survival.
Jared couldn't bring his child home, so he decided to enroll him in a distant boarding school, away from his family. However, Jared didn't know that his wife was already aware of the deceased omega and his child, and she paid to have the child killed.
In a twist of fate, Damián and Aster, as roommates, were kidnapped together. The kidnappers had no idea that Damián's father was a famous politician. Taken to a remote and inaccessible mountainous area, the criminals attempted to dispose of the children in remote and isolated areas.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom, but only one of the children would be returned. The media focused on the abduction of a single child, La-Heri Williams. While the children were in the car, pretending to sleep, they overheard the kidnappers discussing the need to kill them.
The moment one of the children asked to use the bathroom, they seized the opportunity to escape into the forest. The kidnappers' pursuit soon began, but a loud sound of water guided them. As they approached, they found a large waterfall and, desperate, jumped into the water to escape.
For the kidnappers, it was unbelievable that both children were still alive. However, by luck, they were found and rescued by an old master hunter who was checking his traps in the water-rich region.
Damián hit his head during the escape and lost his memory, but Aster decided to act as if he had also forgotten everything. The old master had no children and decided to take them in, while the small village where they lived directed them to the modest local orphanage.
Mrs. Eleanor Forrest, the caretaker of the orphanage, decided to adopt Aster and Damián on behalf of the Gump couple, a favor to the elderly couple who had a great affection for the children. Josh put his hand to his head, perplexed, and confirmed with Spencer that none of this was in Damián's memories. He had truly lost his memory.
Aster and Damián, being talented and intelligent athletes, considered themselves superior to the other children. At the age of 14, Mr. Gump passed away, followed by Mrs. Gump a year later, leaving the two 14-year-old teenagers alone.
As Mrs. Eleanor was the legal guardian of the children, she took on the responsibility for Aster and Damián. Recognizing the children's intelligence, she dedicated herself to educating and encouraging them, teaching them art, poetry, and music.
When Mrs. Eleanor's health deteriorated, she decided to move to another country in search of medical care. In this new country, Aster and Damián made rapid progress in their studies.
Both young men were exceptionally handsome, but Mrs. Eleanor always warned them not to attract too much attention. At this stage of their lives, the stories of Damián, Aster, Spencer, and Josh began to resemble each other: part-time jobs and exemplary academic performance.
However, Eleanor's illness progressed despite all medical efforts, and at the age of 19, Aster and Damián were completely alone.
Josh: Stop, stop, stop! What crazy story is this? Am I in a "Golden Raspberry" movie? This script is terrible!
Spencer looked at Josh with a mix of surprise and amusement.
Josh crossed his arms, clearly skeptical.
Josh: Well, I didn't audition for this role.
Spencer couldn't help but chuckle at Josh's remark, took a deep breath, trying to find the right words.