Later at night, Enzo and Rose sat face to face in a still-standing building. They hadn't talked much since they set apart from the group, and in the end, Enzo finally decided to speak.
"Sigh, I'm sorry Rose, for earlier I mean. I shouldn't have reacted this way."
"What do you mean?" She looked at him, her eyes tired of all that happened for the past few weeks.
"I shouldn't have dragged you with me," He answered, bowing his head slightly. "To be honest, I didn't have any plan in staying with the group in the first place. I just accompanied you to see what you wanted to do. And if you wanted to stay with them, I would have continued on my own. But now because of me, you won't even be able to return. That's why I wanted to apologize to you for my shitty behavior."
Rose reached out and gently placed her hand on top of Enzo's. "Enzo, it's okay. You don't need to apologize," she said softly. "I made the decision to stay with you because I believe in you and what we can achieve together. And you're right, even if I wanted to go back, it wouldn't be the same anymore. I can't just leave everything behind and pretend like nothing happened."
Enzo looked up, meeting her eyes with a mix of surprise and gratitude. "You really mean that?"
"Of course," Rose smiled. "You may have a tough exterior, but I see the compassion and care you hold for others, even if you try to hide it. You saved people at the risk of your own life without expecting anything in return. I admire that about you, and I want to help you in any way I can."
For a moment, Enzo's expression softened, and a hint of vulnerability flashed across his eyes. He had grown so used to being independent and relying solely on himself that he found it difficult to accept help from others. But sitting there, with Rose's hand on his, he felt a sense of warmth and reassurance he hadn't experienced in a long time.
"Thank you, Rose," he said sincerely. "It's actually quite strange to hear such words. I don't know why, but it means a lot."
Rose squeezed his hand gently. "It's because I believe that people can change, and I believe in the goodness that resides within you. We all have our struggles and pasts we're not proud of, right? But it's what we do in the present that defines us. And I see a person with a big heart who is capable of making a difference in this world."
Enzo smiled, a rare genuine smile that lit up his face. "You have a way of seeing the best in people, don't you?"
"I like to think so," she chuckled. "But I've also learned that sometimes people need someone to believe in them, to remind them of their worth, especially in times like these."
"Somehow, I feel like you're talking like a writer?" Enzo said a little hesitantly. "I mean, you have a way with words. It's probably the reason why so many people admired you at school."
Rose looked at him with a smile before speaking with a gentle voice. "Well, although not a talented one, I still consider myself a writer," She smiled at Enzo who was dumbfounded by this fact. "Actually, you're probably the only one who knows that, now. I mean you're the only one I've told that."
Enzo blinked in surprise, not expecting Rose to reveal such a personal aspect of herself. "You're a writer?" He repeated, genuinely intrigued.
Rose nodded, a hint of bashfulness in her expression. "Yes, I've always loved storytelling and writing. Even in the royal family, where I had a lot of responsibilities, writing became my escape. I used to write stories in secret, and it was like my own little world where I could create anything I wanted."
"That's amazing," Enzo said, genuinely impressed. "Do you have any copies of your book? I would like to read them if possible."
Rose chuckled softly. "Well, I don't really know. I mostly wrote web novels, so I guess if the internet ever works again, then yes, you will be able to read them."
"That's good to hear. To be honest, I always liked reading, but I never really got the time for it."
"I see," She smiled and looked down. "I guess everyone has their own hardships, right?"
"Yeah, guess so."
They fell into a comfortable silence, both lost in their thoughts and the new understanding between them. Enzo couldn't help but feel grateful for Rose's presence. She had a way of bringing out emotions and thoughts he had kept buried deep inside. It was both unsettling and liberating at the same time.
"I have to admit," Enzo finally spoke, breaking the silence, "That I've never met someone like you before, Rose. You're kind, strong, and you genuinely care about others. It's quite different from what I've seen in this world so far. Apart from my family, every human I met was trash. They all had ulterior motives, and it was quite annoying the more they approached you."
"Indeed it's rare to find kind people in this world," She made a genuine smile. "But tell me Enzo, don't you want to see your family again?"
Enzo looked at her, his eyes filled with longing. "I do. I really do. It's just that I don't know if we'll be able to survive. You see, they lived at Versailles, and we're in Paris right now. It took a little more than two hours to come from there to here with a car. And I don't think there's a lot of working cars left."
"Meaning that we'll have to settle with going there on foot." Rose continued for him.
"Yes. But in such a world, I don't know if it's a wise decision. There would be monsters everywhere. And probably much stronger than those we met until now."
Rose listened to Enzo's concerns with a thoughtful expression. She knew he was right: the journey to reach his family's location on foot would be dangerous and filled with unknown challenges. Yet, she also understood the significance of family and the desire to be reunited with loved ones, especially in a world that had been torn apart like theirs.
"You're right, Enzo. Traveling on foot in this dangerous world will be incredibly risky. But at the same time, if there's even a chance of finding your family, wouldn't you want to take it?"
Enzo looked torn, a mix of hope and fear battling within him. "Of course, I want to find them," he admitted. "But I can't risk putting ourselves in danger because of my selfish desire to see my family again. I'm not alone anymore, so I can't take decisions on my own."
"Enzo, we're in this together now. Your family is important to you, and that makes them important to me as well. We'll face the challenges ahead as a team, just like we did before in the past."
"But Rose..." he started, trying to find the right words.
She shook her head, her expression firm. "No 'buts.' I made the choice to stay with you, and I won't back down now. We'll do everything we can to stay safe and make our way to Versailles, and hopefully, along the way, we can find a way to deal with the dangers we encounter."
"Sigh, you're really stubborn, aren't you?" He said with a small smile.
Rose smirked playfully. "Says the guy who never accepted help until now."