What would you do if you were given a chance to live a life that you have always longed for? A life that you dream about every day.
A life that you constantly think about, be it in anger, in sadness, in solitude, or when you feel a void in your heart.
The life that you would kill or be killed for, willing to pay whatever price that it may ask?
A life that the very depths of your soul desired.
And guess what? You've attained it! Without any strings attached or dues to settle, or so you thought.
However, in the end, you find out that the life you lived, abandoning reality, was actually a lie!
Now, what would you do? Would you kill yourself hoping that reality was actually a lie and the lie, a truth and you will wake up back to that utopia after killing yourself? Or would you forget your real self and live the way you did in the illusion? Or would you forget the illusion as a dream and continue to move on but could you or could any being in the universe do so after living the life that you always hoped for?
Your answer is what determines your fate. To live or to die...
This is the power held only by illusion and those trapped in it, never find there way back to their past.
....
It has been twenty-five years since Bittu's birth. He was currently on his way to his company, which was the largest, biggest and, of course, the most powerful company in the world.
On his way, he saw various media outlets trying to get his interview, many fans that were there just for a glance and many beautiful women there to impress and seduce him. But of course, he already had the most beautiful woman in the world as his wife, who was sitting right beside him while holding his hand with a face full of smiles similar to his, just that his aura was different.
He looked cold and unapproachable, but that did little to diminish the fact that he was the world's most handsome man with an equally charming body.
After the ride, he got out of the car with his wife holding his hand and went into the office.
After finishings all that needed to be taken care of as the CEO of the company, he returned home at night in his car.
On the way, he didn't talk much since he didn't have the habit of saying something, unless absolutely necessary, but he still hugged his wife in the back seat as he should and showered her with head pats that she loved.
After a brief ride, they arrived back at their home. Unlike all the grandeur and extravagance in the outside world, their house was a not so big. It was just big enough to fit seven people.
Their home exuded charm, with its well-maintained exterior featuring a tidy lawn, colorful flower beds, and a welcoming front porch adorned with potted plants.
The moment they entered the house, a loving and cheerful voice called out to them, "Son, you are home. You must be hungry. Come, I have made your favorites."
Bittu looked at his lovely mother, dressed in a motherly outfit with an apron and her black hair tied in a bun. Looking at her, he couldn't hold an urge to smile. He didn't know why, but whenever he saw her, his face would automatically reveal a smile filled with warmth.
"Honey, Mom is correct. You haven't eaten enough at the office, right? Feeding me all your food instead.", his wife said with a pout as she glared at him.
"Son, is this true? No wonder you have become so weak.", his mother added as she looked at him worriedly.
Bittu just shook his head and didn't say anything. He could speak up before anyone else in the world and no would dare to say a word back and with his physique that rivaled the top athletes of the world, how could he be weak? But before these two he just can't say anything at all and could only nod his head in agreement.
"Olivia–", Bittu was about to say something but before he could continue, she glared at him ferociously like a cat would do when its favorite human didn't pet it as she said, "What did you just call me?"
"...Nothing, Nothing....", He replied with a nervous laugh since he almost kept his leg on the tigers... no, his tigress' tail. She didn't like it at all when he called her something other than honey, baby, princess, my love.
"Let's eat while the food is still hot.", he said, trying to divert her attention, and it worked like all the other times since she liked food.
Her eyes immediately shined as she dragged him to the dinner table.
While going inside, his gaze landed on the layout that he felt was best for a family. A practical yet inviting interior, with a spacious living room boasting comfortable furniture arranged around a cozy fireplace. The kitchen, equipped with modern appliances, ample counter space, and a breakfast nook overlooking the backyard.
"Son, you are back," the commanding voice called out to him. Bittu immediately looked towards his dad, who was already sitting at the dinner table with folded hands.
"Father," he greeted him back as he sat on one side of the table, Olivia beside him.
"How was your day?" his dad asked with a sharp gaze.
"It was good. Today we got a new–" But before he could continue, Olivia cut in, dismayed about the situation. "Dad, you're bringing work to dinner once again."
Steve let out a sigh, looking at his daughter-in-law. "Olivia, it won't take long, I just—"
"Mom, Dad's talking about it again," Olivia called out, seeing her father-in-law mentioning work once more.
Steve's expression immediately changed, nervously glancing towards the kitchen. Stella, Bittu's mom, stopped her work and turned slowly towards Steve, her smile strained.
"Dear...."
"Honey, it's nothing, it's nothing. I was asking Bittu if he wanted this dish," Steve said with a nervous laugh, pointing towards a plated dish and glaring at Bittu.
Bittu, picking up on the hint as always, immediately said, "Father, I would love to," as he reached for the dish.
Olivia watched with a cheerful smile as she noticed the fearful look on the father and son duo.
'They both really fear mom,' she thought, giggling to herself.
Stella then brought the food on the table for her son, daughter-in-law, daughter and her older son and said," Steve, Are Sam and Mia not here yet?"
"They will arrive in a minute.", Steven once again replied in his commanding voice, being a soldier, his voice has long turned this way.
*sound of a car engine*
"Looks like they are already here.", she said as she walked towards the front gate to check.
A while later, three people came inside and sat down at the dinner table.
"Little bro~"
"Bittu~"
Two voices, one masculine while the other feminine, called out to him with the same intensity of love and care in their voice.
*sigh*
Bittu just sighed when he heard these two voices. He could never get used to his loving big brother and big sister. Throughout his childhood and into adulthood, he has been thoroughly spoiled, unlike others families where typically they find themselves at odds with their siblings.
He was spoiled so much so that he had had enough of it and could only ignore them just like now.
He picked up a spoon and started to eat while also feeding Olivia.
Both Sam and Mia felt themselves become statue when Bittu ignored them just like always. With their shoulders down in defeat, they sat on the chair opposite to Bittu.
Stella had a radiant smile on her face seeing how well they get along while Steve just shook his head at his older daughter and son's ways to handle Bittu. They just love him too much.
"Sister in law..."
"Sister in law..."
Both of them called out in a voice as if clutching to their last straw that could make Bittu stop ignoring them.
"...", Olivia didn't or rather couldn't say anything as she was currently enjoying the food that was fed to her the moment both of them spoke. She could only express apologies with her eyes.
When they both saw Bittu feeding more and more food to Olivia and not letting her speak, both of them had a betrayed look on their face. Gradually, tears began to form in their eyes.
"Okay, that's enough. First eat, then start your drama. ," Steve said, seeing their crocodile's tear.
" Yes, Father"
"Yes. Father"
Both of them said as they both began to focus on their food. Tears vanishing from their eyes in the blink of an eye. Stella and Olivia giggled as they saw the interaction between these siblings.
After that, all of them ate food with small talks and then went into their rooms.
When moving upstairs, Bittu found the bedrooms cozy, each with ample storage and natural light.
"They have done a good job renovating the house."
"You like it. This was my idea.", Olivia said with pride as she raised her head. Bittu as asked said as he pet her, "Good job, princess."
"Hehe...", she let out a cheerful smile.
It was already late at night, so both of them got into the bed after taking a shower.
Cuddling with each other on the soft and cozy bed with the moonlight coming at them from the window at the side. They slept.
After a couple of hours, both of them were a little away from each other, probably because of their changing positions. Just after a few minutes, suddenly Bittu's peaceful expression that he had while cuddling started to change.
It went from anger to agony then to indifference and contempt to lastly pride. Bittu's eyes opened right after that.
".... Huff... Huff... Huff..."
Bittu took deep breaths as he felt his back sweaty along with the cold winds coming from the window. After a while, when he calmed down, he let out a heavy sigh and said, "It's that dream again."
He then looked at his wife, that was a bit away from him and couldn't help but remember.
'It really is as I thought. I get this dream whenever I am away from someone that genuinely loves me.'
When he was a child, he used to dream this every night no matter what. Only after he turned ten did sleeping while cuddling his mom helped him as he only got sweaty back, but no dreams. However, when he turned eighteen, he could no longer sleep with his mom, hence it once again assaulted him each night. For two years he had to bear with it and only when he was in his third year in college did he meet Olivia and for the first time after almost two and a half years he could sleep peacefully and now he only occasionally sees this dream when they separate from each other.
Remembering this all, he couldn't help but also remember his first meeting with his beautiful wife and how they got married.