The first thing that comes up to Solanne's mind the moment she realized that she was back was to look at the time. She traced back her memories.
The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was talking with Yael. That time was between 7-8 pm.
She crawled to the bed and looked at her phone. Her eyes were still half open. She can feel her body stiff.
"Hmmm."
It was 10 in the morning. Solanne stretched her body. She was asleep for 14 hours!
No, her time must not be accurate. Flopping down to her bed again she touched her forehead thinking that she was still having a fever.
But lo- and be hold! Her temperature was back to normal. She feels a little bit sticky as she did not even take a bath yesterday.
How come she's better this fast? She frowned not understanding the reason why. Perhaps, the medicine that Yael gave her works really fast.
Grabbing a hoodie and shorts, she heads down to take a bath. Right as she went down stairs, she saw Yael already feeding the cats and making his coffee. From the looks of it, he just got out of bed. His hair was still a mess and his face was still wet from washing his face.
Their gazes met. A paused. The two cats were looking at them.
Solanne smiled. "Morning."
Yael nodded. Eyes on her. "Morning. Are you better now?"
"Yes." Solanne grabbed her towel that she put out the day before to dry outside.
She saw the sun shining so bright that it gives the forest a natural glow. The air was cold and comforting. The smell of leaves earth, and just everything in it was so warm and comforting that it gives Solanne a sense of security.
Was she feeling this because she just got better from her fever. Walking passed the living room, Where Yael was, sipping his coffee, Solanne asked. "Is there something you would like to eat today?
Yael paused. He tilted his head as he seemed to be thinking. "Some Korean food would be nice. Let's have some pork belly?"
Solanne enthusiastically nodded. "Great! Let me just take a bath."
Solanne stayed in the both for a good while enjoying herself as if she hadn't had any dreams after all.
The water was soothing Solanne's very being. Feeling every little thing like this, she feels like she was really alive.
For the last few days, she often thought, 'why did she ever even think that life was difficult when she was this contented and satisfied with just living here? Did she drowned and pressured herself with those competitions? Has she been misled? Or was she just trying her best to blend in?'
Pushing her thoughts aside, she busied herself taking a bath.
--
Solanne, after the bath has already begun setting up the ingredients. She prepared the ingredients on the kitchen counter. Yael was also there to help washing the vegetables. Comparing to the cohabitation they have before, this was far better.
Right as soon as they set up the table, both of them sat down and started grilling. "Do you have any specific shows that you like?" Solanne asked holding the remote.
She thought that if they do not have any background noise or something, their whole brunch would be awkward since they just started talking and being comfortable to each other. Besides, it's her job to be considerate of him since he's a lot younger than her.
Her stomach is rumbling because of the hunger and she's just waiting for the meat to be cooked.
Yael was quiet while grilling the meat. Solanne sighed. She's getting used to this kind of treatment that she's not even surprised anymore.
"I personally love dramas. I watched a few shows where you are the actor and let me tell you-"
"Can we watch some anime instead?" Yael's tone was different.
Solanne raised her right brow. Her eyes has this meaningful gaze yet she smiled and pushed it aside. "No prob. What anime?"
"Black clover."
"Oh! That's a good choice. I've watched that series too. It moved me to tears."
"I haven't had the time to watch actually. It's just a recommendation from a friend." Yael answered back.
"Well, it's a good anime. Best, even."
Solanne connected her laptop through the smart TV. The series begun playing and at the same time they started eating. The episode they were in was the very first one from the first season where Asta and Yuno was still pursuing their dreams to become a magic knight.
Looking at the episode now, Solanne couldn't help but stare. Not because of the series, but the magic. Would it be an acceptable explanation to say that what they're experiencing right now was because of magic?
Are there even wonders that are kept secret to humans? Solanne inwardly laughed at her thoughts.
The series went on, and it was like a background noise for them. Although they were eating together now, there's still some barrier they needed to overcome. They're not that close to begin with and the only time they were talking was if it's a matter related to their dreams.
Solanne sighed inwardly. In order for the awkward air dissipates, she stirred another topic. "What time did you actually sleep last night?"
Yael grabbed a piece of meat and put it into his mouth before saying, "Around 10 in the evening, I think."
"You arrived before me, right?"
"Yes."
"Then, 12 hours. We're in that dream for 12 hours. If we do the math, since we've been there for two days. One day is equivalent to 6 hours in real time. So, the longer we stay, the longer we sleep."
Yael nodded. "That's what I thought too."
"What do you think will happen next?" Solanne added.
Yael kept his mouth shut. Still Solanne continued. "According to the ticket, we'll arrived at the place of dreams. Dreams, hmmmm." There was a bitter smile on Solanne's face. Yael was grilling yet his gaze was on her.
He grabbed a piece of kimchi and putting into his mouth. "Do you have, dreams?"
Solanne chuckled. "What made you ask that?"
"Well, since were in the topic."
"I thought you are not the type of person who loves such talks?"
"Is this your prejudice?"
Solanne laughed. "No. I'm just amused."
"You're pretty blunt."
"Really?" Solanne tilted her head. There's a knowing smile on her face.
"Your answer?" Yael countered back; his tone was annoyed.
The anime was now forgotten. "Of course, I have. Who doesn't have dreams? Even if someone told me that they do not have any dreams, I'll argue with them saying, once in their life, they did have one."
"How about now?" Yael added.
"Don't know." A simple answer. Solanne's eyes was distant looking at the meat in front of her. "Am I too old for dreams now? Even if I dream, what will happen now?" She joked putting a spoonful of rice on her mouth. She glanced at the TV. "Right, most of animes have their whole plot evolve in the protagonist dreams."
"Right," Yael sighed, eyes on his food. "We dreamt so innocently back then."
Solanne chuckled. No, it was more like a sarcastic life. Yael just stared at her. After that conversation, they spent their whole brunch watching the TV.
--
Right in the afternoon, Solanne found herself staring at her laptop. More precisely, she was staring at the blank paper of the word document. She can still feel her feelings that enthralled her even though it was just a dream.
She was excited before. She knew to herself that she was itching to write.
Yet, now, what?
What to do?
Would she even achieve all the things she wanted just by typing through this keyboard? She can feel it creeping on her bones and skin. The fear that she wanted to run away from and forgot.
She knew that she'll just killing herself.
Solanne was conflicted at the same time, she hated herself. She's been this whole cycle before yet, she hasn't learned anything at all. She hasn't taken any steps. She's just stuck to the same place, same circle, and never moving.
It's not that she's trapped.
She just refused to move.
The fear was making her choose. To either stay or walk.
She decided to stay because she was afraid. How Ironic.
How despicable.
How predictable.
How disgusting.
In the end, Solanne stood up, closed her laptop, and went straight to her bed and lay down.
How frustrating.
Still, the feeling didn't get away. It was digging through her heart making her bleed. She hated it. She hated how cowardly she's acting.
In the end she drowned herself with the distractions on her phone hoping her mind would shut up and her feelings would be buried by the noises.
--
"You have them with you, right?" Yael was in the phone with his manager. Yael glanced at the stack of bond paper that was quietly laying on the table inside his room.
"I told you, I already decline that project. Besides, there's a virus and I'm on break. There's no way we'll be filming."
"Yes, but.."
"Can you respect my choices and just shut up?" Yael sighed. "I've been filming my whole entire life. Let me rest."
"Yael, if you're still concern about that issue."
"Shut up. Just shut up."
Yael ended the call and toss his phone somewhere on the bed. He closed his eyes and decided to sleep.