The next morning:
Dahlia got ready before Sullivan and headed to the dressing chamber to give him her best wishes.
"Sullivan, I will cheer for you in the field. Look what I have made for you," Dahlia said as she walked in with a large sheet in her hand without noticing that he was half-naked.
As her gaze drifted upward, her eyes glued to his body, dripping wet because Sullivan had just come out of the bathhouse. She couldn't help but be captivated by his abdominal muscles and the defined V-line.
Dahlia's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding fiercely against her ribs, almost as if it might break free from her chest at any moment.
Sullivan, noticing Dahlia's prolonged gaze, cleared his throat, breaking her trance. Their eyes met, and he instructed her, "Wait for me outside. I still need to change. And please, remember to knock before entering from now on."
Dahlia hurriedly exited the dressing room and leaned against a nearby pillar, lightly tapping her forehead against it. "Isn't he hot? How can someone be so handsome?" she chuckled to herself, reminiscing about Sullivan's appearance.
"He probably thinks I'm crazy for being drawn to him," she muttered, a wistful smile playing on her lips.
Dahlia turned around and her back rested against the pillar. She looked at the poster she had made to cheer up for Sullivan. "He needs to win today. He has been waiting for this chance for such a long time," she mumbled. She was lost in her own thoughts, not realizing that Sullivan had come out.
"What's the occasion to smile? What are you daydreaming about?" Sullivan asked.
"You," Dahlia answered promptly.
Sullivan amusedly raised his eyebrow at her remark.
"I mean," Dahlia stepped toward him, "I was dreaming of your win." She then extended her hands and showed him the poster that she made for him. "See, I even drew you here. You are going to win today," she stated, brightly smiling at him.
Sullivan looked at the drawing, which she had made. But when she did that. He remembered till the last day she was jumping around.
"Say something," Dahlia said.
"What?" Sullivan had no idea what he was supposed to say on that.
"If you liked it or not," Dahlia asserted.
"I don't like childish things," Sullivan replied with a straight face.
Liar! Why did you tell her this?
He dismissed his inner voice and found Dahlia's smile suddenly left her face.
"Don't worry. You'll start liking all these soon," Dahlia affirmed.
"Don't embarrass yourself," Sullivan stated. "Act like a noble's daughter, not a 4-year-old girl," he scolded her.
She sharply glared at him and hit his chest with her fist. "And you act like a 4-year-old boy!" Dahlia muttered and ran out of the room.
Sullivan rested his hand on his chest and chuckled. "I act like an adult," he murmured.
~~~~~
Outside the chamber, Dahlia kept mumbling to herself as she decided to go to the field, where Sullivan was supposed to show his combat skills along with shooting.
"Why is the man I admire is so cold? Can't he be warm for me? Last night he even kissed me. I should have kicked him hard," Dahlia mumbled and gazed at the poster in her hand.
FIGHTING, SULLIVAN! YOU ARE MY HERO!!!
Dahlia chuckled and thought to throw it away, but she calmed herself down.
"Wasn't it you who fell for his cold demeanor? He never got such a treatment. That's why he scolded you. Else, he is a nice guy. You are his fan," the angelic side of Dahlia spoke to her.
"Dahlia, you are stuck in this world because of him. He should have at least thanked you. He is a jerk, you know! He isn't like the fictional man you've thought about!" Her demonic side gave her opinion.
"Don't listen to your demon. You are here to spread love and make Sullivan's life better. Ask your heart how much you cried when he died without even smiling once in his life. He was wronged by everyone till the end," the angelic side reminded her.
Dahlia was lost in her two inner voices, not realizing there was a step ahead when her sandal slipped and she fell off the five steps. Her scream reverberated in the empty corridor.
"I think my elbow is broken," Dahlia murmured as she slowly lifted her hand. Fortunately, nothing happened to it, but she could see the redness around it.
She stood up with an ache in her back and caressed it.
"Why do you always fall?" Sullivan's voice reached her ears and she turned around.
She took a step back as Sullivan closed the distance between them. He grabbed the few hair strands which covered her cheek and tucked them behind her ear.
"You aren't the Dahlia I used to know. You've become cuter," Sullivan said, whispering against her lips. Her heart fluttered and a slight redness appeared on her cheeks. He walked past her, carrying a slight smile on his lips.
Dahlia couldn't believe her heart used to act in such a way in front of a fictional character, which had become real.
"Come, Dahlia. We can't get late," Sullivan said, making her turn in his direction. She ran after him with a smile on her lips. Her mood was uplifted and she suddenly felt above the clouds.
"Sullivan, so did you like the poster? See!" Dahlia pushed it in front of him. "I woke up before the sunrise to make it," she asserted.
Sullivan never liked such irrelevant things in his life. However, the effort Dahlia put even in such a small work for him did flatter him.
"So, I'm your hero," he chuckled, reading the poster.
"Yes. You are!" Dahlia stated, smiling brightly.
"Dahlia, I was always hated by everyone. I wonder why you like me. I hope you stay this way," Sullivan said, suddenly turning serious.
Dahlia pursed her lips together, not knowing what to answer him. Her soul was in this body and perhaps, in the future she would leave it.
"Yes, I will. I was always like this," Dahlia said with a smile.