The ticking sound of the wall clock could be heard so clearly in the dark and silent room. Lean opened his eyes slowly, letting his vision adjust to the darkness that was only lit by the dim light from outside the window.
He was lying on the bed bare-chested, the blanket covering part of his body. Beside him, Celestia was fast asleep, her breathing regular, her face so peaceful in her sleep.
Lean turned his head, staring at the girl in silence. The faint sparkle of the diamond on Celestia's forehead was still visible even in the darkness, as if continuing to emit light from a different world.
Slowly, he raised his hand and tucked Celestia's hair that fell onto her face. Unconsciously, he smiled thinly, then bent down, kissing the girl's forehead gently.
"I hope we're here forever.." he whispered softly.
He sighed, his thoughts returning to their previous conversation—about Celestia's dream, about the man on the beach, about the strange feelings that seemed to bind them more and more in something more than just a chance meeting.
"Could it be... this is all destined?" he thought.
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm his mind that was starting to fill with questions. However, deep in his chest, he knew—Celestia was not just an ordinary girl, and her presence in this world brought something greater than he could understand right now.
However, tonight, he chose not to think too much about it.
Carefully, he lay back down, his strong arms wrapped around Celestia's body, pulling her into his warmth. Celestia mumbled softly in her sleep, then unconsciously moved closer to him.
Lean smiled slightly. "Sleep... I'll take care of you."
And under the star-studded Solstice sky, they fell asleep again in each other's warmth, unaware that the coming dawn brought more secrets ready to be revealed.
The night was still silent. The ticking of the clock on the wall was the only sound that accompanied them, as if time passed slowly amidst the warmth created in the room.
Lean lay beside Celestia, his arms wrapped tightly around her body, as if afraid that if he let go, Celestia would just disappear like foam in the ocean.
Lean's fingers moved slowly, stroking Celestia's long black hair that was spread out on the pillow. The strands felt so soft between his fingers, like silk from another dimension. Every time he touched it, a strange feeling filled his heart—a feeling he had never felt before.
Celestia moved slightly in his embrace, her body moving closer, her head resting on Lean's chest. Her breathing was still regular, peaceful, as if the outside world no longer mattered as long as she was in his arms.
"You sleep so soundly," Lean murmured softly, his voice almost a whisper.
He stared at Celestia's sleeping face, the dim light in the room making the silhouette of her face look even more perfect. The touch of his fingers went down, tracing Celestia's cheek gently. He wanted to memorize every curve of the girl's face, as if afraid that time would take her away at any time.
He took a deep breath, his mind going back to everything that had happened. Celestia, the mysterious girl who had come from the painting, had brought new light into his life. But along with the beauty, there was something that gnawed at his heart—a feeling that their story had not yet been fully revealed.
Lean bent down, kissing Celestia's forehead softly, letting his lips linger on her skin for a moment longer than usual.
"I don't know what's going to happen... but I won't let you go," he whispered.
Celestia murmured softly in her sleep, as if she could feel Lean's presence even in her dreams.
And that night, in a warmth that only the two of them knew, the world seemed to stop spinning, allowing them to stay in this moment just a little longer.