Alea slowly opened her eyes.
"Huh?" She gasped.
She found herself lying on her own bed. It was a thin mattress with a slightly wrinkled strawberry-patterned sheet. There was a small wardrobe in the corner of the room, a study table full of books, and her strawberry-shaped key chain hanging on the door. Everything looked very familiar.
Alea's body trembled slightly.
She raised her hand. It was still the same as usual, but her skin felt cold, as if she had just lost something that had been warming her all this time.
Alea sat up slowly, the blanket slipping down to her waist.
"This... is my apartment," she whispered.
Her voice trembled. The memories of the last few days flashed vividly through her mind.
The wolf bride's robe, the brief ceremony, Arzenio's sharp gaze, the spinning portal door, and the Prince's voice. "You will always remember me, Alea."
Alea clutched her chest.
It hurt.
It felt like something had been pulled out of her.
Suddenly, something slid from the corner of her eye.
"A-Arzenio..." she called reflexively, but the room remained silent.
Alea got out of bed with unsteady steps. She looked at herself in the mirror near the wardrobe.
Her clothes had returned to human world attire. A loose T-shirt and pajama bottoms, but her skin was still slightly damp, as if she had just stepped out of the water.
"Huh... is this real?" she whispered.
She touched her neck. There was still a soft mark, like the warm touch of Arzenio when he hugged her in the pool. It made her heart ache even more.
Alea took two steps back and finally collapsed onto the floor, hugging her knees and covering her mouth to hold back her tears.
"I... I'm really back."
Tears fell one by one, but not only because she was sad.
There was another feeling there.
Emptiness.
Longing.
It was as if something that should have been by her side was now gone, lost somewhere.
"Prince Arzenio..." Alea closed her eyes, her chest trembling. "Why does it feel like I've just lost the home I've found?"
Wasn't this what Alea wanted? Back to her world, but why did she feel sad now?
Alea got up from her seat. She looked for her cell phone, but couldn't find it.
Alea wished that maybe her cell phone had been lost when she accidentally fell into the gutter.
"I'd better just rest and tomorrow, I'll try to go back to work. I'll keep myself busy to forget everything, and..."
Alea remembered her boyfriend. "Elton? How is Elton? Is he okay? The last thing I remember is that he was hit on the head by those criminals."
Alea immediately changed her clothes and left her apartment. She hurried to Elton's house to find out the latest news about her boyfriend.
She arrived at the large house belonging to Elton's family. Alea wanted to go inside, but was stopped by the guard there.
"Who are you looking for, miss?"
"Is Elton here? I want to see him."
"Mr. Elton is not at home. He is out attending a family event."
Alea felt relieved because she knew her boyfriend was okay.
"It's best if you leave and meet Mr. Elton tomorrow."
Alea left. She promised herself she would try to see Elton again tomorrow.
***
The sounds of photocopiers, ringing phones, and people walking back and forth filled the office that morning. It was a typical office scene.
The elevator door chimed.
Ding
Alea stepped out while tidying up her small bag. She was still breathing heavily since she woke up that morning in her small apartment, which felt strange, as if it hadn't been touched for months, but she didn't think about it too deeply. The important thing was that she had to go to work. Everything should have been normal. However, as soon as Alea stepped into the office, all the noise suddenly subsided.
One by one, heads turned.
Shocked stares, gaping mouths, some even dropped their files.
"A-Alea?" whispered one of her coworkers, Dina, her voice trembling.
Alea raised her eyebrows in confusion. "Good morning? Why are you looking at me like I'm a ghost?"
Dina covered her mouth, her eyes immediately reddening.
"Alea, where have you been? We thought you... we thought you were..."
"What?" Alea chuckled, even though she realized they looked really scared.
"Alea?" Soraya's voice broke, her eyes widening as if she had seen a ghost.
Alea smiled awkwardly. "Soraya? What's wrong with you guys?" Alea looked even more confused.
Soraya immediately covered her mouth with both hands.
"A-Alea... where have you been? You've been gone for a year!"
Alea furrowed her brow. "Huh? A year? I just—"
Before she could continue, someone walked quickly out of the room.
The man's steps were hurried, almost stumbling.
Elton.
His face was pale, but it wasn't just shock; there was something else in his eyes. Fear? Panic? Or... feeling cornered?
"Alea..." Elton approached slowly, as if afraid to touch her. "This... this can't be. You... you're really Alea?"
Alea sighed deeply.
"I'm not a ghost, Elton."
Elton immediately pulled her into his arms, too tightly, too dramatically.
"I thought you... I thought you wouldn't come back."
Soraya looked at them, not relieved, but more like scared, anxious. As if Alea's arrival had ruined a big plan that was supposed to remain hidden.
Alea didn't realize that.
Alea just felt strange, as if Elton's embrace wasn't as comfortable as it used to be. Not as soft as the memory in her head.
"Actually, I just—" Alea stopped, trying to catch her breath. "I don't feel like I've been gone for a year. It feels like only a few days."
Everyone looked at each other.
Some began to whisper.
Elton released his embrace, staring at Alea with an expression that was difficult to read.
"You… do you remember anything before you disappeared?"
His tone sounded too fast. As if he wanted to confirm something.
Alea shook her head. "Not much. I just remember falling into the water."
Soraya suddenly gasped, her voice rising. "Water? You fell into a river? Or where?"
Elton stared sharply at Soraya, as if signaling her to be quiet.
Alea furrowed her brow, feeling awkward about their reaction, but she was too dizzy thinking about the fact that a year had passed without her.
"I'm sorry for making everyone panic," Alea said, trying to smile.
"But I'm fine."
Soraya approached, holding Alea's hand.
Her grip was cold, not warm like it used to be.
"Of course... of course you're fine," Soraya said, but her smile was stiff.
For a split second, Alea saw Soraya looking at Elton. It was a brief glance filled with fear and something hidden.
Alea didn't understand, but another feeling suddenly arose within her.
"Alea, what are you daydreaming about?" Soraya's sharp voice and shaking hand brought Alea back to her senses and she looked at her friend in confusion.
"It's nothing."
"Alea, come with me to my room, there are many things I want to talk to you about."
Elton took Alea's hand and led her into his room.
Alea looked around Elton's room, which was still the same, except that she didn't see his photo there anymore.
"Alea, sit here first. I'm really surprised to see that you're still alive. I thought those criminals had succeeded in hurting you.
Elton's hand gently stroked Alea's cheek.
For some reason, Alea felt nothing from Elton's touch. Instead, she remembered when she was gently touched by the man with green irises.
"Arzenio," Alea whispered.
"What? Who did you just mention?" Elton's face immediately turned confused.