Chương 12: The Reason is You

Anastasia is starting to be on edge.

As she silently watches Zen breathe away beside her bed, still in his dreamland, she suddenly feels an urge to reach out for his head. Patting it ever so lightly, she's surprised to find his tawny brown locks so soothingly soft that it's almost mesmerizing.

Now, he appears a lot cozier than earlier as he nestles in the comfort of her touch.

"How exactly did you know all that stuff about my senses? I'm aware that you're more than my captor, and because of that, I can't help but be dubious all the time..." Anastasia thought silently while she continued caressing his head.

"...Yet, you still look out for me like this."

That's when she remembers the journal she found in his room. Hastily rummaging through the pocket of her robe, she searches for the notebook and eventually finds it tucked safely in it.

She then heaves a sigh of relief before patting it, a knowing look gracing her frame.

"Luckily, he didn't notice it, though I'm afraid he might still figure out that it's missing. I'll check on it as soon as possible... Perhaps, after he wakes up and leaves..."

But then, Zen ends up sleeping for an hour straight. Anastasia stays awake the whole time, patiently waiting for him to get up.

She couldn't help but be annoyed, though. Perhaps, he has gotten too comfortable that he just began prodding his head to her thigh before resting on it.

With a contented smile on his face, he only remains still there while she contemplates about the right thing to do in this awkward situation.

"He's getting all chummy, huh?"

That's until an idea sprouts out in her mind all of the sudden.

"Wait, isn't this a good time to look around the first floor? He's still asleep and I can pick locks. I can get in any room that I want," she pondered as she started laying out a plan in her mind.

However, Zen already beats her to it. He stirs awake and yawns out of nowhere, making her flinch in surprise.

Then went shattering a golden opportunity, and Anastasia just decided to blame it to his hair which she'd been mindlessly stroking for a while now.

"Good morning, Sia~" Zen greeted with an ear-splitting grin while stretching like a cat that just woke up from his nap.

"It's already past noon, though," Anastasia flatly pointed out.

"How wonderful~ I wish I could wake up next to you everyday. I want your pretty face to be the first thing I'd see in the morning."

"Might as well just take a picture of me or something. I don't want to sleep next to you."

Zen perks up at this, an imaginary light bulb popping above his head. Anastasia didn't mean to give him an advice when she said that humorlessly, but it seems like he's fond of getting ahead of himself.

"That's a great idea! I think there's a camera in one of the rooms downstairs! And then, we can..."

With that, Anastasia has to endure another round of his nonsensical rambling.

Later that day, after eating lunch together, Zen asks her to dress up in this exquisite cerulean blue gown with frills and laces all over it. After preparing herself, she's surprised to find him wearing a sumptuous suit with a similar theme as hers.

Then, without sparing any time to explain, he starts styling her hair into a braid - his favorite look on her. After all that, Zen takes her downstairs once again.

"What's happening?" she absentmindedly blurted out, visibly puzzled.

"Didn't I tell you that I have a surprise for you today?" he replied with a meaningful smile on his face.

Now, Anastasia is beginning to get all worked up. It seems like his plan is a bigger deal than she expects.

To her flummox, Zen has brought her back to the piano room. But then, despite her confusion, he just proceeds to lead her to his chair and lets her sit together with him.

"Umm... Okay, so you're playing the piano, I guess?" Anastasia wondered out loud.

"Of course I will. You asked me for a special recital before, and I do owe you a song when we're still in high school."

"Eh? Really?"

"Yep! You were ecstatic about it. I've been practicing, you know. I hope you'll enjoy it."

As Zen starts to let his candle-like fingers dance with the keys, Anastasia finds herself gaping against her will. Not only did the tune sweep her off right away, but the way he plays it draws her in as well.

It's as if he's pouring all his heart and soul into the song, and she can't help but see him like some sort of a European painting - so dazzling and breath-taking.

"[There goes my heart beating 'cause you are the reason...]"

Then came his ethereal voice, making goosebumps run throughout her body.

"[... I'm losing my sleep. Please, come back now...]"

Anastasia can only watch him in silence, eyes darting back and forth to the piano and to his jaw-dropping frame.

[...And there goes my mind racing. And you are the reason that I'm still breathing. I'm hopeless now...]"

That's when Zen suddenly turns to face her, sending her almost losing sight of reality as he eyes her like she's the only person in this world.

"[...I'd climb every mountain, swim every ocean...]"

Trapped in their own little universe, they just continue exchanging looks as the song fills the meaningful silence sprawling between them.

"[...Just to be with you, and fix what I've broken...]"

At that point, everything seems to still. Zen is so caught up in the moment while he stares at her longingly, an intense, passionate emotion penetrating through his placid tone.

"[...Oh, 'cause I need you to see...]"

That's until he scoots closer to her out of nowhere, putting aside the laws of personal spaces and inching his face nearer to hers. Her breath hitches at this, a fierce blush blooming on her pale cheeks.

"[...That you are the reason...]"

With his gaze so intent and emotional, she no longer knows what to think of as he just draws closer - their lips almost touching. But then, for some reason, she didn't budge. She only stares back at him, searching his eyes for any bluff but to no avail.

At this very second, Anastasia senses something brewing within her as she slowly drifts to this dangerous borderline called Stockholm.