Dream Page

The heat of the rose that you burnt.

"What if the things we imagine in our heads are happening somewhere else?" hinted Yulan. 
Judy smiled.



...............

Zai smiled comfortingly at Sarah, "Yeah, I'm him. Zuch's brother. The world is surely a small place. And you're Ms. Merca's Cousin?"

"(Ms. Merca?) How do you know HER?"

Zai pretended he didn't hear that and said, "The room beside mine is yours. You can use every room but I request you not to enter mine. Even if it's not clean or organized enough. And--- you cannot leave this house anymore...( His polite expression faded to a smirk)... You know what I mean, right? You know, don't you?" 

Zai smiled, "So, Have a great day. Excuse me please" and walked away.
"But, Mr. Zeinzi!--" but he closed his door before she could even ask him something.

Sarah fell on the couch, blowing out air and covering her mouth with her hands. 

She suddenly remembered Alex saying, "You would wake up in some unknown place if you ever meet a vampire. You'll end up living with them anyways." Alex laughed.

Sarah joked, "Get yourself checked! Are you nuts? What are you saying? Vampire? What? This is not a fantasy story my friend!" 

Alex's smile faded.
Her eyes were just what Zuch's eyes become. Cold. Sad.

Sarah thought Alex joked but ... What is this now?
Sarah needed to sleep but couldn't sleep.
Thoughts of him made her awake.
But parts of her were tired.

She thought, "Both of the brothers are crazy? Now I need to play along too?"




...........




City light.
Happy faces.
Lovers holding hands and melting into each other's eyes.
Roses are burning to ashes.
Lanterns lighting the ways of the lost souls.
Waves break at the edge of the beach.
Oceans.
Hearts are oceans.
Darkness everywhere yet how deep it is.
A lighthouse but unseen in the dark.
That known face amidst this unknown world.
The mix of darkness and red drips from the rose.
It smells like a flower and...Blood.

Sarah jolted up panting.
She shrieked after seeing Zai sitting beside her bed.
He has already lightened a rose-smelling candle.
He was drinking his coffee beside her bed sitting on a chair.
Observing her.
More like watching her in peace. 


Sarah's shriek made him unmoved and unsurprised.
He was calmly sipping his coffee. 


Sarah quavered, " M--Mr. Z--Zeinzi? Why--Why are you he--here?"


Zai sipped his coffee staring directly into her eyes.
Sarah gulped. 

Sarah repeated, " Mr. Zeinzi?"

Zai smirked.
The smirk sent chills down her back.

Seeing this, he smiled. His smile faded and he bit his lower lip tilting his head slightly toward his left.
Observing her.

His Grey eye turned red.
Sarah realized. 
Her eyes widened.
She wanted to shout.
She wanted to run.
Sarah gulped. 
Fear was written clearly in her demeanor.



Zai finally spoke, "You're fun to watch."


He smiled, "Are you a human? I've met an actual human after so long." 



Sarah widened her eyes in shock.

But then, "THEN WHAT ABOUT ALEX?"

 "Alex?" smirked Zai.

Zai smirked and she saw him in front of her face in a second.


She squeaked.

He came closer to look into her eyes.
She backed in fear. 

He smiled warmly but the warmth felt more creepy to her,  "Are you sure she's like you?"

Sarah squealed and shuddered...




..............

Alex gazed at the full moon outside her window.
She smiled suddenly and then hummed a song.
The song was playing on her phone.
She was holding a burning rose.
Her necklace glowed brightly.
Maybe brighter than the moon.
Zuch watched her from behind and stood beside her.

They gazed into each other's eyes and Zuch kissed her forehead.
The look on each other's faces declared love. 


"Alex, Remember when we first met? It was as beautiful as the music we played now."

Alex smiled, "A love as old as a century. The love where you are my Tiano and I'm your Minzo."

The rose turned fully into ashes. The necklace stopped glowing...

                                              TO BE CONTINUED...