PRICELESS| HARUTO AND ASAHI FF

• thirteen •

The next day --

A beam of sparkling sun rays traveled through the window and illuminated Haruto 's room. The light danced across the walls, casting playful shadows and bringing a warm glow to the space. Dust particles floated lazily in the beam, creating a magical, almost ethereal atmosphere. Haruto woke up on his own. Rubbing his eyes as he took in the serene morning light that filled his room.

He squinted his eyes to get a clear vision of his room and the girl who was sleeping in a deep slumber, as if she hadn't slept for lifetimes. The early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow on her serene face.

He tossed towards her carefully, not wanting to disturb her peace, and glanced at her face, taking in each and every detail of her delicate features. Her eyes, closed in restful sleep, her small button nose, and her slightly swollen lips all contributed to the ethereal beauty she possessed. He read her facial features one by one, as if committing each detail to memory.

"She is really an angel," he thought to himself, a soft smile playing on his lips. "How peaceful you are sleeping, Jihyun," he whispered, chuckling quietly at his own remark. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of exhaustion from the night before. It had been a battle, a fierce struggle, but it was all for Jihyun.

Time seemed to stand still as he watched her, the minutes passing by unnoticed. Haruto's eyes never left her face, observing every slight movement she made in her sleep. He watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the way her fingers occasionally twitched, and the soft murmurings she made, lost in her dreams.

In that quiet moment, the world outside ceased to exist. There was only Haruto and Jihyun, wrapped in the cocoon of their shared space. 

Ji Hyun suddenly tossed and stretched her arms. She began to open her eyes slowly. Her eyelids felt heavy, and it took time to fully open them. She squinted twice. As she became fully awake, she was startled by the figure sleeping beside her.

"Am I still dreaming?" she mumbled to herself. She really thought that he was just a figment of her imagination. But little did she know, it wasn't a dream but a reality from which she could never escape.

"Good morning, Miss Fearless!" he said in a low, husky voice, watching her in a pleasant way.

"Why am I seeing that stupid man in my dream?" she mumbled again.

"Didn't I prove you wrong, Ji Hyun?" he asked, slightly folding his elbow and resting his chin on his palm.

Ji Hyun heard his voice as she fully awakened. As she looked up, she was startled by the figure next to her. She jerked up, glancing at him with wide eyes. He was smiling at her, his expression serene and unbothered.

Blinking rapidly, Ji Hyun took in her surroundings. Her eyes moved from him to the room around her. The walls were painted a deep, unsettling red, adorned with countless pictures of Haruto. They were everywhere—on the walls, the desk, even the ceiling. Each photo captured different moments, but all were focused on the same man, Haruto.

Her mind raced as she tried to piece together how she ended up in this strange, obsessive shrine. The room felt both familiar and alien, a twisted reflection of reality.

"Am I still dreaming?" she mumbled to herself, a sense of dread washing over her. She really thought this must be some kind of nightmare. But the harsh reality of it all began to sink in. This was no dream. This was her new reality, one she couldn’t easily escape.

"Wh-Where am I?" she asked in disbelief. Her mind was racing, vexed by the situation she found herself in. As she scanned the room once more, trying to accept where she was and with whom, her mind refused to acknowledge the reality.