Doomsday Wonderland Vol. 13: Sleepwalking in Dreamland

1565: Untitled

In late spring, there were already cicadas in the courtyard outside the window. Their sporadic chirping, more irritable than usual, seemed as if they too were undecided about fully committing to their task since summer had not yet arrived. They had come early this year; when approaching the window, the dark chill outside felt like icy water, giving Qiao Yuansi's exposed skin a fine layer of goosebumps.

After placing the bird feeder on the windowsill, she closed the window and picked up two mugs from the dining table. Her eyes glanced at an open notebook nearby. The hot tea in the cups was filled to the brim, and as she took small steps, the steam wafted like a mist, clouding the air before her eyes.

Seeing this, Shoreis leaped up from the sofa and took the two tea cups from her.

"Why did you make it so hot?" he asked, looking at Qiao Yuansi from beneath his messy hair, pretending to bring a cup to her lips. "Here, take a sip first, then I'll take it."

"Stop messing around," Qiao Yuansi said with a laugh, fending him off, but the smile quickly vanished.

The clock was nearing ten. The daytime's heat and clamor were gradually falling like snowflakes, settling into a silent and cool night.

Wearing a tank top and shorts, Qiao Yuansi sat cross-legged on the carpet, holding her cup and complaining about the heat. Her fingers were cold without the touch of the cup; Shoreis sat on the sofa opposite her, watching her busy fingers for a moment before he couldn't help but chuckle.

Once that laugh had dissipated, the two fell silent again.

Their last encounter had been too brief, and the time apart too long. Seeing each other again was like light meeting ice; there was no connection or harmony. Qiao Yuansi kept her head down, and after a few seconds, suddenly asked, "Why did you come back?"

Shoreis rubbed his messy hair, leaned back on the sofa, and exhaled a long breath. "I... I just happened to be passing by, and I thought of you. I wanted to see if you were okay."

Qiao Yuansi silently nodded, and the room fell quiet again. She could feel Shoreis' gaze sweeping over her and his hesitation to speak—as if he hadn't expected her to close herself off like a clamshell, unsure whether to knock on her shell.

"I'm fine," Qiao Yuansi whispered, looking at her fingertips reddened by the hot cup. "Now you've seen."

Shoreis leaned forward, his broad and thin shoulders slightly hunched. "Do you want me to leave?"

Qiao Yuansi was silent for a moment before suddenly lowering her head and wiping her eyes.

"Since you decided to leave, you shouldn't have come back," she said in a choked voice. "You know what I mean... and I know what you meant then."

Shoreis was taken aback, speechless.

"I know you only have a fourteen-month limit in each world. I know," Qiao Yuansi said, her voice growing softer. "I know that even if you don't leave, I'll face this world alone in fourteen months. So getting used to this situation earlier is good for me... but since you decided that, why did you come back?"

"I..." Shoreis gently wiped his face. The dark clouds outside obscured the moonlit sky.

"I got used to it, finally," Qiao Yuansi interrupted, hiding behind her steaming mug. "I finally got used to it."

He probably hadn't encountered this situation before; such a capable posthuman now seemed somewhat at a loss. "I... I just wanted to see you."

Qiao Yuansi still stared at her tea. "I know, I'm fine now. I can manage on my own. Don't worry. I had a close call five months ago, but I can take care of myself now..."