"Thanks..." was all Ruby could manage to say.
Later that night, despite her exhaustion from the long day, Ruby sat at her bed, sketching more designs that came to mind. Sleep tugged at her, but she pushed through, determined to get her ideas down. "Once my business takes off," she thought, "I’ll buy a vehicle, take a proper vacation, and finally explore this world."
Her mind wandered as her pencil moved across the page. She imagined red beaches–the sight of red sand stretching out to meet the sea. It must be breathtaking, she thought. But living in the southern country, she knew there weren’t many beaches nearby. If she wanted to see one, she’d have to travel far.
Her eyes grew watery from focusing too hard under the dim light. She rubbed them with the back of her hand, sighing. Closing her notebook, she realized she’d already filled half of it. A small smile tugged at her lips as she placed it carefully on the table beside her bed.
She straightened the messy sheets and turned off the lights, finally ready to rest. The faint scent of fresh soap lingered in the air, and she immediately noticed her sheets were newly washed.
Julian. It had to be him.
Her pillowcases, her bedsheets, and even her room always smelled clean and fresh because of him. He made sure everything around her was tidy and comfortable, without ever expecting recognition or thanks. He just did it because he cared.
As she laid down, the thought of his kindness filled her heart with an unfamiliar warmth. She closed her eyes, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. "What would I even do without him?" she wondered as her eyelids grew heavier. Moments later, she drifted off, her breathing soft and steady, surrounded by the quiet comfort of his care.
However, she forgot to lock the door again. Julian, unable to sleep, slowly crept into her room. Karl had fallen asleep long ago, snoring softly in the other room. Julian hesitated as he stood in the doorway, his heart racing.
He knew he shouldn’t do this, it felt wrong but at the same time, he justified it to himself. I’m her husband... I have the right to sleep beside her, he thought, trying to calm the nervous flutter in his chest.
He closed the door softly behind him and tiptoed toward her bed. Seeing Ruby fast asleep, her breathing slow and steady, he carefully climbed onto the bed. Her bed was so comfortable, just like her presence–warm and inviting.
Julian’s body was stiff as he lay next to her, scared of waking her up. What will she do if she catches me here? Will she yell at me? Throw me out? he thought nervously. But deep down, he also knew he wanted her to get used to him being close, to eventually accept him without hesitation.
As he lay there, unsure of what to do, Ruby suddenly turned in her sleep. His heart froze as she shifted toward him. Was she awake? Did she notice him?
But then, to his shock, Ruby instinctively wrapped her arms around him, her legs resting over his. She buried her face near his hair, nuzzling close like he was her personal pillow. One of her hands rested lightly on his stomach, her touch soft and warm.
Julian’s eyes widened in disbelief. His heart pounded so loudly he was sure she could hear it. He lay there frozen, not daring to move, afraid he might ruin the moment.
Does she know what she’s doing? Or is she just dreaming? he wondered, a mix of excitement and guilt building up inside him. But as she settled into a deeper sleep, her breathing even and peaceful, Julian’s tense body began to relax.
He allowed himself to enjoy the moment, feeling her warmth against him. A small, shy smile crept onto his lips. He closed his eyes, whispering to himself, One day, I’ll make sure this isn’t just by accident. One day, she’ll hold me because she wants to.
The next morning, Ruby woke up early, feeling a strange softness pressing against her body. Slowly opening her eyes, she was greeted by an unbelievably gorgeous face right next to her. She blinked in confusion, her gaze tracing over his glowing skin and those impossibly long, thick eyelashes.
She remembered hearing somewhere that people with long eyelashes were considered blessed with beauty.
Indeed, he is, she thought, taking in his peaceful expression.
On set, she had seen plenty of good-looking ghosts and witches, but most of them relied on makeup and accessories to enhance their appearance. Julian, on the other hand, was all-natural–a beauty so flawless he looked like he had stepped straight out of a fantasy game.
Her eyes fell on a loose strand of blue hair that rested on his face. Without thinking, she reached out and gently tucked it behind his ear, careful not to wake him. But then—
She froze, her mind catching up to the situation. What is he doing in my bed again?!
Ruby sat up abruptly, her expression darkening with realization. The sudden movement stirred Julian awake, his mossy green eyes snapping open in alarm. When he noticed her sitting up, his eyes widened in shock, panic taking over as he quickly sat up, his sleep vanishing instantly.
"I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry!" Julian stammered, his voice trembling as if he was bracing himself for her anger. His hands fidgeted nervously, and his face looked like he was about to cry.
Ruby stared at him, her irritation fading as she saw his scared and pitiful expression.
He looks so frightened... how can I be mad at him? she thought, her heart softening.
"It’s fine," she said with a sigh, her tone calm. "But why all of a sudden do you have this... sleepwalking problem?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Julian looked down, his hands twisting the hem of his sleeve. "I-I don’t know," he stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked so vulnerable, like a child caught doing something wrong.
Ruby reached out and rubbed his hands gently, trying to calm him down. "Relax," she said softly, her touch reassuring. "I’m not mad at you, okay?"
Julian’s tense shoulders loosened slightly at her words, though his cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. He glanced at her shyly, still too flustered to speak.
—To be continued...🪄