29. The First Nightmare
Ansi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“That’s a good idea! I’ll do the countdown.”
Soon, under the excited lead of Hofri, the two began to share what they thought was each other’s biggest charm.
“Okay, one, two, three!”
“Your strong will and stubborn personality and—”
“Your face.”
“……”
Ansi’s firm and blunt answer made Damion trail off.
His face suddenly felt hot.
Don’t people usually talk about inner qualities?
Like having strong principles, being emotionally transparent and sincere, or the grace that shows in every upright posture, gesture, and step.
“Damion is good-looking.”
“Right? I was honestly shocked the first time I saw him years ago.”
“Especially those eyes…”
The atmosphere shifted into a discussion about Damion’s looks, while Ansi continued eating as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
He had thought she might become a spectacle, but now it seemed like he had been the spectacle all along.
Still, he didn’t feel bad about it.
Well, at least she liked his face.
Damion let out a small chuckle and went back to cutting his food.
That night.
That’s when Ansi had the dream.
When she opened her eyes, she suddenly realized she was in Damion’s room.
In the faint light of early dawn, Damion was adjusting his tie in front of the mirror. A deep wine-colored tie that went well with his soft blond hair.
Ansi found it strange to be standing there, just silently watching him get ready for work.
‘I should go back to my room…’
But no sound came out. Her voice scattered into the air like smoke.
‘Damion…?’
It was an odd feeling. Like she was floating, or like the air was crushing down on her.
In the silent room where only the sound of his clothes rustling could be heard, Ansi took a step forward. But her footsteps made no sound. And of course, Damion didn’t look her way.
Then she sensed movement on the bed behind him. Seeing it through the mirror, Damion smiled gently. A woman sat up from the bed.
‘……!’
It was her.
That’s when Ansi realized it was a dream. Unless she had somehow experienced astral projection like in the books, there was no way she could watch herself, and certainly not… wake up in his bed.
〈You’re awake?〉
Turning around, Damion smiled leisurely and walked toward the Ansi in bed. He gently kissed her on the forehead.
〈Go back to sleep. I hope you have a better dream this time.〉
He tucked her in and stood up, seemingly satisfied. The silver cufflinks on his sleeves were engraved with a pine tree motif.
〈Are you leaving for work already?〉
〈I’ve got something to take care of. I won’t be too long. Do you like tarts?〉
〈I do.〉
〈Me too.〉
Damion smiled like a child. Ansi watched him blankly.
〈There’s a famous place I heard about. Let’s have some together later.〉
Then he left the room.
Ansi—no, the ghost-like observer—found herself following him. Like gravity was pulling her, making resistance impossible.
Damion walked briskly down the stairs and got into the car waiting at the front door. Ansi recognized it—it was the same car she had ridden in before.
Unlike in the room, Damion now wore a blank expression as he stared out the window. The sky was clear, and the early morning air was cool. A large bridge stretched across the river ahead.
〈Do you know how old that bridge is?〉
〈Hmm, maybe just two years? Why?〉
〈It just… looks old.〉
Damion stared intensely at the bridge, but then looked away. The car didn’t stop and began crossing it.
In the quiet, Damion took out a pocket watch.
It read 5:45 a.m.
And then—
The ground suddenly shook.
At the same time, the car tilted. Their bodies lifted for a moment, and the view outside shifted rapidly.
They were falling.
〈Damn…!〉
He cursed under his breath.
Ansi instinctively reached out to grab him, but her hand passed right through his body.
SPLASH!
The car hit the water with a deafening crash.
Dark, transparent river water filled her vision.
The broken remains of the bridge appeared outside the window.
No matter how she pulled or pushed, the door wouldn’t budge.
Terror rose inside her.
And then, everything went black.
“Haa…!”
Ansi gasped as she bolted upright.
She clutched her chest, exhaling heavily.
“Hah… Haa…”
Her breathing wouldn’t settle. Her sob-tinged breaths stabbed through her lungs again and again.
With bloodshot eyes, Ansi looked around.
She was in her room. A quiet, still place, with no sign of danger.
What just happened wasn’t real.
It was a dream.
A terrifyingly vivid nightmare—but still just a dream.
So all she had to do was forget it and go back to sleep.
But…
Was it really just a dream?
Something was off.
It had been too vivid.
She couldn’t calm down. In the end, Ansi got out of bed. Her hands trembling, she opened the door and stepped into the hallway.
Thank goodness Damion’s room was right next to hers. Her legs were shaking with every step—if it had been farther, she might have collapsed along the way.
“……”
But now that she was here, she didn’t know what to do.
Could she go in? Was it okay to visit someone’s room while they were sleeping?
Doubt piled on doubt.
That’s when the door opened.
“Ansi?”
Damion looked down at her, surprised. He was dressed in loose sleepwear, his front hair slightly tousled.
Ansi stared at him with trembling eyes. She couldn’t be sure if he was really there.
“What’s wrong?”
Damion reached out and cupped her cheek. The warmth on her skin was real.
Ansi brought her own hand up and placed it over his.
Unlike in the dream, she could touch him this time.
This man was really here.
Finally, she opened her mouth.
“Well…”
I saw you die.
In my dream, just now, I watched you die.
But saying something like that… would sound crazy.
When she didn’t answer, Damion’s gaze narrowed slightly, eyes drifting toward her temple.
“Are you hurt? You’re sweating.”
“I… had a nightmare.”
That was all she said. The tension in his brow eased.
“So that’s why you came looking for me?”
Ansi nodded.
Damion gently pulled her into an embrace, one arm around her shoulders and one hand cradling her head. His solid body pressed warmly against her.
His hand slowly stroked her hair.
“It must’ve been scary.”
Ansi opened her mouth to reply but closed it again. She simply nodded. Above her, a soft voice continued.
“I was just about to check on you, actually. I heard something from your room. Are you okay now?”
“Ah…”
Yes, I’m fine now.
That’s what she should’ve said, but the words wouldn’t come out.
Her heart was still pounding. Even knowing he was alive and right in front of her, she was scared.
It felt like death itself was still clinging to him like fog.
When she didn’t answer, Damion stepped back. He stared at her for a moment, then gently took her hand and gave it a light tug.
“Come in.”
Ansi stepped into the room. Damion softly rubbed her cold hand and said,
“I’ll go to the kitchen. Some warm tea would be good.”
“W-Wait.”
Without thinking, Ansi reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
She felt like if she let go, he’d disappear. Just like before—like her hand would pass right through him again.
“It’s fine. You don’t need to make tea. I’ll be okay once I go back to sleep…”
She rushed her words like an excuse.
Damion looked at her quietly. When she finished, his voice fell gently over her like a blanket.
“Then… should I help you fall asleep?”
Ansi blinked for a moment, then nodded blankly.
Damion took her hand and led her toward the bed.
Ansi’s heart wouldn’t stop racing. The dream’s aftershock was stronger than she thought.
But his warm hand felt comforting. She didn’t let go and followed him obediently.
The bed was big enough for several people, but only a small portion had been used.
Lying next to her, Damion lightly embraced her, offering his arm as a pillow. He turned to his side and began patting her shoulder gently.
“Want me to tell you a secret?”
“…Yes.”
“What I do when I wake up from a nightmare and can’t shake off the feeling.”
“What is it?”
“I imagine eating a lemon. Sometimes I actually eat one.”
A lemon? Ansi frowned slightly, unable to hide her reaction.
Damion chuckled at her expression.
“Sounds silly, right? But it helps. Maybe because it’s so sharp and vivid.”
“I’ll try it next time.”
“Not now?”
“…Do you have nightmares too, Damion?”
Ansi changed the subject. Damion laughed softly, but his voice lowered slightly.
“Sometimes. There was a time when it was more often.”
