Denis' POV

     With a white towel wrapped around my shirtless form, I step out of the shower and walk across the unlit living room. Just as I was about to enter the hall leading towards my bedroom, I sensed something within the corners. Immediately, I halt and look to the side, squinting to pierce through the darkness. And there, on the couch, Harris lies, sleeping peacefully.

     Strange. Why was Harris choosing to sleep on the couch tonight rather than be in the comfortable bed? Deciding to talk to him, I approach him with light, quiet steps, careful not to jolt him awake or weird him out. Waiting for him to notice my presence, I stand still like a motionless statue before him. As seconds pass without him lifting his eyelids, I am quick to observe he is deep in his sleep.

Lowering to one knee, I whispered, "Hey?"

     However, Harris doesn't respond, his eyes still closed. I try poking him on the shoulder to try waking him up, but he just turns his head to the other side with a soft groan. Tightening my lips, I just stare at Harris, peering at his handsome face. As I linger next to him a little bit longer and longer, I find my stomach churning, unleashing butterflies all around. My heart races with my swift breaths, and anticipation hastens down my spine.

     This is preposterous, almost absurd. Why am I sensing such emotions towards Harris? My past preference is in the past, and I refuse to return from that miserable life, where men always break my heart in the end. But isn't regret in the end anyway?

     If I do force myself with a woman, I'll eventually break down, as I will not be able to pretend my entire life. Just like what Lyvie and my mother have said, I cannot live through falsehood but live for who I am. Making my life about charades is damn silly, and I begin to think twice about coercing traditions that don't fit me. This is the moment I know I must break free from such beliefs. That ridiculous truth crap someone else deemed correct doesn't set me free, but it is in my hand to release myself from the confines of narrow minds.

     A deep sense of genuine enlightenment sparks in my head, grounding me from my position, as I process my thoughts and emotions, and I know it. This is my final straw, and yet another chance, I shall give unto myself and my likings. This is my true self, my own way, where no one will stop me and shape me into their foolish making. With a smile of affirmation, I carefully lean forward, inclining my face towards Harris but being careful not to disturb him from his deep sleep.

     Just as my lips were about to touch Harris' rosy lips, he roused from his sleep, wincing his eyes. His eyelids then fluttered open, and before he glanced at me, I pulled back from him swiftly, pretending nothing just happened. With a sleepy look, he looked at me, raising a brow, wondering what I was doing in front of him without a shirt on.

"Uh, what?" Harris asked groggily.

"I was about to wake you up and ask you why you were sleeping on the couch," I asserted.

"Oh, uh, cuz... well..." Harris yawned, sitting on the couch and facing me. "...I was thinking of humbling myself and giving you your bed the whole night starting from tonight. Because just think about it, I don't live in this house," he said.

"...Well, you do now," I affirmed. "So, come now! You can sleep on the bed!" I eagerly told him, pulling him to the bedroom with me.

"You sure? Cuz wouldn't it weird you out after our... encounter?" Harris inquired in concern.

I gazed into Harris's glistening amber eyes and smiled at him. "Don't worry about it," I beamed at him.

"Hmm..." Harris's face lit up with a bright smile as he peered into my deep brown orbs.

"Say... can you step outside the bedroom for a moment? I'm just gonna put on some clothes, and then you may enter so we can sleep," I giggled timidly.

"Hah, right," Harris smirked, his voice still heavy with sleep.

***

     Later, Harris and I settled on the bed for sleep, lying against the soft, comfy mattress, surrounded by pillows and draped with a fuzzy blanket. While Harris drifted back to sleep immediately, I stared at the ceiling for minutes, contemplating, my eyes locked on the blank surface. Finally, after lying on the bed without doing anything for half an hour, I closed my eyes and tried to sleep. As I slowly plunged into a deep sleep, I forced myself to have a dream tonight. However, no light came to flash before me, and I only saw nothing but pitch black.

     Just as I was about to lose hope of having a dream tonight, light ignited and spread throughout, revealing the surroundings around me. I expected to be in the vast outdoors, enveloped by snow and solitude. However, in this dream, I saw myself standing within the dark gothic church. I stood still quietly, waiting for someone to appear, and just as I thought, I felt someone emerging from behind me.

"What a disappointment you are."

I turned around and saw my alternate version glaring at me with a furious gaze. "Says the one who is the bigger disappointment," I remarked with a scoff.

"How dare you transgress upon my words. I have marked you with safety, away from any more heartbreaks!" my alternate version growled as he approached me.

"So, I'll just stay motionless like a block of ice, doing nothing in life but to pray for your misery? If you truly want to work things out in your life, you accept the risk!" I argued.

"Well, look at you, thinking like an unclean man!" the alternate version of myself derided. "Karumaldumal! Makasalanan! Walang-hiya!" he snickered, calling me names like unclean, sinful, and shameless.

"And look at you, thinking like a man who's already sleeping in his grave ten centuries ago," I responded with a bold chuckle.

My alternate version's eyebrows furrowed, his eyes darkening. He pointed his finger at my chest, bearing his wrath upon me. "You! You will never find the key for your friends!"

"Maybe I really couldn't find the key because I was searching inside an empty, secluded space. But maybe... the key is outside this place," I mused.

     Apprehension washes over my alternate version's eyes, and his face contorts with worry. With a courageous smirk, I walk past him and stride toward the front door of the church, poised to exit this creepy, abandoned place. As I raise my chin and close my eyes in triumph, winning over myself, I reach out my hand and wrap it around the doorknob. Just as I am about to pull the door open, I hear a raspy yell behind me, causing me to jump in surprise, my eyes as wide as heck.

"Potestas Culpae!!" my alternate version yelled, pointing at me. "Reduc eum ad rectam viam!"

     Suddenly, the church's dark stone wall behind my alternate version collapses, smashed by an otherworldly creature. It is a monstrous entity made of shadow, its eyes smoking and glowing red like blood. Standing on two hind legs, its body appears as thin as a wooden log, with long spiky arms that sway below the knees. Adorning its head, it possesses the white skull of a reindeer, with haunting horns that appear like a gnarly, leafless tree.

     Breaking into a sprint, the creature rushes towards me, poised to grab me with its thorny fingers. My eyes widen in terror, and a loud gasp escapes my mouth as I quickly open the church door. Hurriedly, I scurry into the outdoors, blown away by the raging blizzard. With my sight hindered by the whirling storm of snow, I sprint and hasten forward, navigating the treacherous path ahead. Then, the monstrous entity breaks through the church's entrance with a blaring slam, causing the entire building to collapse like falling sand.

     I shriek in terror as I hurry forward, stumbling upon a labyrinthine street covered in snow flanked by rural buildings. Swiftly taking sharp turns, I run to the left and right, hoping that I lose that monster from this frightening chase. Hopefully, I don't stumble upon a dead-end! And alas, I did stumble upon one, a brick wall blocking my way like a stubborn sentinel.

     As I turn around, I see the monster glaring at me in the eyes, our gaze interlocked. My body trembles with trepidation as I quickly leap onto the wall, trying to hop onto the other side. Meanwhile, the creature approaches me slowly with playful steps—as if it were trying to scare me more. As I cry in panic, it extends its hand towards me, ready to snatch me away. But, in just moments of being eaten alive, I finally fell onto the other side.

     Letting out a surprised yelp, I fall, but instead of landing on the floor, I plummet into a wormhole where I see the vast expanse of space, stars, and other heavenly bodies around me. I hold my breath as I bear witness to the celestial environment surrounding me, stunning me in shock. Gradually, with a fair and smooth transition, the space and stars fade away, replaced by thick clouds.

     Falling into a lake, I sink into the bottomless depth of deep blue, my body drenched with water. Swiftly, I swim to the surface and towards the dry land. As I walk ashore, I see a vibrant pink forest with tall glowing mushrooms before me, reminiscent of the woods I once saw in Harris's universe two years ago. Nostalgia fills my heart as I recall the past, and my heart begins to flutter.

     As I gazed at the pink foliage, I took a deep breath and felt a sense of liberation wash over me. I had finally freed myself from the confines of heartbreak that had once trapped me. I paused for a moment to look at the lake, reflecting on how I had conformed to rules that weren't meant for me, leaving a trail of guilt in my wake. Stepping into the pink woods, I walked among the towering trees, reminding myself to be true to who I was. I believed that by seeking my authentic self, everything would turn out fine. Even when doubts threatened to overwhelm me, I resolved to move forward with confidence.

     Suddenly, something caught my eye in the distance, prompting me to halt and squint at the object that intrigued me. Between the trees stood an earthen pedestal, and above it floated a silver key. Could this be the key I needed to find my friends? I felt a rush of excitement.

     In my thoughts, I reflected on my journey. As a child, I had yearned to grow, drifting through life, but now that I had finally matured, it was my time to shine and take control of my destiny. Just as I reached for the key, stone golems appeared out of nowhere, their hands poised to crush me. I stumbled back, but deep down, I understood this was just a dream, and I had power over it. I stomped my foot, freezing the golems in place, and with a snap of my fingers, I disintegrated them into pebbles and sand. I felt empowered, ready to embrace my life fully as the night began to unfold.

     Stepping closer to the earthen pedestal, I grasped the floating silver key with both hands and beheld its shiny surface, seeing my handsome reflection. Suddenly, I heard snapping wood and heavy footsteps, and birds began to fly from the dense canopy of leaves. My eyes widened as I stepped back, listening intently to the surroundings. As I looked ahead, I saw the source of the noise—I saw the same shadow-like creature with a white reindeer skull from earlier. As the monster and I exchanged intense, prolonged stares, my pupils shrank into minuscule dots, and my breath hitched as I comprehended the dire situation.

     Hurriedly, I turned around and sprinted away, hurrying to a safer spot. With a bone-chilling screech, the monster trailed behind my wake and pursued me through the pink forest. As I reached the lake earlier, I ran by the shoreline and quickly searched for a place where I could seek refuge. But there was no time, as I felt the monster's footsteps growing heavier and heavier. I knew it was gaining on me.

     In the meantime, in my waking life, while I was still asleep, I began to twitch on the bed and moan, waking up Harris in surprise. Harris quickly sat on the bed and examined my sweating face, eventually realizing that I was having a harsh nightmare. Worried, he began to shake my trembling form, hoping that he would wake me up from the terror. As he attempted to wake me up, something began to glow on my hand, catching his attention.

     Meanwhile, in my dream, I hurried forward, running away from the monster. As I sprinted ahead, I saw a portal-like doorway emerging from the ground. It compelled me to jump towards it. With determination coursing through my skin, I furrowed my brows and hastened towards it. Then, before the creature could lay its finger on my back, I leapt towards the portal.

     Finally, I am awake. With a loud gasp that echoes within my bedroom, I bolt upright from the bed, and my eyes fly open. Looking to my side, I see Harris, and we exchange glances. His mouth is agape, left open by an intense shock, and his eyes are as wide as my fear, consumed by worry. Harris then breaks eye contact, peering squarely at my hands.

     Glancing down at my hands, I see a silver key—the same key from my dream. Could this be the key needed to open the portal in this world, which would connect my universe to Harris' realm? I can't believe it. After many days of trying, I finally got it, at last.

"Y-you got it," Harris remarked.

***

     Harris and I hasten downstairs, bolting towards the dining room, where the rest of our families gather for breakfast. With swift steps, we hop down the staircase, catching everyone's attention. With eager grins adorning our faces, Harris and I stand before the others at the dining table, and finally, I reveal the silver key to everybody. As soon as their gazes land on the key, their eyes pop open, and gasps of amusement resonate throughout the room, filling every corner.

"Ta-da!~"

"Woah! Is... is that—" Philip stuttered in anticipation.

"The key!" I squealed in enjoyment, bouncing on my soles.

"The key!?" the others gasped.

"Yes!" I grinned.

Everyone exchanged glances, sharing amused gazes. With a sudden burst of energy, they cheered.

"Good job, Denis!" Meredith praised, clapping her hands lightly.

"You finally did it!" Felix beamed, craning his neck from the dining table to behold the key in my hands.

"I can't believe you got the key, at last!" Chloe applauded, her grin stretching across her face.

"Now all we have to do is find the portal!" Presley giggled in the background.

"Woah! Woah! Woah! Before we search for the portal, let's give ourselves a break for a while and celebrate this small victory, shall we?" Philip suggested calmly.

"What kind of celebration do you guys have in mind?" my mother, Michaela, wondered aloud with a smirk.

Chloe, Philip, Meredith, Presley, and Felix glanced at each other, flashing each other knowing smirks.

***

     Harris, Chloe, Philip, Meredith, Presley, Felix, my mother, my father, and I drive to our usual city mall, where we have, let's say, a small celebration for a small victory that has transpired. As we pass through the entrance, the cold air blows towards my face, and an overwhelming sense of longing washes over my core. It feels as though I wanna change something about myself physically now that I have transformed mentally and emotionally. Standing in the grand foyer, I take a deep breath and turn around to face my friends and family.

"So...? Where are we going first?" I inquired.

"Hm," Philip pondered aloud, turning to face my parents. "Mrs Ella? Mr Robert? Where do you feel like going?"

"Wherever our son wants," my mother replied.

"Or we can go wherever you want to eat, Denis," my father suggested.

"I'd love that, but before we eat something, how about we explore this gigantic mall first? It's still early in the afternoon!" I thought.

"Where are we exploring?" Presley wondered aloud with an excited grin.

"...Hmm..." I lowered my gaze, contemplating whether I should tell my parents my intention. "...Mom? Dad? Can I... you know...? Go to the salon and dye my hair or something?" I asked sheepishly.

"But... Denis, you're too young to dye your hair," my mother countered kindly.

"Please? Pretty please?? I mean, I promise, this will be the only age I'll be dying my hair! Once I am fully grown, I won't dye it! I swear!" I reasoned eagerly.

"You promise?" my mother, Michaela, sought reassurance.

"I promise," I assured her confidently.

"And how much will you need to dye your hair?" my father questioned, checking his wallet.

"A typical salon in the mall is pretty expensive, but... hey, we do this just sometimes," my mother mused.

"Don't worry! Our business is booming. It won't be a problem," my father, Robert, remarked boldly.

Philip interjected, clearing his throat. "Uhm, Mr Robert? Mrs Ella? How about we pay for Denis' makeover? We're the ones who he's helping anyway!"

"Oh, no! No, don't worry! It's fine!" my father replied timidly, shaking his head.

"Come on, Denis, and let's find you a salon!" Presley prompted, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as we walked forward, venturing deeper into the mall.

"You guys sure you can pay for it?" I queried bashfully.

"Yeah! In fact, how about I take all of us for a spa day?" Philip suggested with a playful smirk.

"What? No, no! It's fine! Hehe!" my father denied the offer, feeling overly timid.

"...A spa day??" Chloe grinned, a faint gasp passing through her mouth.

"Mhm!" Philip affirmed with a resolute nod.

"Well, then, ladies! This will be our big day!" Meredith beamed, intertwining her arms with Chloe and my mom as they trailed behind us.

"If you, kids, won't lose all your money from it! Hehe," my mother remarked bashfully as we strode deeper into the mall.

     Traversing the vast expanse of the massive mall, Harris, Chloe, Philip, Meredith, Presley, Felix, my mother, my father, and I search for a spa and salon. We seek and seek around the mall, trying to compare the prices written on the boards outside any salon we see. After looking for minutes, we finally found the one that enthralled our attention amidst the line of designer boutiques and souvenir stores. As we peek through the glass entrance, our eyes widen in awe, taking in the exquisite sight before us.

     The spa unfolds like a delicate leaf, with walls painted in the color of a verdant forest during summer, complementing the deep brown wooden pillars and white panels. Suspended on the ceiling are crystal chandeliers that reflect light upon my eyes. Chairs and vanity mirrors adorn the side, waiting for customers to have their hairstyles changed. On the other periphery, a line of plush seats rests, possibly for manicures and pedicures, while the rest are for massage therapy and facials.

     Entering the spa and salon, I sit on a chair in front of a vanity mirror and get my hair done. Today, I choose to have blonde highlights on my bangs over my black hair. The hairdresser begins bleaching and dying my hair, while the others enjoy the relaxing moment. Chloe, Meredith, and my mother sit on the side, having their nails done, while my father gets his hair trimmed and his goatee fixed. In the meantime, Philip, Presley, and Felix get back massages as Harris has a facial sheet mask blanketing his face with slices of cucumbers lying atop his eyes.

     While I allow the dye to set on my hair, I opt for a facial sheet mask session beside Harris. Though he hasn't noticed me because slices of cucumber are covering his eyes, I lie next to his spa bed and flash a bright, toothy smile. Weirdly enough, though, now that I have given myself a chance and accepted myself for who I am, this odd sensation I am feeling towards Harris becomes stronger. It makes my heart twist with delight, and butterflies explode in my stomach. As I admire Harris' adorable resting figure, a female esthetician places two slices of cucumber in my eyes, blocking my view of him.

     Afterward, my friends, parents, and I step out of the salon with a fresher, new look. As I pass through the exit, sunlight penetrating the glass dome on the mall's ceiling flashes toward my new hair. I now have blonde highlights over my black hair, and this change gives me a powerful sense of renewal. With a broad grin, I glance at Harris, only to see him frowning when he looks at me.

     Strange. Why did Harris have that facial expression? Maybe because I friend-zoned him and still hadn't comforted him about it? But wasn't he just drunk at that time? So, why was he feeling this way?

Deciding to address Harris, I whispered, "Hey, Harris? You alright?"

"Yeah, why?" he replied.

"Nothing. I just see that you have that frown," I pointed out.

"Well, it's nothing," Harris assured me with a light smile.

Taking a deep breath, I pulled Harris with me a few feet away from our families. "...Harris, I... I have something to tell you..."

"What is it?"

"...About that kiss... I—"

Suddenly, a voice broke through our conversation. "Guys!" Presley called out, interrupting my exchange with Harris and cutting off my statement.

"Look at that! An ice skate park!" Chloe grinned, peering at the wide ice skate park on the mall's ground floor from the second floor.

Attempting to finish my words, I glanced at Harris in the eyes and brushed my elbow. "Harris, I—" I stammered.

"Forget about that kiss, okay? I told you, I was drunk. Drunk. I don't wanna hear any more about it," Harris told me with a stiff glare. Then, he smiled, placing a tender hand on my shoulder. "Come," he urged gently as we stepped closer to our friends and families.

Harris, Chloe, Philip, Meredith, Presley, Felix, my mother, my father, and I gazed at the ice skate park from the second floor, beholding the skaters and the surroundings.

"Wanna go to that skate park, y'all?" Philip asked with a smile, his eyes fixated on the graceful skaters.

"There's an entrance fee for that," my father told Philip.

"...Hm, well then. Wanna go to that skate park, everybody?" Philip reiterated with a bold smirk.

Robert, my father, gazed into Philip's eyes in disbelief. "...You serious? You can pay for that?" he queried.

     The sheer incredulity that flows over me sparks a wide-eyed reaction—as if disbelief itself courses through my veins. It's quite a shocker how relaxed and effortless the Asbrannian economy appears to be—Philip practically holds the power to purchase anything, and I mean absolutely anything, here in the Philippines. But, there is no need to fret at the moment; we're here to seize the day to its fullest.

     Stepping into the ice skate park and joining the other skaters, I hold onto a plastic polar bear sculpture with wheels that help me navigate the icy terrain with the others. As we chuckle softly, I notice Harris skating towards the corner. Having an overwhelming desire to be next to him, I glide towards his position and call out to him.

"Hey, Harris!"

"Oh, hey," Harris responded.

"So..." I began, despite my brain being out of words.

"If you're gonna mention that incident when I almost kissed you, don't speak of it," Harris groaned.

Sighing, I said with an awkward smile, "...Oh, no, not that. I— uh! I just want to ask if you remember your advice to me... about forcing myself into a fracture but ending up failing... well... you know, I'm finally considering it. Your advice."

Harris' eyes sparkled with awe. "Woah... then... that's a good step for you..." he said. "...Friend."

Friend? Alright, so, is Harris the one friend-zoning me now? "Heh, yes, friend! Friend, yeah... like, wanna go out somewhere else one day? Just you and me as t-two good friends? Heh? Or if you don't want to, we can just spend the whole day in my bedroom if I don't have classes—"

As I spoke, I never realized that a reckless skater was heading towards my back, but Harris was quick to see it. Gasping, he grasped my shoulders, and we slid to the side, narrowly avoiding the falling skater.

"Huy!!" people around us shrieked.

"Denis!!" my mother yelped in surprise.

"Denis, look out!!" Harris gasped.

     As Harris and I slid to the side, almost getting pushed by that other skater, I lost balance on my footing. With wide eyes and a loud gasp, I fall head-on. However, before my head strikes the ice-cold floor, Harris clutches onto me, grabbing my back and warm palm. And there, time seems to freeze as Harris catches me in his arms. Harris and I peer deeply into our eyes, peeking through the windows of our souls.

     At that brief moment that seems to stand still for minutes, it feels like Harris has gotten a glimpse of my true feelings. Our eyes meet and interlock, refusing to break this long stare. As I teeter over while he holds me, I feel my heart beating like crazy. My face flushes into deep red, and I see him also blushing. Ignoring the watching crowd that appears to judge our position to be suspicious, I stand upright and shrug it off, my lips tightened with embarrassment.

"Hey, Denis! Harris! You guys okay?" Philip asked as he skated towards us.

"Yeah," I replied with a nod, panting.

Chloe raised a brow, placing her hands on her hips. "What's with that position, though?"

Harris half-closed his eyes and glared at Chloe. "Erm..."

     Turning to the side, I glance at Harris in his golden eyes, and he locks his gaze upon me. We share a brief moment of smiling at each other. But just as I know it, he loses his smile, and his eyes drop, falling onto the floor. I quickly avert my gaze, feeling somewhat timid towards Harris. However, deep within my heart, I want to be held by Harris like that again, in that same position, where it's only the both of us.