Chapter 55
The air of the shaded garden welcomed him with the scent of damp earth and leaves still dripping with the remnants of dew.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the trees, dancing across the grass that rippled softly with the light breeze.
Each breath he drew matched the rhythm of his steps, reminding him that the distance between where he stood now and the world he had left minutes ago was rapidly shrinking.
He realized that even though his pace was hurried, this journey was preparation for a moment that would demand calm, even as he had already lost much control in a scenario he did not yet fully understand.
A few minutes later, Theo finally reached the edge of the lush garden, where sunlight fell brighter and warmer upon the ground.
Here was the spot where Ilux and Aldraya would begin their date journey, a place that symbolized departure as well as the start of the ten planned points.
Everything seemed calm, as if the garden was waiting for the first step that would initiate a story composed of interactions and choices yet unknown.
Theo surveyed his surroundings, absorbing every small detail.
The leaves stirred lightly, while the shadows of the trees created intricate patterns on the ground, accompanied by whispers of the wind carrying distant messages.
'My breath… it's caught, but I have to stay focused.
Thankfully, I have this yellow book—the only thing that can keep my mind sane in a world that is no longer mine.'
Theo exhaled sharply, his chest vibrating with tension that had not fully subsided.
He leaned slightly, resting his left hand against the sturdy trunk of a tree, feeling the rough texture of the wood beneath his palm as temporary support.
He wiped the sweat clinging to his face in quick motions, removing the moisture caused by exertion and the adrenaline still coursing through him.
Each breath brought partial calm, yet his mind kept turning, weighing the next move in a moment full of possibilities and risk.
With his right hand, Theo reached into the right pocket of his pants, retrieving the yellow book he always carried to record every observed detail.
The book felt familiar in his grasp, like an anchor keeping him focused amidst waves of scenarios beyond his full control.
He opened a page, scanning neatly written notes, letting his eyes trace the letters that bore silent witness to every observation, every strategy, every step he had planned.
The remaining sweat on his brow quickly dried, replaced by a deeper sense of vigilance.
The yellow book was more than just notes; it was a tool to ensure he stayed one step ahead, observing with the precision of a writer trapped in someone else's creation.
Theo took a long breath, calming his heartbeat, preparing to immerse himself in the next moment, while continuing to weigh five steps ahead to maintain balance between himself, Erietta, and the scenario beginning to unfold beyond his full control.
'Thank God, I thought Aldraya had arrived long ago.
There's still time to observe without having to hide desperately.'
Haaaaah!
'Ilux is sitting there—relaxed yet neat—a thin knitted sweater over a white shirt, the folds at his wrists and neck looking like symbols of contrived politeness.
His dark jeans fit perfectly, without tears, and those leather shoes are too clean, almost pure for someone claiming to want a casual look.'
In the still-empty garden, Aldraya was nowhere in sight, leaving Ilux alone on a wooden bench facing the pathway.
He checked the time on his left wrist casually, occasionally glancing around, enjoying the morning air still damp with dew.
Ilux's presence seemed calm, yet Theo, observing from a distance, noted every detail with the meticulous eye of a writer used to weighing a scene before it fully formed.
Ilux's outfit appeared tidy yet simple, projecting an understated casual impression.
The thin knitted sweater wrapped his torso, with either a V-neck or crewneck paired with a plain white shirt underneath.
The folds of the shirt at his wrists and neck added subtle detail, as if every movement of Ilux was carefully considered.
His lower half consisted of dark wash jeans that fit well, without tears or excessive accents, or cotton trousers that preserved a neat silhouette.
The shoes on the ground were either desert boots or casual leather shoes, emphasizing a combination of everyday practicality and simple style.
Every detail of his clothing, seemingly trivial, became reference points for Theo to understand Ilux's character in a moment that appeared casual but brimming with potential.
Ilux sat on the bench, waiting, glancing at his watch.
Meanwhile, the garden around remained silent, signaling that this date scene was only just about to begin.
'Three minutes, enough to rewrite a small fate on these pages—recording what occurs, erasing what the world has failed to fulfill under my assumption of control.
Each letter pulses like a heartbeat, every line like a scar from a story that no longer obeys its author.'
Wusssh!
'The scent of this heavenly nature, too pure for a world this rotten.
Of course, I recognize it, know who it belongs to.
But my logic refuses, denies that possibility.'
"…?"
"—Aldraya?! Why are you here?!"
Theo continued to watch from afar.
His right hand busily scribbled in the yellow book, marking notes to keep and crossing out what did not match reality.
About three minutes passed, every movement of Ilux and the garden's shadows carefully noted, like a writer weighing a scene before releasing it into the world.
The morning silence was suddenly pierced by a soft, heavenly fragrance descending to the earth in an unexpected manner.
The scent struck his nose, making his heartbeat leap for a moment, Theo's awareness peaking in confused surprise.
Reflexively, he turned, staring toward the source of the scent, then stepped back a few meters.
He paused, tensed, his face displaying clear shock.
Approaching was not Ilux, the man meant to accompany Aldraya on their first date, but Aldraya Kansh Que herself, arriving with an unpredictable aura, disrupting the rhythm of the world Theo had so far recorded and controlled.
Confusion gripped Theo, while his mind raced faster, weighing the reasons behind Aldraya's sudden appearance.
He sensed this unpredictability as a subtle shift in a scenario he thought secure, a reminder that the world had its own course even when notes and strategies were meticulously recorded in the yellow book.
'She really is Aldraya Kansh Que, no doubt about it.
The way she stands, her flat gaze devoid of emotional pause, even the rhythm of her breath like a machine knowing when to function and when to stop.
But today—Oh God, she looks too captivating to be called a robot.'
Huuuuuh!
'The soft knitted cardigan drapes neatly over her shoulders, covering a boat-neck top that follows her body's lines without exaggeration.
The A-line midi skirt she wears sways gently with each passing breeze, reflecting the light like delicate curtains at the edge of dusk.
And the square-heeled loafers.
Simple, yet somehow making her appear more alive than anyone else in this garden.'
Hhhhh!
'I nearly froze—half a second, but enough to make me forget that in this world, she's one of the ten main antagonists.
Damn. I'm the writer, yet why do I now feel like the extra character?'
To be continued…