Morning in Mistwood didn't rush in...it settled softly, like it had all the time in the world. The curtains in Valary's room swayed lazily with the breeze, letting thin lines of sunlight slip across the wooden floor and slowly climb up the bed where she lay buried under the blankets.
For the first time in what felt like years, she had slept without tossing, without waking up irritated,
without those nightmare...
without that constant weight pressing against her chest like something was wrong even when nothing was.
She didn't even realize when she woke up.
Her fingers moved first, brushing lazily against the pillow before she shifted slightly, letting out a quiet breath as she rubbed her eyes. Her long brown hair was a mess, spilling across her shoulders and face, soft strands sticking to her cheek.
"…what time is it…" she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.
Before she could even reach for her phone, there was a soft knock.
And then the door opened.
Martin stepped in, already dressed neatly in a light grey shirt and dark trousers, like he had been awake for hours handling responsibilities she never wanted to understand. He paused when he saw her awake, and a small, almost relieved smile appeared on his face.
"Hey there, sweetheart… you're finally up," he said gently, walking in. "Looks like someone had a really good sleep."
Valary blinked slowly, her gaze settling on him.
For a second—just a second—she didn't react.
Because this… this wasn't normal.
Her father… coming to wake her up?
Since when did he learn things like this? she thought, raising one eyebrow slightly.
For a fleeting moment, it felt unreal. Like something out of a life she never got to live.
But just as quickly, she pushed that feeling away.
She wasn't going to fall for that.
She sat up without a word, kicking the blanket aside and swinging her legs off the bed, her expression flattening again.
"This place stinks," she muttered, stretching slightly as she stood. "Feels like I'm gonna throw up if I stay here any longer. Can we just go back and come again on the wedding day?"
Martin sighed softly, already expecting it.
"Really?" he asked, tilting his head. "Because you looked pretty calm yesterday."
She scoffed under her breath. "You don't know shit about what I feel."
That stung—but he ignored it.
"Alright," he said carefully. "Actually, I came to tell you something. I might have to go back to the city for two days. There's an issue at the company. Lucas called—he can't handle it alone, so I—"
"Of course," Valary cut him off immediately, her tone sharp as she turned away, grabbing her hair and tying it into a loose bun. "Every fucking time."
Martin paused.
"I was actually wondering how the hell you managed to stay with me for two full days," she continued with a dry laugh. "That's never happened before. Guess I was stupid to think anything changed."
"Val, listen—"
"No, you listen," she snapped, turning back toward him. "I don't care about your business problems. If you're leaving, I'm coming with you. I'm not staying here alone with strangers. Not happening."
"You have to stay," Martin said, firmer this time. "Don't you want to meet him?"
Valary let out a short, sarcastic laugh.
"Meet him?" she repeated. "I don't want to waste my time on that fucking coward. The guy couldn't even show up. What the hell is he even thinking? Not worth my time."
"Val—"
"Is this the guy you called well-mannered?" she snapped, anger rising. "So much manners for someone who didn't even bother to show up and greet his soon-to-be—whatever the fuck you call it."
"No, sweety, it's—"
A knock interrupted them.
"Come in," Martin said.
The door opened, and Sarah stepped inside, holding a neatly folded dress in her hands. She paused, sensing the tension immediately.
"Oh—I'm sorry," she said softly. "Did I interrupt something? I can come back later—"
"No, no," Martin said quickly. "It's fine. I was just telling her about going back to the city."
"Oh…" Sarah sighed lightly. "Work again? That's frustrating…"
"It is," Martin replied. "But what can I do?"
She nodded, then turned toward Valary, her expression softening again.
"I actually came for something else," she said warmly. "I wanted to give you this."
She stepped forward and placed the dress in Valary's hands.
Valary looked down.
A soft peach-colored dress.
Vintage. Elegant. Timeless.
"It was your mother's," Sarah added gently.
Valary froze.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the fabric as her eyes traced every detail—the delicate embroidery, the softness of it, the way it felt almost alive beneath her touch.
Such a beautiful dress… damn, mom had really good taste, she thought, her chest tightening unexpectedly.
For a moment, everything else faded.
She could see it.
Her mother wearing it.
Smiling.
Alive.
"…it's beautiful," Valary whispered, almost to herself.
Her voice had softened.
"I love it," she added quietly, holding it closer to her chest.
Sarah smiled warmly, while Martin stood there in quiet surprise, watching his daughter—really watching her.
"That was her favorite dress," Sarah said gently. "She wore it for every special occasion. She forgot to bring it when you moved to the city, but she told me to keep it safe. I've taken care of it all these years… and now it's finally in the right hands."
Martin let out a quiet breath. "She was wearing it the day I proposed to her…"
His voice carried something deeper—something that never really left him.
Sarah placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him.
He nodded slightly.
"Go freshen up, dear," Sarah said softly. "Breakfast is ready."
Valary didn't argue.
She just nodded faintly and walked toward the bathroom, still holding the dress carefully.
Downstairs, Martin joined Sarah and Daniel at the table.
"So, what is it?" he asked.
Daniel leaned forward. "Do you really have to leave already? You just came yesterday."
"Yeah," Martin sighed. "Val's not comfortable here. And I do have to go."
"When will you be back?" Sarah asked.
"I don't know. Depends."
"The wedding is in three days," she said, worry slipping into her voice.
"I'll be there," he replied firmly. "No matter what."
After a pause, Martin asked, "Where is Lian?"
Daniel's expression darkened immediately. "That boy… not picking calls, not at Ron's place. If I see him, I swear—"
Martin chuckled. "You were the same."
"That's different," Daniel muttered.
Then—
They felt A presence. All three turned.
And froze.
Valary stepped down the stairs slowly.
Wearing the dress.
The peach fabric flowed around her perfectly, her long hair left open, falling naturally over her shoulders. The light caught on the soft fabric, making her look almost unreal.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Martin's eyes softened.
Sarah smiled wide. "Oh my god… look at you…"
Daniel let out a low whistle. "Well damn… Lian's done for."
"You look exactly like her," Sarah said softly.
Valary gave a small, quiet smile.
Breakfast passed with light conversation.
"You should stay a few more days," Sarah suggested gently.
"No," Valary said immediately.
"I have things to do."
"Daniel chuckled softly. "It's alright, dear. I get it—this place must feel a little… small to you. We thought you and that idiot son of mine might spend some time together, you know, make things less awkward on the wedding day… but clearly, the universe had other plans.'"
Not more awkward than marrying a total stranger, Valary thought dryly.
"But your comfort matters," Daniel added. "You can meet him on the wedding day itself… might even make it exciting."
Valary mentally scoffed.
Exciting? Yeah, right.
Meanwhile…
Lian wandered through the village with Ron and Milo, hands shoved deep into his pockets, his shoulders slightly hunched as if he could physically avoid reality just by shrinking into himself. His glasses kept slipping down his nose, and he adjusted them absentmindedly, eyes carefully avoiding literally everyone around him.
"I think this is good," he said, trying way too hard to sound casual. "Fresh air. Peace. No pressure. Honestly… this is kind of nice."
Ron stopped walking.
Slowly.
"…you're joking, right?" he asked, turning his head just enough to stare at him.
Lian blinked. "What?"
Milo let out a dry breath. "You've been hiding for two days, Lian. Two. Days. That's not 'peace,' that's you running away like a coward."
"I am not a coward," Lian shot back immediately, a little too quickly.
"You ran away," Ron said flatly.
"I strategically avoided an unnecessary situation—"
"That's the same thing!" both of them snapped at once.
Lian groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "You guys don't get it…"
"Then make us get it," Milo said, crossing his arms.
There was a pause.
Lian's steps slowed.
"…what if she hates me?" he muttered quietly, almost like he didn't want the words to exist once they left his mouth.
Ron and Milo exchanged a look.
"Trust me," Milo said bluntly, "she probably already does."
Lian stopped walking entirely. "See?! That's exactly why I'm not going!"
Ron rolled his eyes so hard it was almost impressive. "Oh my god, listen to yourself. You haven't even met her and you're already acting like she rejected you in front of a crowd."
"You don't understand!" Lian snapped, his voice rising slightly before dropping again. "My past with girls hasn't exactly been… great, okay? They all rejected me. Every single one. Too boring, too quiet, too… whatever the hell I am."
His jaw tightened as he looked away.
"And she…" he continued, his voice softer now, almost uncertain, "she's not like them. She's from that family. She must've seen guys way better than me. Confident, good-looking, actually interesting. What if she looks at me and just—" he gestured helplessly, "—regrets everything instantly?"
For a second, neither Ron nor Milo joked.
"…you really think that low of yourself, huh?" Ron said, his tone quieter this time.
Lian let out a humorless laugh. "I don't think it. I've experienced it."
Milo sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, listen. If she didn't like you, she could've said no. It's not like she's being forced without options."
"…maybe," Lian said, but his voice didn't carry much belief.
Ron stepped in front of him, forcing him to stop again. "No 'maybe.' You're overthinking this to death. Worst case? She doesn't like you. Big deal. You've survived that before."
"Not in front of my parents," Lian muttered. "Not like this… not when it actually matters."
That hit a little deeper than expected.
For a brief moment, there was silence.
Then Milo exhaled sharply. "Dude… if you're this unsure, then cancel the damn wedding. Seriously. Don't drag yourself and some random girl into a mess just because you're scared."
"What? No!" Lian's head snapped up instantly. "I don't want to cancel. It's not that. I just… I just need—"
"Courage?" Ron supplied dryly.
"…yeah," Lian admitted after a beat, scratching the back of his neck. "Something like that."
Ron smirked slightly. "Good. Because you're running out of time to find it."
Lian looked between them, then let out a long breath, his shoulders dropping.
They're right… I can't keep running like this. This is stupid.
You've been rejected before. So what? You survived that. You'll survive this too.
Worst case… she hates you.
Best case…
He didn't even finish that thought.
"Fine," he muttered finally. "I'll go."
Milo raised an eyebrow. "You'll go?"
"I'll go," Lian repeated, this time a little more firmly, even though his stomach twisted at the idea. "I'm not backing out now. Whatever happens… happens."
Ron grinned. "There we go. Look at you, acting like a man for once."
"Shut up," Lian shot back, though there was a faint hint of a smile now.
"Come on," Milo said, clapping his shoulder. "Let's head back before your dad actually sends a search party to drag you home."
Lian sighed. "Yeah… yeah, let's go."
He had just taken a step forward—
When something soft brushed against his leg.
He froze instantly.
"…what the hell—"
He looked down.
A small white rabbit sat there, twitching its nose like it owned the place.
"…Marshmello?" Lian blinked in disbelief.
The rabbit hopped closer, nudging his shoe.
And just like that…
All the tension in his face melted.
"Hey, buddy…" Lian crouched down immediately, scooping the rabbit into his arms with surprising care. "Where the hell did you come from, huh? I thought you were at home."
The rabbit nuzzled into his hand.
Ron snorted. "I'm surprised that thing is still alive. I thought I ate it during the last festival."
Lian slowly turned his head toward him.
The glare he gave could kill.
"Touch him," Lian said calmly, his voice dangerously quiet, "and I will personally bury you alive."
Milo burst out laughing. "Relax, man, he's joking."
"I'm not," Ron added, grinning.
"Yeah, keep talking," Lian muttered, gently stroking Marshmello's fur. "You're one step away from becoming fertilizer."
The rabbit squeaked softly, completely unbothered.
Lian sighed, holding it a little closer as they started walking back.
And even though the fear was still there…
It didn't feel as suffocating anymore.
Because for the first time since this whole mess started…
He had actually decided to face it.
Later that evening…
Valary had officially reached her limit. Doing absolutely nothing in that house was slowly draining the life out of her. She had taken leave from her college for this, and now she was stuck here with nothing to do. Her phone had practically become useless—no signal, no distraction, nothing. The frustration kept building, crawling under her skin with every passing minute.
And being surrounded by old people everywhere? That was not helping at all.
She sat there, slouched, looking half-dead out of pure boredom, her fingers lazily tapping against the wooden surface beside her, when her father finally walked up to her.
"Val, you look sleepy."
She shot him an annoyed look, her brows knitting together instantly.
"The heck you want me to do then? This is literally boring as fuck, I can't survive anymore—urg!" she snapped, tapping her hand harder against the wood in irritation.
Martin let out a small chuckle, unfazed.
"What about I take you to your mother's secret place? I told you that I will show you that place, right? Shall we go there?" he asked, his tone carrying a quiet warmth.
Valary stiffened for a second.
Just a second.
Then she stood up abruptly, almost too fast.
"Yes—let's go. Finally, I can breathe."
And just like that, the irritation melted into urgency.
With that, both of them stepped outside.
On the way, Martin pointed out places one after another—their old school, the spots where he and her mother used to play, their old properties… little fragments of a past she had never really seen but was now quietly stepping into.
Finally, they reached the lakeside.
"See over there—that's the spot. You can even see me and your mother's names carved on that tree," Martin said, his voice carrying a rare excitement as he walked toward the tree beside the lake.
But Valary barely heard him.
She was too captivated.
The scenery in front of her was nothing short of breathtaking. The lake shimmered like liquid crystal, its surface so clear that she could see colorful fish gliding effortlessly beneath. It felt untouched… peaceful in a way that wrapped around her like a soft embrace.
She walked closer to the edge, her steps slowing down, almost careful, as if she didn't want to disturb the serenity.
Bending slightly, she held onto her mother's dress—the one she was wearing—clutching it gently as she looked at her reflection in the water.
For a moment… everything stopped.
All her frustration, her boredom, her irritation—it just slipped away like it was never there.
In its place came something unfamiliar.
Peace.
A quiet, overwhelming calm that spread through her chest.
She slowly dipped her hand into the water—
—and jerked instantly at the sudden cold touch.
"Ah—!" she pulled back slightly, blinking.
It felt like a current had rushed through her entire body, sharp yet oddly refreshing.
From a distance, Martin watched her—his little girl—enjoying the place that once meant everything to him and her mother.
A soft, adoring smile rested on his face.
Valary stayed there for a moment before standing up again, curiosity now replacing everything else. She began exploring the place, wandering around the bushes, her fingers brushing lightly against leaves—
—and then she noticed them.
Flowers.
Multiple colors, blooming beautifully as if they were painted into existence.
Her eyes softened.
Wow… these are the same flowers in our garden. Mom used to take the most care to grow these…
She crouched slightly, touching the petals delicately.
Now I understand… these are part of her happy and joyful days from here. That's why she grew them there.
A faint expression crossed her face—something quieter, something deeper.
She plucked a few flowers gently and brought them close, inhaling their scent.
It was mesmerizing.
Soft. Nostalgic. Almost comforting.
Like this, she explored the whole area for a while, losing track of time.
A little later, Martin noticed the sky growing darker, clouds gathering thickly.
Rain was coming.
"Val, sweety—we should go back home. It looks like it's about to rain soon," he called out.
Valary didn't even turn back.
"You may go. I want to spend a little more time here. Also… I need some privacy," she replied, her tone returning to its usual cold edge.
Martin paused.
For a second, her words stung—but then again, he understood.
At least she was… settling in.
"As you wish, Val. The driver will be here waiting for you. Once you want to come back, just let him know, okay?"
"Yeah," she yelled from afar, already walking deeper into the area.
Martin left.
Valary walked back toward the lake and sat down, breathing in slowly, letting the air fill her lungs. She paused there for a moment before slowly slipping into her own thoughts.
This is not as bad as I thought…
She glanced around.
Guess I could come here just for this place. From this moment… this is my favorite place.
She stayed like that for a second before pulling out her camera and starting to capture the scenery the shimmering lake, the flowers, the quiet sky—freezing those moments into something she could keep.
But then…
A sudden rustling sound broke the silence.
She froze slightly.
"What was that?" she muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing as she turned toward the bushes.
Seems like something is moving inside… is that a snake?
A small pause.
Hmm… let's see.
Slowly, cautiously, she walked toward the bush. Her steps were light, her gaze focused. She bent slightly and carefully pushed the branches aside, trying to get a clear look at whatever was inside
…and then her eyes widened.
It was a white rabbit.
"OH MY—!"
The poor thing was tangled inside the bush, struggling desperately to free itself, its tiny body trembling with effort.
"What a poor thing… got trapped just like me," she murmured, shaking her head slightly.
Rolling up her sleeves carefully—making sure not to dirty her dress—she reached in and gently started removing the tangled branches.
"Hey… hey, calm down," she muttered softly, her movements surprisingly careful.
After a bit of effort, she finally freed it.
"There you are…" she whispered, lifting the rabbit gently into her hands.
But then she notice…
There was a cut on its leg.
"Shit… it looks like a bigger cut. What should I do now?" she frowned, her brows pulling together.
She quickly walked back to the car, still holding the rabbit, and searched for something—anything—that could help.
After a moment, she found a kerchief.
"Okay… seems like this will do…"
She went back, crouched down, and carefully wrapped the kerchief around the rabbit's injured leg, her fingers steady but gentle.
Once done, she placed the rabbit down on the ground.
"Thank me… you are the second thing that I probably put my efforts into. Now go away."
But the rabbit didn't move.
It just sat there.
Chilling.
She blinked.
"What? You're not going? Well… I don't mind a little company from you."
She walked over and sat down on a rock beside it, resting her chin on her hands as she stared into the lake again, slowly sinking back into her thoughts.
She leaned forward slightly.
"Can you imagine how fucked up my life is right now?" she started, her voice quieter now, almost like she forgot she was talking to an animal.
"It's not about this total bullshit wedding thing… it's about everything."
She let out a breath, picking at the grass absentmindedly.
"I don't trust anyone. You know why? 'Cause everyone comes to you only because they want something. Not because they care or any of those cliché things they say…"
She flicked some water into the lake with her fingers.
"When they're done with you… you're alone again. But it hurts more when you get used to them… and then they suddenly leave."
Her expression hardened slightly.
"Call me rude, or bitch, or whatever you want—but I'm not going to fake my personality just to please others."
A pause.
Her gaze softened just a little.
"This is not how I used to be… and now I don't even want to be like that anymore."
She let out a small, bitter laugh.
"I thought changing like this would give me the power and strength I craved… but look at me. Still dolled up… still being played by my dad into this stupid shit."
Her fingers clenched slightly.
"If it's not for my dream, there is no fucking way that I'm going to agree to please some motherfucking village freak."
She looked at the bunny.
It was just there.
Munching on the grass.
Looking at her with those big, innocent eyes.
And suddenly…
Something shifted.
A tiny curve formed on her lips.
It grew.
She smiled.
A real one.
"Guess I've already become crazy, haven't I? Talking to a random bunny…"
She picked it up gently and placed it on her lap, her fingers softly caressing its fragile body.
"At least you're a better listener than anyone in my life," she murmured, her voice dropping.
Just then…
A small droplet fell onto her skin.
She blinked and looked up.
Rain.
It had started.
But instead of frustration…
She felt… lighter.
Freer.
She closed her eyes slowly, letting the rain fall over her, soaking into her hair, her dress, her skin. She didn't move.
She just stayed there.
The bunny rested safely under the cover of her long dress, peeking out slightly, still nibbling on grass as if nothing in the world mattered.
And for that moment…
Nothing else did.
All the while…
Unaware…
Of a pair of eyes watching her from behind a distant tree.
Quiet.
Intense.
And unknowingly… filled with something dangerously close to love.