When I saw Orion standing in front of me, alive and well, I pinched my thigh hard.
He took hold of my wrist and turned his head to look at me, smiling:
"Elara."
"I'm back."
I stood there dumbfounded, my legs weak, not daring to blink.
I was really scared.
Afraid that the Orion in front of me was just an illusion.
He looked at me quietly.
With a gentle tug, he pulled me into his arms.
My eyes moistened, and I hugged him tightly in return.
I cried as I rambled to him about everything that had happened in these days.
Talking about how the system found me when I attempted suicide after his death.
Talking about the three failed attempts and the system's sacrifice.
Talking about... the complicated relationship between me and Nathaniel.
He listened intently, very intently.
When I finished, I lifted my face, looking at him with red-rimmed eyes.
He gently rubbed my head:
"Elara..."
"You've really... suffered for me."
That night, Orion bought two tickets to abroad.
He said he owed me a complete honeymoon trip and wanted to make it up to me.
This bastard kept me up all night.
The next morning at five o'clock, he dragged me to climb a mountain to watch the sunrise.
I was so sleepy I could barely keep my eyes open, dazed.
I saw a strip of fish-belly white along the horizon, a blue sky with a red sun, and the sunlight tinting the clouds a rosy color.
I leaned against Orion, staring at the teardrop-shaped mole at the corner of his eye.
He noticed my gaze and raised his eyebrows at me.
He asked, "What's wrong?"
I said, "People who watch the sunrise together will stay together for a long, long time."
A silly thing to say, right?
He also laughed and pinched my nose:
"Fool, I'll always be by your side."
Descending the mountain through the thin mist, when we reached river, the sky started drizzling.
The boatman paddled towards me and shouted, "It's raining, want to take a boat with cover?"
I looked back at Orion.
He was taking off his windbreaker to shield me from the rain and nodded faintly upon hearing this.
The boat rocked gently on the water, the boatman humming a dialect tune, a breeze brushing past the willows on either side, leaves floating onto the surface of the water.
I was admiring the scenery.
Looking back, I saw Orion leaning against the railing, watching me.
Ripples formed at the stern of the boat, the boat swayed slightly, and wisps of cool breeze blew in.
I was jolted, nearly losing my balance.
Orion firmly held my waist.
The boatman turned around and warned me, "Young lady, hold onto the railing."
After docking, I went to settle the bill.
Not having walked far, the boatman stopped me and stuffed a wad of change into my hand.
Muttering, "Why did you give me extra money?"
I watched his retreating figure rowing away, stunned.
Behind me, Orion suddenly called my name:
"Elara."
"Let's go to the church and pray for another blessing for safety."
The hazy drizzle separated us, and I couldn't see his expression clearly.
But I still agreed.
When I found Orion waiting under the tree, he was still smiling at me.
Smiling as if basking in the spring breeze.
I threw myself into his arms, tightly gripping his hand.
It wasn't a festival or holiday, so there weren't many people coming and going outside the church.
I was pressed against the pink wall by him, kissed fiercely while he held my waist.
It was quite passionate.
Blushing, I gently pushed him away:
"Hey, behave."
The man's cool fingers brushed past my wrist, and he softly said, "Yes."
I pulled him towards the bridge over the flowing stream, saying:
"This time, the God will surely bless you with peace and safety..."
Suddenly, the sensation in my hand vanished.
I turned around.
Orion's face became increasingly blurry under the clear light after the rain.
He curved his lips towards me:
"Elara."
"Let's... say goodbye here."
My heart throbbed violently.
I tried to grab his hand.
"Where are you going?"
"Don't you want me anymore?"
"Orion, don't leave me!"
Tourists on the street were looking at me; I must look like a madwoman now.
But I couldn't care less.
My mind was filled with only one thought:
I have to catch Orion.
To catch him, don't let him go.
Suddenly, I heard many voices around me:
"The riverbank is dangerous, don't go any further!"
"What kind of shock did you have, trying to commit suicide by drowning?"
"Young lady, listen to us, there's no obstacle in life you can't overcome."
"Please, come back quickly."
Those were faces filled with tension, worry, and concern.
My gaze wandered through the crowd.
Why wasn't there Orion?
Where was he going?
"Elara, I finally found you!"
Charlie pushed through the crowd and shouted anxiously at me:
"There's no strategy, no system."
"Leader Davenant has been dead for two years."
"Will you come back to the hospital with me for treatment?"
