Come back to me.

"I-" Lily was a little hesitant. "I have to return...to where I lived."

Chen was silently looking at her.

"...There's trouble; I need to go fix it. I don't know when I'll be back."

He deeply looked into her eyes. She seemed like she was about to cry.

"En. I understand," Chen pulled her back into his embrace and said in a deep, soft voice. "So don't make that face."

"You know? I am very happy these past weeks with you..." She continued.

He rubbed his face against hers. "...Me too."

"...I hope it would last forever." her voice started to become unstable.

"I don't want to go." Her hand gripped his clothes by his chest.

"I'm scared... I'm scared." She whimpered.

"You have me; I'm here for you." He comforted her. "You don't have to tell me anything. You don't have to say anymore."

No, I can't rely on you. It is my battle. Something that was supposed to be fought thousands of years ago. But I was too scared.

Tears slowly flowed down her cheeks.

He froze, seeing her cry.

"Don't cry, don't cry..." He quickly rubbed the tears off her cheek and patted her back. "Don't cry...please..." He started to panic.

Chen silently listened to her as she constantly sniffed. All he could do was hug her tightly and comforted her.

It was the first time she ever cried in front of him. For someone so cheerful, seeing her like that made him unable to think. He felt a little frustrated that he didn't know what to do.

When she finally slept, he rubbed the remaining tear stains off her face and kissed her cheek.

"Sweet Dreams." He tightened his grip on her again, fearing she would suddenly disappear. "I hope you always be happy in my arms."

He closed his eyes with a pained expression and patted her back.

The next morning when Lily blearily woke up, she touched her eyes first. Though she can't see, she could feel the puffiness of her eyes. Things that happened last night flashed through her head.

Darn it.

"You're awake?" Chen's hoarse yet gentle voice sounded the room.

"Don't look!" Lily hid her face under the blanket. "I'm ugly right now!"

It was embarrassing to reveal her weak self. She felt drunk last night despite not having any alcohol.

Chen pulled down the blanket and said. "You're beautiful."

She peeked through her hands. "...Liar."

"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met." He smiled as he smoothed the wrinkled spot between her brows.

"...More than Anne?" Though they were friends, she was still jealous of their close relationship.

Chen chuckled. "En."

"I'll take it." Lily lowered her hands and rested on his chest.

Chen kissed her on the spot between her brows. "Let's stay like this a little more."

They snuggled close.

He had asked for permission the previous night to have the week off, and the king immediately agreed. He was finally free for a week of torture and insisted on two, but Chen declined.

They left for his house after breakfast. Chen had made plans for them to watch a theatre performance from a famous troupe that traveled through the country once every year.

Next, they had lunch at a shop he used to frequent by himself on his downtime. It was a stress-free date.

The following days, they went to another part of the country exploring. Other days they stayed at home, cooked, cleaned, enjoying each other's company.

Despite it being tedious chores that the servants usually do, Chen and Lily liked doing them. It was satisfying, and it was the simple things that were the most meaningful.

At night, they would stay in the same room, slept in the same bed, and woke up in the same way. It became a routine, one that was slowly becoming difficult to break.

When they laid together, they would always embrace each other. Chen would always kiss her forehead and bid her goodnight. Lily would sleep first, so he would stay awake and did some thinking to himself.

They both spent their time leisurely, but in the back of their minds, it wasn't all that fun. The fear of parting brought on a heavy atmosphere.

Just like that, a little more over a week quickly flew by.

Lily told Chen that she would leave on her own, but he immediately refused and followed her back to the bridge.

He held her hand tightly, not wanting her to go. This time he really feared she might not come back.

Lily turned to face him and hugged him one last time.

"..."

He let her did as she pleased. Chen gripped his hand, making them dangle on the side.

It was for about a month and a little more. Longer than the last time she came, but it was still too short.

Wasn't there a way to make her stay? He wracked his brain for answers.

There wasn't any.

"Tell the others goodbye for me." She suddenly said.

Chen didn't reply. His lips formed a straight line.

Feeling that she was about to let go, he finally wrapped his arms around her. He closed his eyes to visualize every part of her in his mind.

"Stay safe. I worry about you. You know."

"Un."

"Do you like me?" Chen asked.

"En." Lily nodded. "I like you."

"I like you too." He went silent before he calmly said: "Come back to me."

"...Un." Her voice was unstable before she forced a smile. "You know You're copying what I said before."

Chen released her from his embrace and cupped her face to land one last kiss on her lips.

"I did not copy this part." His smiled. It was even more gentle than any other expression he has ever given to someone.

Lily put her hand on his which held her face so tenderly. She tried to remember its warmth as much as she could.

A tear dropped from her eyes.

Chen brushed it off gently and said roughly. "Don't...cry... I won't be able to handle it."

It was the second time she cried in front of him. He doesn't know if he'll be able to handle it in the future. His heart constricted in an unpleasant way.

"...Please don't cry, my baby."

Lily closed her eyes, trying to contain them. Another tear dropped from her face.

Chen explained, "We're still new. There's a lot more to do in the future. A lot of places to go and time to be together."

After collecting herself, she finally said: "Close your eyes."

He obediently listened.

Lily tiptoed to him and kissed him on the cheek. Few seconds felt like an eternity.

The wind slightly brushed his hair. When he slowly opened his eyes.

Only the landscape of his surroundings was seen.

She was gone.

When he turned to his right, the water swayed ever so slightly.

They went to the bridge together as two, but now he returned as one, walking alone.

In front of their home, Chen slowly opened the door. The fruity, citrus smell was starting to fade. Her scent was still visible, but the house felt empty.

Was it ever this big? Bigger than when he first moved into it?

It was dark and gloomy, very cave-like. He dragged himself upstairs.

All her things were there, but not her.

After showering, he habitually laid on his side of the bed with his arm covering his eyes.

He put his other hand on the other side. The feeling of the cold sheets slapped him back to reality.

There was no one.

Before, he would sleep in the middle, but now it was hard to do the same. It didn't feel right anymore.

Her existence had consumed him. Chen had now returned to years ago, or maybe at least a decade. That empty, lonely feeling that he didn't belong anywhere.

It was all clear, more apparent today.