Chapter V. A Rebel's Rhythm

"You are not joking, right?" Lawrence asked.

I wonder how many times he's already asked me that. We're now sitting on the couch, and I've told him everything. It's still sinking in for him—slowly.

"Listen, you can't tell anyone about this. You know it'll be a huge problem if anyone finds out." I glanced at Gusion, who was currently leaning back on the couch.

"I still can't believe this, Noe. How can a fictional hero be here, sitting right in front of us?" He looked both shocked and excited.

"Believe it or not, he's real," I said.

Gusion glanced at me. "Here's what I need from you now. Find a way to send me back to my world. And—"

"I told you, I can't find a way," I interrupted him.

"You still haven't done anything," he said. I threw him a spiteful look.

"There must be a way," Lawrence said. "Did he tell you how he got here?"

"No, he didn't." We both looked at Gusion, waiting for his answer.

"You have to tell us!" I said when he shook his head.

"How I got here is none of your concern. Your only task is to find a way back." he said, crossing his arms over his chest. Even now, he's still not ready to open up about how he ended up here.

"How can we help you if you won't tell us how you came into our world? Maybe that would help. Maybe there's a portal we need to go back to. Do you remember where it was? Where you arrived?"

He just looked at me, as if analyzing me. It felt like he was reading my deepest thoughts. I raised my eyebrows and motioned for him to speak.

"Information comes at a cost. Find a way, and you'll have it." he answered, then walked into his room. What the hell is his problem?

"Are you freaking serious?" I was about to throw my slipper at him, but Lawrence stopped me.

"Are you planning to just settle here? You seem too calm. You have to help find a way too!" I exclaimed. He keeps saying he wants to go back to where he came from, but he's not even giving us any leads. How can we help him if he's like this? Is he just playing with us?

"He's an assassin, Noe. It's dangerous," Lawrence whispered to me.

"But he's so annoying!" He really is. I sat down and crossed my arms. I want to know how he came here.

"This explains the strange feeling I had the first time I met him. I still can't believe it," Lawrence said, shaking his head and running his fingers through his hair.

"Well, I couldn't believe it either. But his crazy daggers convinced me. Did you know he even pointed one right at my neck to threaten me?"

"He did that?" Lawrence sat beside me and checked my neck. He looked confused when he saw nothing. Gusion's kiss had healed it.

"Will you be okay here?"

"Of course. And he won't harm me again. I'm strong, remember?"

"You're a girl and you're staying with a guy. Are you sure you'll really be okay?" He sounded like a protective brother, but my heart still thudded.

"I told you, I'm strong." He patted my head after I answered, trying to convince him that I really would be okay.

"You can call me if anything happens, okay?" Then he messed up my hair and pinched my cheek. "I have to go now. My mother's waiting at the mall."

"Oh," I paused. "Do you want to borrow some books?"

He nodded, and I packed them into a paper bag.

"Thanks, Noe," he said, but he didn't leave right away. Instead, he just stood there, staring at me like he wanted to say something more. I tilted my head slightly, curious, and met his eyes. They looked… sad.

"What is it?" I asked, awkwardly. I wasn't sure what was running through his mind. Part of me even wondered if I had something on my face—why else was he looking at me like that? But instead of answering, he pulled me into a hug. I blinked in surprise. His hand gently caressed the back of my head and stayed there for a moment. It felt warm—comforting.

"What's wrong?" I whispered, barely above a breath. His hand never stopped, continuing that soft, soothing motion.

"I may not be the best friend you'll ever have," he said, voice low and sincere, "But you know you can always lean on me, right? You're an incredible person, Noe. I just hope you never let anyone take advantage of your kindness or drag you down."

His words landed right in my chest. I understood what he meant—it was about earlier, about Melissa and Lucian. That whole mess with my siblings. His words eased the ache just a little.

"Thanks for worrying about me," I said, pulling away from the hug with a grateful smile. "That really means a lot."

He smiled and playfully messed up my hair. "I trust you. I've really got to go now, for real this time. Let me know if you need anything, alright?" With a final wave, he turned to leave.

Now that he knew everything, there was no more hiding. We just had to figure out how to send Gusion back to his homeland. He can't stay here forever.

I went to my study table and continued what I was doing. I only had one week left to study before the day of the examination, and I needed to do my best. But my siblings' words kept echoing in my mind. Our father was going to choose me—and that could only mean I was about to take what was meant for Lucian. His hatred for me would only grow stronger.

I didn't want to be part of the company. I was only doing this for our father. I just wanted him to be proud of me, even if just once.

My fingers had reddened from writing so much in my notes. This wasn't new to me. I wrapped a band-aid around my middle finger and kept going. I wondered how many times this had happened—I was used to it by now.

Studying was fine. It gave me knowledge. But what I really wanted was to feel the texture of the piano keys under my fingers. I wanted to make music—beautiful music.

"I must be tired," I murmured to myself as a wave of drowsiness hit me. I rested my head on the desk and closed my eyes.

When I woke up, it was already evening—I hadn't even realized I'd fallen asleep. I must've been more exhausted than I thought. A lot had happened, and maybe I did deserve a break. I looked around and noticed the lights were off. Only the moonlight streaming through the window lit up the room with a soft, silvery glow. That's when I saw it—my piano. It stood quietly by the glass window, untouched. I hadn't played it in almost a year.

"Studying like your life depends on it. How typical of you," a voice said behind me, making my heart jump. I turned and saw Gusion sitting on the couch, doing something with my phone.

"What are you doing?" I asked, standing up and walking toward him. He handed me my phone.

"Sitting," he replied with a shrug. "And I watched some videos while you were asleep. You did say I could."

"You shouldn't take something that isn't yours without the owner's permission. Do you understand me?" I crossed my arms over my chest. I couldn't see him clearly, but the moonlight gave me just enough to make out his expression.

"Okay," he answered simply. "You own a piano, yet it gathers dust. Why?"

I sat on the couch across from him, brushing my fingers through my hair as I leaned back.

"Eavesdropping isn't ideal, but there are moments when silence isn't an option. I trust you get what I mean." He was talking about what happened today.

He walked over to the piano and wiped some of the dust off with his finger.

"Don't touch it." I said.

"What do you want to do in the future?" he asked out of nowhere. He glanced at the piano before turning his eyes back to me.

"To be like my father," my mouth mumbled.

"Why do you want to be like him?"

"Why are you asking me that?" I laughed, but stopped when I realized he was serious. "That's what they planned for me. I have no right to disobey them."

"You are doing things for other people, not for yourself." He nodded, crossing his arms over his chest without taking his eyes off me.

"Of course, I'm doing this for myself, too." I lied.

"Are you happy?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered immediately. But then, I questioned myself. "This is what they've planned for me. I must cooperate accordingly."

"You speak like someone who's clueless about the world. You can't even make your own decisions." What he said made sense. I knew it was true that I couldn't decide for myself.

"I am afraid," I didn't know why those words slipped out. I wasn't planning to share this with him, or with anyone. But when he started talking about it, I felt like it was okay to confide in him.

"What are you afraid of?" He asked, still standing beside the piano, his gaze fixed on me. The room was dark, but the moonlight filtered through, casting a glow that illuminated his eyes, making them sparkle. His light brown hair shimmered, silky and radiant under the soft glow of the moon.

"Everything. I'm afraid of everything. I'm afraid of disappointing my parents once I disobey them. I'm afraid my siblings will forget me. If I do what I want, they'll disown me—that's for sure." The words slipped out in a soft voice. I smiled, trying so hard not to cry. Gusion stayed still, eyes focused on me.

"Fear is natural, but don't let it hold you back. If you're determined to do something, then commit to it fully. Don't let anything stop you."

"While hurting other people?" I paused. "That's selfish. I don't want to be like that." My life is a mess. My father, especially, decided that I should pursue engineering, and now I find out he's planning to make me his heir. My brother, who has worked so hard and with true passion to follow in my father's footsteps, now feels like I've taken his chance. Trying to please my mother and sister hasn't worked either—they've never been impressed.

"Selfish are those who force others into their plans without ever considering their opinions." He opened the piano. "Can you play it?"

I didn't answer for a moment, then nodded. "But I stopped playing it when I realized I wasn't going to have the chance to chase my dream."

"You could play it now," he said.

"No," I shook my head and looked at my fingers. "I'm afraid I'd love it again. I'm afraid that I—"

"You're afraid of too many things," he said, walking toward me and holding my hand. "Come, let me watch you play." His voice was calm. I stood up and went to the piano. Gusion pulled the chair out for me.

"I... haven't played it for almost a year." Looking at the keyboard made me feel so happy and excited. I thought the piano would only remind me that I had zero chance of being a pianist. But now, it was making me happy. My heart was racing.

"It's fine," Gusion said, standing near me, watching.

"I'm not good at it. I might make mistakes because my hands are trembling."

"It's fine," he repeated.

I took a deep breath and stretched my fingers before placing them on the keys. As soon as I started playing, my eyes closed. I had missed this feeling. It was as if I was reaching out, almost touching my dream. My heart fluttered, and in that moment, I didn't want it to end.

"It's called Nocturne," I said to Gusion when I stopped playing. "It was the first piece I ever learned. When I heard it as a kid, my heart raced, and I told my father I wanted to be like Chopin. But he said nothing. I always wondered why. Then, as I grew up, I realized they had already planned my future."

"You could've broken the rules," he said, sitting down beside me. The bench was wide enough for two, but he sat so close that his skin brushed against mine.

I looked at him. "I'm not like you. I can't live alone. I don't want to be disowned by my family."

"I'm not asking you to become like me," he said, voice steady. "I'm telling you—you've made a choice that may haunt you someday."

His simple words struck me. But what else could I do?

"I think it's your turn to tell me your story," I said, trying to shift the conversation. He pressed a single key on the piano with his finger.

"What is it you wish to know?" he asked, looking at me. The moonlight spilled through the window, casting a gentle glow across his face. His sharp blue eyes, usually cold and calculating, shimmered like clear water under starlight. In that moment, they weren't just piercing—they sparkled, alive with quiet fire, as if the moon itself had chosen to rest in his gaze.

"Why did you disobey your family?" I asked. His gaze didn't waver, and I couldn't look away.

"I simply followed where my passion led. Nothing more, nothing less." He answered simply, finally looking away.

"You mean your fighting technique—and your light-charged blade," I said.

He chuckled. "The Paxley family are renowned mages. To them, physical combat is beneath notice. But I never intended to live bound by their traditions—or waste my life on something I detested. My blades..." he said, conjuring five luminous blades into his hand, their glow catching the moonlight, "...they bring me purpose. And they gave me something worth living for—something I'll never come to regret."

A genuine smile spread across his face—one I never thought I'd see on him. I can never quite read what's going on in his mind. He's mysterious, full of secrets, and at times, a complete jerk... but this version of him, the one I'm seeing right now—I don't understand it. My heart skipped a beat.

I couldn't help but envy him—for having the courage to follow his heart, to pursue his dreams even when his own family tried to stop him.

"So how did you end up here?"

"That's the problem," he said, his eyes turning serious. "I left the Paxley household one night, but I was chased. I fought them off, but I didn't notice the magic that hit me from behind. It was... excruciating, and I passed out. When I woke up, I found myself in a place I didn't recognize."

"So you came here by accident," I concluded.

"The day you met me was the day I arrived," he said, looking at me. I remembered that moment. He was walking along the beach, looking lost. Now it made sense—this wasn't his world. "But there's something about that attack that doesn't sit right. I come from a prestigious magical family, and I've encountered many forms of magic. But the one that hit me that night... it was different. Unfamiliar."

"Who do you think did it?"

"I don't know," he replied with a shrug. "That's why I need to go back. I have to find answers. Whoever did this... they're powerful. Their magic... it's unlike anything I've ever encountered."

"Magic and all that... it scares the hell out of me." Gusion turned to look at me as I said it.

Thinking about it, this is the first time he's opened up to me, which I think is a fair exchange since I've shared parts of myself with him as well. At that moment, I felt like I had found someone I could comfortably confide in, aside from Lawrence. It's actually different. Lawrence knows me well, but Gusion doesn't, which I think adds a certain thrill to sharing my thoughts with him.

"Can you play it again?" he changed the subject.

I raised an eyebrow, looking at him.

"You might fall in love with me," I joked as I placed my hands on the piano. But I stopped laughing when I realized my joke hadn't made him laugh. "What do you want me to play this time?" I asked, not looking at him. I could feel his eyes on me.

"Anything you'd like to play," Gusion said.

I nodded and began playing Moonlight Sonata. It was one of the classical pieces that had captured my heart. When I finished, I looked at Gusion, and found him staring at me.

"C-Could you play it too?" I stuttered.

"I only know how to dance," he said, standing up and taking my phone from the couch. He fiddled with it for a moment.

"What are you doing?" I asked, confused. He didn't answer, and soon I was startled to hear classical music playing from my phone. He placed it above the piano and formally took my hand.

"Come," he said, waiting for my response. I didn't understand what he was doing, but I took his hand. He led me to the corner near the window where the moonlight shone.

Gusion placed my hand on his shoulder, and his arm wrapped around my body, pulling me close. Then, he began to move.

"I don't know how to dance..." I muttered softly. I couldn't bring myself to look directly into his eyes, not with them shining so brightly, almost tempting me.

I moved with him, following his lead. Gusion was incredibly graceful. My heart raced, and my nerves were on edge. I had never danced with anyone before.

"You should follow your heart and find your own happiness," he said in a calm voice, pulling me even closer to him.

As the music swirled around us, each note seemed to carry us further into a quiet world of our own. Gusion moved with such grace, his presence so steady, yet somehow, everything felt fleeting, like the moment was too delicate to hold onto for long. I had never danced with anyone before, and yet, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. His touch was firm, yet gentle, guiding me with a sense of purpose, but still, I couldn't escape the feeling that this—this quiet dance under the moonlight—was something I would never forget.

My heart raced with every step, and yet, there was a strange calmness to it all. His gaze, though distant at times, seemed to be searching for something. What exactly, I couldn't say. I couldn't even form the words to express how everything felt so different, so out of place and yet so perfectly right. With him, in that moment, I was allowed to be... just me. No expectations, no burdens. For once, I wasn't bound by anyone else's choices, and I thought, for a fleeting moment, that I could stay here forever.

But as the music faded and the dance came to a gentle stop, the spell didn't break entirely. I stood there, in his arms, listening to the quiet rhythm of my own breath, wondering how I had found a place where I could leave my fears behind, if only for a moment.