A new beginning with her (P.2) - Chapter 4

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Back in Aoi's room, I was sitting idly by while reading a book, trying to pass some time.

This room, while it was a bit tidy and a bit emptier before her arrival, I decided to decorate a bit by adding a girlish-like style with many stuffed animals all over the bed where Aoi was sleeping and many options on the wardrobe where she could choose to wear.

It wasn't much. But it was more comfortable, as she was sleeping on that king-sized bed full of stuffed animals.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed, as there was no concept of time or clock in this land. I waited for what I thought were several hours before I heard a slight, muffled moan from Aoi. 

I was aware that she was about to wake up, which is why I quietly stayed on the couch near the bed as I continued to read this novel.

"....hmn…."

Her body was beginning to shift from one side to another until she finally slowly got up while rubbing her own eye in sleepiness. She was resting on her own butt as she comfortably tried waking up.

"...ah!?"

However, the moment she noticed that something was different about her bed, she let out a slight gasp as her eyes widened in confusion and surprise.

"You awake?" I asked as I continued to pretend to read the novel I had in my hand.

I watched as her eyes flicked towards me, surprise etched on her features. However, the initial shock soon gave way to a sense of deep despair and hopelessness as the realization hit her that what she had hoped was a long, terrible dream was in fact a cruel curse with no escape.

"...you said you wouldn't do anything to me…." Her broken, weak voice spoke as she looked down at her own demise.

There was no longer any struggle in her voice. The only thing that I could hear was defeat and acceptance.

"I'm sorry, but I had to make sure that you were real." I said to her.

Her swollen, dark eyes slowly shifted towards me once again.

I could see how confused she actually was. However, due to everything that I had done to her, she remained motionless as she waited for my continuation of my absurd explanation.

"I mentioned it before as well," I said to her. "I've been in this land for many years. That's why I couldn't contain myself the moment you were brought here. I wasn't sure whether you were real or not. Whether this is still a dream or not. Whether I was still sane or not."

"...."

"That's why I'm asking, if there are any bits of kindness still inside you, to forgive me for what I've done."

And as I was trying to make an excuse, I put the novel aside and bowed from where I was sitting.

"....."

Aoi, on the other hand, remained silent as she listened to me ask for her forgiveness, despite the fact that I had broken her trust twice.

"....If I…." She attempted to say. "....if I say that I don't forgive you…. then will you do those awful things to me a-again?"

I see. So she's afraid to answer truthfully since she knows nothing about this place other than getting trapped here with no power.

"...I won't." I responded.

But despite that, she didn't seem that convinced or hopeful that someone or something would save her from this place where she had been brought.

"And to prove it to you, I will promise this as well," I began once again, my eyes calmly looking at her tired ones, "That I won't even touch you from now on. This way, you can decide whether I deserve your trust and forgiveness. Of course, since you have been brought to this land, you are free to explore and do whatever you want."

Her tired eyes looked at me with a slight doubt, unsure of what to expect from me. 

However, even if what I said was true or not, she wasn't sure about that, which is why she remained silent about my sudden promise to her.

After this whole situation unfolded, I decided to leave the room in order to give her some freedom and let her look around if she was interested.

And just like that, based on how it felt like it had been a week, I kept my promise to not touch or harass her in order to gain her trust again.

During those times, I would usually play games on my computer, read some novels in the living rooms, or just idly walk around. 

During what felt like a week, since this whole land wasn't that massive that we would get lost, I got the chance to encounter Aoi on several occasions. Some of them included the dining area, the library, and sometimes the garden.

Of course, during those encounters, she would simply avert her gaze in worry and run away.

I felt like she would've gotten used to my presence in this land by now, but from what I'm seeing, she seemed to grow distant from me while trying her best to remain as far from me as possible.

But on the other hand, she seemed to be adapting to this place just fine. She has already decorated her room based on her taste. She also likes reading drama novels in the garden most of the time, and she seems to like snacks or desserts in the kitchen.

Even though there is finally someone else in this land, she never spoke to me or even came close enough to ask for anything. She truly had made up her mind that she didn't want anything to do with me.

But based on what I've done to her, this was all expected. 

If only I had contained myself the first time she appeared on this land, maybe we could've had a better relationship with one another. 

I truly regret raping her….

Honestly, I truly wanted to at least ask her to give me another chance to talk again. But every time we would make eye contact for a slight second, she would tightly hold her own books or snacks and run to either her room or the garden.

"Haaa….." 

Maybe I should give her more time to get over what happened between us….

Or so I thought at the time.

But what I failed to prevent was Aoi entering the forbidden door that this land had. 

I wanted to tell Aoi about the door that she should never enter. However, before I could even get the chance, she would simply run away. 

And right now, after realizing that the strange door near the storage area was left open, my eyes widened to their extent when the realization hit that Aoi might die.