JUST A BAD DREAM

HANS HAD A dream.

He was lying on the green grass surrounded by fragrant flowers that seemed to dance with the wind. White clouds in different shapes scattered on the endless clear blue sky. The sunshine hit his face, it was a gentle and refreshing ray of light that gave energy to his whole body.

It was such a serene scene. He can hear the birds chirping and other animals' sound, the rustling leaves and the flowing water from nearby. He had never been in a peaceful place like this.

He was in a beautiful paradise.

Suddenly a gentle hand caressed his forehead and it travelled through his hair, stroking it in a very relaxing way.

Then a woman dressed in white appeared in his vision. She was smiling down at him. He couldn't get a clear look of her face but he knew she was beautiful.

The woman's lips moved as if she was saying something but there was no voice coming out. He sat up and found out that he laid on her comfortable lap.

The woman in white smiled at him and took his hand, pulling him to stood up. They started to walk on the wide green field, full of flowers in various colors.

Hans watched the woman. She was wearing a very simple white dress that reaches her knee. Her black hair freely flies as the wind blew against it. Her skin was as flawless and pale as a paper.

There's no doubt that she's an angel fallen from heaven.

The two of them held each other's hand as they walked barefoot on the grass. The woman picked a yellow flower and put it behind her ear.

"Gorgeous. " Hans mumbled.

He saw her laughed but he couldn't hear a sound. He wanted to know her voice.

His heart beat and fluttered in delight when she twirled towards him and kissed him on the cheek.

He doesn't want this moment to end. It felt like it was the happiest time in his life.

He hugged the woman so tight, afraid that she will left him and his heart. Her staying with his side is all he needed in the world.

Hans closed his eyes and held the woman closer and tighter. He will never let her go.

Then a loud thunder echoed around them. When Hans opened his eyes again, they were not in the same place anymore. It was dark and only with the help of the constant sharp lightning he was able to see.

He looked around. The flowers were gone but only tall and thick grasses were there. Dark clouds loomed over the sky, threatening to fall any second. The peaceful sound of nature turned into roaring thunders. It was so different from earlier. Seems like everything died.

He was in a scary abyss.

"The woman!"

Hans felt a strong feeling of anxiety when the woman he held so tight was gone in his arms. He looked at his hands and saw that he was holding the flower she picked earlier, but it was never yellow again, but black.

Another woman in a black dress that Hans couldn't see her face was standing on the edge of a cliff and she was holding the woman in white in her hair.

Hans felt his heart was crushed when he saw the woman's crying and terrified face.

"Let go of her!" He screamed with all his might.

"She needs to die," The woman in black pushed the woman down the cliff.

"Stop!!!"

Hans ran towards them but why...

Why did he embraced the woman in black?

The woman in white was able to grasp the edge of the cliff with her one hand. She was looking at Hans with her tearful eyes. She was begging for help but Hans couldn't hear her.

He wanted to save her but he couldn't move his body. He remained hugging the woman in black.

It started to rain and the woman's grip started to loosen. Hans panicked and he tried to reach for her but he can't still move.

"Please hold on," Hans whispered.

"Hans, do you hate me or not?"

For the first time she heard the woman's voice. It was familiar but he couldn't remember to whom it belonged to.

"Hans, do you hate me or not?"

The woman asked again between her sobs and there's so much pain and sadness in her voice. Hans was speechless, he couldn't answer.

And before he knew it, the woman lost her grip and fell down the dark cliff.

"Noooo!!!"

As the woman disappeared from his sight, Hans fell on his knees. His tears unconsciously streamed down his face. The moment she vanished, his heart died with her.

He felt like there's no reason to continue living.

In the darkness, his tears fell down with the rain hitting his face and his mourning screams swallowed the loud thunder.

The pain in his heart and soul was unbearable that it could kill him. He was left alone and broken.

Hans eyes shot opened as he sat up in the bed. His chest rose up and down as he breathe heavily and bullets of sweat formed on his forehead.

It was a dream. No. He woke up from a nightmare.

Bad dreams often visit Hans' sleep. But earlier was new and different from his usual nightmares. It felt so real that he can feel the pain at the moment.

Clutching his chest to ease the pain, he muttered under his breath, "What was that?"

Shaking off his worry and fear, he mumbled under his breath, "It was just a bad dream."

Hans noticed someone was holding his other hand that was resting on the bed. He looked at the owner and somehow, he calmed down a little.

Zoe was asleep while sitting on the floor with her head laying on the edge of the bed. Her hair covered her small face and her shoulders move slightly in every breath she made.

Glancing at his wrist watch, Hans furrowed.

3:30 a.m.

A thirty-minute late than his usual wake up time was already alarming for him. Since he started training to be in service for Axel, there was no day that he woke up beyond three in the morning, not even a single minute.

And this was the first time, he felt his efficacy as a butler had been diminished.

Hans got down the bed and went to Zoe's side who was fast asleep. He shouldn't have trusted this woman when she said that she'll go back to her room when he's already asleep since she insisted many times to sleep in one room.

Bending down, he gently scooped her up and placed her on the bed. He was impressed that she didn't wake up or move even a bit.

He fixed Zoe's messy hair and remove some few hair strands that are covering her face. He had a clearer view of her angelic face and his eyes instantly landed on her plump lips. Hans fought the urge to  have another taste of it.

Reaching for the comforter, he was about to cover her when he had a glimpse of her slightly exposed chest. The loose neckline of his oversized shirt doesn't help to hide it. He cleared his throat and laid the comforter up to Zoe's neck.

'I need to buy a set of clothes and undergarments for her.' Hans mentally noted to himself.

The phone on the bedside table rang. Hans quickly grabbed and answered it so it won't wake Zoe up.

"Oh. You're awake." Axel greeted on the other line.

"Of course. What did you expect?"

"Well, I expected that you were worn out."

"And why is that?"

"Because you slept with your wife last night," Axel said with an amused voice.

"I booked her a different room," Hans stated flatly.

"My friend, have you heard about the saying, 'walls have ears?'"

Hans instantly understood it since their rooms were next to each other, "You have a sharp hearing so you also heard that we did nothing but sleep."

"Who knows? You might done it quietly."

"Enough of that. Why did you call at this hour?"

"Oh! I completely forgot about that," Axel mumbled, "MHQ Assembly. Chopper will be here at an hour."

"Got that."

The call was ended and Hans got ready by taking a hot shower.

It's rare for Twilight to have an assembly at the main headquarters. When they do, all agents from each division were present. The chief will discuss about important matters, such as welcoming a new member, trial for those who betrayed the organization or launching a major operation. So whatever the reason why the chief had summoned them, he is sure it is something serious.

As he finished putting on his clothes, Hans stepped out of the bathroom. Zoe was still sleeping soundly and now snuggling a pillow.

After making sure everything is fine in the room, Hans grabbed his trench coat and got out of the room.

He needs to maximize his remaining time to run some errands before going to the main HQ.

***

With a yawn, Zoe stretched her arms up. She just woke up from a very comfortable sleep. The last thing she remembered before falling in a deep slumber was she's sitting on the floor while stroking Hans' hair.

'Wait. Where is Hans?'

"Hans?" Zoe got off the bed and looked around but she's alone.

Her attention was caught by a couple of things set on the small table beside the glass floor-to-ceiling window. There was a bottled water with medicine and two paper bags. Her phone and purse were also there.

She opened her phone and saw a long message from Hans.

From: HUBBY

Drink the medicine if your head hurts. Be ready at eight and wait at the entrance of the hotel, someone will drive you back to the resort. Also, there are clothes in the paper bag and I hope you wear them PROPERLY. Btw, don't worry about your stuffs in the other room, I've gathered all of them.

Sent 4:45 am

A smile appeared on her lips while typing a reply for him. She was touched by his thoughtfulness.

To: HUBBY

Good morning, hubby! Thank you so much! I am so lucky to have a thoughtful husband.

Take care always!

Sent 6:25 am

Zoe opened one paper bag and her face instantly blushed when she saw what's inside. It was her clothes at last night's afterparty and they are neatly folded.

'Does that mean Hans saw my underwear?!'

'No no Zoe. It's fine. He is your husband so there's nothing to be embarrassed about it.'

"Yes, right." Zoe answered herself but she's still blushing deeply.

She assumed that the other paper bag were the clothes Hans had bought for her. She's excited to know what clothes he chose.

"I'll take a bath first before looking at them!"

With that, Zoe got into the shower with a happy heart. She was humming while letting the water run down her bare skin.

The smile on her lips never faded as she thought about how perfect Hans is. He is really a husband material but sad to say, Zoe knew better. He either do this as a show or to play with her heart.

Anyways, it's not bad to enjoy and appreciate his kind gestures.

She still had a lot of time to make Hans fall for her.