I had a dream

As I sat beside Sebastian, I couldn’t believe I was here, like this, with him. His face, even though bruised and tired, was still so incredibly handsome. I had never thought in a million years that I would ever be in such a moment. He was always so distant, so cold, and now here I was, sitting by his side as he lay in bed, recovering. It felt unreal.

I kept staring at him, afraid that if I blinked, this whole moment would disappear like a dream. Then, to my utter surprise, Sebastian stirred. His hand slowly reached out, and before I realized what was happening, his fingers touched my hair. His fingers brushed through it gently, stroking from the top to the bottom. A soft gasp escaped my lips. My entire body felt like it had been hit by a wave of warmth and... something else I couldn’t describe. It felt beautiful. It felt like love, something I had never expected from him.

My cheeks flushed a bright red, and I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. I was too shy, too overwhelmed by the tender gesture. My heart was racing, and I felt like a nervous schoolgirl with her first crush.

“How have you been?” His voice was soft, gentle even.

“I’ve been... fine. I’m good,” I replied, my voice shaky. “I’ve been okay.”

Sebastian’s eyes, those calm, beautiful eyes, locked with mine. “No,” he said, his voice carrying a note of seriousness. “From the last time I saw you, you had more weight. You’ve lost weight... Which means you’ve been worried, and you haven’t been eating properly. Have you?”

His words struck me hard, like he had seen right through me. I didn’t know how to respond at first, but I sighed, feeling the weight of my own truth. “Yes... I haven’t been,” I admitted, lowering my gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“Look at me,” he said, and I did. His eyes were so soft, so unlike the usual Sebastian. I could barely recognize the man staring back at me. His gaze was warm, inviting, like a calm sea after a storm. “It’s not good for you to worry too much,” he said, his voice so low and gentle it made my heart skip.

I couldn’t respond. I was stunned, just staring into those eyes. It felt like he was looking straight into my soul, and it was a feeling I hadn’t experienced before. This man, who had always kept me at a distance, who had only shown me the crueler side of himself, was now showing me this kind, almost vulnerable part of him. I didn’t know how to react.

“I’m sorry I made you worry,” he continued, and that just broke something in me. He apologized to me. Sebastian, the one who never said sorry for anything, was apologizing to me.

“N-No problem...” I stammered, but inside, my mind was a mess. My heart was jumping. I couldn’t think straight. It was like my brain had short-circuited, and my chest felt like it was about to explode. **What is happening?** I thought to myself outload trying to make sense of this moment.

“What did you say?” Sebastian asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

“Oh, nothing,” I quickly replied, my face turning an even deeper shade of red. “I said nothing.”

To my surprise, Sebastian let out a small laugh, a soft chuckle that made my heart flutter even more. He looked so different, so... human. “I’m hungry,” he said after a moment, his voice still weak. “I’d like to eat something.”

“Oh! Oh, okay,” I stammered, jumping up from the bed so fast I nearly tripped over my own feet. “I’ll get you something. I’ll get you food right away.”

“No,” Sebastian stopped me, and I froze in place. “I don’t want you to leave. Just call someone from the door, and they’ll bring it. Stay with me.”

My heart skipped again. **Stay?** Did he really want me to stay? My thoughts were all over the place, and I was struggling to find the words to respond. “I... I can feed you,” I said, my words coming out in a rush. “Yes! I can feed you. I can eat with you! Of course! That’s fine.”

He smiled again, that soft, warm smile that was beginning to undo me completely. “All right,” he said. “I’m waiting.”

I nodded frantically and quickly walked to the door, my legs feeling like jelly beneath me. I called for one of the girls, asking her to go to the kitchen and bring Sebastian something to eat. She nodded and hurried off, and I returned to Sebastian’s side, my heart still racing like crazy.

As I sat back down, I felt the warmth of his gaze on me again. “Life is fragile,” he said suddenly, his voice quiet, thoughtful. “It’s stupid, too. We think we have all the time in the world, and then... things happen.”

I looked at him, feeling a strange sadness in his words. “What happened to you?” I asked softly. “I mean... I’m just asking.”

Sebastian didn’t answer right away. His gaze drifted to the ceiling, and he seemed lost in thought. “I had a dream,” he finally said. “While I was asleep, while I was unconscious. I wasn’t here. I was... somewhere else.”

I leaned in, curious but also worried about what he was going to say.

“I saw my mother,” he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. “I haven’t seen her in so long. I’d forgotten what she looked like... but now, I remember. We talked. We had a lot of meaningful conversations.

“You see you’ve been taking life too seriously, so serious that you have been taking it for granted, my son I did not bring you here to carry the burden of the world, you are my happy boy, so be happy, it’s about time you start to live to survive than exist to survive.” Those were her words and She was right. I’ve been foolish.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn’t imagine what he must have gone through. “Sebastian...” I whispered, not knowing what else to say.

“I’m going to do things differently now,” he said, his voice gaining a bit of strength. “I’m going to do things my way. Not the way everyone expects me to, but the way I want to. I’m tired of living up to other people’s expectations.”

I was speechless. I had never heard him speak like this before. It was like he was a completely different person. And yet, I could see the pain in his eyes, the weight of everything he had been carrying for so long.

“It’s going to be okay,” I found myself saying, even though I wasn’t sure if I believed it. “You’re here now. That’s what matters.”

Sebastian turned his head toward me and smiled, a genuine, warm smile. “Yes,” he said softly. “I’m here now. And I’m glad you’re here to take care of me.”

I blushed furiously, unable to control myself. His words sent a rush of warmth through my entire body, and I couldn’t help but smile back at him.

A knock on the door broke the moment, and I jumped to my feet. “I’ll get it!” I said, rushing to the door with my heart pounding in my chest.

As I opened the door and took the tray of food, I couldn’t help but feel like I was living in a dream. **Was this really happening?** I asked myself. Was Sebastian really... different? As I turned back to him, holding the tray in my hands, my heart raced with a mix of happiness and disbelief.

This was everything I had ever wanted.