I woke to an unfamiliar warmth in the bed. My eyes were still closed, but something was laying on my arm. Underneath the pressure, my arm had fallen asleep. It tingled, like static underneath the skin. What was going on? Did I fall asleep with something heavy? A book? No, books weren’t warm.

The only way I’d solve this mystery was to open my eyes.

Blonde hair was strewn across my pillow, the pressure on my arm the source of those golden tresses. Alyss.

Oh no. What had I done?

I remembered everything that had transpired the evening before: the charity ball, the new law, the walk in the garden with Alyss, and… the events following that led to the here and now.

My WaComm was still on my wrist, and fortunately, was the free one. Softly, so as not to wake up Alyss, I flicked the screen to send a message asking Mea to meet up. I needed to talk to her, warn her about this law, get everything off of my chest. I wasn’t proud of what had happened last night, but I didn’t think I was in the wrong. But, I still thought she should know. Or at the least, I wanted her to know I was still into her, and I needed to see what she was thinking in return. We were past due for a discussion.

Now that was done, I just wanted to be out of there. I had to collect my thoughts before I spoke to her. I slid my arm, slowly, gently, delicately, out from under her head. She sighed in her sleep, never opening her eyes.

Whatever Mea would say, my mind was made up. I couldn’t take this AUT deal, because I couldn’t deal with whatever this feeling was. Guilt? It had to be. I felt awful, no matter how nice last night had been, no matter how sweet Alyss was. I felt like I’d betrayed myself. I felt slimy, sick, and traitorous. It was a horrible feeling. I slipped into the shower in the guest room, not wanting to wake Alyss up by using the one in my attached bathroom.

The shower hadn’t helped wash off my disgust with myself, though I’d tried. I’d scrubbed at my body, just feeling absolutely ashamed. I tried to rationalize with myself the same logic I’d applied the night before. Mea and I weren’t together, I told myself. We were barely even friends. I’d only met her a short while ago, and had only minimal interactions with her. But her face tormented my mind. I knew we had something there, and it felt as if I’d shattered it to pieces with my actions. I had to speak to her, and soon. I’d tell her everything, and I’d refuse this deal with AUT.

I walked downstairs after my shower, feeling dejected and sad, though a determination was welling up inside me. I knew what I had to do, but I questioned whether I had the guts to do it or not. The steps came one at a time, but each one threatened to trip me up, as I made my way towards the kitchen. Hopefully, no one was up yet, and I’d be able to enjoy a cup of coffee to myself.

I had no such luck. My stepmother, Cerise, sat at the little breakfast nook, a cup of coffee in her own hand. It was just like the morning after my graduation party, although Chef wasn’t there. I lamented her absence.

Cerise startled when I plucked a mug from the cupboard, the ceramic clinking against the wood.

“Sorry,” I said. “Good morning.”

She looked me up and down, a sad smile on her face. “And you.”

She watched me carefully as I sat down; I tried my best to keep my poker face. I was sure she could guess at what had happened last night, but I wasn’t quite ready to speak about it. Or at least, I had no idea what I was doing, the very least what I should say about it.

I sipped at my coffee while she eyed me, seeing through my soul. Rr

“Torven, what is it you want out of life?” she said suddenly.

I jumped, startled by her sudden and pervasive words, a drop of coffee burning my hand as it leapt from the mug. I blinked. She waited patiently while I gathered my thoughts. Her persistent silence begged for an answer.

“I suppose…” I thought deeply for a moment, really trying to dig for the answer that I knew was there. “I suppose I want to change the world. I want to give the people the best Aruga I can.”

Cerise nodded solemnly. “A wise answer, and a good one.” She paused to take another sip from her own mug, her eyes far away. “Sacrifices will be necessary.”

“Sacrifices?”

“Of course,” she said, sadness coloring her tone. “We all sacrifice for something in life. It’s inevitable. I say, if you’re going to have to sacrifice, let it be for your life’s dream.”

She stared at me pointedly, and I knew what she was talking about, even though she said nothing explicitly. She didn’t have to.

“You said we all sacrifice,” I said slowly. “Have you?”

Her only response was another sad smile, one that said everything and nothing at all. Instinctively, I knew she was talking about her marriage to my father.

The silence grew between us until I couldn’t bear it any longer.

“How’s father doing today? Any better?”

Her grim continued silence was my answer. It was enough.

Light footsteps prodded into the darkness that was the breakfast nook where Cerise and I held our muted stalemate. A light switch flicked on, the electric rays of light flashing on in the kitchen, illuminating us in a harsh white glow.

“Alyss,” Cerise said sweetly, her entire demeanor changing now that we had an audience. “Come sit with us. I trust you slept well?”

Alyss only smiled, giving no hints as to how she slept, or even what bedroom she may have emerged from. My cheeks reddened involuntarily, and I hurried to cover my blush with a sip from my coffee.

“I did, your home is beautiful and lush. You’re too kind to let me stay here, it was much more convenient than traipsing all the way back home.”

“Of course, dear, it’s our pleasure,” Cerise said.

Their polite small talk droned on, and I zoned out into my coffee.

“… don’t you think?” Cerise said.

I looked upwards, startled. I hadn’t been paying attention, and she had addressed me. I had no idea what she had said. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Chef’s not here, and our pantry is positively bare,” Cerise repeated for me. “Don’t you think you should be a gentleman and take Alyss out to a lovely brunch?”

I blinked, glancing at Alyss. She looked back at me, smiling an easy, pleasant smile, a flicker of hope and excitement in her eyes. Internally, my heart sank. I felt bad for her; after what we’d been through together last night, I could hardly deny her and Cerise’s request. Although it felt more like a demand from my stepmother, however.

“I’d be honored,” I said finally, earning a relieved sigh from Cerise and a wider smile from Alyss. “Do you have a place in mind?”