• At The Forest •
"My sister must be so worried about me by now."
"I think it's time to go home. I need to check on her. Leaving without saying anything was a huge mistake."
Roseline said this to Sam, who was sitting on the bed, watching her get dressed. Last night had been incredible, and the intimacy they shared was the highlight. Rose cherished every moment of it, especially since he was the one who had taken her virginity. Now, all she could think about was wanting him by her side more often.
"Yeah, you're probably right. She might think your other friend is involved in your sudden disappearance. You should go see her," he replied, still watching her as she dressed.
Once she was ready, she turned to him. "You know, if it weren't for you, I would never want to return to this forest. Who would want to live in such a lonely place with no neighbors?"
"Of course, you don't have to come back. Don't say it's because of me when you could stay there with your..." He was still speaking when Rose interrupted him.
"You're missing the point! Even if you held a knife to my throat, I would still choose to come back here. I'd gladly face danger just to see your face again." She declared, while Sam smiled slightly, placing his hand behind his back.
"So, what exactly do you want me to do?" he asked. She approached him, kneeling and placing her hands gently on his face.
"Come with me. That's all I want you to do right now—just come with me, please." She pleaded, her voice serious. Sam shook his head, looking at the ground. He knew he couldn’t grant her request, and she understood that it was impossible, yet she was asking anyway.
"Rose, I love you, I really do. But we both know I can't do what you're asking. I've told you countless times that I'm hiding here for..." He tried to explain, but Rose silenced him with a deep kiss, wanting to show him just how madly in love she was.
After they kissed, they stared deeply into each other's eyes, feeling the energy of love and protection flowing between them.
They loved each other and would do anything to keep each other safe. Sam saw this in Rose's eyes; she meant every word she said. She didn’t want to leave this place without him. If she did, she would keep coming back, knowing how dangerous it was. Wild and unpredictable animals lived here, and encountering one could pose a serious threat to her life. That was something he wanted to avoid.
"I know you’re hiding here for your safety, but it’s your safety that makes me ask you to come with me to my home. You’ll like it there, I promise. This forest is too dangerous; the wild animals could end up hurting you," she said, swallowing nervously as she took his hands and looked into his eyes.
"My home is far from the city, and we live in a quiet area where a warm breeze always visits. It's close to the woods, so if you love the woods, you can explore as you like. You could also stay inside our house, and no one would come after you. It’s safe, I assure you," she stated, searching his face for his decision.
Looking at Rose's pleading, innocent face, he swallowed hard and nodded. He didn’t want to betray her trust by saying no. She had done everything to make sure he was okay, and since she could guarantee his safety, he saw no reason to refuse. After all, he didn’t enjoy being alone in the forest.
"Since you’re so sure I’ll be safe with you, there’s no reason for me to stay here. I don’t enjoy living in the forest. Ever since you came and the little time we’ve spent together, I realized it’s nice to have a companion. So yes, I will go with you," he said, and she smiled, hugging him tightly and kissing him once again.
"I promise you will be fine. My sister can't wait to meet the man who made me turn down John; she’s excited to see you," she said, smiling at him.
"Alright then! Get yourself ready! We’re going home together. Goodbye to this wonderful place of yours. I know you will miss it," she said to him, and he nodded.
At that moment, he could no longer find the words. He couldn’t believe he was finally trusting someone again, despite what had happened before. He had sworn never to trust another person, yet here he was—fate always had its own plans.
So, they both got ready, gathered everything they needed, and then headed home to Rose's place. As they walked, they chatted with each other.
 
              • Rose's Home •
Rosemary was home alone. Finn hadn’t stayed with her for the whole day; after all, the young man had work to do. He had his own life to manage, which was why he left her. However, he had promised to be back at night to keep her company.
He knew very well that she missed her sister deeply and couldn’t bear to be alone. She needed someone by her side, and that was why he had promised to return.
After he left, Rosemary stood by the window of her sister's room, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was terrified of losing her sister. Roseline was everything she had left in this world, and she stared at the ground, contemplating how her life would be without her beloved twin. She had already lost so much, and if she lost Rose, she would have no reason to continue living. She would join them in the underworld too.
With her gaze fixed on the floor and a whirlwind of thoughts flooding her mind, she looked up and noticed two figures approaching the house. They were still a bit far away, but they were clearly heading her way.
She couldn’t recognize one of them, who appeared to be a boy, but the girl looked exactly like her sister. However, her vision was blurred from the tears in her eyes, making it difficult to see clearly.
Then, she blinked, trying to push down the tears that had welled up, and wiped the rest away with her hand. To her greatest surprise, she saw Roseline coming home with a stranger. A happy smile spread across her face; she didn’t care about the stranger—what mattered was that Rose was back. But who could the stranger be? That thought lingered in her mind as she welcomed her sister.
Without hesitation, she left the house and rushed toward Roseline. When they saw each other, they both ran forward and hugged tightly, overwhelmed with joy.
"Oh, Roseline, you’re alive? I thought I had lost you!" Mary cried, embracing her twin sister. As they hugged, Mary’s eyes fell on an elegant man approaching. Realizing he had come for Roseline, she instinctively placed her sister behind her.
"Stay away from her! What do you want with her? Did he kidnap you?" Mary demanded, her voice filled with concern.
"Calm down, Mary. This is Sam. He’s my friend, and he’s the one I went to stay with. He lives in the forest and has no family. I asked him to come live with us," Roseline explained. Sam stepped forward and extended his hand for a handshake.
Mary refused to accept his hand, glaring at Roseline before turning away angrily, leaving Sam and Roseline staring at each other.
"What did I do wrong?" he asked, confused.
"You did nothing wrong, I should know what's wrong with her" Roseline replied as she hurried after her twin sister.
"Mary, please! I promised him I would keep him safe here!" she called, chasing after Rosemary. But Rosemary turned, furiously glaring at her.