That morning, soft sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of their hotel room. Aurora slowly opened her eyes, feeling warm even though the air around her was cold. She pulled the blanket up to her shoulders for a moment, then sat at the edge of the bed. The morning air from the vent felt refreshing, and without much thought, she walked slowly toward the large window that directly faced Mount Fuji.As soon as she drew the curtain fully, the view took her breath away. Mount Fuji stood majestically with its white, snow-covered peak, and the weather was perfectly clear. The sky was a flawless blue with not a single cloud. There was no snow falling, only the soft touch of winter sunlight.“So beautiful,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling. Her heart was filled with excitement, like a child awaiting a special day.Not long after, a sound came from behind the bed. Rafael stirred slowly before opening his eyes and finding Aurora standing still by the window, w
Aurora turned to look at Rafael, her face full of amazement. “You didn’t tell me our room was this beautiful.”“I just wanted to make you happy,” Rafael replied, gazing at her. “And seeing your expression just now... worth it.”Aurora smiled softly, then walked over to Rafael, looking at him warmly. “Thank you… truly.”She stared at Mount Fuji, now being embraced by dusk. Shades of orange and purple blended in the sky, creating a natural painting that felt almost unreal. Lost in admiration, she didn’t notice Rafael had already stood up and was slowly walking toward her.Then suddenly, a pair of warm hands wrapped around her waist from behind.Aurora smiled, letting herself lean against Rafael’s chest. The warmth of his body immediately enveloped her, making her heartbeat slightly unsteady.“Tomorrow morning, we’re going up Mount Fuji,” Rafael whispered softly into her ear.Aurora turned slightly, her face full of surprise. “Up Mount Fuji?” she repeated, almost in disbelief. “Are you s
The winter wind caressed Aurora’s face as she tilted her head to the sky. Snow fell gently, dancing in the air before finally landing on her loose hair. She stood in the middle of a garden almost entirely blanketed in white, looking like a figure from a winter painting. "Come on, Rafael!" she called out with a soft laugh, raising her hands high, catching snowflakes in her palms. Rafael stood a few steps behind her, wearing a dark long coat and a wool scarf wrapped casually around his neck. His face bore a warm smile meant only for Aurora. "If you catch a cold, don’t blame me," Rafael said as he walked closer, though still keeping a safe distance from the trouble he knew was coming. Aurora turned immediately, quickly forming a snowball in her hand and throwing it at Rafael. Smack! "Got you!" she exclaimed joyfully. The snowball hit Rafael’s coat-covered chest, scattering snowflakes everywhere. Rafael stared at her for a moment, then shook his head slowly with a lopsided smile. "
The morning light peeked shyly from behind the window curtains. The room still held warmth, faintly laced with the aroma of coffee from the kitchen. Aurora slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurry at first, but the comforting warmth surrounding her made her reluctant to move. It wasn’t until she realized she was nestled in Rafael’s arms that her breath caught for a moment.Rafael’s arms wrapped tightly around her, warm and protective. His chest rose and fell slowly, making her think he was still asleep until she heard that soft, husky voice.“You’re awake?” Rafael whispered, his eyes now open and gazing at her gently.Aurora nodded slightly, her lips forming a tired, small smile. “Yeah.”Rafael took a deep breath, then propped himself up a little to better see her face. “Are you okay?” he asked cautiously.Aurora only shook her head. Her eyes were clear but shadowed, as if she was holding back things she wasn’t ready to say. And Rafael u
Aurora's steps halted again when that voice called her."Aurora!"She turned around with a slow sigh. Marissa, her father's new wife, was standing there holding Renaldo, who was still clinging tightly to her neck. The woman's eyes looked worried."We're leaving," Marissa said, her voice slightly louder, as if afraid Aurora would keep walking and ignore her.Aurora frowned. "What do you mean?"Marissa took a deep breath, then replied, "In two weeks... we'll be boarding a ship. We can't stay here any longer. The police might find us if we stay in one place too long."Aurora raised an eyebrow. "And why are you telling me this?"Her question sounded cold and sharp. She didn't bother to hide the pain or irritation in her tone.Marissa said, "I... I don't know. But maybe this is the last chance. Maybe you'd want to come. To see your father. To-""To what?" Aurora cut her off quickly. "To explain why he chose you all over me? To watch your happy little family sail away and leave me behind ag
After finishing dinner, Aurora wiped her lips with a napkin and sighed contentedly. "Oh my... it was so delicious."Rafael, who had also just put down his spoon, nodded as he leaned back in his chair. "I told you so. It tastes the same as the last time we were here."Aurora looked at Rafael with a smile. "Thank you for bringing me here. I like it.""If you like it, I like it even more." Rafael returned her smile, then glanced out the window. "Want to take a short walk? The small park at the end of the block is pretty quiet and cool."Aurora nodded. "Sure. But walk slowly, okay? Your leg isn't fully healed yet."Rafael stood up slowly, supported by the cane propping up his still-injured leg. Aurora walked beside him, her hand instinctively reaching out to grip Rafael's arm to keep him from losing his balance.The night was calm. The sky was dotted with stars, though faintly visible due to the city lights. The evening breeze gently swept across their faces as t