Chapter 5: Confession and Shadow

Naari woke in the middle of a rather steamy dream. A far sweatier Sven had taken her to bed after a romantic dinner. Her arms were bound behind her back as she lay there burning with anticipation. The moonlight kissed her and her lover’s bodies. Sven tore off his shirt, tossed it aside, and descended upon a wet Naari.

But a dog barked before her dream boyfriend could ravage her like the meat she deserved to be. It was all ruined, and she was still hot and bothered. But she cooled quickly after and frowned. At this moment in their relationship, this dream may remain a dream forever.

After She learned of Sheena’s actions, Naari avoided Sven. Explaining Sheena and her mentality was something she was too cowardly to do.

Her yellow-eyed man was hard to gauge, but she understood if his patience grew thin. Research told her that being dishonest over major issues was bad for relationships,

Naari feared their relationship and even friendship would wither away. Sven would see her as a freak, and she would be alone again. But she had to do it because she loved him.

She stared with a frown at her phone charging on the nightstand. She had received messages from. She didn’t bother reading them. Instead, she bit her lip, dialed his number, and put the phone to her ear.

“Hey, dork.”

“Greetings, Sven. I-I must converse with you in person...”

Sven sat on the couch, looking up at Naari like he was a child being lectured by his mother. Naari paced around, rambling about anything but the critical topic.

“I know you didn’t just call me over to discuss your essays,” Sven interrupted. After Naari snapped up, he asked calmly, “What’s going on?”

“I have a split personality!” Naari belched. After a pause, she explained, “My other side is named Sheena.”

“We’ve met. She molested me,” Sven replied casually.

“She did what?!” Naari screeched. Then she covered her beet-red cheeks. “Sheena and I are the same person. So what she did to you, I did to you. And vice-versa. I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t mind it,” Sven admitted. “You can be pretty strong and demanding.”

Naari cleared her throat. “Please remain on the current topic.” I didn’t even get to see it yet, she wined internally. “She has been quiet for a long time and has only invaded my life frequently only recently. That’s the truth. I didn’t mean to hide it from you. Nobody else even has knowledge of this except for my family.”

“I think it’s because of me,” Sven replied. “The day we started dating, she emerged. I thought you were just drunk. I can’t forgive myself if I’m the reason she’s making your life a mess.”

“N-No. That is wholly incorrect thinking. You’ve been beyond wonderful. When I have something great in my life, she demands it for herself. She’s always been like that, so it’s not just because of you. But...” Naari frowned. “I can understand if you don’t wish to deal with this. Few could when I was a child.”

“I have no issue. My only concern is you. Do you want this to end, Naari?” After Naari shut her eyes and shook her head, he affirmed, “Then, I’m not going anywhere. I’m not going to abandon you now, dork, just because of this little thing. We’ll work it out.”

“Are you certain?” After a single nod, Naari beamed. “I’m ever grateful for your patience and kindness.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Sven rubbed the back of his neck, holding back embarrassment. “It’s not like I don’t have problems of my own that you may have to endure.”

“You are very gassy sometimes,” Naari admitted with a grin.

“I wasn’t talking about that. Am I gassy?” Sven pondered seriously.

“I am merely deploying humor, darling,” Naari lied.

Naari was surprised when Sven grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his lips. After a slow, comforting kiss, the couple dispersed. Naari swore she saw an actual smile on his face. An attempt at one, at least.

Since their discussion, Sven hadn’t seen those purple eyes taking Naari’s face. Sheena was absent, but he knew she wasn’t gone. They would stay together as it remained, but if it became a real problem, Sven would call it off for Naari’s sake and sanity.

While working quietly in his office in the afternoon, a violent knock at the door raised his tired eyes. “Hold on. I’m not going anywhere.” When he opened the door, a teenage girl invaded his space. “Come on in,” he said dryly.

The youthful girl had light purple sparkling hair and wore her elder sister’s face: Farara. Dillon, often called Dill, was a cute, preppy high schooler. After meeting Sven through her sister, she manipulated him to help her with school projects in areas he specialized in, and she found dull. Computer art.

Sven found her sweet, until she became a teenager, that is. As of late, she declared he was weird and lame and avoided him. But something was wrong with her if she burst into his office shortly after school.

“Hey. I’m just going to stay here for a bit. You’re cool with that, right?” Dill’s eyes peeked through the office blinds and darted around.

Sven figured she was having a moment. “Sure. Do what you want.” He sat back down, stared at his laptop for half an hour, and then realized that Dill was still there, plinking away at her phone, unblinking. “Wouldn’t you rather be anywhere else with anyone else?”

“I can do what I want. It’s not like I’m inconveniencing you.” Dill replied.

Sven scanned the girl. “Are you hiding from someone? You’re sister or friend?”

“I’m hiding from no one. Nothing is wrong.”

“If that’s the case, then go home.”

“I can’t go home...”

“Why?”

“I just ... can’t. Okay.” Dill became unnaturally quiet.