He cupped her jaw in his hands and caressed her soft cheeks with his thumbs and lamented softly, "Don't you want me anymore?"

She placed her hands on his wrists and gently pulled them away, turning her sullen gaze away from him.

"I tried to forget you so many times," he continued. "But you won't let me."

Acknowledging what he said with a nod, she stood up to leave, but he grabbed her wrist. "No, I don't want you to leave me."

The cool wind blew through the slithering strands of her silky hair and the flowing fabric of her yellow floral dress, the same one she wore the first time he saw her. She gave a gentle smile and slid her wrist from his hand.

"Please don't leave me, don't leave me!" he grabbed her wrist again. She shook her wrist from his grip, but he held it tighter this time.

"Leon, Leon!" the moment she pleaded, her voice sounded surprisingly masculine.

Leon's eyes opened as the sudden the calling of his name became crystal loud and he could feel someone shaking his body. Surprised to find himself holding on to Evan's wrist, he immediately let go of his hand.

"W-what happened?"

"You told me not to leave you," explained Evan, unblinking.

"Oh.."

Leon glanced around and realised he was in the minibar, where he had passed out over the counter, but not sure for how long. The pricey Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc wine bottle next to him was three-quarters empty. The hangover headache was coming back.

"How long was I here?" he asked in a weak voice.

"Roughly two hours. It's 4pm now."

"4! I need to head to the studio to rehearse, was suppose to be there at 2.30," he pushed himself up but stumbled and Evan steadied him.

"I've told Arnold you're not well."

"No, I can't. I need to work. Need the money."

"It's too late now, Leon. I'll help you to your room to rest."

"Don't tell me what to do!" he tried to push him away, but his side was throbbing with pain so suddenly that he groaned.

"Shall I call a doctor for you?"

"I'm fine," he waved off, twisting his face. "Get my meds."

Evan grabbed his medicine from the kitchen counter and gave it to him. Leon popped in a pill into his mouth and downed it with the wine next to him.

"I'm going off now, tell the other guards to get ready," he ordered and staggered towards the door but stopped. His head was feeling painfully groggy.

"No, you're not well," said Anna in a firm, motherly voice as she put down her cleaning cloth on the table. "My dear child, you are terribly wasted and the mumbling in your dreams I can hear it not far from where I am. This is not the first time it has happened. I insist that you rest and see a doctor."

Even though Anna was an employee, because of her elderly age and the fact that she had worked with him since he was a teenager, she felt like an older family member in some ways and she was the only one whom he never raised his voice at. Reluctantly, he gave in to her suggestion and let Evan help him into his room.

"Fine, I'll rest, but no doctor."

"Then I'll make you a cup of fresh mint tea."

———————

"Like it?" Anna asked.

Leon nodded and took a few more sips.

"That's better, isn't it?" she took the cup from his hand and put it on his bedside table. "I don't think it was wise of you to down your medicine with wine, the very thing that's making you even more sick and depressed."

Leon lay his head onto the pillow and stared blankly at the ceiling, replaying the dream he had of her.

"You were dreaming of Ariel just now, weren't you?"

He did not reply.

"I miss her too," Anna continued with a nostalgic sigh. "She was always a lovely girl, always chatting with me. And Andy was such a darling. Seeing how tall he's grown now and how different his mother looks. I miss them very much."

Leon let out a dreary sigh.

"I'm sorry Leon if I'm talking too much about her. But you're not the only one missing her," Anna wiped off a stray tear from the corner of her right eye. "I don't think it's easy to forget her."

Anna got up and left his room, leaving Leon to silently sob by himself.