The Villainous Emperor Is My Pet?

I grab my damn phone and look at the time. I still have ten minutes left before the alarm.

"Ugh!" I hate waking up to the sound of the alarm, but I hate waking up before the alarm rings more. I won't be able to sleep now. I stretch my body for ten minutes. All the gyms are closed. "What did I dream today?"

I can't recall. I always feel like I have dreamt of something important since I woke up. I dislike the feeling that I am forgetting something important.

The doctor told me that it wouldn't be strange if I had holes in my memories since I had been in a vegetative state for two years. I had tried various therapy, but it was useless. I couldn't recall it at all. The feeling of not remembering something is pricking my heart. But what can I do?

It's best to not try too hard. Since I can't recall it anymore, maybe it's not that important.

There's a high chance that I will remember at some random moment.

My phone rings. And it's not an alarm. Who will call me this early?

Harvey?

I take the call. "Why are you calling me this early?"

[I heard that someone visited you last night.]

How? Did Kyle tell him? "So?"

[Why didn't you call me? I told you to call me first if something happened.]

What a strange man! Even if he feels guilty, wouldn't it be better to call the cops instead of him?

"Harvey, do you love me?"

[What?] There's a sound of spitting. I guess that he is strongly against the idea. [I don't dare. Don't say ridiculous things. I care about you, but love is a stretch.]

He didn't have to deny it like that. I open the window. Thick layers of snow welcome me. "Then, why do you act like a clingy man? It is common sense to call the cops before I call you."

He remains silent for a long moment. I don't say anything either. Lines need to be drawn and this person needs to understand how crazy he is.

[You signed the contract. Until the story is finished, you will follow the terms. In addition to that, you won't engage with other work.] Harvey reminds me calmly. [You will not leave the house at night and you won't open the window. If anything happens, you will call me first.]

I guess I did sign something like that. Back then, I found it strange. But I thought that rich people are eccentric. "Isn't it too much?"

[If it's too much, should I send you to prison for breaking the terms of the contract?] His voice is crispy. He must be angry for real.

"Ahaha… I was just joking. I didn't call the cops. I called my brother first. It was a reflex." I don't want to go to prison. I will play it out until the story is finished. "I will call you from the next time."

[The car is waiting. Come outside.]

The call is snapped cut. I stare at my phone. What's up with Harvey? It's too early.

Anyway, I won't just rush out. He can wait. After I am done with my morning bathroom duties, I wear jeans, a woollen red top, and a black jacket. I leave my phone on the table and go downstairs. My brother isn't in the living room or the kitchen. He's probably asleep.

After writing a note, I put it on the refrigerator. It should be fine here.

The car is really in front of the porch. The car door is pushed open when I get closer to it. I get into the car. Harvey is reading a newspaper.

"Aren't you early?" I ask him.

"I couldn't wait." He lets out a breath. "Were you scared last night?"

"It was Syphilis." When he gives me a blank look, I explain to him, "My ex-boyfriend. How did you know that something happened last night?"

"I have my means." He turns his gaze toward the newspaper. "Always call me from now on."

"Now, you are acting like a love fool." I lean closer to him. "Don't you care too much?"

He pushes me away. "Savina, behave."

I roll my eyes. "You should behave too."

Harvey stays silent. I wonder what's going inside his brain. No matter how I look at it, it's strange to call him first. Anyway, the situation might not repeat. And it's only for a week.

"Harvey, should I start the story?" I ask him. We are in the car, but there's a divider between us and the driver. The driver can't hear us.

"No, we will do it in that room only." He glances at my face and wrinkles his nose. "Why aren't you wearing a mask?"

I touch my mouth. There is no mask. "I forgot."

Harvey makes a face at me. "You are so careless."

"You aren't wearing one either." I shift closer to the window. "I don't care anymore. I have died thrice."

"Thrice?" He sounds surprised. "Do you remember the third time?"

"How would I remember it when I was in the book and my body died in the hospital?" I give him a dirty look. "Didn't my heart stop once?"

"Oh, that…" He rubs his nose. "Yes, you died three times."

There shouldn't be fourth death anytime soon. I want to live a long life.