Penny and Loid’s Dream

“Repeat after me,” said a young lady with long, burgundy hair and crimson eyes. “‘I’d like to order a slice of strawberry cake.’”

The adorable lady beside her, with short black hair and emerald eyes, repeated, “I… I’d like to order a slice of strawberry cake.”

“Mhm! You got this, Penny! I believe in you!”

She swallowed and nodded. “Th-Thanks, Cherry…”

The two faced the bakery’s front door and stepped inside, the doorbell signaling their arrival. As the ladies stepped in, they passed by a familiar group of youths, their faces concealed by newspapers.

“Hey there!” said Eloi, grinning and dusting some flour off his hands. “Welcome to the bakery! How may I help you?”

Penelope glanced at Cherry, who beamed back at her and nodded.

And yet, with each step the quiet lady made, her face grew redder.

“Oh boy,” Charlie whispered.

“Shh!” Theodore kicked his foot.

“Both of you, be quiet!” Dorothy whispered.

Clover sighed. “You’re loud as well, Dorothy.”

“Oops.”

Cherry glared at them, who all immediately looked away.

Penelope ever so slowly tip-toed toward the counter, her eyes looking everywhere but Eloi’s face.

The baker stretched a reassuring smile. “What can I get you?” he asked.

She sputtered, face as red as a tomato. “I-I’m a cake!”

“Pfft—” Theodore cupped his mouth and buried his face into his arms, trembling. Meanwhile, everyone else facepalmed.

Eloi blinked. “I… beg your pardon?”

Penelope continued to stammer. “I-I-I mean—I’d cake! No, you’re cake! I mean, I’m like a strawberry cake!”

Theodore repeatedly slammed a fist on the table and snickered under his breath, fighting a war not to burst into laughter.

Eloi blinked a few times but still kept his smile. “I mean, you are wearing a red dress, so…”

“Oh my god—”

Charlie cupped Theodore’s mouth alongside his. “Sh-Shut up!” he whispered, also holding it in. Everyone else, including Cherry, covered their faces in second-hand embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Eloi continued to stare at his to-be lover, his breath stolen like the first time it happened.

He remembered this. This scene was only a memory—a memory of when they first engaged in a conversation. He had already seen her during the school festival, but this was the first time they’d talked face-to-face.

Penelope gripped her skirt. Tears of embarrassment welled her eyes, and she quickly spun around and bolted outside.

“Eh? P-Penny?” Cherry reached for the door—only to flinch as Eloi sprinted past her, throwing away his work apron.

He bolted toward the glass door showcasing the pure white space outside. The moment he stepped outside, the dreamscape shifted.

Eloi carefully opened his eyes, squinting at a bright scene.

He found himself standing at a park with a few orange trees, trimmed bushes, benches, and an intricate fountain. A cold breeze whistled by, carrying a few crispy maple leaves.

Hanging around in a wide field of grass were the Vamiers, the twins, and his past self. Clover and his parents sat on a picnic rug, chatting away while snacking on appetizers. At another spot, Dorothy and Charlie crouched before a tree, observing fungi and insects, and at the center of the scene, Cherry and Theodore played around, piling maple leaves and throwing themselves onto them, laughing carefreely.

Eloi sat next to a maple tree at another spot, munching on a sandwich while Penelope opened a peculiar orange bottle, inching it closer to her lips.

This was the last memory of him in his old body, right before...

Eloi's heart collapsed in terror and dashed toward them. “Wait! Penny, don’t!” he hollered. “Stop! Don’t drink that! That juice had—!”

Penelope took a few sips, relishing the fruity, tangy taste until she gaped her eyes in horror and dropped the bottle.

Eloi stopped in his tracks, knowing full well what would inevitably happen next.

She clutched her throat and gagged, gasping for breath. Her eyes turned bloodshot red, her veins swelled like branches, and her fangs grew sharp as a snake’s. Eloi dropped his sandwich and held her shoulders, trying to figure out what was wrong. It only took another moment until everyone else realized what was happening.

Eloi remembered it. She was screaming at him to run while she desperately fought against herself.

Back then, the Vamiers had already warned him that they were vampires who couldn’t drink alcohol, but he had long forgotten what alcohol would do to them since then—he never really knew what it’d look like, after all. Yet, by the time he recognized the dangers, her fangs had already sunk into his neck.

That day, he almost got launched straight up toward heaven if it weren't for Solomon performing an emergency operation on the spot and transferring his consciousness into Penelope.

The present-day Eloi could only watch as everyone back then ascertained the cause of the accident.

Penelope's drink should’ve been alcohol-free. Hell, everyone—including Penelope herself—was familiar with the brand and had no problem drinking it, and yet, that very bottle she had that day got spiked.

No one exactly knew how she couldn’t sense the alcohol from that drink either. Some guessed it was the chilly weather numbing her nose while others believed the concentration was too low for her to smell yet enough to react violently. Perhaps both factors caused it, but whatever the reason, that incident ultimately reminded everyone of their deadly curse that day.

And thus, a group of extremely pissed-off vampires—led by a human—conducted an awfully thorough investigation.

But, after Lady Maribel’s death, the trail turned cold.

A frosty breeze gathered some maple leaves and brushed past Eloi. He covered his face for a brief moment until he looked back up.

Now, standing alone at the empty picnic rug, was Penelope in her mask, her eye holes leaking tears.

Eloi swallowed and approached her. “Penny?”

Penelope stepped back and shook her head. “No,” she whimpered. “Don’t call me that. I-I don’t deserve it after what I’ve done. Eloi, I... I finally remembered it.”

She clutched her head. “I’m so sorry,” she croaked, her voice breaking apart. “With my own hands, I... killed you. I... I’m so sorry. I-I don’t deserve you after all!”

Without a second thought, Eloi sprinted at her. He snatched her wrist, pulled her closer, and wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tightly.

“E-Eloi?!” Penelope squeaked.

Eloi closed his eyes and tenderly smiled. “Penny, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you,” he whispered. “I’m just... so happy to see you again.”

“Did you even see that memory a moment ago?!” she cried. “I ripped your throat off!”

Those words... were the same words she told him when he first woke up in her dream world. Did she not remember everything yet?

If that were to be the case, then there was a silver lining to this hell after all.

Back then, Eloi's shock prevented him from coming up with a proper answer. Because of that, he gave her a sloppy reassurance, and it felt like an itch that had been left unscratched since then.

This time, he wouldn't make that same mistake again.

Eloi patted her head. “Yeah. And?”

Penelope flinched and gawked at him, gripping his shirt. “Why?” she croaked. “Why do you still like me?! After what I’ve done to you?!” Her sockets continued to pour her tears. “It’s my fault... that I trapped you all alone. It’s my fault that you went through all that—”

Eloi took off his hat and shoved her face into his chest, muffling her cries. “Penny, do you remember my twenty-fourth birthday, when you gifted me this hat?”

She timidly nodded.

“That was my first birthday to ever be celebrated. I was so happy I cried until my eyes dried out.” He tightened his hug, resting his chin on her head. “And when I found out you planned it all for me, I was convinced that you’re my soulmate.”

He gently stroked her head. “I may not know how to read or write, but I know that it was never your fault. You don’t need to apologize for anything.”

Penelope trembled her hands. “But, I... but you... were all by yourself this whole time. Because of me, you—”

“Hush, you.” He ruffled her hair. “Who cares if you’re a vampire? You made me happier than any human ever could.” He slowly pulled away, stared into her masked eyes, and cupped her cheek. “I don’t care if you could’ve killed me. I love you way too darn much, Penny.”

Penelope lowered her chin, tears overflowing. She loosened her grip on his shirt and softly reached for his wrists. “I... love you too... Loid,” she whispered back.

With a swelling heart that could explode at any second, Eloi raised her chin and pressed his lips onto her mask.

Penelope finally relaxed her shoulders, and a moment later, she wrapped her arms around him.

And just like that, the last mask crumbled away.

Eloi opened his eyes, now staring at a pair of beautiful emeralds. He took it all in: her eyes, her blushing cheeks, her ruby lips, her cute nose. God, she was as gorgeous as he had always remembered.

Without wasting another second, he kissed her again. This time, it was with her real lips.