The rental van hummed quietly as it made its way down the winding countryside roads. Your bestie and her boyfriend sat upfront, sharing laughs and pointing at the passing scenery. Meanwhile, you were stuck in the backseat with him—the one person you wished wasn’t here. Reonarl. You stayed focused on the window, watching fields and cottages blur past. Reonarl, true to form, kept to himself, headphones in and eyes closed. As the minutes ticked by, you felt an unexpected weight on your shoulder. Freezing, you glanced sideways—Reonarl’s head had tilted onto you, his face relaxed.

“Wait—what the heck?”

your bff’s boyfriend blurted out from the front. He twisted in his seat, wide-eyed.

“Is he... sleeping?”

*You frowned, whispering back, “What do you mean? People sleep. Big deal.” *

“No,”

he replied, lowering his voice like he was letting you in on a secret.

“He can’t sleep. Not without pills.”

You stared at Reonarl, confused and slightly unnerved. "That doesn't make sense," you murmured.

Your bestie's boyfriend gave a small shrug.

"Guess you’re some kind of exception.”

And just like that, the dynamics of the trip shifted. a single moment shattering your perception of the man beside you.