Later that night, after getting back to the cafe from dinner with everyone, Dean lay down on his bed, his mind still replaying what had happened at the restaurant. He felt a little mixed up because of how Ethan had acted toward Claire, Bianca, Ruby, and Lily. Shaking his head, he mumbled, "Ugh, what's wrong with me?"
["You're finally becoming a teenager."]
"Huh... no way. I'm way older than a teenager. I'm old enough to be their grandfather," Dean thought to himself.
["How long will you stay tied to the past?"]
Dean fell silent, his eyes looking at the ceiling, then around the room. He closed his eyes, and his past life began to replay in his head: how he had been alone as a child, bullied in school, and eventually became a loner. He thought marrying Laura would be a beautiful thing, only to find out it was all a lie and he was betrayed in the end.
But then he also remembered his life now: his childhood with Angel, his parents who loved and supported him (even though his mom was technically his former child), his dad's good, big family like Liam, and his current life, where he met the four girls now living at his cafe. Dean opened his eyes and compared his past life to his current one.
He realized that aspects of his past life were controlling his current one. For example, he isolates himself in class and doesn't socialize, just like he did in his past life. He didn't want to get into trouble or hang out with people because he was afraid of being hurt again due to past events, even though everything is actually different now. He was stiff and awkward around other people because that's how he was in his past. He was too straight-laced and old-fashioned because he believed being that way would somehow bring his parents back in his past life.
When his two lives—his past and his present—came together, he realized that everything that had happened in the past wasn't happening now. All his old feelings, all his trauma, all his mental crises, belonged to a past that had died in prison. After that, he sat up on his bed, stunned. He looked around the room again, taking in every corner. He felt a little calmer, and more importantly, he felt something different.
In this moment, he felt free and relieved. For the first time in 18 years, Dean could finally smile a genuine smile.
["Hmm...it seems you understand now."]
"Yeah, you're right, NS. I was too attached to the past. Right now, I'm only 18 years old. The 32-year-old me died in prison 38 years ago," Dean said calmly.
["That's exactly right. Use your past life as a lesson for your current life, but don't live in the past."]
"I know. Thanks for the advice," Dean said with a smile.
["Hmm… I just want my employees to live well. What kind of boss abandons his employees, right?"]
"Hahaha... you're right, NS... you're right," Dean said, laughing.
["Besides, the four girls you're with see you as an 18-year-old high schooler, not the 32-year-old CEO you used to be."]
"Yeah, I know," Dean said, turning his head to look at the door.
["Alright, I'm glad you realize this life is different. Keep working to pay off your debt."]
"I know, don't worry. I'm not going to run from my debt," Dean said.
["Good. I'm counting on you."]
Dean turned to look at the door, then he smiled, hopped off his bed, walked over, and opened it. "Whoa!" Claire, Bianca, Ruby, and Lily, who were all in their pajamas, tumbled through the door and piled up in a heap. It looked like they had been eavesdropping.
"How long have you guys been behind my door?" Dean said, even though he already knew.
"Hehe, sorry. Bianca heard something from your room earlier, told the rest of us, and well... you know," Claire said.
"Heh, my bad," Bianca said.
"I just followed everyone else... sorry, hehe," Ruby said, blushing and pushing up her glasses shyly.
"Um... sorry, don't be mad," Lily said telepathically, pouting.
"Haha... you guys are ridiculous. You're not in bed yet? Are you still hungry?" Dean asked with a big smile.
Still in a pile on the floor, the girls were stunned. They looked at each other, then looked back at Dean, who was genuinely smiling. A real smile.
"Um... are you okay?" Claire asked.
"Yeah, you... you're usually so gloomy... but to be honest, I like your smile now," Bianca added.
"If you want to talk about it... I'm willing to listen... er... I mean, we are," Ruby said, a little flustered.
Lily just looked at Dean's face and didn't say anything telepathically, her round eyes seeming to study his face. Suddenly Dean bent down, picked up Lily, and helped Ruby, Bianca, and Claire stand up. Of course, the four of them were surprised and just kept staring at Dean, who now seemed so lighthearted.
"What happened to you?" Claire asked, confused.
"Why would you ask that? Would you rather see me gloomy?" Dean asked.
"Oh, that's not what I meant at all! I'm actually happy to see you so refreshed and carefree like this," Claire replied.
"Yeah, that's right, Dean. I'm happy to see you like this too," Bianca added, holding Dean's hand.
"But if you want to talk about it, I... ahem... we are ready to listen," Ruby said.
Lily didn't say anything, but she nodded as if she agreed with Ruby and the others.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. It's late now, let's go to sleep," Dean said, turning away.
"I can't sleep, I wanna talk," Lily said, finally speaking in Dean's head.
"Alright then, let's talk," Dean said, turning back and smiling.
Claire, Bianca, Ruby, and Lily's faces lit up. They closed the door and gathered around Dean.
*****
The next morning, "Ugh," Dean slowly opened his eyes as sunlight streamed through his curtains. He remembered it was Saturday. He stared at the ceiling, and when he tried to get up, "Hgh," he couldn't move. "Krrr...krrr...krrr," he heard several soft snores around him. Dean raised his head, and his eyes went wide.
Claire was sleeping next to him, hugging his right arm. Bianca also had his left arm resting between her large chest. Ruby was using his thigh as a pillow, and Lily was sleeping on top of his torso like his torso is her comfy bed. All their pajamas were disheveled, as if they were in their own rooms, and Dean's face turned red.
"What the hell? I may have let go of the past, but this isn't normal," Dean said to himself, feeling his heart start to pound.
["It wasn't a waste to get you a giant bed, was it... hohoho."]
"Shut up. I'm trying not to think any inappropriate thoughts," Dean said in his head.