Valin didn't wake up for 72 hours. RJ said it wasn't safe to move him, so I let him have my bed and sat in a chair by his side, occasionally drifting off and resting my head on the bed to nap. I never seemed to nap long enough. I kept hoping he'd be awake by the time I got up, but each time I was met with disappointment.
"Snowe..." he mumbled when he finally woke up. His hand reached out for me, and I took hold of it, resting it against my cheek. He suddenly sprang up, looking perfectly healthy and full of energy.
"Where am I?" he asked.
"My room."
He started sweating, and I could easily read the panic on his face.
"I see." Then he got out of bed and rushed out. Thank goodness he was feeling better. RJ said he could have died... and it would have been all my fault, whether I meant it or not. I bundled up the sheets and comforter, threw them into the washer, and now that Valin was okay, my appetite returned. I headed down to the kitchen.
That's when I saw him leaving the bathroom, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his hips. Why is he taking a shower down here?! Plus... seeing him like this made it impossible to see him the same way anymore. He walked past me without a word, and this time I couldn't explain away my rapid heartbeat with excuses like, "He looks like a puppy." He's a grown man! Is Valin actually hot?! No, maybe I'm just too lonely and hallucinating.
I made myself a PB&J sandwich, then a fully dressed Valin returned downstairs and poured himself a glass of orange juice.
"Do you want to go out or is that enough to fill you up?" he asked. I tried looking at him but couldn't stop imagining him naked, so I kept my head down.
"Where do you want to go?"
"There's a place that sells noodles. It's usually quiet. Have you had ramen before?" he asked.
"No."
He grinned widely and said, "Good."
The restaurant was dimly lit, with tables far apart. There were only seven other customers. The atmosphere was nice, and the portions were huge. Valin asked about my life growing up in Infaniya, then told me about his. He wasn't the weakest of his brothers—his power was Earth, and he was a direct counter to both RJ and Zai—but he hated fighting, especially with his brothers.
"Family is important to me. I always worry that one day a fight might go too far, so I'd rather forfeit without trying..." He revealed that he gave up empathy because, unlike most Afarions, he couldn't stomach killing or torture. He felt empathy was a weakness that always held him back.
"I'm sorry... making you waver on your vow... I didn't realize."
He chuckled and stroked my cheek. "I never told you... No need to apologize." I swatted his hand and looked away bashfully.
"By the way... I was wrong. What happened to you was awful. I said 'oh' because I didn't know how to feel and was processing what you said. But I understand how it may have come off as me not caring. I'm sorry. Also, I do see the benefit in kissing you now."
I gasped and turned to him, but he wasn't looking at me anymore—just waving to get the waiter's attention to pay our bill. The night air was cold when we left, which felt nice after all that hot food.
"That's a nice breeze," I said, then felt his arm wrap around my waist and his hand rest on my hip.
"I do care about you," he stated urgently. I felt myself wavering slightly.
"I know... You wouldn't have been put in that state if you didn't care." Should I push him away?
"Fine... but you haven't told me how you feel about me. I'm not good at reading people, so I need you to be honest." The breeze was no longer helping me, so I started fanning myself.
"I... like you. I enjoy having you around," I admitted. He grinned widely and hugged me tightly.
"Then I have a chance?"
I started to say yes, but bit my tongue and walked away instead. It seemed like being with me would be dangerous for him, and I'd hate to see him in that state again.
Days passed. Usually, it was just me and Valin, baking a cake, practicing algebra, watching shows, or playing cards. Sometimes, RJ would be home playing a game with Valin, and I would keep to myself, eating snacks in my room to not disturb them. But even on those nights, before bed, Valin would text me affirming he wanted to kiss me, hold me, or simply that he missed me.
WHAT'S WITH THIS BARRAGE OF MENTAL ATTACKS?! And every morning, it was a new math joke—some actually made me laugh.
"Good morning, Val!" I said while coming downstairs and sitting next to him on the sofa.
"I hate when you call me that," he replied, not looking up from his PC.
"I found a job! I'm going to be a barista at a café. I still need to go through two weeks of training, but it's paid." He kept typing quietly despite my news. "In two months, I might be able to afford an apartment." He stopped typing and said,
"Actually, I have a condo—you can move in."
I blinked rapidly. "What's the catch?" I asked. "Wait, I told you I was looking for work to afford a place before, and you said nothing!"
"The catch is, I'll be your roommate... I hope you'll feel more welcome staying with just me instead of in this shared mansion. And I didn't mention it earlier because I needed to get ready to move."
I hugged him, squeezing his head against my chest.
"Deal!"
He hugged me back, then sighed softly, saying, "This must be heaven. Being nice really does pay off." Nuzzling his face into my breasts. After that, I let him go and pushed him away.
Apparently, Valin was planning on leaving the house soon but was procrastinating because he didn't want to leave me behind. It was three days before we left, but no one ever came home for me to say goodbye to.
The condo was smaller, with only two bedrooms and one and a half baths, but the kitchen and living room were so big they took up the whole first floor. In the corner of the living room was a grand piano.
"Why is there a piano here?" I asked.
"So I can play it," Valin answered, tossing his bags aside and sitting down on the bench in front of the instrument.
"You can play?" I was dumbfounded. Is there no end to things I don't know about him? To answer my question, he played a sonata that filled the whole house and resonated in the core of my soul.
"…The acoustics in here are good, right?" he commented, then turned to me with a smile. I nodded, awestruck with my mouth ajar.
"That was beautiful..." He ushered me over and said, "Do you know how to play?"
I sat with him and shook my head no. The last time I saw a piano was at Qon's house, but I never got a chance to learn.
"I don't know how," I admitted bashfully.
"Well, sit in my lap and I'll teach you." My heart started racing.
"You're always flirting," I remarked.
"Of course..."
"It must be hard to teach me in that position," I added.
He replied, "I won't teach you otherwise." I bit my bottom lip and, after a few seconds of internal debate, moved into his lap. He took my hand and patiently explained the notes of each key, how the pedals work, and when I admitted I couldn't read sheet music, he spent the afternoon instructing me. Thankfully, some of my knowledge from playing guitar transferred over.
During my first week of work, he paid for a taxi, and at night, he taught me how to drive around the neighborhood. Eventually, he let me drive myself to the café I worked at. It seemed like he was always working during the day. I expected him to flirt nonstop once we moved in together, but that wasn't the case. He instructed me on how to drive. After I got decent, he went back to teaching me piano.
One day, he showed up at my job, looking tense.
"Hey! Welcome to Happy Café, how can I help you?" Aliyah greeted him, and he glared at her, holding up his phone to show his order. She entered it into the computer, and he paid through his phone. Then he walked to the bar counter where I was.
"If you mess up my drink, I'll riot," he threatened.
"Go easy on me! I'm still new," I replied. Then he smiled and said, "You get off in 30 minutes, right?"
"Yeah," I answered while carefully preparing his order.
"Let's hang out." I smiled but didn't respond.
After I gave him his drink, he sat by the window and read something on his phone. Once my shift was over, we left together.
"How was it?" I inquired.
"It was... sufficient." I scoffed and elbowed his side playfully.
"So where did you want to go?"
"Let's go home, order some food, and watch something. I just finished a big project and need a break." He'd called for a ride to get here, so I drove us back to the condo. Valin ordered pizza, and we watched a comedy together, laughing at the same scenes.
"Wow... we should watch that again someday."
"I agree!" I replied, delighted. Then he turned the TV off and placed his hand on mine.
"Um?!"
"It's okay if I hold your hand, right?" I swallowed hard and replied,
"Uh... yeah... Are you tired of watching TV? Want to play a game instead?"
"I want to kiss you," he announced. I blushed and looked at him.
"...Really? I mean... you can kiss me... if you want. I... want you to kiss me." I knew he could feel my heart racing through my palm.
"Are you sure?" he asked, leaning closer. "I won't stop at your lips; I will kiss every inch of your body." I fell onto my back, and he looked down at me, his eyes scanning me up and down before finally moving in and pressing his lips to mine. His kiss tasted like pizza.
"That felt different than I was expecting," he mumbled. I put my hand to my mouth, still flustered. Then he kissed my fingertips and down my arm before burying his face under my shirt.
"W-wait!" I muttered as he pressed his lips against my breast, and when I felt his tongue hit my nipple, I pushed his shoulders, making him pop out from beneath my shirt.
"What's wrong? You said kisses were fine." I scooted away and crossed my arms across my chest. Does that also count as a kiss?!
"It's just so sudden," I replied. Valin crawled until he was hovering over me again.
"So it's okay... if I go slower?" Is this the same goofy math-loving Valin I've known?! Since when could he ask me questions like that?
"...I'm nervous," I admitted. He then moved his hands up my skirt.
"I know a good way to relieve stress." Not helping! I gulped loudly; the panic on my face seemed to amuse him. But he released my panties that he'd been tugging on and sat up with a sigh.
"Fine... I'll wait." Then he turned the TV back on and didn't say anything else. I sat up and crossed my legs, trying to settle my racing heart. What would I have done if he hadn't stopped?
The next morning, as I was leaving for work, he was on his laptop as usual, seemingly in a business call.
"It was Rhonda Mills... yes... I'm sending over the evidence now... I expect to be paid by noon." Then he looked up and saw me and said, "Hang on." He took his headset off and walked my way.
"Oh, seeing me off for once? I get off early today, so-" He cut me off with a kiss,
"See you when you get off." With that, he walked back to his seat and got back on his call. What the heck?!
After that day, every day before work, he'd kiss me goodbye and look me in my eyes as he reassured me that he was eagerly waiting for me to get back home. His lips tasted sweet, and each time they touched mine, I felt my heart wavering... If he asked me to sleep with him right now, I can't imagine refusing... No... I'd likely jump on top of him myself...