Proofread Chapter:
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 with my head resting on the mattress. I never seemed to nap long enough. I kept hoping he'd be awake when I opened my eyes, but each time, I was met with disappointment.
"Snowe…" he mumbled when he finally woke. His hand reached out, and I took it, pressing it against my cheek. Then, all at once, he sat up—alert, healthy, full of energy.
"Where am I?" he asked.
"My room."
He started sweating. Panic flashed across his face.
"I see."Then he rushed out of bed and out of the room.
Thank goodness he was feeling better. RJ had said he could have died… and it would've been all my fault, whether I meant it or not. I bundled the sheets and comforter into the washer. Now that Valin was okay, my appetite returned, and I headed to the kitchen.
That's when I saw him leaving the downstairs bathroom, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his hips.Why is he showering down here?!And… seeing him like this made it impossible to see him the same way again. 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. A fully dressed Valin came 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 to look at him but couldn't stop picturing 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?"
"No."
He grinned. "Good."
The restaurant was dimly lit, with tables spread far apart. Only seven other customers were inside. The atmosphere was nice, and the portions were huge. Valin asked about my childhood in Infaniya, then told me about his. He wasn't the weakest of his brothers—his element was Earth, a direct counter to both RJ and Zai—but he hated fighting, especially with them.
"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 explained that he gave up empathy because, unlike most Afarions, he couldn't stomach killing or torture. He saw empathy as 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 still processing. But I get how it must've sounded like I didn't care. I'm sorry. Also… I do see the benefit in kissing you now."
I gasped and turned to him, but he wasn't even looking at me anymore—just waving down the waiter to pay our bill.
The night air was cool when we stepped outside. It 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 settle on my hip.
"I do care about you," he said, voice suddenly urgent.
I felt myself wavering slightly."I know… You wouldn't have been 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. I started fanning myself.
"I… like you. I enjoy having you around," I admitted.
He grinned wide and hugged me tightly."Then I have a chance?"
I started to say yes… but bit my tongue and walked ahead instead. It still seemed like being with me was dangerous for him, and I'd hate to see him in that state again.
Days passed. Usually, it was just me and Valin—baking cakes, practicing algebra, watching shows, or playing cards. Sometimes RJ would be home, playing a game with Valin while I stayed in my room, quietly eating snacks so I wouldn't disturb them.
But even on those nights, Valin would text me before bed to say he missed me, or that he wanted to kiss me, or hold me.
WHAT'S WITH THIS BARRAGE OF MENTAL ATTACKS?!And every morning, it was a new math joke—some of which actually made me laugh.
"Good morning, Val!" I called, heading downstairs and flopping onto the sofa beside him.
"I hate when you call me that," he said, not looking up from his PC.
"I found a job! I'm going to be a barista at a café. I still have to go through two weeks of training, but it's paid."He kept typing."In two months, I might be able to afford an apartment." I added, that's when he stopped typing.
"Actually, I have a condo—you can move in." Valin confessed.
I blinked. "What's the catch?"Wait a second. I told him before that I was looking for work to afford a place, and he said nothing!
"The catch is, I'll be your roommate. I figured you'd feel more comfortable staying with just me instead of in this shared mansion. And I didn't mention it earlier because I had to get it ready for moving."
I threw my arms around him, squeezing his head into my chest.
"Deal!"
He hugged me back and sighed softly. "This must be heaven… being nice really does pay off."He nuzzled his face into my breasts.
I pushed him away immediately."Pervert."
Apparently, Valin was planning to leave 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 the 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, mouth slightly ajar."That was beautiful…"
He motioned me over and asked, "Do you know how to play?"
I sat beside him and shook my head. The last time I saw a piano was at Qon's house, but I never got the 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 muttered.
"Of course…"
"It must be hard to teach me in that position," I pointed out.
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 worked, and when I admitted I couldn't read sheet music, he spent the entire afternoon instructing me. Thankfully, some of my guitar knowledge 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. 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 just gave instructions—how to drive, how to park—and once I got decent, he returned 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 typed it in, and he paid without saying a word. Then he walked over 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 said, laughing.
Then he smiled. "You get off in 30 minutes, right?"
"Yeah," I answered while carefully preparing his drink.
"Let's hang out."
I smiled but didn't respond. After I handed him his drink, he sat by the window and quietly read something on his phone. Once my shift ended, we left together.
"How was it?" I asked.
"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 a ride to get there, 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 off the TV and gently placed his hand over mine.
"Um?!" I mumbled in confusion.
"It's okay if I hold your hand, right?" he asked softly, slowly closing the space between us.
I swallowed hard. "Uh… yeah… Are you tired of watching TV? Want to play a game instead?" I offered, trying to deflect.
"Right now, I just want to kiss you," he said.
I blushed, looking at him."...Really? I mean… you can kiss me, if you want. I… I want you to kiss me." I stammered.
I knew he could feel my heart pounding through my palm.
"Are you sure?" he asked, leaning even closer. "I won't stop at your lips—I'll kiss every inch of your body."His voice dropped, almost a warning.
The intensity coming from him made me fall back onto the couch. He hovered over me, 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 expected," he murmured.
I pressed my hand to my mouth, still flustered. Then he kissed my fingertips, trailing down my arm before burying his face under my shirt.
"W-wait!" I gasped as his lips found my breast. When I felt his tongue on my nipple, I pushed his shoulders, making him pop out from beneath my shirt.
"What's wrong? You said kisses were fine."
I scooted back and crossed my arms over my chest.Does that also count as a kiss?!
"It's just so sudden," I mumbled.
Valin crawled toward me again until he was hovering above, eyes fixed on mine.
"So it's okay… if I go slower?" he asked.
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 slid 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 let go of my panties and sat up with a sigh.
"Fine… I'll wait."
Then he turned the TV back on and didn't say another word. I sat up and crossed my legs, trying to calm my racing heart.What would I have done if he hadn't stopped?
The next morning, as I was leaving for work, Valin was on his laptop as usual, seemingly on a business call.
"It was Rhonda Mills… yes, I'm sure… I'm sending over the evidence now… I expect to be paid by noon." Then he looked up and saw me. "Hang on."
He took off his headset and walked over.
"Oh, seeing me off for once? I get off early today, so—"
He cut me off with a kiss—deep and unhesitating.Then he leaned in close, his voice soft against my ear.
"See you when you get off."
He turned and walked back to his seat like nothing happened, casually resuming his call.
What the heck?!
Every morning after that, before I left for work, he kissed me goodbye.Each time, he looked me directly in the eyes, reassuring me that he was eagerly waiting for me to come home.
His lips tasted sweet, and every 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 probably jump on top of him myself…