IN MY BED

"Still asleep?" Yerim asked me an opening question when I got out of my room.
“And why have you been going back and forth to your room before? Maybe you are doing something weird,” she added so I slapped her on the arm.
She shouted loudly so I pulled her towards the living room. When we got here home, Rafa and I arrived because they were waiting for me according to Arthur.
Levi didn't come back to the office either because he was obviously really sleepy so I put him to sleep in my room first. The night is approaching and he's still asleep.
“You are really noisy, huh? Mom might hear you,” I scolded her for what she said.
“That's right, Rae, we plan to sleep over in your condo. Include your boss,” Rafa suggested to me so I looked at her curiously.
“Why is my condo? It’s just small,” I casually asked her and sat down next to Yerim.
"Ah, so you agreed to include your boss in our sleepover," Yerim stated that making me look at her immediately.
It was too late for me to refuse because Rafaella and she were already laughing. I was just squinting to the side when Arthur suddenly shouted so we turned to her at the same time.
“Oh my G! Am I dreaming? Am I really seeing a god?!” it screamed as it peeked into my room.
I ran to her until I heard Yerim and Rafa laughing. I quickly pulled Arthur away from my room and closed the door.
"Stop shouting!" I rebuked her when she sat down next to Yerim.
“My god, sister! Your boyfriend is handsome! And why is he naked? Is that how he really sleeps? It's like I want him by my side—”
“Oh my god, Arthur! You're impossible!” I'm cut off from what she's going to say.
She immediately frowned and even pulled her hair in an artistic way.
“It’s Ari, Sister Rae. A-RI!” she replied irritably to me, emphasizing her name.
I just stared at her while looking at my room because he might wake up. I could clearly see how tired he was when I put him to sleep in the bedroom earlier. Maybe it's because of work. That's what I noticed when I went to his condo. Even when he got home he was still working.
"He's not my boyfriend, okay?" I clarified to her that she just stared and crossed her arms and then smiled.
“He will be, Ari. Your lucky, your future brother-in-law is handsome,” Yerim replied so I looked at her badly.
“I still can’t believe it. The young innocent Astraea Lumiere Laxamana will only fall in love with a stranger. Funny but exciting to listen to,” Rafa also uttered so I sighed violently.
They laughed three more at the same time so I stood up.
“Oh, where are you going again? You can’t stay away from him even for a moment,” Yerim continued to tease me.
I violently ran my hand through my hair and then stared at her.
"I'll wake him up so we can leave," I lazily told them then went straight to my room.
I closed the door as I entered. He was still in good shape. He was lying on his back so I could only see the rocks on his back. I don’t know when he took off his polo. Maybe he was feeling hot. There is no air conditioning here.
I sat down beside him and gently caressed his face facing where I was. I did that a few more times before he finally woke up.
"We have to leave. It's almost-"
“Your room smells exactly like you. I want to stay here for a long time,” he uttered in his husky blurry voice.
He still didn't blink but that strange smile appeared on his lips.
“No, Lev. Let's just sleep in my condo."
It was too late to realize what I had said because he quickly lay down and grabbed my hands. I was about to get up but he pulled me quickly causing me to fall on his chest.
"You will sleep beside me?" he immediately asked in a teasing tone.
I close my eyes tightly as he hugs my waist tightly. I could still feel him giving me small kisses on my head so I couldn’t control how I felt. My heart is beating so fast and I can also feel the weight on his breathing. I could smell him because I was in his chest.
“N-no, Levi. I was just... I mean, just sleep in your condo, not here,” I told him, sounding stupid.
I could feel the trembling of my knees due to extreme nervousness. I stared blankly at the door because it might suddenly open.
“In that case, sleep with me. In my bed. Next to me, Lumiere,” he stated, still his voice cracky because he just woke up.
My chest continued to pound until he pulled me closer to him. I could feel him lift my face so I could see him. When I looked at him, he stared at me for a while smiling.
"I love you," he said while still looking at me with his serious expression.
At that moment I could not hold back my tears especially when our lips met. His lips were like wine. Intoxicating. Losing oneself. I can't recognize myself every time he kisses me like that. As if he really likes me. As if he really loves me.
It's risky but I want him with me. I want every inch of him. I want him to be with me every day. I don't know what to feel anymore. These feelings are new to me and I'm not used to them but I feel like I'm safe. Like I don't have to worry about anything anymore when I'm with him. Yes, he didn't give me butterflies in my stomach. Instead, he gives calm to my whole world. He calms my heart. And that's what matters the most.
"We'll go ahead. Take care. Stop accepting laundry from our neighbors, ma, please," I told her as I bid goodbye to them.
She just simply smiled at me so I was more bored. She never listens to me.
"I'm fine, Rae. You should take care of yourself. Tell Levi to come here whenever he's free. I want to make something for him," she softly said to me, pertaining to her delicious food.
I just simply nodded at her and kissed her on her cheek. I looked at Arthur who was still looking at Levi so I snap at him.
"Stop fantasizing and get inside, Arthur. You should study well or else I'll lower your allowance," I said to her and simply hug her.
She just smirked at me and winked.
"If you don't want Levi to be your boyfriend then just give him to me, sis. I'll take care-"
"Get inside! Now!" I shouted, cutting her off.
She just rolled her eyes at me and immediately ran inside the house so I laughed. I looked at my mom again and wave my hand to her. After that, I silently went inside the passenger seat of Levi's car. Yerim and Rafa headed first.