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The male voice on the other side of the phone, usually full of charm and laughter, rang in my ears as full of disappointment as I was feeling. - I’m sorry little wolf, truly. I was also looking forward to the special spooky marathon we had planned, but I have to make some last-minute corrections to several documents from work.
I could feel my emotions wanting to overflow and spill, so I had to take a deep breath in order to compose myself and avoid showing the sadness bubbling in my heart. - Don’t worry, please. I completely understand. No one becomes CEO without making a few sacrifices along the way, right? - A soft giggle, perhaps a bit too fake, closed my statement. I didn’t want the person hearing me to feel even more guilt. I already could imagine his ears dropping and his tail moving softly in disappointment.
Valko let out a soft whimper, and it reminded of the one a puppy that had to spend the night away from its loved ones would utter in sadness. This time I giggled again, but more sincerely, overwhelmed by pure fondness. - I’m sorry, truly. - He repeated. - I know it’s selfish, but can we move it for tomorrow?
I glanced over my living room, filled already with all the things we may have needed for the planned evening: Blankets, plushies and pillows were already piled up on the sofa inside my home, ready to serve as a comfy spot where we could huddle and enjoy our mutual company. On the coffee table, stacks and piles of potato chips in different flavors were laid out, and so were packs of chocolate bars in its different presentations (milk, semi-dark and dark), plus a gigantic bowl filled with freshly made popcorn. Filling again the tinge of sadness, I hurried to reply. - The movies we selected for our marathon will still be available tomorrow, and we can enjoy them leisurely then. I still have time off so yes, don’t worry. - And after a new series of desperate apologies, I had to finish the call so I could let him focus on his work, and I could start to pick everything up.
Or at least, finish the popcorn.
The sound of my apartment doorbell pulled me out of the dream I had fallen into without noticing. I had managed to not pick up anything I prepared for Valko and I’s home date, since when I plopped onto the sofa I made the mistake to check social media to try and get rid of the negative emotions I had weighing on me, before I had started to clean. And when my body felt surrounded by so many cozy stuff, the fatigue from the endless past days fighting wanderers caught up to me.
I gave a quick glance to my phone display to check the hour, and I discovered less than an hour had passed since my conversation with Valko ended. It still wasn’t that late, so the person outside my door could easily be a neighbor that needed help, and I always was more than ready to extend a friendly hand. Besides, a little bit of human interaction has always been ideal when sadness wants to consume the heart and only leave loneliness behind in its wake.
After standing and stretching a bit to shake the fragments of sleepiness that still clung to my skin, I immediately walked to my front door, prepared to see through the peephole an elder lady, or maybe one of the kids that also lived in the building with their parents. I could even find myself face to face with a delivery guy, who’d maybe have some surprises from Valko, like he had done before in the past when feeling guilty and was trying to make up for unexpected events and last-minute cancellations.
The true surprise was that, in fact, the smiling and shining face that waited patiently at the other side of the door belonged to him, no less. And he was holding a plastic bag from a convenience store in one hand, whilst carrying a giant backpack on his shoulders. His hair almost looked like it shone on its own, thanks to the hallway lights that seemed to focus and him, and only him.
I was slower to process what was happening than the speed in which my body hurried to open the door, so I could throw myself into his arms. Immediately, the smell of the rain that cleans an imperturbable and ancient forest, as well as a laugh that always managed to warm me up even in the coldest of days, received me. - What are you doing here? - I asked, once I managed to free my face a bit from the giant bear hug that didn’t want to concede even a centimeter of distance between bodies. - I thought you had a lot of work to do!
Without letting me go, Valko started walking inside my apartment, keeping his arms firm against my body and exaggerating his steps. This made us both laugh, since it was not an optimal or comfortable position, but one that allowed us to be together for a few moments more. And we’d rather take that option every time. - I do, but... one of the many perks of being CEO is that I can work wherever I please, whenever I please. - He said, absolutely beaming with pride in himself, before finally letting me go so he could leave the bag on the table and his backpack on the floor. And then he pointed to the mess I absolutely had not picked up. - So I decided to go to one and only place that can fulfill any craving I might have.
Truth be told, I was embarrassed when I noticed how glaringly obvious it was that I had been incredibly excited for a plan that probably anyone else would find dull or boring. So, of course, my cheeks where immediately tinted with a shade of red that fitted better an innocent high-school girl than myself. - Oh, so I am the personal convenience store for a certain troublemaker CEO, huh? Lucky me. - Was what I managed to spew as I let myself fall on the sofa, trying to play it cool, before taking a handful of the intact popcorn. - Unfortunately for him, he will need to share.
Another laugh left his lips, wild and genuinely. The whole apartment was filled with that wonderful sound, and I suddenly couldn’t even remember the loneliness I had been feeling just less than an hour before. - Food always tastes better when I can share it with the people I love! - He said, like it was a matter of fact, so natural and bright.
Every time Valko used the word “love” and its synonyms, I couldn’t help but realize how he had grown up surrounded by love... and that same love had helped him become a person that was always honest and communicated earnestly without a linger of doubt. Whatever he feels is what he expresses, and even if some people find it overwhelming, I always feel it like a menthol balm. Refreshing and soothing.
It also makes me feel overwhelming gratitude towards the family he was born into, that helped him grow so beautifully. - Then you won’t care I eat the bigger portion, eh? - I replied playfully whilst throwing in his direction one of the pillows next to me, one that he easily caught so he could use as a comfy seat on the floor, just in front of where I was sitting. Once he was properly settled, he took a portable computer out from his backpack, along with a pair of glasses and a set of wireless headphones.
- We shall see how much I can eat while I’m working, and how much you can eat while you watch that super scary movie you were talking about before. I know you were excited to see it as soon as possible, so I thought that maaaaaybe we could be together even if I’m working and you are watching it. - He put on his glasses, smiled gleefully, and for a moment seeing him like that, wearing a knitted orange sweater, made him look juvenile. Like I was watching a joyful Clark Kent instead of the powerful Superman. - That way, I can also take care of you should you find it too frightening!
If anyone else had said the last sentence, it would’ve come across as mocking. But since it was him, his words lacked any trace of malice, so easy to find in any other place. He genuinely wanted to bring me peace if the terrifying nature of the film managed to make me uneasy.
Even so, I playfully smacked him using the tiny wolf plushie that lately could always be found next to me. - I am inclined to believe that the things I face being a Deepspace Hunter are a bit more frightening than anything that belongs to fictional tales.
Maybe I had been a bit arrogant with my words.
At some point, I had grabbed one of the pillows that I left on the living room and started using it like both a shield and a soothing mechanism that protected me from the images playing on the TV. Internally, I knew I wanted to find shelter inside other arms... but
I also didn’t want to bother the person typing fiercely his keyboard.
And I was ready to stay like that.
However, after a particularly horrifying jumpscare, I couldn’t stop myself for jumping a bit in my seat. And while I was worrying about bothering him because of that, I could feel Valko’s soothing touch caressing softly one of my legs: carefully, one of his hands held onto my right ankle, the one nearest to him, as if to remind me that he was there, ready to fulfill the tiny promise he made earlier.
I couldn’t help but once again feel overwhelmed by gratitude, fondness, joy, safety... and love.
Even the most terrifying movie can become tolerable if there’s a big, ferocious wolf standing ready to come to the rescue.
(But, well, once I paid attention more closely to him, I could notice that the hand that was still hovering over the keyboard was still, his earphones had fallen, and his gaze was fixated on the screen. So, from the two of us, the one that needed comfort and protection from the other was up for debate).
Hours kept going by, the snack mountain kept diminishing, the moon kept making her way across the sky, and even if I was more than free to go and sleep at any moment, I didn’t want to close my eyes and lose precious quality time with Valko.
The past week had been filled with days where we couldn’t meet, so now I didn’t want to lose even one precious second. Not when he still had to go back to his company when the morning arrived, which meant even more hours without his presence.
But the body can be a mighty traitor, and by the 35th yawn Valko couldn’t keep down anymore the laugh that felt like a lullaby once it left his lips. - You know you can already go to sleep, right? It’s your house after all.
Another yawn. - And precisely because it’s my house, I have decided I still don’t want to. - Obstinance and sleepiness made my voice sound like one belonging to a drunken person, but I still wasn’t ready to yield my valuable minutes. - You can’t make me. - I sentenced, sticking my tongue out and making him laugh heartily once again.
He finally decided to stand up, and grabbing one of the blankets readily available for us, he bundled me up in it before softly putting me down again on the sofa. - Now that it has come to this, you have forced my hand. And I must take drastic measures! - With one hand, he joyfully ruffled my hair, and for a split second I could see in his face the sunset light, hiding softly behind the green foliage of a forest no human had found before. - Give me ten minutes and you’ll see you’ll be eager to sleep.
Another yawn.- Challenge accepted.
Smiling widely, he got to work.
10 minutes went by, no more, no less. However, anyone that stumbled upon us could easily believe that the landscape now surrounding me took at least a few hours to be put together.
With superhuman strenght and calculated movements, the pile of pillows, blankets and plushies had changed into a pillow fort that invited us to be enveloped by it and ride it into dreamland. There was no corner that didn’t look impossibly cozy, and I knew I had lost the tiny challenge my beloved wolf had issued. I really wanted to sleep there.
But I didn’t want to do it alone. And blaming the sleepiness that kept forcing my eyelids to close, I held onto Valko’s warm body as if he were a giant teddy bear, once he approached me to boast about his prowess.
Understanding my silent message, that giant man that sometimes reminded me more of a Saint Bernard than a wolf, decided to let himself fall onto the soft bedding he had manufactured, pulling me into the comfiest place I’ve ever known by holding me close to him. - Now, please, will you sleep? - He asked softly whilst my face snuggled against his warm chest, the smell of petrichor once again flooding all my senses at the same time his slender fingers started to travel from my hair to my back, leaving soft caresses on their path.
- I don’t want to open my eyes and not find you there. - Without a doubt, the sleepiness was keeping me from putting my usual walls up, so I was left behind acting like a young child that wished to be doted on.
His arms tightened against my body, strong yet delicately.
God, how I love the perfume of the rain that falls gently on the ground.
- If you sleep now, I promise I’ll be back before you wake up. Like I never left. And then we can have breakfast together!
Morpheous gained power over me once Valko’s warmth invaded my whole body, making me feel like I was on a winter cottage, sitting next to the fireplace and drinking hot cocoa. - But don’t cook eggs with chocolate again, I’m begging you. - I croaked, my eyes completely shut already.
I could feel my beloved wolf’s chest buzz against my cheek, laughing gently, not a trace of offense in the face of my most sincere opinion about his favorite breakfast delicacy. - I keep telling you that, if you give it a chance, you will be pleasantly surprised!
I croaked again, trying to convey the incredulity I felt against his confident statement. - There’s plenty of surprises every day I spend with you. - A drunken sailor could speak more clearly than I at this point. My arms held him even tighter as a last act of defiance before dreamland claimed me as its citizen, and soon the landscape in front of my eyes had become a beautiful meadow in the middle of a forest lit only by moonlight.
I hope that, when the sun is out and it shines so bright, the birds are chirping happily on the trees and the streets are filled with the joyful sounds of daily life, Valko keeps his promise of being by my side.