Leave Me Alone!

It took another thirty minutes before Everly was done picking out everything she needed.

She returned only to see Valerio curled up and asleep on the sofa like a baby.

Her eyes flapped vigorously, and a warm smile emerged on her face as she realized just how adorable he looked while asleep.

He wasn't in pain, worried about lots of things, or sad. He was just sleeping soundly, devoid of any troubles.

A deep breath fled her nose as she was happy to see him like this and grabbed her phone from her pants pocket.

She took a quick photo, then shook him to wake him up.

"Leave me alone." Valerio slapped her hands away as he mumbled under his breath.

"I wish I could, but we have to go." She shook him yet again and annoyed, Valerio turned to glare at her with sleepy eyes, but he ended up falling off the sofa onto the floor.

"Oh my god!!! Are you okay?" Everly hurriedly helped him up from the floor, and Valerio breathed heavily.

"What exactly is wrong with you? I was sleeping soundly."

"Sir, Avalanzo, we are not at home." She immediately reminded him, and realizing so, Valerio pinched his brows.

"Oh...I see. My apologies. Can we go now?" He inquired.

Everly nodded and took his hand in hers.

They made their way downstairs and out of the building, towards the car.

Alex pulled the doors open for them, and Everly stepped in after Valerio.

Alex started the car and drove off onto the road toward the mansion.

Valerio adjusted his seat and let out a soft breath.

"It took you so long to choose something." He suddenly spoke.

Everly awkwardly smiled and fiddled with her fingers.

"I am sorry." She apologized.

"No, it's fine. In any case, I didn't mind." He yawned as he shook his head at her.

"Sir, Avalanzo. You seem really tired today." Everly, who had noticed how weary he looked to be, said in concern, and Valerio nodded his head at her.

"Mhm. I don't know why." He sighed deeply and slowly rested his head on her shoulder, shutting his eyes in the next moment. "Let me stay like this, okay." He mumbled to her in a really low voice.

Everly smiled as she turned her head to look at him. "Sure." She reached out her hand and caressed his face before tucking the strand of his hair that fell above his face behind his ear.

Alex, who was driving, glanced at them through the rearview mirror and averted his gaze.

 ....

They finally arrived home after a few hours of ride, and with much effort, Valerio staggered into the mansion and made his way upstairs with Evelyn's help.

Everly pushed the door of his room open and walked him inside.

She shut the door, and Valerio plopped down into the bed.

"Sir, Avalanzo, are you okay?" She inquired in deep concern.

Valerio nodded at her and rolled to his side on the bed.

"Mhm, don't worry. I just feel this way sometimes. I will be fine by tomorrow morning." He assured her, and Everly nodded.

"Well, call me if you need anything, okay?" She smiled warmly at him, but when she got no response from him, she looked at his face only to realize that he had already fallen asleep.

A deep breath fled her nose, and she sat down on the sofa.

She could feel that he was not okay, so leaving him all alone in here was not the best choice.

She took yet another long, deep breath and sat down on the couch.

She placed her hands on her belly and fixed her gaze on the ceiling.

….

The clock ticked and ticked, and Everly, who had also fallen asleep, slowly blinked her eyes open.

She rubbed her eyes and shifted her gaze to Valerio upon hearing mumbles coming from him.

"Everly….Everly…Everly…" He continuously muttered her name, and not knowing if she was hearing him right or not, she quickly stood up from the couch and rushed to the bed.

"Sir Avalanzo, are you okay?" She asked in deep concern.

Valerio, who looked to be having a dream or something, sweated so profusely that Everly had to grab a towel and wipe his face.

"Oh my god, you're burning up." She exclaimed the moment she felt his temperature.

"Sir Avalanzo! Please wake up." She tapped his cheek, trying to wake him up, but Valerio instead grabbed her hand unknowingly, pulling her down onto the bed beside him.

He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. "P-please don't leave me, I beg you."

He pleaded in his sleep, and Everly, who wanted to get up, halted.

She glanced at his face only to see tears slowly dropping from his eyes.

"Sir Avalanzo… Are you having a bad dream?" She whispered to him and laid back on the bed beside him. "It's okay. You will be better soon. One day." She reached out her hand and tenderly caressed his cheek.

She wiped off the tears from her lashes with her thumb and gently hugged him, giving him the comfort he needed.

Seeming to sense such comfort, Valerio inhaled and exhaled deeply, and a relaxed expression replaced the hurtful look on his face.

They stayed this way, and Everly eventually ended up falling asleep again, actually causing them to sleep in that position through the whole night.

________

The sun rose very early the next morning, and Valerio, who seemed to feel much better, blinked his eyes open.

He yawned, and feeling something quite soft wrapped in his arm, a slight frown emerged on his face.

"Huh?" 

He reached out his hand and grabbed her silky, soft hair, causing a heavily confused expression to emerge on his face.

"It can't be..." He mumbled, and wanting to make a complete confirmation, his hand shifted to her face, and he grabbed onto Everly's cheek, causing a hiss of pain to escape Everly's mouth.

"Ouch!!!" Everly quickly blinked her eyes open. "Sir, Avalanzo." She addressed him by name.

Valerio's eyes widened, and in the blink of an eye, he sprinted backward, eventually falling off the bed.

"You chicken head! How did you get in here?" He rubbed his head as he stood up from the floor.

"Well, that's your fault. I was just trying to take care of you. I nearly thought you were going to die last night. Tsk." Everly glared at him and, recalling what had happened to him last night, an awkward smile emerged on his face.

"Oh…sorry." He cleared his throat and took a long, deep breath.

"Hmm, why were you calling my name in your sleep though?" She inquired.

"Huh?" A look of confusion appeared on Valerio's face.

"Yes. You kept mumbling my name throughout the whole night, I wondered what you were dreaming about." She cackled as she stood up from the bed.

Valerio's eyes blinked furiously and he cleared his throat. "I don't remember." He said with a straight face.

"I see." Everly nodded at him and proceeded to make his bath.