Keep Lying To Yourself

Everly dressed Valerio up once he was done with his bathing, and he walked to his bed.

He sat down and crossed his legs, his eyes staring into empty space.

"Everly."

"Hmm?" Everly, who was seated on the sofa with her eyes fixed on her phone, answered.

"Open the drawer near that bookshelf and give me one lollipop," Valerio said to her.

"Huh? Lollipop?" Quite confused, Everly raised her head to look at him.

"Yes, lollipop. Don't you know what that is?" He questioned.

"No, no. I do. I just didn't think you liked such a thing." Everly shook her head and got up from the couch.

"Why wouldn't I like it? It's sweet." He arched his brow at her.

Everly shook her head and pulled the drawer open, only for her eyes to flutter furiously.

"You are one weird man." She commented with disbelief in her eyes.

"What is weird about liking lollipops?" Valerio, who still couldn't understand where she was going with this, frowned at her.

"It's not about liking lollipops, sir Avalanzo said. I mean, I like it too. The weird thing is the fact that you kept a whole fucking pack in this drawer." Her shocked face warped into the most twisted expression.

Valerio, who found her unbelievable, shut his eyes and pinched between his brows.

"Everly, tell me; do you think purchasing it one by one is a better option?" He questioned.

Everly furiously blinking her eyes and realizing that he had made a point with his questions, she went silent and pushed the drawer closed.

"I have nothing to say, but I am rather sorry for your teeth." She chuckled softly and unwrapped the lollipops for him.

She handed it to him, and Valerio stuffed it into his mouth.

"Don't underestimate my teeth. I guarantee you, no matter how many lollipops I eat, it won't even shake." He stretched his muscles and drew back to rest his body on the headboard.

He fixed his gaze on the ceiling and slowly began to pull the lollipop out of his mouth and put it back in when he wanted to lick it.

Everly gazed at him in a daze, unable to deny the fact that this man was a work of art.

It's as if the heavens took their time with him because... his entire body was the apex of perfection.

Ugh! He looked too gorgeous for his attitude.

"You remember that I can hear your thoughts, right?" Valerio suddenly spoke with a sluggish expression on his face. "I don't mind you admiring, but please slow down with the thoughts." He clicked his tongue at her.

Everly's face instantly flushed red in embarrassment and she quickly covered her mouth.

"It's not like tha-"

"Keep lying to yourself." Valerio cut her off, his eyes still fixed on the ceiling, and Evelyn took deep breaths to calm herself down.

"Fine! I don't deny it. But, I have a request." She spoke.

"Hmm? What is it?" Valerio inquired.

"Can I sketch you?" She requested.

Valerio stilled and slowly turned his head in her direction.

"What?" He asked. "You…can draw?" He raised his brow at her with skeptism visible on his face.

"Yes, very well actually. One of my biggest talents." Everly smiled widely.

"What a surprise! To think you actually have a talent. That's a huge shock." He shrugged with a half smile on his face and took a deep breath.

"Fine, you can go ahead. Though how am I supposed to see it to know if it's good or bad?" He wondered.

"Hmmm?…" Everly began to stroke her jaw. "Do you think you might be able to see one day, sir Avalanzo?" She inquired.

"Um…yes. But it's a one out of a million chance. So… I don't really put my mind there." Valerio shook his head.

"I see… Well, I will make tons of sketches of you so that, if ever one day you can see, I will show them to you." She smiled tenderly at him.

Valerio went quiet and took a long, deep breath.

"Don't think about that, Everly. It won't happen because I know that the only way is something I cannot accomplish. Besides, what makes you think you'll still be here with me if that's even possible?" He pessimistically shook his head at her.

The smile on Everly's face slowly faded, and she cynically bit her lower lip.

"I will." She muttered. "Plus, it won't hurt to believe, would it?" She frowned at him.

Valerio blinked his lashes, revealing a gloomy half-smile on his face.

"Then believe for me. That would be fine, no?" He smiled at her, and Everly chuckled softly.

"Of Course. I will believe for you." She beamed at him and walked away, towards the door. "Let me get my sketchbook and pencils." She walked out of the room.

The smile on Valerio's face vanished immediately, replaced by a cynical one. "What a silly girl you are." He mumbled in a soft, sad tone, obviously saddened by the fact that he himself doesn't believe it, yet she does.

————-

"How is he?" Lucius asked the doctor, who was called Levis, and he turned to look at him.

"He's okay. His head is broken. It seems to have been banged with a stick or something," Levis explained. "He is experiencing a concussion for now, but he will be fine, so don't worry." He assured.

Lucius glanced at his right-hand man, who went by the name of Poli, and sighed, "Do you have any idea who could have done this?" He asked.

"No… I don't. Anyone could have done this to him. Perhaps you could inquire from him when he recovers. But one thing is for sure: whoever did this isn't human. A simple hit to the head cannot cause him to be in this terrible state."

"I can't seem to find any other injury on his body, so I really can't tell what else might have happened to cause him to end up like this." He shook his head as he elucidated.

Lucius slowly nodded and watched as Levis left.

He shifted his gaze to Poli, and his hands balled into tight fists. "I will find out who did this to you, and death will be their punishment." He declared.