17 First sleep

After a few minutes, Kuno opens the door.

He's already dressed in his pajamas.

"Next time, knock before opening a door"

"Yes, I'm sorry" I'm still embarrassed.

"By the way, Alex. Don't you feel uncomfortable with the casts?"

"Yes I do, but I suppose it's necessary"

"Dai healed you with magic. That kind of healing is much quicker than medicine of Zenon"

"So, are they no longer necessary?"

"They are quite recommendable, but I suppose that you will not make so many physical efforts, so no, they aren't necessary. Do you want me to help you take them off?"

"Yes, please, but first I go to the bathroom"

"Sure, I'll wait for you downstairs"

I enter the bathroom.

*toilet flushing*

I go to the sink.

I start to wash my hands.

I see the mirror.

'My hair... will it be whiter every time I use my magic? I should ask that tomorrow'

I close the water tap.

I dry my hands.

I leave the bathroom and go downstairs.

I see that Kuno is sitting on the sofa in the living room.

"Hey Kuno, how are you going- Why do you have that!"

"It's just a small battery saw, it's for removing the plaster"

"Is it safe?"

"It depends"

'That doesn't give me confidence'

"Lie on the couch"

I do what Kuno says.

Kuno brings a chair from the dining room and accommodates it next to the sofa.

He sits.

"Now, just try not to make sudden movements, understand?"

"Understood"

He turns on the saw and start cutting the plaster.

*saw*

*saw*

*saw*

He stops.

"Did you fini-" he interrupts me.

*saw*

*saw*

*saw*

He stops.

"Could you stop-"

*saw*

'Son of a-'

*saw*

"hehehe" he grins.

"You're doing it-"

*saw*

*saw*

He stops.

"Done, I finished with the leg. Try to move it"

While avoiding his gaze, I move my leg.

'At last! It was only a few hours, but it feels good to get rid of that weight'

"Now extend your arm"

I extend my arm and I keep avoiding eye contact.

*saw*

*saw*

*saw*

*saw*

"I finished. Don't make too much effort, you could hurt again"

"All right. Thank you"

"No problem. By the way, Alex..."

"Yes?"

"… Nothing. I'll go and store this, good night"

"Goodnight"

I get up from the sofa and go upstairs.

I open the door of the room as subtle as possible.

'She's still sleeping…'

I enter and close the door quietly.

'Good, now: Where do I sleep? Elin is lying on the side of the bed... Does she want...? Okay…'

I go to the other side of the bed and lie down.

'This will be very uncomfortable... I could...'

I grab my pillow and put it in the middle of the bed.

'That's better'

I see the ceiling, lost in my thoughts.

'This is the first time I sleep in another house, not counting the days I was unconscious, and I'm sleeping next to someone...'

I turn to see Elin.

'I don't understand... Why do I feel this? It's strange…'

I see the roof again.

'And what did Kuno want to tell me? He decided not to tell me anything, he looked something ... out of place'

I turn to see the window.

The weak light of the moon reaches to enter through the curtains and raindrops.

'I'd better sleep, tomorrow will be a pretty loaded day'

I close my eyes, waiting for sleep.

...

...

I open my eyes.

'... I slept a little, but it's still night'

I turn to my side.

'Elin isn't here... And the door is slightly open'

*toilet*

'I think she's in the bathroom'

The door opens.

"Are you awake?" Elin asks when entering.

"I just woke up"

She lies on the bed.

"I can't sleep either"

"But you were sleeping like a baby a while ago"

"I know, but I have no idea why I woke up"

"Nor I…"

Only the sound of the rain sounds.

"..."

"..."

"Hey" we both say at the same time.

"Sorry, you first" Elin says.

"Well... I wanted to ask: Why did you decide to take me by the hand?"

Elin is surprised to hear the question.

"Because I wanted to go after Dai and Kuno"

"But why in such a hurry?"

"I was kind of angry"

"Why? Did they say something bad?"

Elin blushes a little.

"They said that... we would have more time alone..."

"We are alone now"

"But... they were referring to something else..."

"What do you-"

'Wait, she means...'

I also blush.

"I'd better go back to sleep. Goodnight" I say to Elin, trying to finish the conversation.

"Yes, goodnight" she answers, a bit agitated.

'Why do I react like this? It's normal, but thinking about it now is...'

My breathing starts to accelerate.

'No, not now! Think of something else. I have to review everything that has happened in the last days to be able to explain it well tomorrow...'

I spend a while collecting the most important things, until I fall asleep.

"Alex, wake up"

"Mwhat...?"

"It's time to wake up" Elin moves me a little to wake me up.

"Yes... I'm going..." I'm still quite asleep.

The sunlight coming through the window finishes waking me up.

I sit on the edge of the bed.

"Look for clothes in my closet, you can choose what you want"

"Thanks, but, I would like a change of underwear..."

"After lunch we'll go buy clothes, but for now you'll have to conform. It's your decision whether or not you want to wear my underwear for a few hours"

"I understand…"

"Well, I'm going downstairs, today it's my turn to cook. We all already showered, so you can take your time"

"Yes, thanks"

Elin leaves the room.

I get up and go to the closet.

'I don't want to do it, but I have no other choice...'

I open the closet.

'Wow! There are tons of clothes and everything seems new'

I watch the closet, trying to decide between so many clothes.

'I think this will be fine'

I choose a cute tank top and shorts.

'Now, underwear... I'm going to wear someone else's underwear...'

While my face is red, I look for underwear.

'Here it is, I'll just grab the first one I can'

Quickly, I extend my arm and take the first panties and bra that I find.

'Ready. By the way, I wonder...'

I start sniffing all the clothes I chose.

The door opens.

"By the way, Alex, I forgot- What are you doing?" Elin sees me smelling her clothes.

'Shit…'