WMMAP - [S1] Shelter You - (愛)してる

Chapter 45: The Lost Chapter

All the color on her face was drained as Athanasia repetitively tapped on Lucas' cheek once she caught the body that was carried by none other than gravity itself. She would subtly shout his name, beckoning for him to answer. She heard a faint complaint resembling a noticeable groan; It was enough to put her at ease.

"He—Hey! What is wron—"

Her word died, eyebrows knitted together once she saw a glimpse of a smile.

This guy's sense of humor is just.... GOSH!!

"...I feel... Weird— wuAH!" Before he knew it, Lucas was shoved off the sofa and landed on the floor. "Oh... No... I think my stitches are loosed..."

Lucas attempted a pitiful whine, but he was merely hiding his face with his forearm, suppressing a peal of laughter. He was expecting the most painful screeching sound that may attack his eardrums with full force. Still, contrasting to his expectations, all he felt was a chill down his spine with the malicious silence in the room.

Raising his head from the ground to meet her glare, Lucas gave her a tiring toothy grin, showing no sign of guilt. Athanasia could only take a long, deep breath and accept that indirect apology because, somehow, she felt like Lucas was not plotting this.

"Your stitches are healed."

"Not entirely."

"That's why you need to swallow those medicines until you are ENTIRELY healed."

"It would heal faster if you hadn't shoved me off the couch."

"It would be wiser for you to Tell me some good reasons why I SHOULDN'T bury you six feet further to the ground."

"Because... First of all, domestic violence SHOULDN'T be allowed." Lucas chuckled lightly while propping himself up and dusted himself clean before getting back on the sofa, resting his head on her lap, and then closing his eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"Secondly... I'm sleepy... And exhausted... All of a sudden...."

"Don't play this card with me again, Lucas. I need to go."

"Athy... My head feels heavy...."

"You are messing with me again, aren't you?" Lucas said nothing as he shook his head. This made Athanasia bite her lower lip. She would place her palm on his forehead, searching if there were a chance of temperature fluctuation in his body. "...Are you in pain?" She asked.

"No... Just sleepy... Like very sleepy...."

"I think it's the medicine."

"...Should I get rid of them? They pissed me off...."

"No. And almost everything pisses you off, Lucas."

"But... Do you know what doesn't piss me off... And only makes my life better day after day...?"

"Don't even—"

"Yes. You." Followed by another soft laughter of his.

She would never be able to get used to his cheesy and flirty phases. All she could do right now was grit her teeth while trying to dismiss the ignition of the red flame on her cheeks.

"I am going to murder you if you don't get off my lap right this instant."

"...Thought you might say that...." He chuckled between his words. "...But Athy... I... Can't... Move... Let me... Sleep..."

"No, Lucas. You can't sleep here. Jeez! Get up! Lucas—"

The last thing he heard was his name being called over and over again, almost like an echo. It kept going until he could no longer hear his Athanasia's voice anymore as they were replaced by two unfamiliar voices instead. Rather, their voices were so familiar that he could not place a finger on them.