Space Man

Stress

Keralis POV

I woke up in my room, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, casting warm patterns across the walls. For a moment, I just lay there, the remnants of sleep clinging to me like cobwebs. Everything that had happened last night felt like a distant, hazy dream-the kiss, the warmth of his touch, the way his antennae twitched when he was nervous. It all felt so vivid, yet as I reached out beside me and found the bed empty, I realized I was alone.

The realization hit me harder than I expected, and a pang of heartbreak settled deep in my chest. Was it all just a dream? I ran my fingers through my hair, letting out a soft, tired sigh as I replayed the memory-or was it a fantasy?-in my head. I could still picture the way his green armor glinted in the light, the hesitance in his eyes, and the way he leaned in so tenderly.

I couldn't help but wonder what his lips actually felt like. Were they rough and chapped from his constant work, or soft despite the stress he carried? My fingers absentmindedly brushed against my own lips, and I let out a quiet chuckle. Keralis, you're losing it, I thought to myself. But no matter how much I tried to convince myself it was all in my head, the warmth lingering in my chest refused to fade.

I rolled onto my side, staring at the spot where he would have been if he'd stayed. My heart ached with the thought that maybe he'd left because he was overwhelmed or unsure. I couldn't blame him-our dynamic was complicated, and I knew how much he struggled with showing favoritism. But still, I couldn't shake the longing to see him again, to know if he felt the same way I did.

With a heavy sigh, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, stretching out the stiffness in my muscles. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions, but one thing was clear-I needed to see him. Whether last night was real or not, I couldn't just sit here and let things remain uncertain. I had to know.

I got up carefully, the remnants of sleep still clinging to my body as I stretched and made my way to the kitchen. My mind was a jumble of emotions, but one thought stood out clearly-I was going to talk to him. There was no way I could let this uncertainty linger, right?

I moved around the kitchen with a sense of purpose, grabbing ingredients for breakfast. The rhythmic sounds of the eggs cracking, the sizzle of butter in the pan, and the aroma of fresh coffee brewing gave me something to focus on, grounding me in the moment. Yet, in the back of my mind, I could feel the weight of what I was planning to do.

I had to talk to him, no matter how nervous it made me. The thought of facing him made my chest tighten, but at the same time, I knew I couldn't let last night-or my dream, if that's all it was-slip away into silence.

As I plated the food, I found myself hesitating. What if he didn't feel the same? What if I'd imagined everything? What if I make it worse? The doubts crept in, but I shook my head, determined to push them aside.

"No, Keralis," I muttered to myself, placing the plate on the counter with a firm nod. "You're not backing down. Not this time."

I sat down to eat, though my appetite was barely there. My mind was too busy playing out the conversation I hoped to have with him. Would he be surprised? Relieved? Or would he pull away? I didn't know, but one thing was certain-I couldn't keep this bottled up any longer.

After finishing my breakfast, I cleaned up quickly, my movements brisk and efficient. Today was the day I was going to see him, and no matter how it turned out, I wasn't going to run away from it. This was my chance to be honest, and I was determined to take it.

But first, I needed to take a shower and get myself together. If I was going to confess my feelings, I had to at least look good, right? Maybe it was silly, but I didn't want to show up looking like I just rolled out of bed.