For the time being...

#ch2- Daylight

"as usual, you are here in the attic, little boy...." he approached. His boots squeaked on the soft floor. as he slowly, but steadily, the gruffy drunk man neared him, he shuffled back way onto the corner of the attic as much as he could.

"don't... don't come.. noooo.. don't come closer.. don...", he cried. Tears poured down his grubby little face. He rubbed them off with his palm as he stared at the giant figure looming above him. He shrieked out, "NOOOO!!!"

The door opened in haste, with Mia came in quickly. She stared at the shivering figure on the bed, covered in linen sheets, crying like a baby. She hugged him softly, but he continued sobbing. Her tank top got wetter because of his sobs. He seemed to calm down after a while. She hugged him even tighter, as she feel him beginning to cry even harder now. Eventually, he softened, as he mumbled a "Sorry..", barely a whisper.

Mia smiled warmly at him, asking- "What had even happened? Why did you suddenly cry out like that?"

She could see a cloud of uncertainty and terror pass over his blue eyes. Instead of pressing on, she took his hand in hers. He seemed scared about something, rather terrorised, and she wouldn't press it on him. If he could trust her, he would tell her. But right now, all he needed was love, of which he was at a dirth for the better part of his childhood. He smiled at her, as if assuring her that he was strong enough to left to himself, but Mia was doubtful and she cuddled him closer. Leo breathed heavily down her neck, nervously, as he put his warm hands on her back. He could feel the soft tank top under his hand, the hook of her bra within,... "Leo??"

He suddenly came to his senses. "umm..???"

"wanna have some coffee?"

"Yea... yeah.."

"k."

She smiled and got up, breaking the embrace. She blushed, sensing his so obvious discomfort.

Her thoughts drifted to Leo – his puffed up eyes squinting against the bright sunlight enlightening the room through a crack in the curtains, his shaking body, his messy bed hair, his scrunched up nose. why is that Leo so cute? I must be losing my mind. But he's kinda hot. His eye-to-eye grin, soft eyes,... he is different from the fuckboys I generally flirt with.

The beep of the coffee-maker shook her from her wild thoughts. She poured the contents into two mugs, and walked into the guest room, where Leo was comfortably wrapped in a blanket. He looked up to find Mia. Is she always this hot?

Mia smiled nervously as she handed him the coffee. Then, abruptly, plopped down beside him and took a sip of her coffee. Leo cupped the mug, feeling the warmth energizing his entire body. Taking a sip, he asked, " What time is it, Mia?"

"Lemme check. 7:15. Why?"

"Just like it. And by the way, good morning."

Mia laughs softly and feebly asks back, "Had a good sleep?"

thinking back about his tiring nightmare, he visibly shuddered. Shutting his eyes close, he inhaled sharply and replied sharply," Yes, kind of."

Mia noticed the change in his expression and thought she had done something wrong. She immediately placed her mus on the bedside table and placed her hands, warm because of the hot mug, on Leo's.

"Sorry. I don't know, but you didn't seem too comfortable at my question. Sorry, I didn't mean to, you know,..."

"Hey, Mia. Don't apologise. You did noting wrong. What's wrong in asking if your friend had a good night's sleep? I felt special when you asked that, you know!"

Friend? Umm, really? That's cool, isn't it?

"Okay then." Mia removed her hand from his, but he grasped it gently. Surprised, she looked up at him, a smile playing across his lips. His red rosy lips. So soft and tender. How would it be to touch them, kiss them....?

"Mia! Earth to Mia!!"

"Ye.. yeah?"

"Stop staring, and tell me where's the towel? Or do you not use it after shower?"

Blushing uncontrollably, Mia took the mug from his hand and kept it beside hers on the bedside table. Getting up rather quickly, so that Leo can't see her red cheeks, she walked over to the closet and pulled out a blue towel and handed it to Leo. He took it and step into the washroom.

Mia was just setting up the table in her terrace balcony, when Leo walked in wearing a t-shirt and black chinos. Mia's heart skipped a beat as she stared open-mouthedly at him, drinking in his hotness.

"You can make brekky as well? Looks yummy... what are we waiting for? Let's tuck in."

laughing at his reaction, Mia sat down beside him and served the contents on his plate and hers as well. Handing him a cup of ice tea, she chewed contently on her bacon as he relished each morsel, making Mia giggle continuously. She wasn't that good a cook; her food was more or less, edible. 

Stocking up the plates on her dishwasher, she went in to change. Since she would be going out with Leo for the day, she thought of slipping on something comfortable. Leo had requested her to take him on a tour of the city, Manila.

As for Mia, she looked gorgeous yet comfortable in her attire.

leo gasped on seeing her. "Wow... How am I supposed to focus on anything but you? This ain't fair!" He fake pouted.

Both started laughing as they walked out of Mia's apartment, the initial tension lost between giggles and idle laughs.