"Of course." Varesa unceremoniously flopped onto the sofa and opened a bag of chips. "Find a good movie, quick! Put it on, put it on!"
The three of them settled on the living room sofa.
"What do you want to watch?" Odette held the remote.
"The new one that's really popular!"
Hugging a cushion, Varesa yawned after saying that. "We've been out all day. I'm exhausted."
Bai You sat down beside her, neither too close nor too far away. Varesa reached over and pulled her closer, settling her against her shoulder.
Odette sat at the other end of the sofa and selected the movie Varesa had mentioned. It was a lighthearted romantic comedy.
Three people, one sofa. Varesa was in the middle, with Bai You leaning against her on the left and Odette on her right.
All three had just taken a bath, and each carried the scent of a different body wash. The fragrances mingled into something warm and comforting.
Their hair was still damp and looked soft under the warm yellow light.
The movie began. The plot was light and funny, and Varesa laughed out loud from time to time. Bai You smiled along with her.
Odette watched intently, or at least, she looked as if she did.
Her attention wasn't actually on the screen. She didn't like watching these things, and was really thinking about what to train tomorrow.
Varesa's laughter sounded right beside her, the vibrations from her chest traveling through the sofa.
Odette could smell the faint scent of Varesa's shampoo, mingled with Bai You's clean fragrance.
Just the three of them together created a feeling of "home" that she hadn't experienced in a long time.
For a moment, she thought this was rather nice too. If only she weren't the person the Executive had pinned their hopes on.
Three people, one sofa, one boring movie. Outside the window, the night was dark; inside, the lights glowed a warm yellow.
Halfway through the movie, a funny scene made Varesa laugh so hard she slapped her thigh. She tipped sideways and bumped into Odette's shoulder.
Odette instinctively steadied her, and Varesa took the opportunity to lean against her shoulder, laughing for a while before sitting up straight.
"You'll laugh at anything," Odette remarked.
"What's it to you?" Varesa grinned and fell back toward Bai You.
Bai You reached out and gently smoothed her mussed hair.
Watching them, Odette felt the corners of her mouth turn up involuntarily, but she quickly suppressed the smile.
By the time the movie ended, it was almost eleven.
"All right, all right, time for bed." Varesa stood up, yawning. "Bai You, come on, let's go back to the room and sleep."
Bai You stood up too and nodded slightly to Odette. "Odette, good night."
"Good night."
At the door, Varesa suddenly looked back. "Odette, go to bed early too. Don't sneak off and train until midnight again."
"I know."
The door closed.
The living room fell silent all at once, and Odette went back to her room too.
At the other end of the hallway, Varesa was holding Bai You's hand as they walked toward her room.
The hallway lights glowed a warm yellow, and the two of them standing together seemed a cozy sight.
"Your hands are so cold." Varesa squeezed Bai You's fingers and held her hand a little tighter. "Are you cold?"
"A little," Bai You said softly.
Varesa stopped, turned around, and cupped both of Bai You's hands in hers. She brought them to her mouth, breathed on them, then rubbed them. "Are they any warmer?"
Bai You looked at her, her eyes sparkling in the dim light, and smiled. "Mm, they're warm now."
"That's good." Varesa grinned and continued walking hand in hand with her, the key swinging in her hand.
Varesa opened the door, went in first, and turned on the light.
Then she froze.
In the middle of the room, the narrow single bed was gone. A spacious double bed stood in its place, with cream-colored sheets and two pillows side by side. It looked soft and comfortable.
"Wow-" Varesa walked over and pressed the mattress. "Odette really did change it. I thought she was joking."
Bai You stood in the doorway, looking at the double bed, her cheeks slowly turning red.
"What's wrong?" Varesa looked back at her. "Come in. Why are you standing in the doorway?"
Bai You dawdled her way inside and closed the door. Her gaze fell on the double bed, then quickly shifted away. The bases of her pale blue-white fin ears flushed pink.
Varesa couldn't help laughing at the sight. She walked over and hugged her from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder. "Shy? Didn't we sleep together yesterday? You don't have to be shy."
"No, I'm not." Bai You's voice was tiny.
"And you say you're not." Varesa touched her ear. "Your ears are bright red."
Bai You felt as if she'd been shocked. Her whole body trembled, and she drew in her neck. "Don't, don't touch there..."
"Where?" Varesa teased her deliberately, giving it another gentle pinch.
"Varesa!" Bai You's voice changed pitch, and her face turned as red as a ripe apple.
Seeing Bai You like that, Varesa laughed so hard she couldn't straighten up. "All right, all right, I'll stop teasing you."
Bai You glared at her, but the look wasn't threatening at all. If anything, it was more like she was acting coy.
"Let's make the bed first, then."
"Okay, then I'll tidy up the wardrobe and hang up your clothes too."
Bai You turned and walked to the bed, then began making it.
Varesa leaned against the wardrobe, watching her from behind. Bai You's hair was still a little damp, hanging loosely over her shoulders, and her nightgown was pale pink, making her look soft all over.
She made the bed with great care, tucking in each corner of the sheet and fluffing the pillows.
Varesa suddenly felt a part of her heart turn utterly soft.
She walked over and hugged Bai You from behind again, burying her face in the crook of her neck. Her voice was muffled. "Bai You."
"Mm?"
"It's so good to have you."
Bai You's hands stopped making the bed.
She said nothing. She simply turned around, hugged Varesa back, and pressed her face against her chest. They held each other like that in silence, with only the sound of each other's breathing.
The bed had just been made by then.
After a long while, Varesa finally let go and ruffled Bai You's hair. "All right, let's go to sleep."
"Mm."
The two of them got into bed. It was big enough for them both with plenty of room to spare, but as soon as Varesa lay down, she scooted toward Bai You, pressing nearly her whole body against her.
"Move over a little." Bai You pushed her gently. "The bed's so big, we don't have to squeeze together like yesterday."
"We're not squeezing." Varesa draped a leg over her, perfectly justified. "I just like being close to you."
Bai You couldn't do anything about her, so she let her be.
Varesa naturally wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her closer. They lay facing each other, the tips of their noses almost touching.
The lights were already off. Only a faint glow came through the window, outlining their figures in the darkness.
Bai You lifted her head slightly and looked at her in the dark. Though she couldn't see clearly, she could feel Varesa's gaze, so gentle it seemed ready to draw her whole being in.
Varesa's hand slowly slid up from her waist, stroking her back through the thin nightgown before stopping at the back of her neck and gently caressing it.
At that moment, Bai You felt as if she had completely crashed.
Varesa tightened her arms, holding her a little closer, as if she wanted to fold her into her own body.
"Go to sleep," she whispered in Bai You's ear. "I'll hold you while you sleep."
"Mm..."
Bai You snuggled farther into her arms, found a comfortable position, and closed her eyes.
Varesa's embrace was warm and secure. The sound of her heartbeat was right by Bai You's ear, each beat like the most effective lullaby.
Varesa lowered her head beside the top of Bai You's hair, then closed her eyes too.
Just as Bai You lay in that tender embrace, ready to fall asleep, something suddenly occurred to her.
I don't think I've checked in yet!!!