Lydia’s P.O.V
The next morning, I was surprised to find out how normal it felt to wake up next to Lyric.
Yes, the guy snored and yes, he likes to think of me as his personal pillow as he wrapped himself around me like a blanket, but it seems like I was just as comfortable cuddling up to him because I had my hands wrapped around him as well, our legs tangled with each other under the sheets. It was very intimate, but I didn’t find it uncomfortable.
I was a really bad sleeper as far as I remembered. I was used to swimming around in my bed, but so far Lyric hadn’t complained about my sleeping habit and even I felt that I didn’t move around all that much when I was sleeping cuddled in his arms.
I woke up early the next morning, thanks to the birds chirping on my windowsill and tried to untangle myself from Lyric’s arms so I could get up. The task proved difficult since he tightened his hold on me as soon as I tried to remove his hand from my back. It took a lot of wiggling and coaxing, but Lyric finally let me go and I slipped out of bed and pulled the covers over his body carefully.
Forty minutes later, I had showered and completed all my morning routines and dressed in a bright orange sweater and blue sweat pants, letting my hair dry naturally as I padded into the kitchen to get started on breakfast. I was pretty sure I was almost out of milk and eggs but I guess I could just make buttered toast and drink orange juice or black coffee? Deciding on black coffee, I put the water to boil and headed towards the fridge to get the toast but when I opened the fridge, I found it all stacked up on eggs and there were three new cartons of milk as well as slices of cheese, frozen meats and a few bottles of beer.
“What the-“
“Gooood morning!” Lyric arrived in the living room right then, his jaw cracking at the humongous yawn as he stretched his arms above his head.
“Did you buy all these?” I asked him with my hands on my hips as I pointed towards the fridge.
“Umm…yeah…” Lyric gave me a sheepish look as he scratched the back of his head. “I was kinda feeling like having a beer yesterday so I checked your fridge, but there wasn’t anything in there so I went out to a nearby grocery store and got us some stuff. I know I should’ve asked you but you weren’t home and I didn’t want to disturb you by calling unnecessarily.”
“Lyric…I can’t just let you buy me groceries!” I shook my head. And I think Lyric understood that this wasn’t just about buying me groceries. These were things that couples did, especially those who were in a live-in relationship. Things were moving way too fast for me. We were already living together and he was sleeping in my bed rather than the couch and now he was buying me groceries? I didn’t know if I could handle what all this implied.
“Hey…” Lyric said softly as he came to stand in front of me and lifted my chin up gently with his fingers so I could meet his eyes. “I know things are moving way too fast between us and I know that you’re scared, trust me, I’m terrified of it too. I’m terrified of what being with you makes me feel, but at the same time, I can’t stop either.”
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer to his chest as he pressed his forehead to mine. “If you ask me to leave now, I will, but that doesn’t mean I’ll give you space. I don’t think I’m capable of that. You’ve become the most important person to me right now, besides my family and I don’t plan on staying away.”
My breath caught in my throat at the heartfelt confession and deep down, I knew I felt the same way, even though I couldn’t confess them to Lyric right now, didn’t know if I ever could. Lyric made me feel not just special but whole, like I wasn’t this broken shell of a person incapable of showing emotions.
“Stay.” The words were out even before I could stop myself and I realized that I didn’t want him to leave either. Staying with him, doing little things around the house with him…they all came naturally, like it was meant to be and I had already made a promise to myself that I won’t let the uncertainty of the future affect my present.
The smile that Lyric gave me in return lit up his whole face. “I’ll need to pick up a few things from my house today before I get to school. Will that be alright? I can’t exactly live in only a pair of clothing that I brought with me. And I’ll need my books and laptop.”
I sighed, but nodded anyway. This apartment wasn’t big enough for a couple but it wasn’t exactly tiny. There was enough room if we utilized the space properly but I was worried that Lyric wouldn’t be content living here. Should I talk to the landlady if a larger apartment was available? Preferably one with two bedrooms. I guess we could make it work for now?
So I made eggs, toast and coffee for breakfast and Lyric left soon after to grab his things from his house. I gave him an extra key so he could keep his things inside the house before heading to college, while I left early to get some work done on my assignment. It was lunch time when Lyric found me again. I was sitting under a giant tree at the back of the compound, eating a sandwich I had gotten at the canteen while going through the notes that were necessary for my next lecture.
“Here,” he handed me a carton of apple juice as he plopped down on the grass beside me. Opening the can, he took a gulp of his own drink before staring at the distance where a few boys were playing volleyball.
“Did you get you stuff inside the house?” I asked when he didn’t say anything else.
“Yeah,” he nodded. “Your landlady came by as well, asked me what I was doing, but she didn’t mind me moving in.”
“Really?” I asked, placing my notes down beside me so I could focus on him. “Then why are you in such a sour mood?”
“My brother asked me to bring you to my parent’s anniversary celebration this Sunday.” He said quietly. “My family hasn’t held such celebrations since my brother’s accident.”
I felt my insides come to a standstill. Lyric’s brother wants me to join a family event? I’ll be meeting his family?
Lyric must have seen the look of horror in my eyes because he immediately turned all his attention to me. “Look, I told him we weren’t going, especially since I know he’s planning something stupid. I’ll tell George and Avery to join us for lunch instead.”
“No.” I shook my head immediately. “We’re going to the celebration.”
“Wha-” Lyric’s eyes were wide in astonishment. “You want to go?”
I nodded. “I think it’s better if we resolve this difference between you and your brother before it’s too late.”
“Lydia, you don’t have to-”
“But I want to.” I told him firmly. “I want to meet your family. I want to tell them that you’re an amazing person and you deserve their attention just as much as Derek and mostly…I want to meet Derek.”