Episode 15

I take a deep breath as I prepare dinner, trying to ignore the bubbling anger inside me...

After everything she did to me, now she acts like I don’t even exist... she wasn't even talking to me properly, and now it’s worse...

It's unbearable... More than the pranks she pulled...

Dark: "At least she's graduated from pranks... Now I sleep like a puppy."

Adrian: "I don't know why I just let her do all this without retaliating..."

Wait...

A wicked idea forms in my mind.

She wants to play? Then let's play...

I walk over to the spices and grab a specific bottle.

Dark: "Are you trying to ruin the food?"

Adrian: "Not mine."

When it's ready, I set aside how much I will eat and add the spice to the rest.

Dark: "Adrian, you’re about to make a terrible mistake. Don’t do this."

It's nothing serious, just enough to cause a slight discomfort, something that will make her remember me.

Adrian: "I know what I'm doing, Dark. It won’t be anything major, just a little payback."

Dark: "You're going to regret this, Adrian. This isn't how we resolve things."

Adrian: "Stop with the drama! You know the worst she’ll feel is some heartburn or maybe a slight stomachache... When she almost killed me with the pepper, no one said anything, right?"

She needs to understand she can’t treat me like this and get away with it.

As soon as I finish, I shout from the kitchen that dinner is ready and take a seat at the table.

Moments later, she’s in the kitchen, making her plate and sitting down in silence...

And that’s our dinner... a tense and uncomfortable silence.

I try to eat my food, but it seems my appetite has completely vanished due to the atmosphere...

I catch Ayla's gaze on me from time to time, but I avoid looking back.

Dark: "This is getting more uncomfortable by the day."

When she finishes her meal, she gets up, washes her plate, and heads upstairs, locking herself in her room once more...

Dark: "This can’t go on like this," his voice heavy with concern.

I sigh heavily, feeling the weight of the situation.

I wash my plate and head up to my room.

I lie down on the bed, but sleep seems distant.

My mind is too occupied with everything that’s happening between us, and I find myself tossing and turning in bed, unable to find peace.

Dark: "Do you prefer when she bothers you? You miss it, don’t you?"

Adrian: "Of course not! I preferred when I didn’t even know she existed," I murmur.

Dark: "I think when you lie, you forget that I’m inside you..."

Adrian: "It's just that I stopped her from getting hurt, and she didn’t even say thank you! She didn’t even ask how I was afterward! She just sits there like a plant..."

Dark: "And you? What did you say to her? Besides a bunch of crap?"

Adrian: "Hey! I did things for her, okay... it wasn’t just a bunch of crap..."

Dark: "Oh, look at the proactive boy!" he says with sarcasm. "That doesn’t erase the rest, Adrian. She needs more than a few clothes and a meal. You did the bare minimum to not be a complete jerk, which is a big step for you." He scoffs. "But you can’t expect her to thank you for doing the basics."

Adrian: "And how am I supposed to do things if she won’t even talk to me?"

Dark: "You need to learn to let your guard down... Showing a bit of vulnerability isn't a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of courage... Especially if you want to work things out with her."

I remain sulky, knowing Dark is right.

Dark: "You’re pathetic, Adrian. Acting like you don’t care, when it’s obvious that you do care a lot."

Adrian: "I didn’t ask for your opinion, Dark."

Dark: "You don’t need to ask. I know what’s best for you, even if you refuse to admit it... You can’t pretend those feelings don’t exist forever. Sooner or later, you’ll have to face them."

Adrian: "I’m not ready for that yet," I murmur, irritated.

Dark: "Well, I hope you’re ready soon. Because as long as you stay in this state of denial, it's only going to get worse for you... and for her."

I let out a long sigh, full of frustration...

It’s better for me to sleep since I gain more.

After tossing and turning in bed, sleep finally comes…

I was in a restless slumber when I was awakened by a strange sound, something between a muffled groan and a soft creak.

It must just be a dream…

Dark: "Adrian, wake up," he whispered. "Something isn't right."

Adrian: "Let me sleep," I mutter.

But the sound persisted, growing louder and more unsettling.

Dark: "Don't make me force you."

With a weary sigh, I open my eyes and sit up in bed, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise.

I get up and walk down the hallway until I realize the noise is coming from Ayla's room…

I carefully open her bedroom door, only to hear the noise again.

The sounds of retching echo through the slightly ajar door, twisting my stomach in agony.

I head to her bathroom…

I take a deep breath and gently push the door open, my heart racing as I see Ayla pale and weak, hunched over the toilet, shaking violently and vomiting, making me feel ice cold to the bone…

"Ayla..." I rush to her, kneeling beside her.

Her face was pale and covered in sweat, her expression twisted in pain.

"What’s happening?" I ask, my voice taut with worry.

She doesn’t respond, just stays there…

Then, with great effort, she rises, flushes the toilet, and, bracing herself against anything within reach, makes her way to the sink to wash her face.

"Go away," her words are weak, almost a whisper.

However, before I can pull back, she tries to walk, her steps unsteady and trembling. An instinctive impulse drives me to extend my arms, catching her before she falls. She leans into me, her fragile and trembling body, as I hold her firmly, preventing her from collapsing to the floor.

Dark: "Is she going to die? No! She can’t die!" Dark screams.

Panic overtakes me…

But… as her arms wrap around me in search of support, I feel a strange sense of protection and comfort engulf me, although I can’t explain why.

With utmost care, I lift her off the floor. She seems so small and frail in my arms…

I carry her back to her room and lay her down in bed, covering her with a sheet. Her face is contorted in agony, and I wish I could somehow take away all her pain…

Adrian: "Dark, ask Orion for help, explain the situation to him… Zade will know what to do..."

Shortly after, I find myself in the kitchen with Zade…

And of course… Dark has turned me in, as always…

"Adrian, what were you thinking?" he whispers, his tone reprimanding, his expression serious. "Do you really think it was a good idea to try to get revenge on her like this?"

I sigh, my head hanging low, feeling the weight of guilt piling even heavier on my shoulders.

"I know, I know… I didn’t know she would end up like this… she was supposed to just feel a little heartburn or something like that; that’s what happens to us."

"Yes, you fool, but she’s a human!" he exclaims.

He takes a deep breath, rubbing his forehead.

"I have something that will help her," he says, handing me a small vial. "This is a natural remedy; it will help alleviate her symptoms… Tomorrow, she’ll feel better."

"Thank you, Zade…" I murmur, embarrassed.

"If she has a fever, put a cold compress on her forehead," he says, heading toward the door. "If anything else happens, let me know…"

I nod…

I go back up to her room, and she is lying in bed, so pale and weak she hardly seemed like the same strong person I knew. My heart tightens at the sight of her like this, so vulnerable.

"Ayla…" I call her, gently shaking her shoulder, hoping she wakes up. When her eyes open, I see the pain reflected in them, and a wave of concern washes over me.

"Ayla, you need to take this medicine…"

She struggles to sit up, but it seems an arduous task for her. I help her to lean against me, holding her steady. Carefully, I open the vial and offer it to her.

Ayla takes the medicine, grimacing as she swallows.

Gently, I help her lie back down again, wrapping her in the sheet to provide her with a bit of comfort.

My heart tightens even more as I see her writhing in pain, clutching her stomach with trembling hands.

Dark: "Look what you caused!" he growls violently.

A shiver of dread coupled with guilt makes my heart twist in agony...

While Ayla sleeps, I apply a cool pad to her forehead, my hands shaking slightly...

As I do this, my attention is drawn to the details of her face, now more visible in the tranquility of sleep.

I observe the soft contours of her lips, now relaxed in a serene expression. Her delicate nose, the small freckles dotting her pale skin—details that had gone unnoticed before now stand out in the stillness of the moment...

The outline of her face seems softer, free of that closed expression she always wore...

And it is then that I realize I had never truly seen her before, never noticed those subtle details that compose who she really is.

It's as if I'm seeing her for the first time, and it's a sight that leaves me breathless...

Dark: "She is beautiful..."

Adrian: "Yes..." I whisper.

A whirlwind of emotions churns inside me.

There’s genuine concern for Ayla's health, but there’s also something more, something I didn’t want to admit even to myself. The sight of her vulnerable awakened a sense of protectiveness I couldn’t ignore.

After applying the cool pad, I sit down in the chair in her room, watching her...

After a while, she starts to shiver from the cold caused by the fever.

Dark: "We need to warm her up... Until she starts to sweat... Orion said that would help her..."

Adrian: "I’ll get more blankets."

Dark: "No need... Go to your room, I’ll transform and lie next to her... I’m warmer than any blanket you could put on her."

Without protest, I head to my room, shed my clothes, and soon Dark is walking to Ayla's room.

Dark lies down beside her, resting his head in her lap.

Ayla awakens and gives a faint smile to Dark. She sweetly strokes his head before closing her eyes again.

"Warm," she murmurs as her hand stays gently on Dark's head, making my heart warm...

And so we remain there...

Gradually the hours pass... The sun rises and climbs into the sky...

Adrian: "I need to go back, Dark... I need to prepare something for her to regain her strength."

Dark carefully gets out of bed and returns to my room.

After changing, I head back to her room to check her fever.

Gently, I place my hand on her forehead, measuring her temperature while she slightly stirs under my touch.

Suddenly, I feel her hand close around mine, an instinctive and comforting gesture. My heart races at the sensation of her hand in mine, a reassuring warmth radiating from where our skins meet.

Adrian: "Does she think you’re still her?"

Dark: "It’s a possibility..."

I feel unable to move my hand, trapped in that moment.

So I slowly sit up, careful not to wake her... my hand still in hers.

I watch her serene face as she continues to sleep. My thoughts are in turmoil, a mix of worry, guilt, and a strange sense of contentment for being there with her, even if just for a brief moment.

She stirs again, gradually beginning to wake, slowly realizing she is holding my hand.

Ayla releases my hand quickly, as if she has touched something hot, and a faint blush colors her cheeks. She averts her gaze, looking confused and a bit scared by the situation, and I feel a wave of discomfort spread between us.

"How are you feeling?" I ask, trying to sound as casual as possible.

"I'm a little better," she murmurs, her voice still hoarse from sleep but without looking at me.

"Well, I... I'll make something for you to eat... I’ll change the sheets and pillow since you've sweated through the night. If you want to take a shower while I'm at it..." I suggest.

She simply nods and then sits up in bed with some difficulty...

As she rises, I help her, holding her close to me to ensure her stability. Our eyes meet for a brief moment, but she quickly looks away and moves toward the bathroom.

Soon, I’m gathering clean sheets, blankets, and a pillow for her.

When I finish, I take the dirty clothes to the laundry, leaving them there to be washed later. Then, I return to the kitchen to prepare something for Ayla to eat.

After a few minutes, with the finished dish in hand, I go back to Ayla’s room and hand her the tray.

"If you need anything else, just call me," I say gently.

She simply nods without looking at me, and my heart aches at the sight of her worried expression.

With one last glance, I step back, letting her rest while I stay nearby, ready to help with whatever she needs...

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