To you, From me [Chapter 4]
14 days with you! is a 18+ visual novel Minors don’t interact!
Words: 3243
Genre: OC (angel sona, they/them masc presenting) x Ren
Trigger Warnings:
• Lack of self-worth I guess?
As usual, I apologize for any mistakes, English is not my first language and I mostly write at night.
Mostly cute chapter with a bit of doubt and confusion building up
Previous chapter
In all honesty, I really wasn’t focused on the way there and more stuck in my own head, trying to understand what I did for him to actually accept. Or maybe it was to be polite? He could’ve just sent me home after all… Maybe I should’ve asked that instead.
His building really wasn’t far from mine from what I recognized and, judging from the pristine interior and fully-functionning elevators…I was so lucky to be there. I felt dirty to even place my feet on those floors and this made me ask myself how much money this guy had to be able to live here??
Hopefully for me, the awkwardness of the situation quickly disappeared when Ren deemed it appropriate to shake his hair like a wet dog while we still were in the elevator.
“Hey!” I said with a laugh, trying desperately to remove water droplets from my glasses. “I already can’t see much, don’t make it worse.”
He laughed with me, passing a hand in his hair to put them back in shape. Or at least try. When we stepped out and approached his door, he stopped to look at me.
“Don’t look too hard at how messy my place is, okay? I wasn’t expecting to have someone over today, so I didn’t bother cleaning up…
-... I’m getting a weird sense of déjà vu…” He let out a small laugh.
“-At least I don’t have noisy neighbors almost threatening people I invite in” Oh touché. Violet was really nice but the threat of last time wasn’t necessary and I understand why he would be… upset about it. “Actually, now that I think about it, no one lives on this floor aside from me. I’m not really sure why but I’m not gonna complain. I can make as much noise as I want and no one would notice”
I wanted to ask but decided I won’t. Not because I suspected anything weird but because I bothered my own neighbors at least a thousand times for yelling at my games, laughing too hard and because I was late for Princess’ breakfast. I could only assume what a guy leaving alone with no sound restriction could do… Both from innocent thinking and a lesser one.
He unlocked his door with some electronic card attached to his key chain and I almost felt my bottom jaw touching the floor. The fuck was that?!
Everything seemed normal for him as he flicked on the lights and walked into his own home while I was there, stuck with big eyes trying to take everything in. How expensive was this place?!
And again, how did I manage to even meet someone with that kind of money? I mean, Teo is from the big guys as well but his place is… less that.
“Holy shit…” I muttered while taking a step in, suddenly VERY conscious of how poor I look in this environment and how wet I was from the rain.
“-Is there something wrong? I-I know the decor is kind of tacky but it came like this and…and I haven’t found the time to do anything about it yet…”
I was even more struck by his nonchalance and how normal everything seemed to him.
“No no! Ren, yo, excuse me but I should feel ashamed I even invited you to my place at this point? Are you some kind of millionaire or something? Is that marble? Damn, pardon my language but I don’t even know where to look without feeling like I shouldn’t be able to see that…”
He looked deeply hurt for a second but brushed it off with a nervous laugh.
“Ahah! No, I just… I get paid a lot from my job. Enough to afford rent, at least.
-You are not allowed to say that when your place is looking this way! God damn…”
I took a moment to breathe and blinked a few times.
“I don’t think I’ve asked you this yet but…What exactly is your job?
-Uh! My job is…Um! Well…I guess you could say I’m a programmer? I dunno, I just take on a few jobs every so often. Nothing super fancy or anything.” Again, I was this close to open his eyes by force to show him the marble flooring but obviously decided it wasn’t exactly the correct option.
Still stuck in my spot, incapable of deciding if I wanted to dirty his floor with my presence, he had to come near me to close the door behind me.
“Oh- Angel! D-Do you want some slippers? The floor can get cold and your shoes are probably soaked, right?” I smiled at him. It's not just my shoes that are soaked. I felt like an old rag.
I noticed Ren opening a small closet and pulling out a pair of dark house slippers. He then looked at me with a curious expression, waiting for me to answer. I felt the anxiety rise but did my best to hide it, still trembling.
“Y…yeah, I’d like that. Wet socks are the worst… B-But…” He handed me the slippers and felt lightheaded when I got a glimpse of the luxury brand. Still, I put them on, leaving my sneakers aside, with the socks on it. It felt… dirty. It felt weird and wrong. Even at Teo’s house, I never dared come inside in the state I was currently in. The rare times I got the opportunity to visit, I made the effort to, at least, put on nice clothes…
Feeling my discomfort, Ren showed me his hand to take.
“Here, why don’t I show you the bathroom? I’ll find you something to wear in the meantime while your clothes are in the dryer. Or would you prefer a towel instead? I guess that makes more sense…”
I felt so bad using his bathroom but also… I was unfit to this place. Maybe I’d feel better with a shower.
I didn’t catch exactly what he was saying after that, only getting his embarrassment about something. Curious, I asked.
“Am I your first guest here?
-I’m…I’m actually very picky with whom I invite over. And I prefer to be on my own most of the time so… I don’t usually bring people over.”
Oh. Oh Dear. So this is a privilege even more… And I look like THAT?! This should be a sin.
“A-Anyway! I’ll show you the bathroom. You can use whatever you want there. Nothing is off-limits.”
Oh please don’t say that… I’m a magpie and I will search around to see if I can get to know you better this way…
“Y-you’re sure? I don't want to overstep…
-I’m sure Angel. You're the guest today! I'll leave some clothes outside for you to wear.
-Thank you…”
I couldn't say anything else, following him to the bathroom and locking myself inside once he left me there. Inside the bathroom, I took a big breath and looked around. Everything seemed so clean, untouched. Did he have someone to keep this place like this or was he doing chores like a maniac? Not that I’d mind…
My fingers brushed along the walls, the sink, the shower and all its parts. Glancing around, I noticed the absence of any dental care, hairbrushes and skincare product. The only things here were a few bottles or concealer from a very nice brand and an opened box of hair dye. Of course he’d need that. It answered my question about the hair salon from earlier… The concealer was a mystery still though.
I felt my legs give up the second the hot water touched my body. I needed this shower a lot more than I thought. Sitting in the unnecessarily large booth, I cleaned myself with what I was able to reach without pain. I couldn’t help but notice one brand in particular that just happened to be the exact same as mine. That…makes a lot of details identical to my own life. Even if they were all coincidences, the maths weren’t math-ing. I didn’t smell that soap on him though… Maybe I wasn’t paying much attention. I’m not going around, smelling people like a lost dog.
I try desperately to remove the smell of the rain from me but for that, I’ll have to wash my hair. Urg they’ll be a mess without the proper products. I hope they won’t be that bad tomorrow… Or I’ll have to keep them attached. I hope Conan won’t mind…
Satisfied with my new smell and barely okay with how my hair looked like, I bundled up in a warm towel, then I cracked open the large door. True to his words, Ren left a small pile of clothing outside the bathroom, neatly stacked and propped against the side of the wall.
Bringing them back inside, I noticed the variety he suggested to me and it made me raise an eyebrow. So he really was a fan of horror movies. I like that sweatshirt! I wondered if he even wears it as it doesn’t seem to be his overall clothing vibe. Maybe he got it for a movie premiere or as a gift from someone and couldn’t leave it. Maybe it’s a rare edition? It looked cool. Morbid but cool!
When I put it on, I realized even more our height difference and it made me chuckle.
“Eh I won’t be cold, that’s a win!”
I desperately tried to keep the grey sweatpants on but every step made them fall immediately despite the number of times I tried to roll up the elastic. Luckily, Ren was thoughtful enough to give me other alternatives so I folded it back into its original state and looked at the other options.
To my great dismay, the only one really fitting was a dark pair of shorts. At least it came with a drawstring and deep pockets so that was nice. A big part of my legs was exposed though…
With ghost steps, I got out of the bathroom and aimlessly walked around until I heard the faint sounds of a TV playing. Thinking that I would find my host here, I followed the sound down the hallway but when I finally had it in view, the sound was cut almost completely, only leaving white noise. I frowned, looking at the spacious lounge room. I felt a lot better now that I was clean but it still felt… so weird to be allowed to walk around.
Even with my limited sight and the absence of big lights, I could notice that this place was empty. Empty of decoration, life, mess. Where was the mess he was talking about? There was barely anything to misplace. Was he a minimalist? I won’t judge but this place looked like it was rented yesterday and still lived with its owner.
“Maybe I’m just too used to my own mess…
-What mess?” Surprised by the sudden voice, I spinned on my heels only to find Ren coming out of one of the hallways. With new clothes. I felt my cheek burning up when I noticed the new outfit and it took everything in me to not stare. He seemed so much more relaxed like this…
I felt him looking at me from head to toe before sheepishly averting his attention to the end of his sleeves.
“Sorry…I really looked but didn’t find much that might fit you. It looks really good on you, though.
-O-Oh…Thanks” The heat raised again in my cheeks and I was certain I heard him saying something along the lines of ‘you can keep them’ which didn’t help my case.
Thunder cut me off in my thoughts as I jumped and involuntarily stepped closer to him. My hands started to shake again. Please, don’t embarrass me… I don’t want him to see me as a scaredy cat…
All he did though, is resting a protective hand on my shoulder to steady me.
He looked in the direction of the windows before turning his undivided attention back to me, with a determined look this time.
“It really is pouring, huh?” Despite his gentle voice, I went back in my own head. The thunder started echoing and making me less and less aware of my surroundings.
“Angel ?” His hands on both my shoulders jolted me awake.
“-S-Sorry… What did you say?
-Ah, I just asked if you wanted to stay the night here. Y’know…Seeing how hard it’s raining out there, and your clothes haven’t finished drying yet.”
Oh but I kinda was planning on that already. I let out a little scoff.
“That would be nice, yes… If that’s really okay with you.
-Yeah, of course! It’s totally fine!”
I played with the sleeves of the sweater, not daring to look at my host when I raised my voice once again.
“I don’t want to overstep or… I don’t know. But are you hungry? Maybe I could cook something, so we’re even? You…Paid for a lot of stuff today. Including food. I would like to return the favor, if possible?”
I was still jumping from each thunder sound I could hear but I also was a lot calmer. And I really wanted to do something to feel less like an outsider. I saw the corner of his lips wince a bit, as if he was struggling to make a decision but he nodded.
“I’m sorry Angel but I don’t have much here, I usually order food on the go and do simple things…
-Yeah but I also refuse to let a delivery guy outside by that weather! Can you show me what you have? Maybe I can do something anyway?”
He hesitated but led me to the enormous kitchen, letting me have a look around. Very curious with what I could do with his scraps, he was observing me from a distance.
So… Mostly basic things, I see. This looked like someone who could cook but didn’t want to take the time doing so. Barely any vegetables, I saw a few eggs, bread… Oh!
It’s late anyway so I could make something very easy and filing. Starting to work, I took out the bread, eggs, spices and vegetables. Some butter too, for the overall taste.
After some minutes where I could definitely feel Ren’s eyes on me, I placed two plates of toast on the counter.
In the middle of each toast was a perfectly cooked egg with some herbs and garlic. On the side, some vegetables are cut in fine juliennes with a bit of various spices. Proteins, glucides, and fibers. In the right quantities if I’m doing my maths correctly. And it barely took 20min!
“Tada! It’s…Simple but we won’t sleep hungry! Right?”
But then I noticed his eyes. He hasn’t moved an inch since I started, hands on the counter, the left leg slightly more relaxed than the other. His face seemed carved in stone in a tender expression mixing joy, sadness, maybe a bit of pride and confusion. With wide eyes and slightly parted lips, I noticed he was searching for words, mouthing things without sound.
“Are…You okay? I can try making something else, if you don’t like it?” His eyes started to shine brighter despite the lack of proper light in the room. I tried to respect his boundaries by not turning them on and honestly, it was kind of relaxing once I got used to the darkness.
“N-No…no no you’re fine, this is fine, it looks great!” Barely able to talk, he sat down and took the plate closer, admiring the food like some rare diamond you could only see once. “It looks delicious, you’re making miracles. I-I thought I didn’t have enough to…make anything really.”
He mumbled something like “I was this close to order something”, I rolled my eyes with a teasing smile.
“Well, thank you. Eat before it gets cold!”
I started eating my own food but couldn't prevent my cheeks from turning bright red when I realized he was eating his portion like God’s gift. Was it really that good? My sense of taste not being the best, I couldn’t tell. I mean, I know how to cook proper meals with the right amount of nutrients and give it some taste with spices but I never really… enjoyed my food.
I remember Teo bullying me on the matter because my baking tends to be too sweet or have too much flavor enhancer because I genuinely can’t taste things if they’re not intense. He never told me to stop though and tends to find excuses to make me cook for him as much as possible. Leon was one of my first victims when I was learning. The poor guy had to endure months of bland food before I actually started to improve.
I limit the amount of salt and oil for health reasons but I’m not afraid to add dark chocolate or applesauce to a salty meal just to taste something.
I eat mostly by texture, not taste.
This is exactly why I chose this dish. Soft slimy texture with the egg, crunchy with the vegetables and mix of both with the bread.
I was long done and doing the dishes when Ren joined me to the sink with his plate.
“I would let you cook everyday if it means having this kind of food for each meal.” His voice low, he grabbed the clean plates to dry and put them away.
My cheeks red as tomatoes, I turned the water to the cold setting just in hope it would help me cool down. I mumbled a “thank you” with shaky lips then dried my hands.
This felt…domestic. For once, I didn’t feel the need to do everything, even in someone else’s house. I didn’t feel like a maid, I felt like an equal. Ren was cleaning with me, not because I asked but because it felt natural to him.
Once this was done and everything cleaned and put away, I looked at my watch.
“I should probably get some sleep…” He answered my reflection with a “um?” and nodded.
“I’ll show you your room.”
It took a bit of negotiation before he let me alone in the room he prepared for me. I felt special. Not especially in a good way because this place still felt like I didn’t belong but not in a bad way either. I felt… welcomed.
This funny feeling in my chest wasn’t leaving despite my greatest efforts to rationalize everything. Of course I was welcomed, he invited me in. He was just being nice. It was just politeness.
But also… Do people really buy plushes for their guests? He let me use his kitchen like my own. He let me use his shower and lent me clothes…He could’ve given me a towel and waited for the storm to calm down before accompanying me back to my place but no, he asked me to stay.
The sheet smelled like lavender and laundry detergent. It was soft, he turned the heat down in this room too. As if he knew I kind of overheat easily…
I took the plushie in my hands and smiled softly. He faced this horrible girl just to get me this plushie anyway. As if he knew I wouldn’t come back even if I wanted it.
Pressing the toy against my chest, I laid down and closed my eyes, drifting to sleep faster than usual.
I forgot to answer Leon’s texts from this afternoon…
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