VALERIE

Chapter 7: The Unaccustomed Book

 Copyright © zylgnagnaba 2013

One week later …

I wake up feeling so free since I don’t have any appointments today. Yay! Still lying on the bed, I go stretching and yawn. I notice Harry out of the bed early. His suitcase is on the floor, open and half-packed with his clothes. He gets out of the walk-in closet carrying another pile of clothes and put them in the suitcase. I remove the blanket from me and start paddling my feet on the bed.

He already told me about their band’s trip to other parts of Europe, holding concerts here and there for less than a month. But they will perhaps visit home once in a while, I don’t know.

“Hey! You’re awake.” He chanted while arranging all his stuffs.

“Yeah, bummer.” I mutter and sigh. I intertwine my feet, cling my head over my entwined hands, my elbows in either side of my head. “What time’s your flight?”

“5:00 PM.” He answers, still busy packing. “David’s gonna pick us up at 2:30 so I have to get ready with everything.” He adds.

“Oh, okay.” I shrug; grab to the side the pillow that serves as boundary between me and Harry when we sleep. I turn sideway facing Harry and inserted the pillow in between my thighs and cuddle it.

“You sure you’re gonna be okay here?” He asks concernedly.

“I’m not five years old.” I huffed.

“’Cause if not, I can call Eleanor to sleepover.” He suggests.

“Jesus, Harry! I can take care of myself. I don’t need a babysitter. Besides, Eleanor’s busy with her own life as well.” I chide annoyingly. I can’t believe he doesn’t trust me I can manage myself. I’ve lived alone for almost two years and a month won’t make any difference.

“Okay.” He sighs. “But promise me you will call when…”

I hide my face in the pillow and groan from the top of my lungs, “ARGH! YOU ARE SO ANNOYING!”

Harry heard it loud and clear and he just went on laughing. We’ve lived in together for only a month later but we already know how to annoy each other. He knows I hate it when he tells me what to do or decides things for me. I hate being treated like a kid.

“I’m gonna hit the showers now.” He says.

“Sure. Whatever you like.” I sigh. He then waltzes to the bathroom and I bolt out of the bed.

I decided to clean the bed first before doing something else. I dust off the pillow, blanket, sheets and covers consecutively and fix it after.

After fixing the bed, I walk towards and step into the bathroom. Aware that Harry’s at the hazy glass-door shower, I skid to the sink and grab my brush. I can see Harry’s naked silhouette through the mirror in front of me. I can’t help but laugh at myself for being mischievous and nasty at the moment. I steal quick glances at him while I am brushing my teeth. As soon as he turns off the shower, I sense that he’s through showering. I finish off brushing quickly and scamper out of the bathroom. I giggle at myself, plop down face first to the bed and continue suppressing my laugh.

“What’s wrong?” That recognizable voice pipes up. I immediately sit up on the bed and see him wrapped with a towel. I shake my head NO; press my lips together to control myself from laughing.

Harry shrugs and step in the walk-in closet and slides it close.

I regain myself and take interest in reading another book. Since I just finished one of my books, I don’t think Harry would mind if I borrow one of his. I slide open the top drawer of his little cabinet where I saw some of his books before. I flip through each cover of the books to scan for a title that would somehow arouse my interest. Until one book catch mine and made my eyes grow big in wonder. It’s a thin yellow book hidden beneath all of the other books.