AS A SLEEPING FRIEND

18. Trauma (Javier POV)

Moments after Elin's departure, I chose to change my clothes in the room. I thought Elin would be in that room too, unfortunately she wasn't there.

Where's she? But, what do I care. Elin would not have come out of the Apartment without my consent, so in conclusion Elin would still be within the scope of my residence.

After replacing the work suit with sleeveless and shorts, I went upstairs to do a short gym in a special gym room. At the very least, my Sunday would not end up boring if I passed it by exercising.

However, as soon as my foot arrived at the top rung, I passed Elin who seemed to be about to descend. Apparently, ever since I reprimanded him earlier, he went upstairs, maybe he had a moment to reflect there. I don't know, I tried not to think about it, though the guilt of having rebuked her so hard a moment ago-still lingering in my heart.

"City ..." I don't know why I reprimanded him, even though my intention was to ignore him and act as indifferent as usual. But, it could be that my lips are out of sync with the contents of my head until finally let out a voice to greet the girl.

Elin simply responded to me with a cold gaze, then she passed past my suddenly stiff body looking at her indifferent gaze.

Why do I feel like he's mad at me?

I shook my head faintly in order to expel the bad taste due to this state of affairs. Let it be, maybe Elin's disappointment hasn't recovered because of my rejection.

I entered the gym and started riding on the treadmill while adjusting my pace, trying not to break Elin's cold attitude, she would definitely get better on her own, I thought.

...****...

I wiped the sweat that appeared and soaked the temple up to my neck because of sports a while ago. Impulsively, I also grabbed the smartphone on my left side and saw some messages coming in.

I know there are many who send chat related to work and other important things related to money, but my attention was diverted only because of one recent message located in the top column of my phone screen. It was a message from Elin.

What would he want to send me a message? Couldn't he say it directly?

I also ignored the other messages that came almost simultaneously, because I chose to open the chat Elin first.

[I'm bored. I'm out for a second. The Supermarket in front.]

I haven't responded and agreed to it yet, so I don't think Elin would go outside the Apartment without my consent, after all Jack isn't here to watch her, because a while ago my assistant was asked to go to my parents' Mansion to send some files requested by the old man aka my father.

In a hurry, I immediately went downstairs to see Elin who was probably waiting for my permission.

But my guess was wrong. Elin wasn't there. Has he left even though I haven't returned a message to approve his request??

"Elin?!" call me.

I entered the room to look for him. I came out because I couldn't find him in the room. I went to the kitchen and the girl was still not there. So is it true that he left without my consent?

"Elin's? You're gone?" Though I know my question no one will answer but somehow I keep asking it. Why am I suddenly such a fool?

I took a deep breath and tried to calm down to wait for Elin's return.

Fifteen minutes passed, there was no sign the girl would return.

I tapped on the side of the couch to count the time of his departure. He's been too long and it's getting me nervous right now.

In my mind, I was afraid that Elin would meet with Liam and then the man would sell Elin somewhere I couldn't tell or that Elin would run away after I had rejected her feelings.

No, that can't happen. I still need Elin for my sleep. I need it to escape my trauma in the past.

I'm worried, either about Elin's situation because I still need her or because I'm starting to care about her. I don't know, I can't tell the difference. I don't know what my anxiety means now.

I got up from my seat and galloped towards the door because I couldn't wait for Elin's return. The girl had run out of time and made me wait when I was not used to doing things like this. He crossed the line for leaving without my consent. I'll find him and pick him up, if I have to drag him home.

Just as my door opened from the inside, along with that a shocked Elin's face also appeared before me. It seemed that he was shocked that the door had already opened from the inside before he opened it first.

"Where have you been?" tanyaku.

"I-I'm from the supermarket, sister," she answered nervously, her head bowed looking guilty.

"Why did you leave without my permission?" I can't control the tone of my voice that somehow gets high.

"It doesn't mean you have the right to just walk away, Elin!" my hardik. "I haven't allowed it and you're gone. You know I'm so scared if you don't come back!" continue upset.

Elin lowered her head and I pulled her into the apartment.

"Look, don't try to leave without my consent again, you understand!"

Elin did not reply with a word, only a nod of her head was the response to my question.

I faintly heard a sobbing sound and I let out a long sigh when I realized that the girl was crying because of my scream. Yeah, I yelled at him for getting out of control. I feel guilty for this girl again. Suddenly I felt very bad for him.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I held onto both of Elin's shoulders to show that I really felt guilty for my previous actions.

"I'm just afraid you're not coming back here" I continued, staring at her still down.

There was no answer, Elin kept crying in her position. I cursed myself for not being able to watch Elin cry because of me.

"I'm sorry, hmm?" I grabbed her chin so she could raise her face and look at me who was truly feeling guilty.

When his face was plastered in front of me, I felt even more annoyed at myself. The face was red and wet with tears.

"Sorry, I'm outrageous. I wouldn't be if you didn't go away."

Elin wiped away the tears on her face violently. "I know. I was wrong. Brother need not apologize," he said in a choked voice.

I looked at her for a long time and she looked back at me with a look that I could read and articulate. Yeah, he's right that if he likes me, that feeling is so clearly emanated in his eyeballs. She looked at me expectantly, but I didn't want to give her any hope.

"You can leave after I'm healed" I said at last.

"Is brother sick?" Elin's face turned worried as she looked at me.

"Yes. That's why I need you." My voice was weakened, I was anti-lead my weakness to others but somehow I told Elin. I think she deserves to know about my situation that caused her to be stuck here with me.

"meaning?"

"Then, while I was sleeping soundly, the house I was in burned down. I suffered trauma after the fire. I was afraid to go to sleep and since then I couldn't sleep quietly, because every time I closed my eyes was always shadowed with fear."

Elin looked at me fixedly, I knew she was listening to my story carefully.

"... my late grandfather died in a fire. And the last fire that traumatized me killed my grandmother, too. That's why I'm so phobic about fire. There was one side in me that forced me to always be alert even in a state of sleep though, so from then on I decided not to sleep at all. Until finally I got sick every time I missed my sleep."

"Have it?"

I nodded and Elin looked back down. This is why I always warned him not to forget to turn off the stove and had to wake me up when I heard the sound of alarms and the like. I have been traumatized by fire and fire.

"Yes, I've been to a doctor and a psychiatrist. I was asked to get enough sleep to improve my body. But the trauma that's still inside me keeps it hard to do that. The choice is only two. Sleeping or sick. So, I chose to sleep because I didn't want to get sick, but still I couldn't sleep well."

"I don't know if you're suffering from that kind of thing, brother. So this is your goal to make me your bedmate?"

"Hm .. I hope you understand. So, please stay here until I can heal that trauma, because you're indirectly the cure. I haven't slept well since the fire eight years ago, but I was calm when you became my bedmate, Elin."

"What about the other girls?" Elin looked at me again, she looked very serious. "Why should I be the one you choose, brother?" tanyanya.

"Okay, I don't know either. Other girls have no effect on me. Let alone the sense of calm to sleep, there they only intend to seduce me and I do not like it, because my main goal is actually to feel enough sleep," I said frankly.

Elin looks to nod her head. "So, once your trauma is gone, you're gonna let me go, are you?" tanyakanya.

"Yes, I'll let you go after I recover. Isn't that what you wanted from the beginning? So, be patient .. I think it won't be long."

...Connect ......