I ended up thinking about Vernon's offer that I easily agreed to for the whole entire time. It led me to not have any sleep when it was the only thing I cared to have.

Every time I close my eyes to initiate a sleep, thoughts about Vernon and everything I have experienced that relates to him keeps flashing back inside my mind, and I would end up opening my eyes to not think more of it.

I was close to loosing my sanity, yet for some reason, I couldn't blame him. He was the center of all the reasons I was having a hard time thinking straight, but somehow, he was still nothing but a beautiful thought and wasn't flawed with aggravating questions.

That's how I ended up staring at the ceiling for the entirety of the time. I would get off of my bed from time to time and walk to where it was necessary, gaze at the screen of my phone whenever I feel like it, and after I would come to think that there was nothing to do, I would stare back at the ceiling as sleep wouldn't be a choice.

To be frank, when the sun started to set, I was just unconsciously waiting for the sky to become black and be filled with stars; it was my only way of telling that the right time of the night has come.

Even though I was physically tired and was deprived of sleep, I did my usual excessive routine everytime we plan to meet.

I was a yawning mess while walking around my room to satisfy my needs, and because of it, I wiped a few drop of tears due to how many the yawns were.

I took a brief glance at the wall clock and shown there were the arrows indicating what time it was: eight pm, one of the night's time.

The vibe I felt that night was different, or maybe it was just distinct when you are sleepless. It always feels different for me whenever I don't get enough sleep.

For the last time, I took a deep breath before closing the door of my room, yawns didn't follow me anymore, and it was rather replaced with uneasiness mixed with a little bit of thrill.

"You came.", He said, his eyes ever so lively. He looked a lot like alive, unlike me, and without any trace of exhaustion on his face.

"Of course, I promise I would.", I replied, and followed were the familiar-soft-slightly awkward chuckles we would usually share.

He stood straight and cleared his throat with a seemingly formal smile. "Then for my last invite today, care to join me for the rest of the night?", He asked, his tone corresponding to his smile.

"Yes. I will.", Even though I didn't have any idea why we were suddenly formal, I answered him the obvious, why would I even say yes to his earlier invite if I would just be until his door?

At some point, we just found ourselves comfortably sitting at the living room couch with the sight of the television showing some late night show.

Our conversations weren't as many the whole time, and we would hear our slight laughters whenever the show cracks a joke.

I liked that moment a lot, the late night vibe, the atmosphere between our little space, the soft giggles I would occasionally hear from him and just how the night was going itself.

I scratched my eyes with the back of my palm while I couldn't help but to yawn. Drowsiness would knock me from time to time, but I would try my best to not fall asleep, at the time when I needed it the most, it didn't show itself even a glimpse.

"Are you drowsy already?", He asked, diverting his eyes from the television to look at me.

"A bit.", I gave him a smile. "I couldn't get any sleep earlier."

"Oh, really? Why?", He appeared worried in an instant, and I couldn't help but to raise the corners of my lips even more.

"No reason.", I slightly shook my head. "I just couldn't stop thinking about something."

He nodded in understanding, and relievingly, his face went back to how calm it used to be. Oh for someone to worry for you like that.

I was a bit confused when he out of the blue tapped his shoulders that I raised my brows at him.

Commonly, it was a gesture used by people to indicate that they want the person they are showing it to for that person to lay their heads on their shoulder. I didn't want to expect and assume, and so, I acted as if I didn't have any idea what he was trying to tell me.

"Rest on my shoulder.", He said, and fortunately, I didn't hurt my own feelings, because frankly, I did assume.

Like any other circumstances, I ended up freezing and was short of words.

I know, for a fact, we kissed already and even did something more, but I still wasn't used to the skinship bling bling romance thing with him.

However, with the raising of one corner of his lips and the way how he held my cheeks, my head was led to lay on his shoulders.

"Close your eyes and rest.", He said, but with my fast pounding heart, how will I be able to?

But without reaching a minute, I managed to close my eyes and take a handful of breathe. "What about you?", I asked him, unsure about what I was actually going to do next.

"Don't mind me, but instead, sleep and I'll stay here beside you for the whole time you sleep."

"Are you sure? I can just go back to my room and we could both sleep."

"No, don't go.", He sounded so genuine telling me not to leave him.

"Alright."

I woke up the following day feeling something above my head, and after adjusting my eyes and senses to everything that was surrounding me, I have come to realize that it was Vernon who was resting his head on mine, while I was laying mine on his shoulder.

He woke up not long after I did, and to start the day, he offered to make breakfast for the both of us which I instantly refused out of shame, but with his never ending convincing, I ended up agreeing.

Before I left his room, he told me that he won't be able to stroll with me around the city that day as he was going to meet up with a friend.

It didn't really matter if he asked me about it or not, and I told him that it was alright for me. It wasn't his obligation or something to accompany me everyday. Fair enough, I wasn't his obligation.

Yet, still, I won't deny the fact that I was a bit disappointed, not on him though. It's just more fun and exciting when he's around.

I left my room only once the whole day when I had to buy my necessities that I have already ran out of, and that was it. The rest of the day, I spent it doing random usual things.

And then have I only realized that everyday life was dull without him. I didn't know how to have as much fun as I do when I'm with him on my own.

As soon as the sky was covered with pitch black, the stars becoming more many and many, and with the clock telling that it was two hours before midnight, I concluded that it was really a day without him.

I should probably sleep and expect for the next day, who knows, maybe by then I will be able to see him again.

When I was about to lay on the bed to call it a day, I was slightly startled with the sound of the doorbell ringing.

My forehead creased. "Who could that be?", I muttered to myself as I walked my way to the door.

At this late hour, who would ring my door bell?

Once I opened the door, I was welcomed with Vernon standing outside. I couldn't read his face at that time when it would be a way of me telling what his reason was for his unknown visit.

Setting aside my confusion, I curved my lips into a smile to welcome him. "What brings you—"

I cut my own words, held my own breath and I felt my blood rushing up to my face as soon as he held my cheeks and abruptly pressed his lips against mine.

It didn't feel soft and gentle at all, but rather the otherwise. It felt as if he was going to rip my lips apart and yet won't feel satisfied still.

Even though I was on the extent of being way more than confused, I gave in to him and followed his pace.

He started taking steps, which left me to walk backwards and before I knew it, my back was already against the wall. He closed the door beside us, and he did all that without breaking the kiss nor even slowing the pace.