CHAPTER 38: MOOD SWINGS & MURDER EYES

It was a peaceful Saturday.

Which, of course, meant I was doomed.

I’d just made it to the couch, a bowl of cereal in hand, ready to finally enjoy silence and—

BANG. BANG. BANG.

Not polite knocking. Not the kind of tap-tap you do when you live in a civilized society.

No.

This was the kind of banging that told you the person on the other side of the door was either a serial killer or your girlfriend.

Unfortunately for me, it was both.

"Open up, Kai! I swear on my cramps, I will kick down this door!"

I sighed and opened it before the neighbors could call the cops. Again.

Val—because God help me if I called her Celestia today—stood there looking like a demon and a Disney princess at the same time. Oversized black hoodie, plaid pajama shorts, thigh-high socks, and that pouty, furious face that made me feel equal parts terrified and stupidly in love.

In one hand, she held a bag. In the other, a hot water bottle.

She shoved past me without so much as a hello.

"I’m bleeding. I want cuddles. And if you say anything stupid, I will cry and ruin your entire life."

I blinked. "Hi Val" then dryly. "Nice to see you too."

She tossed her bag on my floor, her body on my bed, and her dramatic sigh into the atmosphere like it paid rent.

"This is the worst period I’ve ever had in the history of having periods," she whined, curling into a miserable ball. "My back hurts. My uterus wants me dead. And your house smells like boy."

"It’s my house," I muttered.

She flipped over, glaring at me with what I can only describe as Murder Eyes. "Kai."

"I’m going through an emotional crisis and you’re standing. Bring me comfort. And food. And something warm. And also touch me but only when I say it’s okay."

"...Are you sure you’re not possessed?"

She grabbed the nearest pillow and chucked it at me

"I brought snacks. Pads. My heating pad. My meds. Fuzzy socks. And my patience, which is currently on life support."

She collapsed onto my bed and let out a dramatic groan, burying her face in my pillow.

"Val—"

"No talking unless it’s cuddles or chocolate." She rolled over and glared at me. "Do you have chocolate?"

I blinked. "Do I look like someone who stocks chocolate?"

"You look like someone who should if he plans on surviving today."

Point taken.

I retrieved the emergency cookies from the kitchen and handed her the pack (Yes, we do have emergency cookies). She took them without a word, munching like a gremlin while glaring daggers at my ceiling.

"You okay?"

"I have a uterus. Of course I’m not okay."

Fair.

She patted the space next to her. "Come cuddle."

I obeyed. Because disobedience today was basically suicide.

Celestia curled up beside me, head on my shoulder, arm draped across my chest like a possessive little octopus.

"You smell nice," she mumbled.

"Thanks. You smell like murder."

She grinned against my neck. "That’s the hormones."

We lay like that for a while—me, trying not to die from arousal or fear (it’s hard to tell which), and her slowly morphing into a clingy cat.

"Hey Kai," she said suddenly.

I stiffened. Nothing good ever followed that tone.

"Mmh?"

"Do you still find me hot even though I’m on my period?"

My soul left my body. "What kind of question is that?"

She blinked up at me, deadly serious. "A very important one. Answer it."

"Val, you’re—you’re always hot."

She narrowed her eyes like she was scanning for lies. I probably failed.

"Mmh. Good answer."

I thought that was the end of it.

I was wrong.

"Would you still make out with me even though I’m bleeding like a horror movie?"

I choked. "Val—"

"Because I would make out with me. I’m adorable."

I covered my face. "Please stop talking."

"I can’t. My mouth runs on its own during blood week. It’s like a side effect."

I peeked through my fingers. "You’re insane."

She smiled sweetly. "I know. But I’m your insane."

She snuggled closer, sighing dramatically like the heroine in a tragic K-drama.

"I want cuddles. Then noodles. Then painkillers. Then maybe another round of cuddles. Then maybe I’ll cry for no reason. Just a warning."

I brushed her hair out of her face. "You’re exhausting."

"You’re mine."

That shut me up.

A while later, I made her instant noodles, gave her meds, even let her steal my hoodie on top of the one she already had. (She called it emotional layering.)

Five minutes of silence was all I got before out of nowhere, she turned to me with tearful eyes. "Do you think I’m annoying?"

"What? No—"

"Liar."

"Cel— Val."

"Am I too much?" she sniffled, dragging the blanket up to her nose like a sad, hormonal burrito. "You don’t even touch me unless I beg."

"I literally brought you three things and tucked you in—"

"But emotionally, Kai. Emotionally tuck me in."

I groaned, wrapping my arm around her. "This is me. Tucking you in emotionally."

"Better," she mumbled, curling against my chest like she belonged there. "You smell nice. You smell like boyfriend."

I opened my mouth. Closed it and just accepted my fate.

Another five minutes of peace then—

"I’m horny."

I choked. "You just said your uterus wants you dead."

"Exactly. I’m dying. Grant my last wish."

"Val."

"I won’t actually do anything. I just wanna lay here and imagine it while I whine about my cramps and maybe grope you a little. Is that so wrong?"

"Yes, very"

She ignored me, sighing dramatically. "You’re no fun."

I looked down at her, cheeks pink, lips pouty, eyes heavy-lidded from pain and drowsy affection. Even like this — especially like this — she was beautiful in a way that made my brain stop working.

"How do you look like that while complaining about uterine warfare?" I muttered.

She smiled sleepily. "It’s a gift."

Then she adjusted against me, breath warm on my neck. "I like your heart," she said softly.

"...Thanks?"

"I mean it. You make everything better."

A silence so soft, I almost missed the next part.

"Even blood week."

Then, we cuddled again. She was quieter now, softer.

I didn’t know what to say to that. So I just held her tighter.

And somehow, in the middle of cramps and comfort... I was okay with that.

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To be continued...