Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Vida

Vida's Apartment, New York City

Things are about to get interesting.

As Vida opened the door to her apartment, she immediately hesitated about bringing Colter over.

It was surreal to say the least. The man she had been dreaming about was actually real. She had doubts at first when she could not find him at all on social media. But when he appeared that day at Burn's, she knew it was too good to be true. There must be something going on. She was not sure yet what it was but there was something she could not place.

"So, uh, make yourself at home." Vida flipped the switches and light flooded the living room. "Let me get some towels so you could dry off."

While she went to the tiny bathroom down the hall to get some towels, she realized that she had a stranger in her apartment. Well, Colter was technically not a stranger, but nonetheless, Vida had only known him for a couple of days. It was out of character for her to be taking in homeless men

"Homeless yet drop-dead gorgeous men," Vida muttered to herself. She saw her reflection in the mirror and she groaned at the sight she saw. Her hair flat on her head like some cow licked her and her soaked clothes were sticking to her body like cling wrap, her underwear obviously visible in Burn's uniform.

"Crap, crap, crap. I look like shit." Vida rubbed one of the towels on her head vigorously in an attempt to dry them and make her look less like a loser and then wrapped it over her body. She was not going back out there again with her wet state.

"Here's a towel, you can dry off yourself." She found Colter studying the pile of books that were precariously balanced on the small end table by the door.

"You like to read?" Colter glanced at her, tiny droplets of water dripping down his perfect face.

Vida felt heat rising up her cheeks as she handed him the towel. "Yeah, I love to read." Colter smiled his thanks as he took the towel and began to dry his head. Vida cleared her throat and said, "Books have been my company ever since I was a kid."

"Really?" Colter said thoughtfully. "If chance permits, you will love the library we have at home."

"You have your own library at home?" Vida was bewildered. Everytime she acquires new details about Colter, she could not help but think that he was loaded. A library at home? The way he talks like he's from a different time? His weird yet exquisite sense of fashion? This guy must be rich.

Colter carefully picked up the topmost book on the pile, and read the back cover. "Yes, it's not much though," he muttered.

A person downplaying something that is a big deal to most people is definitely well-off. How could anyone say that having a library at home is 'not much?'

"Anyway, uhm, you could stay here for the meantime. I'm sorry if my place is small but you can never get a decent place here in New York within a budget. I'd say that I'm luckier than most since their apartment spaces are the size of a bathroom." Vida motioned for the couch behind him. "I guess you can sleep on the sofa? You'd have to bend a little since it's way too small for you. It's better than sleeping in a cardboard box though."

"You don't have to do this, Vida. I am fine with the sleeping arrangement I have with the old man on the rooftop. I don't want to cause you any trouble." Colter said.

Vida shrugged his dismissal off. "It looks like the rain won't stop anytime soon. Don't worry about it. You're not causing any trouble. But if you do, I can easily call security in case you attempt to do something nasty. I also have 911 on speed-dial."

Colter smiled. "I do admire your kindness, Vida. You're one of the few who have shown me compassion in this world even after a short time of being acquainted."

"Don't mention it." Vida thought about his words and it seemed kind of odd. She wondered what kind of undergraduate program he took to be speaking like that. She shook that thought away and said, "I have some bad news though."

"Hmm?" Colter placed the book back on top of the pile.

"I may not have clothes that could fit you." Vida bit her lip at the idea she had. "But I could do a quick run to the basement to have your clothes washed and dried."

"The basement?" Colter looked confused.

"Yes, like I said, I'm luckier than most to have a washer and dryer in the building. It's convenient at times like these."

"Oh, alright." Colter said.

"Just uhm, head over to the bathroom over there and I'll take your wet clothes." Vida said.

While Colter headed over to the direction of the bathroom, Vida ran to the corner that was her 'room' and straight away dove for her dresser. She was grateful for the room divider that she found at a garage sale. She hastily changed her drenched clothes to sweatpants and a cute sweater. She also pulled her still wet hair up into a messy bun, that way it would dry and make loose waves. She spotted her lip balm on the nightstand and swiped twice on her lips.

Vida thinks it is ridiculous to be acting this way. But it was not the time to become dainty. A man was in her apartment, albeit someone she barely knew, but it was the man who gave her multiple orgasms in her dreams.

A knock interrupted her thoughts. "Vida?"

"Yes?" Vida croaked out loud.

"Where shall I put these?" Colter's voice muffled through the divider.

"Uhm, hold on, I'll be right out." Vida braced herself before peeking behind the divider. She needed to get a grip if she did not want Colter to think of her as a weirdo.

No matter how much she collected herself, the sight that welcomed her was too much: Colter in just a towel.

"Jesus Christ!" Vida shrieked and dodged back again. Holy smokes, Vida thought to herself. How will she survive this night?

Vida knew from the start that Julie was built just by looking at his physique, but that was pure speculation. But now, it has been confirmed. Colter's body seemed to be carved from marble. Every muscle was defined, clearly indicating that he's physically active in whatever sport he does. In a split second, she also noticed small scars scattered across his chest and arms probably going all the way across his back. But what really made her stop in her train of indecent thoughts was the tattoo on his left chest, just right where the heart was located.

"Vida? Is there something wrong?" Colter asked.

Her heart was pounding so hard. "Nothing! I just, uhm, forgot something."

"Alright," Colter said, his tone almost teasing. "For a moment, I thought you hadn't seen a half-naked man in your entire life yet."

She once again peeked and yelled defensively, "Hey! I have seen a fair amount of half-naked men, even naked ones too."

Colter looked at her through his lashes, his lips curled into a smile. "Sure, Vida."

Vida's cheeks were warm with embarrassment. Great going, Vida, she thought to herself.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll take these," Vida took Colter's discarded clothes from his hands and placed them in the laundry basket by the door, "to the basement so you can cover yourself up."

Colter chuckled. "I'm pretty comfortable with this towel, how about you?"

He was clearly taking advantage of her reaction, teasing her like a little kid. "Shut up, or else I will call security."

He just laughed.

Without looking back at him, Vida opened the front door and said, "I'll be right back.

"And I'll be right here, waiting for you." Colter said.

"Good Lord," Vida said under her breath as she closed the door.

---

Colter

Vida's Apartment, New York City

"So, why New York City?"

After the event earlier, Colter was now warm and dry, all thanks to Vida's wash and dry errand. Earth was indeed magical in its own way. It was no Howard, but its technology was pretty amazing.

They were now seated at the small coffee table in the living room, eating the ramen noodles that Vida made in a contraption called 'microwave.' Vida's apartment was indeed small compared to his room in Howard but it had something that no other room in the Palace had: warmth.

"I honestly don't know either," Colter answered. "But my ride brought me here."

"What do you mean by 'your ride'? A cab?" Vida asked.

Colter did not know how to answer her question without compromising his identity. He could not exactly reveal that a portal brought him to Earth. "A friend brought me here."

"Oh, but I thought, you knew no one in the city?" Vida took a sip of the ramen soup.

"He, uh, dropped me off."

"I see," Vida had a bit of soup on her chin, so Colter leaned in to wipe it off for her. She blushed and said, "Thank you."

Colter just smiled at her. It was endearing how she would be blushing everytime he would come in contact with her soft skin.

"Anyway, where is home anyway? Is it somewhere in the west? Although, you don't look tan at all." Vida peered over him. "You might be a bit tan but it's hard to tell."

Colter cleared his throat. Her probing about his origins were crossing between dangerous waters. "Maybe I'll answer all your questions soon, but not now."

Vida pouted. "Okay, then. Perhaps, you can try answering why you left?"

He chose his next words carefully. "To be free. You see, home is complicated." He sighed. "There are things that I do not agree with my father. So, I had to leave."

Vida fell quiet. She was processing the information he had just handed her. It was the closest thing he could tell her right now from the actual problem.

"Was your father," she paused, "abusive?"

Colter did not know how to answer that. "Let's just say that he has a temper."

"I'm sorry I even brought it up." Vida said quietly. "You probably did not want to talk about it."

Colter rested his hand on top of her. "No worries. You did not know anyway."

A moment passed before he spoke again. "I also took this opportunity to explore more. With my freedom, I could go to places I never had before, do things I could never do, and meet new people and get to know them. Especially you."

"Me?" Vida looked surprised.

Colter took a deep breath while holding Vida's gaze. "Would you believe me if I say that I had dreamt of you before?"

Her eyes widened. "You too?"

"What do you mean?" His touch on Vida tightened a bit.

Vida looked down at their touching hands. She twisted hers so that her palms faced upward, her fingers interlacing with his. "I have been having dreams of you too."

Colter could not believe it. His heart soared by what he heard.

"The first time was a long time ago. Maybe two or three weeks ago? I couldn't remember but I was sure it was you." Vida said, turning a shade of red. "I even had to look you up the internet, just to make sure that you're a real person and not just someone that my imagination made up,"

"You were too real in my dream." She finished.

"And I you, Vida." Colter said, he reached for the tiny pouch in his pocket with his free hand. "I dreamed about you one night and I made sure that I would not forget your face."

He opened the pouch, pulled out a folded piece of paper, and gave it to Vida. Vida let go of Colter's hand to unfold it.

It was no news that Colter was a great artist. Back in Howard, he would be praised by his tutor for how great he was at sketching. It was his pride. But like all things, his father frowned upon it, saying that the arts were for the weak.

But as Vida opened his folded drawing, he suddenly felt self-conscious with his output. He looked at her face closely and watched her reaction as she took in his sketch.

At first, Vida was stunned, but then her face morphed into awe.

"You did this?" Her eyes never left the drawing.

"I did." Colter admitted. "It might not be realistic, though, as it is only a rough draft of some sort. I haven't had time to refine it because I have been pretty busy."

"Are you kidding me? If this is your rough draft, then I fear what the finished product might look like." Vida looked up and met his eyes. "Colter, you're so talented."

"I'm not sure about that," Colter said, his guard went up a little when he heard the word 'talented.'

"Seriously," Vida grabbed his hand. "This drawing is awesome. Thank you for drawing me."

His heart was beyond happy that she liked his sketch. He just hoped that when the time came that he would reveal who, or rather, what he was, Vida would still see him as he is.

Colter caressed Vida's face, making her jump at the contact. "I would never get tired of drawing you a thousand times more if that would make you happy."

Vida visibly swallowed and she let out a soft sigh, leaning to his touch. "Where have you been all this time?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Colter whispered. "But I'm here now, that is what's important."