She's ready to rescue her benefactor from whatever the situation was behind the door.
Lucy stepped hurriedly inside the room, it was not hard to determine that the bedroom was around the same size as hers, if not bigger but that was not important right now.
*Mmmmmmm…*
That's definitely a painful groan but Owen is just lying on his bed. Was I mistaken?
Lucy tucked her hair behind her ear as she took a few more steps towards the bed to be sure. Owen's bedside lamp gives enough illumination to the room for Lucy to avoid any misstep.
Nothing unusual, just a sleeping person. Except when Lucy came closer she saw beads of sweat forming on the man's forehead.
*Mmmmm.*, another guttural sound from Owen, his brows slightly furrowing. The girl assumed it was a nightmare.
"Owen!" Lucy was whisper-shouting beside the man. She has lowered her face in an attempt to make her voice reach his earbuds louder.
Okay, now he's clutching the blanket. Lucy reached for the stud's clutched hands deciding that's where he would shake him awake.
"Owen!", her voice is in a more normal tone but still not loud enough, apparently, as Owen is still lying down. The man still hasn't opened his eyes but obviously calmed down from before. He also hasn't groaned again after a few heartbeats.
Lucy took her hand away from Owen's judging the bad dream possibly passed. But as if on cue, he whimpered as soon as their skin broke contact. His body visibly tensed. The woman hurriedly touched the back of his hand again and his body relaxed. He stopped groaning altogether.
The lady raised her brows and shook her head slightly in confusion. She tried lifting her hand again. *Mmmmmm.* Touch. Release. *Mmmmm.* Touch.
After a few more experimentation she gathered that Owen's nightmare subsides when she touches him. Lucy let out a deep breath and an almost inaudible scoff. Are you serious? Should I just hold his hand like this? But, until when?
She dropped to her knees at this point. The woman was sure Owen would not appreciate waking up to a trespasser touching him and right now she's the trespasser but she can't ignore him either.
Needles are starting to prick her knees from the unmoving posture on the floor. She started resting her free arm on the edge of the bed for a more comfortable position.
She looked around the room and took in the simplicity of its interior using what little light was available for her at the moment. Her assigned room was definitely more decorated than his. Everything is in a monotone color. Is this a trait of masculinity? She had never been in a man's room before, except Noah's but she remembered it being as cozy as hers, maybe because they lived in the same old neighborhood.
The room was amazingly large but boring. Lifeless, even. It's sad.
Slowly she lays her head on the bed's rim to relieve the pain on her neck.
A lot of time has passed, possibly an hour, judging by the slightly brighter silhouette from the curtained window.
Owen's breathing has been even for quite some time. Lucy tried lifting her hand from Owen's and looked at the man's reaction without pulling her hand away too much.
Looks like he's okay.
Lucy took the chance to slip out of the room into her own. She sprawled like a bear on the soft mattress, embracing the comfort, and stretching her muscles.
She looked at her phone to check the time.
5:47 am.
She let out a sigh, too tired to think about what happened. It's just an unexpected incident. She just happened to be there. No need to think about it. It's nothing.
She set an alarm at 6:30 and closed her eyes.
—
Owen opened his eyes. He usually wakes up at 6 am or even earlier. The man hasn't used a morning alarm in a long time. His body clock is enough to get him off to bed.
Surprisingly, he felt unusually well-rested today. He noticed a crumpled spot on his bed but judged he might just have moved in his sleep.
—
Lucy went out of her room dressed for work. She found Owen in his usual spot in the living room in his workout clothes.
"We can do the sessions here so you don't have to go to the gym.", Owen naturally says.
"No. Sorry." The woman gave a short response while stepping closer to the couch and sitting on it cautiously. The stud kept her eyes on Lucy, not concerned or worried but just patiently waiting for the young woman's next words.
"I mean, I don't think it's a good idea to let people know that I sleep here."
"Right." Owen inhaled sharply and leaned further back to his seat. "What do you suggest?" Owen was not obliviously to the fact that their agreement was absurd. As much as he wanted to wrap it in altruism and good intent, he was not brazen enough to dismiss Lucy's concern. It was too late to take back his offer but he was preparing the possibility of the woman changing her mind.
"Can we do the usual sessions at the gym… and interact normally." She had this rehearsed in her head the night before but she still felt apprehensive about Owen's reaction. With the events that happened earlier, she was also worried that Owen might be uncomfortable or even angry if he knew she went inside his room without permission so she decided to leave the incident at that. She has no intention of sharing the events with anybody, especially not with the man in front of her.
Lucy continued her prepared speech clumsily.
"I-I know you're going out on a limb for me. All the help with Nana and other things — I'm very thankful for those. But this living arrangement is not very sustainable. Maybe I can move out in a few days? Two weeks maybe? I have to get a new place for me and Nana when she gets discharged after the operations, anyway. I should start looking for an apartment."
Owen tried to hide his disappointment but was thankful that he'd have a few more days in their current arrangement, at least. The man stopped his brain on its track, focusing on the last thought. Why was he disappointed? And why would a few days with Lucy make him feel relieved? He looked at the girl intently, trying to organize his thoughts.