She's My Sleeping Pill

Cayenne woke up in the middle of the night. She wanted to get some water to drink but Stefan held her back. He was tightly clutching the hem of her blouse. He looked like a child who needed security by feeling the person next to him. She sighed while she pried open his fingers. 𝗳𝔯𝙚e𝒘e𝚋𝘯𝚘ν𝙚l.𝑐o𝙢

"Ayen?" Stefan woke up and looked at her. "Where are you going? Are you leaving me?" he was still groggy and tired. "Don't go, Ayen."

"I am just going to get a glass of water. I'm thirsty." She gently patted his hand, asking him to let her go.

"I'll get it for you." Stefan get out of bed and went downstairs before she can say anything. When he got back, he brought a glass and a pitcher full of water. "Just in case you get thirsty again, you don't need to go out of the room." Stefan mentioned while pouring a glass of water for her.

"You don't really have to do this, you know. I can just get it myself." Cayenne responded while she received the water from him.

"I don't mind doing this." Stefan placed the pitcher on her bed side drawer before walking back to his side of the bed.

After drinking, she placed the glass beside the pitcher and went back to sleep.

"Ayen, can I hug you to sleep?"

"Just keep the drill in mind."

"Hn. I'll keep my paws from wandering."

"Good. Let's go back to sleep. Good night."

Stefan took her hand and placed it on his waist as well. "Good night."

Cuddling her to sleep felt like the most natural thing to do for him. He likes to feel her warmth and knowing that she's still in his arms. Cayenne didn't really feel anything about it all. She only cares whether he'll do something bad or not. As long as he doesn't overstep her bottom line, she wouldn't mind it.

The next day, Cayenne woke up early but Stefan was still asleep. He was still holding her in his arms. "Ayen, don't leave me. Don't go."

Cayenne raised her head to look at him. Her face was turning read from the blush. It was embarrassing to hear her name from his mouth. And to think he was still sleeping. 'Is he dreaming about me?' Cayenne questioned mentally. She was a little surprise at her own thought but she also dismissed this idea. 'It might be another woman named Ayen. It couldn't possibly me.' She added, contradicting herself.

Stefan continued to sleep while Cayenne observed him. She couldn't go out of bed before him since she was paid to sleep with him. She needed to do her job. She waited for another half an hour but he remained asleep.

'Oh god! I still need to go to the hospital. Can you wake him up?' Cayenne prayed mentally. She needed to go home and go to the hospital after. She can't take so much time or her family will start to doubt her. Specially her siblings. They were already questioning her because of her salary. How much more if she's taking so much time for her 'baby-sitting' work? They will surely start doubting her.

Another hour had passed and it was almost eight in the morning. Stefan finally stirred in his sleep and woke up. "Morning."

"Morning." Cayenne responded while getting off the bed as soon as she can.

"What time is it now?" Stefan asked groggily. He was still rubbing his eyes to adjust to the brightness of the sunlight that got from the glass window.

"It's almost eight."

"Why didn't you wake me up?" he sat up straight on the bed while watching her put her things inside her bag.

"That's not part of my job description." Cayenne answered. "I can only wait for you to wake up on your own."

"But you said that you needed to go to the hospital. You should've taken the initiative to wake me up."

"Don't think about it anymore. It's not your problem."

"Ayen, are you still guarded around me?" Stefan questioned softly, trying to sound gentle in front of her.

Cayenne stopped what she was doing and sat back on the bed to face him. "I admit, yes." Stefan's face darkened but he didn't say anything. He wanted to listen more of what she wanted to say. "You don't really expect me to warm up to you in a span of one week, right?"

"Why are you putting up your guard when I'm around?"

"Don't take it personally, Stefan. I always put my guard down when I'm with some people who aren't exactly close to me. Like us, we can't really consider ourselves as close, right? We are in an employer-employee relationship. There's no way you would befriend someone like me; and with my low status, too. Nonetheless, I still respect you since basically, you're the one who's feeding me and my family."

"I'm not sure if I should be happy or be upset with your answer." Stefan commented with faint chuckle as he averted his eyes from looking at her.

"Why? I don't think I said anything wrong against you. I am just being honest here." Cayenne defended herself and her statement, making sure that she wasn't offending him at all.

He took a deep breath and sighed. "I know that. But, can't you consider me as your friend? I think our set-up will be a lot simpler if we treat each other as friends."

"Friends share their secrets and worries. Are you willing to do that?" Cayenne questioned to test him out.

"Why not?" Stefan replied nonchalantly. "I think it's fine for us to know about each other every step of the way."

"Really?" Cayenne grinned and placed her chin on the heel of her palm. "Then, if that's the case, tell me, aside from me, is there anyone named Ayen that you know?"

"No, one. You are the only Ayen that I know." Stefan answered with utmost sincerity without knowing that he was led to a trap.

"I'm the only Ayen? Then, does that mean you were dreaming of me in your sleep?"