DAYLIGHT

Chapter 20

L e a n d e r

Tilden was looking at me with a blank expression as if I slapped him without him knowing why.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. It sounds like I am using you. You don't have to answer or say yes—"

"No!"

I was startled when he suddenly exclaimed.

"I mean, yes! No, yes." Tilden chuckled at himself while rubbing his face. "I mean, no, it's fine. I told you, you could use me and we're already together, why are you sorry? And yes, I mean yes I wanna have... do it... sex... with you."

He looked like he was not the shameless Tilden that I know. Getting flustered and everything. Where does the Tilden who confidently said that I could use him as my human dildo?

I chuckled seeing how red both of his ears were, he doesn't look like someone with the title Lieutenant Colonel.

"But you only got your stitches."

It was selfish of me to say something like that after he got his stitches.

"What stitches? Did you see me flinched during the process?"

It was terrifying how he just laid down emotionlessly while he got stitched as if he had an anesthetic shot but no. Tilden refused the shot because the infirmary only had a few anesthesia left.

"No, that it was making me think if you're a human or not?"

"I experienced pain worse than that. It was like I was bitten by an ant. So, you're not allowed to back off with your offer. I already took it. No going back."

I chuckled helplessly. So he wants to do it.

"Then it's settled." I said.

Tilden nodded, and his face turned slightly red.

Isn't he cute?

"So, do you have to report that you're back? Where to?"

"Yes, let's go meet everyone."

.....

Everyone was in the backyard of the barracks and they helped cultivate the vast land where they would plant potatoes and vegetables. Some were building pens for livestock that were still freely roaming around the field of green grass.

The barracks had a vast and flat backyard with no trees around like the front yard, so I could see the pigs laying on the grass far away, goats and cows munching off the grass, and chickens running around and making noises.

Tilden met with his squad members and Marie hugged me. Everyone was worried.

"We locked the one who pushed you." Lake said.

"He received a gift from me." Chan said. "A hard punch on the gut."

"It wasn't enough so I added a kick on his side." Marie said.

I chuckled. I may have hit my head on the ground but it wasn't that hard and aside from the small scratches, it was nothing serious compared to Tilden's wound on his leg.

"I want to kick him too." I said.

"Oh, you can do more than a kick." Tilden said. "I'd kill him if I get my hands on him."

"You don't have to dirty your hands." I said.

"Then how will you get back to him?" Lake asked.

I already thought about it. I want him to experience what I did when I was left alone in a zombie-infested place.

"Let him out. Alone." I said.

"Wow." Chan said.

"So ruthless."

.....

After Tilden reported about his arrival, we were ordered to rest. Inside the quarters were dim because no lights were on despite having solar electricity. They were trying to save energy for necessities like cooking and etcetera.

We were given a candle made of oil and salt. Tilden guided me to his quarter. Only a few of the fluorescent lights were turned on, every fifty meters and every corner and the light was enough to light the dim hallway from end to end. The hallways were long and all I could see were lines of the same design of wooden doors and huge pictures of military personnel.

With the fading light of the intermittent light source, it created an eerie atmosphere in that quiet and cold hallway.

It was a wonder how Tilden could still remember his old room since everything was identical. After turning right on a corner, we walked a few more doors before he stopped in front of a same design door and Tilden opened it.

As a high official, Tilden had the privilege to have a room for himself.

“Wait for me, I will bring our food. I’m quite hungry.” He said as he pushed the door and guided me in.

I nodded and received the burning candle and walked inside the room. It was a little bigger compared to the dorm room that we shared before. Has a double bed, a long and thin closet, a square table, a chair, and a settee. His room has a window the size of two pillows that shows the vast quadrangle where they assemble. I placed the candle on the table and drew the curtain making the room dim and the only light source was the candle.

I sat on the bed and slowly laid myself on the mattress. I didn’t know if it was my nose or my obsession with Tilden’s pheromones, but I could smell his mint pheromone on his bed and it lulled me to sleep.

I woke up feeling groggy and squinted my eyes at the candle then saw Tilden sitting on the chair. I focused my eyes and realized that Tilden was sleeping while sitting straight, squaring his arms which looked creepy. How could he sleep in that position?

Before I could look away, Tilden opened his eyes and saw me staring at him.

“You’re awake. Are you hungry? I brought us food.” He said.

I sat up and saw a tray filled with food on the table.

“Thank you.”

Tilden stood up and dragged the table to the bed in front of me so I didn’t have to transfer seats. Tilden brought a large bowl of soup, two bowls of rice, fried eggs, and eggplants. Seeing the food made my stomach growl. I never had a decent meal since we left the dorms, only biscuits.

Tilden transferred his chair beside me and we started eating. I was so focused on eating that the room was silent except for the sound of utensils hitting the plates and bowls. The soup tasted good compared to the dorms which tasted bland. I only looked up when I noticed Tilden stopped eating.

“Are you full already?” I asked and saw that he just finished his eggs and rice.

“Seeing you eating well is enough.”

I rolled my eyes. “Stop being so cheesy. You eat like a girl on a diet.”

“I like to fast before…” He paused and I furrowed my brows.

“What?”

“Nothing. Finish the soup.” He said.

I glared at him and resumed eating. Tilden gave me a glass of water after finishing everything and I burped like I never did before making Tilden laugh as he cleaned the table and dragged it back to its original position.

I was so full that I wanted to lay back down and sleep.

“I’ll wash the dishes first. Don’t fall asleep after eating.” Tilden softly said as he ran his fingers on my hair.

I hummed in response and looked up when he did not withdraw his hand.

“What?” I asked, puzzled.

Tilden smiled and leaned his face down, kissing my lips. I blinked twice before I kissed him. Just when I was about to wrap my arms around his neck, he pulled back and cleared his throat.

“Don’t miss me too much.” He said and walked out of the room with the dishes.

I chuckled.

…..