GEMINI.
After Percy handed me a pair of white shorts and a T-shirt from his closet, he gave me a casual nod, then pointed toward the rooftop. "Go ahead, change. I'll be waiting for you up there." His tone was easy, but there was an unspoken warmth in his eyes that made me feel oddly comforted. I hesitated for a moment, then headed to his room to change.
Once I slipped into the new clothes, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over everything. I followed his directions and as I emerged onto the rooftop, the sight took my breath away—an expansive space with string lights draped overhead, and in the center, a large, steaming hot tub. Percy was already soaking in the hot tub. He was reclined with his eyes closed, head resting on the edge, a peaceful expression on his face. Watching him like that, so relaxed and unbothered, I felt a mixture of admiration and nervousness swirl inside me.
I stood there for a moment, unsure what to do. Part of me wanted to just turn around and leave him be, but I didn't want to seem rude or awkward. As if sensing my hesitation, Percy's eyes fluttered open. He lifted his head slightly and, with a gentle, beckoning gesture, motioned for me to come closer.
Tentatively, I stepped forward, my heart pounding a little faster. I lifted my right leg, preparing to step into the hot tub, but just as I was about to do so, my foot caught on something—probably my own clumsiness—and I stumbled forward. I was falling—fast. I thought I'd land face-first in the water, and a sudden wave of panic shot through me.
But then, out of nowhere, Percy's arms were around my waist, grabbing me securely and lifting me into the air. Instead of plunging into the water, I found myself pressed against his chest, my heart pounding wildly. For a moment, I was frozen, caught between embarrassment and surprise.
"Are you okay?" Percy's voice was soft, he sounded concerned. I could only nod, my cheeks flushing. My heart was racing like crazy; I could feel it hammering in my chest, pounding in my ears.
Percy's eyes widened when he realized he was still holding me. Carefully, he released me, creating a respectful distance between us. "Sorry," he said quickly, a hint of sheepishness in his tone. "Didn't mean to scare you."
I was trying to steady my breathing, feeling both embarrassed and awkward. "Thank you," I managed to say, my voice a little shaky. "That could have been painful if you hadn't caught me." I swallowed hard, feeling the heat creep up my neck. Why am I so clumsy? Ugh, this is so embarrassing.
Percy simply nodded, giving me a brief, unreadable look before settling back into the hot tub. I hesitated for a moment, then eased myself into the warm water. Immediately, the heat wrapped around me like a comforting blanket, relaxing my tense muscles and easing the embarrassment from my mind.
"This isn't so bad, is it?" Percy's voice broke the silence. I looked over at him, noticing how relaxed he seemed, eyes half-closed, a faint smile on his lips.
"No… it's nice." I admitted, leaning back into the tub fully, letting the warmth seep into my bones. I let out a small sigh of relief, feeling the tension melt away.
"Good." Percy replied, his voice calm and even. He closed his eyes, and for a moment, we simply sat there in peaceful silence, the only sounds the gentle hum of the city beneath us and the bubbling water around us.
Then, Percy broke the silence again, his tone contemplative. "I've noticed something about you…I actually did that time at the store."
He paused, studying me carefully. I bit my lip, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. I wasn't sure what he was about to say, and honestly, I was a little nervous.
"If it's something I did, I'm sorry." I mumbled, not wanting to ask outright what he meant. I now know he hates questions, and I don't want to offend him.
Percy shook his head, a gentle reassurance in his eyes. "You haven't done anything wrong. I'm talking about your smell."
My eyes widened in surprise. I instinctively brought my hand to my nose, sniffing myself. What could he possibly mean? Is there something wrong with my scent? I wanted to ask, but I hesitated, unsure if I really wanted to know.
"You smell nice," Percy added, his voice calm but sincere. My eyes widened in surprise. That caught me off guard. That's…not at all what I was expecting.
"Umm… thank you?" I replied awkwardly, unsure if I should be flattered or not. With Percy, you never quite knew what to expect.
"There's something soothing about the way you smell," Percy continued, genuine sincerity in his voice. "I think it helped me sleep well last night...without my insomnia medication."
"Oh!" The only thing I could manage was a surprised, dumbfounded reply. I didn't know what to say to that. It was kind of sweet, but also bizarre.
Percy's expression softened, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Yes, that's why I have a proposal."
A proposal? My mind raced. Did I hear him right? Was he serious?
"How do you feel about helping me sleep better?" Percy said, dropping a bombshell that made my eyes widen even more. I stared at him, trying to keep my composure.
"Even if I was willing to do that…help you sleep," I began cautiously, "we don't know for sure if it's my umm… smell that actually helped you sleep."
He nodded thoughtfully. "True. That's why we have tonight to figure it out. And… name your price." he replied, voice even and calm, as if discussing the weather.
My eyes darted to him, stunned. "My price?" I repeated, voice barely above
Percy's calm, steady gaze didn't waver. "Yes. How much do you want? You don't have to tell me now—I'm offering you a blank check."
I couldn't believe he was offering me a blank check—no, even more than that—asking me to help him sleep, and then casually asking me to name my price. It was surreal.
I stared at him, trying to process the strange request. My mind raced—did he really mean that? Could I really accept such an offer? The idea of taking money from him seemed wrong somehow, his kindness towards me have been undeniable.
"I don't want payment," I finally managed, voice trembling slightly. "If I can help you sleep… I'd be happy to do that for free."
The words slipped out before I even thought about them. I felt my cheeks flush again, wishing I could take them back. What was I even saying? And why did it feel so natural to say it?
Percy looked at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. I could see a flicker of surprise—or was it curiosity?—cross his face before he leaned back in the warm water, a slow, contemplative smile creeping across his lips.
He was probably wondering what was wrong with me. Honestly, I was wondering the same thing. Here I was, accepting his offer without hesitation, despite how strange and uncertain I feel.
The silence stretched again, filled only with the gentle bubbling of the hot tub and the distant hum of the city below. I shifted slightly, feeling the heat seeping into my bones, relaxing the last of my tension. My mind was still buzzing with questions—what exactly was I agreeing to? Did I even understand what I was doing? But deep down, I knew I wanted to help him, genuinely. Not for money, not for anything else—just because I wanted to be there for him, in whatever way I could.
Percy finally broke the silence, his voice soft but sincere. "You really don't have to decide right now. Just think about it. But just know…I would really appreciate it if you decide to help—more than you know."
I nodded, feeling a strange sense of calm wash over me. The warmth of the water, the glow of the sunset, Percy's quiet presence—it all felt oddly comforting. As I leaned back further into the tub, I let out a slow breath, feeling the tension melt away. I looked over at Percy, who had gone back to relaxing, his usual unreadable expression back on his face.