"Haa... We shouldn’t keep you here longer, Rudy. Aren’t you tired? You should go upstairs and rest. You’ll be busy again tomorrow."
The elderly Mr. Walters’ voice echoed in the lounge, his warm eyes staring at Ruediger who sat across from him. Mrs. Walters and Felicia humd in agreent.
After dinner, they moved to the lounge to continue chatting. But not even half an hour in, the Walters family’s patriarch told the young man to rest.
"The maid has cleaned up your room," said the kindhearted Mrs. Walters, smiling at Ruediger, "Don’t be awkward. Isn’t this your ho too?"
Mr. and Mrs. Walters, Felicia’s elderly parents, lived on the outskirts of the city, but they ca today because of Ruediger’s visit. The pair treated the boy their daughter raised like their own grandson, a bonus grandchild aside from Madeline.
He even called them ’Grandfather’ and ’Grandmother’.
Ruediger chuckled softly, appreciating Mr. Walters’ thoughtful gesture. He was indeed exhausted and longed for so rest, but persisted.
The elderly went out of their way to co here because of him, he felt bad if he called it a night early. Now that they urged him to rest, he wouldn’t refuse.
"Then, I’ll go to my room first, Grandmother and Grandfather," Ruediger bowed slightly to the Walters pair, his bangs falling over his forehead, "I’ll see you again at breakfast. Good night. You too, Aunt."
"Yeah, let’s have breakfast together tomorrow."
"Rest well, Rudy."
"Good night."
Ruediger smiled at the elderly spouse and their daughter before leaving the lounge, his steps quiet on the floor. He imdiately headed upstairs, going to his childhood bedroom that remained here until now.
Pushing the door open, Ruediger was greeted by a familiar scene. Nothing much had changed in the bedroom he occupied for over a decade before living independently.
Even though Ruediger had his own residence and other properties, Felicia made sure to keep the bedroom as it was, similar to Madeline’s. She also often reminded him that he would always have a place here.
’I should take so photos and send them to her.’
Laughing softly, Ruediger closed the door. The bright lights illuminated the spacious room, brightening every corner well. His gaze swept across the chamber, finding more familiar items.
The wooden queen-sized bed at the center, the study area with shelves of his school books, comics and achievent plaques, the wardrobe area next to the ensuite washroom, the reading nook by the windows — everything remained the sa.
During his first ti moving here, his aunt encouraged him to decorate the bedroom to his taste. It was one of her efforts to ensure he could familiarize himself with the new surroundings.
A few traces of his childhood remained until now.
Walking toward the wardrobe, Ruediger saw his suitcase placed right before the huge closet. Everything had been unpacked by the maids, now kept inside. His chest bag lay on the table next to the closet.
’Bath first.’
Ruediger quickly took off his shirt, getting ready for a bath after an exhausting day. While unzipping his denim pants, he walked inside the washroom with the shirt draped on his shoulder. Then he threw everything into the laundry bin.
Standing before the huge mirror over the sink, he couldn’t help but focus on the marks she left on his skin last night. His lips drew into a smile as his finger traced the one over his chest.
’What a fool.’
He was indeed a fool in love.
Without wasting ti, Ruediger filled the tub with hot water before stepping into the shower cubicle to rinse himself. He was sleepy, but he hoped to talk to Lariette again before bed.
Not long after, a refreshed Ruediger erged from the washroom, hair damp and a towel wrapped around his tapered waist. The light basked over his tall and muscular figure, and the water droplets glistened as they slid down.
With a glance, Ruediger saw the ti shown on the wall clock — a quarter past ten. Velondia was one hour behind Norvonna, thus Lariette was most likely still awake.
But he still rembered she tended to go to bed early these days because of her hectic work. Unwilling to make her wait longer, he swiftly changed into a sweater and long pants.
Grabbing his phone, Ruediger sat on the bed while video-calling Lariette. His eyes lit up once she accepted the request within two rings. The screen changed, now showing his beloved on the other side of the line.
But what he saw stunned him before helpless laughter escaped his lips.
"Lettie, my sweetheart..." Ruediger mused, his heart lted and coated with the sweetest honey, "Sleeping in my room tonight, en?"
He did expect to see his beloved’s face on the screen, but what he did not expect was to see her lying on his bed, already in her nightgown, her eyes half-lidded but face beaming.
"Hehe~ Since I can’t hug a certain soone to sleep, I better conquer his bed tonight."
Lariette’s chuckles and cheeky reply echoed from the phone, their warmth gently brushing Ruediger’s heart. His smile widened as he took in the precious view on the screen.
Sohow, his bed looked so vast with just her lying on it.
"Alright, alright, I’ll co ho quickly and hug you to sleep," he said, laughter lacing his words, "By the way, I’m in my old bedroom. Wanna see?"
Lariette’s eyes sparkled, "Sure! Show !"
Ruediger began by showing the bed, the screen facing the room instead of him while his voice echoed in the background. Then, he moved from one area to the next.
Lariette excitedly asked Ruediger whenever she found anything interesting, especially when he showed the shelf where his academic and sports achievents were displayed.
"Wow~ Such an excellent school valedictorian and the greatest school athlete. I’m proud of my husband~"
Ruediger laughed, a slight blush tinted his cheeks. He moved the screen to face him, looking at Lariette whose eyes beca more droopy despite her playful teasing.
"I’m happy that you’re proud of ."
She chuckled, "Hehe, always~"
The pair gazed at each other, finding comfort in their eyes. Being separated over a thousand miles away, the yearning in their hearts resonated with one another.
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