The Boyfriend Material - Celphi

I woke up drenched in sweat and very thirsty. Another day of waking up in total darkness. I felt around in the darkness. By instinct, I reached for my phone. Nothing. I crawled a bit further and reached out some more. What I discovered instead is a hand, startling me. Memories came back and overwhelmed me.

Sigh. So it was not a drill. I was really banished to the shadow realm. Sigh.

I withdrew to a farther part of the bed, if I can call it that. More like a futon, maybe in thickness. I inspected myself to see if I still had my clothing and discovered that I had been changed into softer clothing. Like a onesie made of sheep’s wool.

Celphi! You rascal. How many times has this man undressed me already?

I stood up and walked carefully towards the small yet only source of light in the room. When inspected closer, it seemed like a blackout curtain, but it wasn’t. It felt coarse, irregularly ridged and firm.

This isn’t a curtain. It’s so heavy that it can be a door. I tried to yank it open, and a wood creaking sound followed.

BANG! The hard panel almost fell on me. I was snatched away before it landed where I was standing.

’Sorry, I was meaning to replace that.’ Somebody purred.

It took me a while to adjust to the sudden blinding light. I looked down to see Celphi’s tail wrapped around my waist, and he had me hovering over where I was probably sleeping earlier.

‘Thank you Celphi.’ I said as he placed me down. I analyzed his half-snake, human form. A male torso with a snake-like tail for his lower half. I can’t stop looking and trying to understand how it is possible to be two creatures at once. Even the transforming already doesn't make sense. What more for being a human and a reptile at the same time? Definitely life-defying.

Why does he look like a mythological god painting? One of those paintings with absurd creatures, but this one has the upper body part of a Greek god.

My confusion about Celphi’s anatomy was soon overtaken by my confusion about his room set-up.

Why is the room littered with gems and shiny stones? Are those gold too? Can you even call gemstones ‘litter’?

I have heard of men being untidy in their living conditions, but I have never heard of a man lying in a bed of jewels. A coy giggle snapped me back.

’Do you like these? These are all yours.’ Celphi said as he put me back down.

’Is the norm for this world? Males sleeping in shiny things to attract females?’

Celphi tilts his head. ‘I do not inquire into how others seduce mates, but I think it's just me who is obsessed with shiny things.’ He said as he used his tail to gather a few gems into one corner like a child putting away his toys.

Cute.

’Which form of yourself is more comfortable for you to be in?’ I inquired.

‘I am comfortable in all of them. However, I feel my most powerful when I am in my scaly form.’ He explained.

‘You kept calling yourself a scaly creature, but that means snake, right? Please tell me if I’m wrong, I don’t want to offend you.’

’You can assume whichever, I wouldn’t mind’, he said nonchalantly as he picked up and put away the heavy curtain door thing. If I weren’t in healthcare and sensitive to facial expressions and body language, I would have missed the tiniest hint of annoyance and disdain in his eyes.

Oooff! Did I step on a sore topic there? I wonder if there are classes between creatures here as well. If that’s the case, are reptiles lower than some? In the end, what type of creature is he after all? Why can’t he tell me? Does he not know it himself? Is he a special case like Raiona?

I observed him tidy up around the room as I was wondering all these things. My eyes were still adjusting to the bright sunlight to look anywhere but within the dim parts of the room.

‘Was it draining to transform so quickly and save me like you did?’

‘No, it feels as natural as breathing.’ A thin smile formed on his lips.

‘Thank you.’ I looked up to him and smiled back. A sweet moment lingered between us.

Is this what it feels like to have a boyfriend?

I shook my head and snapped myself back to reality. Or wherever this is. I walked to the area that the panel was coveringa few seconds ago. What I see is nothing short of paradise.

The sun was high up in the sky, highlighting seas of lush green trees, extending to all sides my eyes can see. Sparsely littered with pink trees in varying levels of bloom. A blue one fell to the right. Birds were making music, sweet flowing sounds of water rushed through. Branches above the makeshift window offered shade.

‘Breathtaking view! So we are in a huge tree!’ I continued to take in the landscape.

‘What time is it now?’ I turned around to ask Celphi, who was busy fiddling with some items on a makeshift table. ‘What time is your sunrise and sunset here usually?’

‘What does the word “sun” mean?’, he stopped his search and came over to my side to view what I was talking about. I pointed up to the sun.

‘Ah!’, Celphi lightly nodded, ‘We call that the Daystar.’

‘Time is before noon. The rising and setting times depend on the season.'

‘I see!’ I exclaimed, ‘We on Earth call it the sun! Depends on the country of course, so there are different ways of saying it. But yeah, season and earth position affect the sun's appearance as well’.

‘What does the word “country” mean?’ Celphi tilted his head in such an adorable manner.

*gurgle*

I looked away in embarrassment.

‘Of course, I will continue preparing your food.’

Oh so that’s what’s keeping him busy just now.

I trailed behind him and explained about some basic earth concepts such as countries, continents, religions and science.

‘How many floors high is this?’

‘What is that?’ He tilts his head.

‘Oh! I forgot that some words may not even have a counterpart for Meu! Apologies. Basically just how many rooms on top of the other.’

I turned around to see that Celphi had gone to another room. Well, his torso, that is. Part of his tail was still in this room.

‘I can’t tell you how many floors, but I can say that it can be around 50 of you stacked together while standing up.’

I did a quick mental math. ‘I am 64 inches, so roughly 80 meters then.’

Celphi comes back with what I assumed was food.

‘Here are some fruits Ina. You used to like noisefowls and water creatures. If you still do, I will get those for you.’ He hands me a basket full of berries.

’Can you eat these?’ I take one that has the color of a grape, but the size and shape of a pink lady apple.

‘I can in my human form, but in small amounts. I have to have meat.’ He hands me an empty container.

‘What is this?’ I inspected the item.

‘You can drink from that.’

’But it’s empty?’ I handed it back.

‘You used to ask me to squeeze fruits for you to drink. Just tell me which one of these you’d like to drink.’

’Oh wow I did not realize your Raiona was such a queen.’

’You are a queen. Future one however...' a hint of hesitation on Celphi’s tone.

I won't correct him. In fact, I am over it.

‘I can try to eat this on my own, thank you.’ I studied the item before putting it in my mouth. Irregularly shaped with a dirty purple color, like some root crops. I wondered if it needed a wash. But who knows if it’s soiled or not? I mean, probably everyone else in this world except me, of course.

Bon appétit. Maybe if I die of poisoning, I will go back to earth.

The sweetness and acidic taste of what seemed like a strawberry filled my mouth as soon as I took a bite.

‘Oh wow, I love that.’ I devoured the fruit so quickly that I was onto my next one before I realised it. And then the next. Some fruit juice spilt onto my chest and all over my onesie.

Goodness, this is watery like an apple! What a good business idea!

‘Ahem! Do excuse me for looking like a savage there. I must’ve been very hungry. I promise I am usually dignified.’ I said as I tried to wipe some liquid off myself.

Celphi giggled. ‘That was your first meal since arriving after all.’

‘So it seems.’ I felt very sticky then.

I wish I had some clean wipes. Or tissue at least. Sigh.

As I was looking around for something to clean myself with, Celphi slithered away and came back with a wet cloth.

Yeah. This must be what it feels like to have a boyfriend.

After wiping my face and hands, I pulled on Celphi’s arm so I could reach over to give his cheek a quick kiss.