Chapter 41 episode 41

Chapter 41 episode 41
Chapter 41

Aric’s car drove slowly through the city streets that were beginning to quiet down. The streetlights reflected faintly against the car windows, while soft instrumental music played quietly, filling the comfortable night atmosphere.

Emeli sat in the passenger seat while staring out the window. But the corners of her lips had not truly fallen since earlier. She did not know whether it was because of tonight’s atmosphere, or because Aric kept managing to warm her heart.

Aric glanced at her briefly before smiling faintly. “Sorry, you must be really tired now, huh?”

“Not really,” Emeli answered with a smile.

“Mmm... are you happy?”

Emeli turned toward him before laughing softly. “Pretty much.”

“Only pretty much?” Aric frowned.

“If I say I’m very happy, you’ll get conceited.”

Aric chuckled softly while turning the steering wheel. “Even though I worked really hard tonight.”

Emeli looked at him for a few seconds before speaking softly, “Thank you…”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for tonight.”

Aric immediately shook his head slightly while smiling casually. “Just a thank you?”

Emeli frowned in amusement. “Then what do you want?”

“Hmm… let me think about it first.”

“You really are…” Emeli pinched Aric’s stomach playfully.

Aric laughed softly before glancing at her again. “But seriously, I’m happy to see you laughing again.”

That sentence made Emeli fall silent for a moment.

Her gaze slowly fell onto Aric’s face, which looked more mature now. His jawline had become sharper, and his eyes looked much calmer compared to before. But one thing that had not changed was the way he looked at Emeli.

Aric’s gaze was very gentle and warm.

And it always made her feel comfortable.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Aric asked softly when he realized Emeli kept staring at him.

Emeli reflexively snapped out of it. “It’s nothing.”

“You’re lying.”

“I just…” Emeli bit her lip softly before laughing lightly to hide her nervousness. “You’ve become more handsome now.”

Aric immediately raised an eyebrow. “Wow, I’m getting complimented.”

“Ugh, you’re so annoying.”

“But I like it.”

Emeli shook her head slightly while smiling shyly. But a few seconds later, her thoughts drifted back to all of Aric’s attention tonight. The way he looked at her while they danced. The way Aric listened to her stories without judging her. And the warmth of his embrace that still lingered on her body.

Emeli’s heartbeat began to quicken.

Before she could think any further, her body moved first.

Slowly, she leaned closer and briefly kissed Aric’s lips.

Only for a few seconds.

But it was enough to make Aric freeze instantly.

The car that had stopped at the red light suddenly felt silent.

Aric stared at Emeli in disbelief. “Emeli…”

Emeli’s face immediately turned red. “I just—”

But her words were cut off when Aric suddenly held the back of her neck gently and kissed her back.

Unlike the brief kiss earlier, this time Aric kissed her deeper and longer. As if all the longing he had been holding back finally broke free tonight.

Emeli’s breath immediately caught.

Her hands reflexively gripped Aric’s shirt softly as the man slowly deepened the kiss. It was not rough, but intense enough to make Emeli unable to think clearly.

Her heart pounded rapidly.

Aric pulled away slightly for air, but the moment he saw Emeli’s flushed face with her eyes closed, his self-control wavered again.

“Sorry…” he whispered hoarsely.

But the next second, their lips met once more.

The kiss slowly became more and more overwhelming, making Emeli’s mind go blank. Aric’s warm breath mixed with hers while his fingers gently caressed the side of her face.

It was completely different.

Very different from Ken’s kisses that were always full of pressure and dominance.

With Aric, Emeli felt desired… not restrained.

That feeling only made her sink deeper.

Without realizing it, her hands moved to remove Aric’s jacket from his shoulders. She gently pushed his body until Aric’s back leaned slightly against the seat.

“Emeli…” Aric’s breathing started becoming uneven.

But Emeli, carried away by the moment, leaned toward his neck and placed a small kiss there.

Aric immediately held his breath.

“Oh God…” he murmured softly.

The next second, he quickly closed his eyes, trying to regain control of himself. If things went any further, he knew it would become even harder to stop.

Meanwhile, Emeli finally realized what she had just done.

Her eyes widened instantly.

“Oh my God…”

She hurriedly pulled away with a deeply flushed face. “I…”

Aric immediately turned toward her. “Emeli, it’s okay.”

But Emeli panicked instead. Her hands covered her face briefly before she shook her head quickly.

“Why am I becoming like this…”

“Hey.” Aric tried to soften his voice. “Look at me.”

“I’m embarrassed…” Emeli cried out.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“But I…” Emeli bit her lip hard. “I’m really too much.”

Before Aric could stop her, Emeli immediately opened the car door and got out.

“Emeli!”

The girl had already run away.

Aric quickly got out and chased after her. “Emeli, wait!”

But Emeli kept walking quickly while holding back her tears. Her chest felt tight from embarrassment.

“I’m really like a cheap woman…” she whispered softly.

The cloudy sky that had been looming since earlier finally began pouring rain slowly. Small droplets started falling, soaking the streets and Emeli’s hair.

But she did not stop.

Until finally Aric managed to catch up and gently grabbed her wrist.

“Emeli.”

The girl immediately lowered her head while crying softly.

Aric instantly pulled her into a tight embrace without saying much.

Emeli’s body trembled softly in his arms.

“I’m embarrassed of myself…” her voice broke. “Why am I becoming like this…”

Aric slowly stroked her hair even though both of them were getting drenched by the rain now.

“You’re not cheap.”

“But earlier I…”

“I’m at fault too.” Aric smiled bitterly. “I was the one who lost control first.”

Emeli quickly shook her head. “I shouldn’t have—”

“Shh…” Aric hugged her tighter. “Stop blaming yourself.”

The rain began falling harder. The streets that night slowly became wet with the reflection of city lights.

Emeli was still crying softly against Aric’s chest.

“I’m confused about my own feelings…”

“I know.”

“I’m afraid of becoming a bad person…”

Aric slowly lifted Emeli’s face so she would look at him. Rainwater soaked the girl’s hair and cheeks, making her look so fragile tonight.

“You’re not a bad person.”

Their gazes met for quite a while beneath the pouring rain.

And without realizing it, the distance between them became smaller again.

Aric gently wiped Emeli’s wet cheek before whispering softly, “If someone has to be blamed… let it be me.”

Emeli stared at him silently.

Her heart began pounding uncontrollably again.

The next second, Aric kissed her lips softly once more.

This time, it was much gentler than before.

Not rushed.

Just a warm kiss in the middle of the rain that felt incredibly peaceful.

Emeli slowly closed her eyes before returning the kiss softly. Her hands gently gripped the front of Aric’s shirt while the man held her waist so she would not lose balance.

The sound of the rain, their breathing, and the collision of their heartbeats that night felt so real.

And for a few minutes… it was as if the world only left the two of them.