Chapter 109 Chapter 109

Chapter 109 Chapter 109
Chapter 109
Tang’s POV
Pavel's hands were wrapped around my neck, pulling my face down to his as I kissed him deeply, losing myself in the way our bodies moved together.
I whispered against his lips, “I can’t get enough of you.”
A breathless moan escaped him, and that was my cue to move faster. He shivered beneath me, his fingers gripping my shoulders. By the time we collapsed against the sheets, our chests were heaving, both of us completely spent after a mind-blowing early morning lovemaking.
A little later, the steam from our shared shower was still heavy in the air as I hurried into the kitchen. I needed to fix him breakfast quickly so I could rush out and attend to a few things for my mom. The vacation had been going perfectly, except for one constant shadow… my mom’s relentless nagging about me finding a woman. She’d been pushing me to go on blind dates and download dating apps, leaving me constantly dodging her calls or changing the subject. Then again, if I have a way to see my dead parents, I will let them know she did a great job looking after me. 
The only reason I hadn’t lost my mind this holiday was because of Pavel.
He completed me. He possessed this effortless ability to erase every ounce of stress or bad mood the second he was near. Looking at him, I realized the love I had for him had consumed me entirely. I couldn't lose him. I didn't ever want anything to cause a breakup between us—I wanted forever.
But guilt pricked at me. Lately, we’d been hitting some rough patches, and I was entirely to blame.
I barely had any time for him anymore. When we actually managed to schedule a date, I either showed up late or forgot about it completely, buried in family obligations. I’d spent the previous night practically on my knees begging for his forgiveness, and I knew I was incredibly lucky he had a heart big enough to grant it.
“Does it hurt?” I asked, watching the slight stiffness in his stride as he walked into the kitchen.
He rolled his cute eyes at me, a faint flush on his cheeks. “And whose fault is that?”
“Mine,” I smiled, leaning over the counter. “Entirely my fault. That’s why I’m going to take care of you today.”
The toaster clicked, popping up two golden slices. I arranged them exactly the way he liked and slid the plate over to him.
“So,” I started, tugging my shirt over my head as I spoke, “why don’t we go see that movie you’ve been dying to watch?”
He paused, looking up from his breakfast. “Sure, let’s do that tonight. Will you actually be free?”
The slight doubt in his voice stung, but I stepped closer, running my fingers through his soft hair, completely captivated by him. “Yes, I will be, honey. I’ll get everything set up, and we’ll go tonight. Promise.”
“Okay then.” He smiled softly.
“What are your plans for the day?” I asked.
“Well, I’ve got a client meeting. I’m designing a custom outfit for him.”
My fingers paused in his hair. “So, this client... are you meeting him alone?”
“Yes, alone.”
The words hit me like a bucket of ice water. My blood froze in my veins, and a sudden, ugly spike of jealousy gripped my chest. “You shouldn’t go alone, love. You know that.”
“Why?” He chuckled, shaking his head. “Do you think my client is going to harm me?”
“Who knows? You can’t trust people these days.”
“Oh, come on. This isn’t the first time I’ve met a client by myself.” He reached up, playfully tapping my chin. “Besides, jealousy looks incredibly good on you.”
He turned back to his breakfast, but the possessive knot in my stomach didn’t loosen. “It’s not my fault I’m trying to protect what’s mine from all the predators out there,” I muttered.
He just let out another cute smile, clearly amused by my protectiveness.
When I arrived at the company office, the playful mood vanished. My mom was already seated at the lounge table, eating breakfast and chatting animatedly with a young woman.
“Good morning, mom,” I said, walking over to hug her.
She kissed both my cheeks, beaming. “My handsome son! I was just talking about you,” she said, her eyes practically sparkling. I felt unease for a moment . Did something happen last night that I missed?
“What were you saying about me, mom? I hope you weren’t bringing up my clumsy childhood stories again.”
A light burst of laughter came from the woman sitting opposite her, confirming my fears.
“Mom, come on, that’s not funny,” I groaned.
“Don’t worry, Sophie,” my mom chuckled, completely ignoring my protest. “I’ll dig out his childhood photo albums for you later.”
“No, mom, please.”
As our laughter echoed through the office, the woman—Sophie—leaned forward, her eyes scanning me up and down. “You don’t have to be ashamed, Tang. And I must confess, you are even more handsome in person.”
The compliment felt entirely too loaded. It made my skin crawl. I shot a sharp, questioning look at my mom, praying my sudden suspicion was wrong.
My mom smiled triumphantly. “Son, this is Sophie. She is going to be the perfect wife for you.”
The air left my lungs. I immediately bolted to my feet. “Please excuse us for a moment. I need a private word with my mother.”
“Sure, go ahead,” Sophie replied, keeping a perfectly poised, sweet smile on her face.
I lightly gripped my mom’s wrist, pulling her out into the hallway away from the door.
The second we were clear, she turned to me eagerly. “What do you think? She’s beautiful, right?”
“Mom, I thought we already settled this.”
“Well, I never agreed to stop looking for a woman for you, especially since you’re too shy to approach one yourself. I actually already set up a formal date for the two of you.”
“Mom—”
“Yes, I know you said you want to graduate before considering a relationship,” she interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. “But it’s good to have someone waiting for you, too. She will take excellent care of you.”
“Mom, are you even listening to me?!” The frustration bubbled over, and my voice cracked across the corridor. “I don’t want you looking for anyone for me! I’m an adult. If I want a woman, I can get one myself!”
The words echoed loudly, and the sudden, dead silence in the hallway made me snap out of it. Several employees had frozen in their tracks, staring wide-eyed at us before quickly ducking their heads and pretending to look busy.
“I’m sorry, mom,” I muttered, rubbing my temples. “I didn’t mean to yell at you like that.”
My mom’s expression hardened, her jaw tight. “I raised you to have better manners than this, Tang. If you’re truly as sorry as you say you are, you will go on that date with her tonight.”
“But I already have plans tonight.”
“Cancel them,” she commanded, her tone leaving zero room for argument. “This conversation is not up for negotiation. You are going, and that is final. I am going back inside to join my soon-to-be daughter-in-law, and we will be waiting for you later. You better behave yourself.”
She turned on her heel and marched back into the office, slamming the door behind her.
Frustrated, I almost threw a fist against the wall. How the hell was I supposed to refuse my mother when she was like this? But what about Pavel? How could I cancel on him again after everything? This was an absolute nightmare.
The rest of the day was a blur of misery. I dragged myself behind my mom through endless business meetings. Every single time I caught a free second, I whipped out my phone to text Pavel, checking up on him and trying to figure a way out of this mess.
Finally, out of sheer desperation, I decided to try and kill two birds with one stone. I would show up to the date with Sophie, endure it for twenty minutes, make an excuse to leave, and then sprint to the cinema to meet Pavel. I’d just have to apologize profusely for being late again. It was a terrible plan, but it was the only one I had.
After changing into a fresh outfit at my mom's place—while dodging her questions about why I wouldn't move back in for the holidays—I drove over to pick up Sophie. When she gave me the address of the venue, my stomach dropped.
Of all the places in the city, my mom had set up a movie date. “Thanks for coming to get me,” Sophie said as she climbed into the passenger seat.
“You’re welcome,” I replied tightly, keeping my eyes glued to the steering wheel.
“You look really handsome tonight, you know.”
“Thank you.”
I forced a polite nod, but the air inside the car suddenly felt suffocatingly thin.
When we arrived at the cinema, the lobby was packed. We walked toward the ticket counter, and before I could react, Sophie suddenly lunged forward and wrapped her arm tightly around mine, clinging to me like we were a doting couple.
“Tang, I want a big bowl of popcorn,” she whined, leaning her weight into my side.
I felt so uncomfortable around her. I opened my mouth to tell her to back off and shove her away, but the words died in my throat.
“Tang?!”
The familiar voice sliced through the noisy lobby.
My head snapped around. Standing just a few feet away was Pavel.
Time slowed down. The tub of popcorn and drinks he was holding slipped from his fingers, crashing to the floor and spilling across the tiles. He just stood there, staring at my arm locked in Sophie's grip, tears gathered in his eyes, “Pavel... I...” My voice choked up, my heart dropping straight into my shoes.
Sophie looked between us, tightening her grip on my arm. “Darling, who is he? Your friend?”
Her voice fueled the fire, and the word darling shattered whatever restraint Pavel had left. He didn't say a word. He turned around and walked away, out of my sight in seconds.