Chapter 46 Chapter 23 (ii)
FAE
A few moments later, he pulled back, and we were both breathing hard, though I knew it wasn’t the kind of kiss that led to more. “Hmm. That was really good.”
“If I kiss that good—”
“No. Stop teasing!”
He laughed again.
Moments later, we were on the large couch, comfortably wrapped around each other, with the TV remote in my hand. We looked for a Korean drama we could watch together that I hadn’t seen yet. But I changed my mind and I picked one I had watched before, hoping he’d enjoy it. He was only doing this for me, and I didn’t mind revisiting this story.
It was ‘Crash Landing On You.’
Thankfully, the first episode hooked him immediately. This was Jigo, after all, so I wasn’t surprised when he started asking questions about the context, background, and differences between being a CEO in South Korea and the Philippines. I told him the context of a CEO in a show against a CEO in real life, making it really high and dry for his amusement. I knew he’d have more questions later about North Korean cellars, old houses, government rations, and other details I hadn’t noticed the first time. I even caught him googling North Korea as we moved to the next episode.
As the evening wore on, he relaxed more, almost sinking into the sofa. He noticed I hadn’t eaten anything from the spread we’d brought out, so he picked up a chicken drumstick for me and took another one for himself as we adjusted our positions and watched. His focused expression was captivating in the glow of the TV. By the third episode, he brought out white wine for himself and red for me, and I could tell he was enjoying himself. It made me happier than I could say.
Around midnight, I turned to him. “One more episode?”
He nodded eagerly, then frowned. “Are you tired?”
His voice was so soft and caring that I smiled. I was half-lying on his chest, feeling as comfortable as I had the first time we shared a bed. I shook my head. “I’m not. I slept late, remember? And there wasn’t much to do today.”
His eyebrows, which I’d come to think of as sexy, lifted in question. “As opposed to… you have plans tomorrow?”
“Maybe in the next few days. I need to start reading new cases again. I can’t take too long a break from studying.”
He nodded slowly, listening intently. “That’s a good plan. You don’t need to rush. You can do the things you’ve wanted to but didn’t have time for before.”
“I want to travel. Maybe go hiking. And I want to start a business.”
He looked intrigued. “Those are great. If you need help or a companion, I’m here.”
“I wouldn’t be disturbing you? Or distracting you from your—”
“How many times have I asked you to marry me just today? I want your kind of distraction, babe.”
I giggled, blaming the wine. “God, you’re funny.”
He grinned. “I’m serious. I’ll keep saying it until you believe me.”
“Oh yeah?” I teased, raising an eyebrow. “And I’m supposed to take you seriously?”
His eyes softened, and suddenly, I felt a rush of nerves. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m trying hard not to just propose outright. I’ll never push you into anything you don’t want.” He smirked, eyes twinkling. “But I will keep hinting as much as I can.”
“Why do you want to marry me?” I asked, heart thudding.
He took a deep breath, his expression turning thoughtful. “One reason at a time, as they come. Aside from the fact that we’re explosive in bed,” he added with a mischievous grin.
I slapped his chest lightly, and he retaliated with a peck on my lips. He was just so sweet.
“This,” he said, gesturing around the room. “This moment. I’ve never done anything like this with anyone else. I never trusted anyone enough to just be here, not worrying about time or work. Just us, in the moment. I love what you bring out in me, and I want more.”
I stared at him, my heart climbing into my throat. I took a long sip of my wine as he watched, eyes tender and amused, knowing he’d scored a point.
“O-Okay,” I said, struggling to come up with anything more. An argument might have been better, but I was at a loss. How could I argue when I felt everything he said, and more? When he’d started with ‘I love…,’ I thought he was going to say he loved me.
I’m going to die, I thought, my mind racing.
Outwardly, I just smiled at him sweetly.