Chapter 25 - A Change?

I am finally content with life.

I felt like I could do anything right now.

I felt powerful, like I can accomplish anything.

I woke up dreamless but rested enough that I didn't feel exhaustion dragging me down to sleep again. I feel good, elated and I got ready for the day with a skip in my step.

I arrived at my office with a smile on my face, attracting the attention of the staff who noticed the difference in my gait almost immediately. It's like they're wired to my every mood. Sebastian knew something was up as he brought in my favourite coffee and biscuits after I sat down.

"Did something good happen during the weekend, boss?" he asked curiously.

"Yes."

"What is it?" he asked quickly. "Is it a cause for celebration?"

"... I don't think so."

"Hmm? But what happened?"

"The little one is mine."

My assistant rolled his eyes at me. "We know that he's already yours, boss!" he exclaimed. "But why does it mean-"

I raised my eyebrows at him, giving him a pointed look as I waited for him to catch up.

"What!?" he cried out in surprise. "He did not?! What! He did?!"

"He did."

"This is a cause for celebration!!"

"Seb-"

"Yes it is! You've waited long enough," he interrupted excitedly. "I'll plan for one. Please? Please? Please boss?"

"No!" I exclaimed. "Absolutely not!"

"But why-"

"Sebastian."

He lets out a sigh. "Okay," he relented. "I'll bring in the reports that needed a look through."

"Thank you."

.

"Boss, Takeuchi-san is here to speak with you."

"Bring him in."

"Okay."

A timid knock and then the glass door swung open, a pair of restless footsteps entered the quiet office before he stopped himself a respectable distance away from me. I didn't look up, merely continued what I was doing while I waited for him to speak.

"Good morning boss," he started speaking. "About the other night, I didn't know that you and Taeyeon were friends and I didn't know that my arrival was unexpected. What she told me was that she had informed everyone that I was coming. So I am here to apologise for my rude behaviour."

"How do you even know her, Takeuchi?"

"...Online."

"Hmm."

"Are you … are you mad?" he asked hesitatingly. "You wouldn't … rescind our contract with your company right?"

"I'm not that petty, child."

"I'm glad to hear that, boss."

"What are you planning to do with her?" I asked as I finally looked up at him. "Am I going to see your ugly mug in future events, Takeuchi?"

"I plan to, boss."

I let out a sigh of disappointment.

"That was unneeded, boss," he complained. "I make a good boyfriend, okay?"

"That's nice to hear," I replied flatly.

"By the way, how do you know Taeyeon, boss?" he asked.

"Why?"

"I'm curious."

"I'm in a long term relationship with her son," I answered. "And we used to be neighbours."

"Oh."

"So we'll be in-laws if you were to marry that insane woman, and that knowledge disgusts me to no end," I said flatly.

He let out an uncomfortable laugh as he scratched his head. "In-laws huh?" he echoed blankly.

"Let's continue working together, yeah?" I said. "I'll see you whenever, Takeuchi."

He bowed deeply. "Yes, boss!"

I tried hard not to sigh again. Why do I have to deal with this idiot? Why did Taeyeon choose him out of all the other potential men? I could feel a headache coming in soon.

"Settle the finances with Sebastian, he's waiting for you outside."

"Okay!"

.

Later in the afternoon -

I drummed my fingers on the tabletop as I read, my eyes gliding across the pages swiftly as I fed myself with the fantasy universe that the author had built. I was engrossed with the story - marveled at how deft the author was able to create such an amazing world.

Letting out a soft sigh as I adjusted my seating position on the padded seat - submerging my senses onto the mysteries of the universe. My dead heart sparkled with curiosity as I travelled through the fiction world, freely deluging my thirst for more. Perhaps, I should proceed with patience to make the story last longer, and I knew I ought to take a break.

To bring the world to a pause, I placed the bookmark in between the pages and closed the book shut firmly - flipping the book face down so I wouldn't see the cover as if to hide it from myself. To stop myself from grabbing the book again, I averted my eyes and crossed my arms in front of my chest, shifting my focus to the window on my right.

"Excuse me, miss?" a sultry, breathy voice appeared on my left.

I turned towards my waiter, who widened his smile as I finally laid eyes on him. He had been watching me for the past half hour or so, biding his time to have a conversation with me as I read. With sea-green eyes devoid of any emotion, I watched as he gave my body a lecherous scan.

"Care for more coffee, miss?"

"No, thank you," I replied. "This is enough for me. Any more and I will probably get scolded."

He laughs, amused at my attempt at a joke. "Oh, I don't think you'd be scolded, miss," he replied sweetly. "Would you like to order anything else instead? Another drink perhaps?"

It was getting tiresome. "I'd probably be ordering more later," I replied as sweetly. "I'm waiting for someone."

A forced laugh left his throat. "Oh? A friend perhaps?" he asked curiously.

I looked up at him, noting his strong gaze on me. I gave him the barest of a smile. He's trying hard. "Do you think Baekhyun is free right now?" I wondered aloud as I took out my mobile phone and started scrolling through the contacts page to find his name.

"I'm sorry?"

"Baekhyun -"

"Alice, don't be mean," chided Jiminie as he slid onto the opposite seat just in time and turned towards the waiter sweetly. "Can I have the menu please? Thank you."

The waiter's face was changed into a terrified expression as he realises which Baekhyun I was referring to. He fetches the menu to Jiminie quickly, and scurried away almost immediately. I could feel Jiminie's eyes on me so I looked up to see him giving me a knowing look.

"I didn't do anything," I said.

"You were about to call their CEO," he said.

"No, I wasn't," I said.

"Then who is Baekhyun?"

".... their CEO."

He chuckled. "You don't have to do that, baby."

My eyes went round with surprise. He … he … what did he call me? Jiminie burst into peals of laughter as soon he saw my surprised expression and held my hand, rubbing a thumb along my wrist - igniting flames down my skin.

"I'll buy the chain store and show him not to flirt around with customers," I said. "Just once?"

"Or we can do something else," he decided.

"Like what?"

"Get him fired."

"Baby, you're even more vicious than me."

"Ain't allowing anyone to go their way with you," he replied softly. "I'll speak to his Manager."

I stared at him, eyeing his facial expressions and wondered when he had gotten so protective of me. He gave me a smile and patted my hand before he left the table. I watched him walk - eyeing his back and legs before I dragged them back to the table before me.

Oh right, I can look at him as much as I want now. He's my boyfriend - that word felt and seemed alien to me. I've been watching him grow all his life, falling in love was second nature. I didn't think I'd fall for him either, if I was being truthful to myself. I had been thinking of him as my little one for a long time that somehow it has morphed into something different.

It's a good difference but it alarms me somewhat.

Taking the next step at the heat of the moment was not a good step, Alice.

What are you going to do now? The boy loves you now, and you gotta have to face it now. You can't run away like you've been doing for the past twenty years or so. It's inevitable, your coddling and your affections has gotten him to fall in love with you.

Technically it's your fault, Alice.

I was taken aback at my own thoughts.

Was I?

.

"So, everything is different now, huh?"

"What do you mean, bub?"

"Between you and me," he replied as he looked thoughtfully ahead. "Our relationship is different now. We're at the next stage. The stage that I've been meaning to step onto ever since middle school."

"What do you mean since middle school?"

"Did you think I'd give you my second button for fun, baby?" he asked softly as he grabbed my waist and pulled me in to him, his eyes smouldering as he stared down at me with malicious intent. "I knew I wanted to make you mine since I was a child."

Wait, this is new information!

I could feel his arm squeezing me to him. If my dead heart could beat once more, it would be galloping a mile a minute similar to what his heart is doing right now. Despite his intense look, his heart was not the same.

"I was expecting it to disappear after you hit high school," I confessed. "Jaemin and I had a feeling your feelings for me were temporary, but we weren't expecting it to bloom after that."

"I'm surprised you didn't take it seriously."

He was appraising me closely, with rapt attention as if he was looking at me through rose-coloured eyes. I could see his pupils dilating the further he stared at me.

"Jiminie."

"Hmm?"

"What do you mean love me freely?" I asked in confusion. "You …. what have you been hiding?"

He gave me a smile as he tucked my hair behind my ear, while he brought his face close to mine - his lips ghosting across my skin. I didn't move as I waited, hearing him take a shuddering breath and he pressed his cheek against my temple.

"You're mine now and that's what matters."

"No! Explain yourself."

He took a step back to appraise me once more, his hands on my arms as we looked at the other. Why was he taking his time? Why was he stalling? I wanted to know what he meant.

"Jiminie-"

"I have loved you ever since then," he interrupted quietly. "I just couldn't figure out if it was love for a parental figure or the kind of love that's bound to disappear but I knew I loved you. Ever since I knew what words are, and what it means, I wanted to marry you."

The words got stuck in my throat.

"I didn't grow up with a proper parental love," he continued on. "Mum was not always around and Dad left when I was young so all I had were you and Jaemin. You two were… immortals. Thanks to that, I got a skewed version of love and one of my friends suggested going to therapy to me."

"I took the time to figure them out," he explained slowly. "I wanted it to be right. I wanted my feelings to be correct so I went to therapy and had it figured out. I didn't tell anyone because I wanted to be certain of it. Though I'm glad you didn't take advantage of me, I could understand the difference between what I was feeling then and now."

I took his hands in mine and looked at our hands intertwined before I looked up at him again. Gone we're the bright inquisitive eyes who look at me with sparkles in them. Gone were the innocence in his eyes. He is an adult now, they're staring down at me with knowledge of the world and the warmth in his heart.

"I'm glad you did that to protect yourself, Jiminie," I said quietly. "But I wish you'd let me know what you were going through, so at least I know you won't be alone."

He nods.

"I love you, Jiminie."

"Alright come here-"

He tugged me forwards, grabbed my waist and hoisted me up to him so we were eye level - my legs wrapped around his waist as he supported my thighs. He gave me a soft smile and I mimicked him, simply happy that he was happy.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked.

"Yes."

.