Did you kiss me?!

Morning dawned with a promise of sunshine, but fickle nature quickly changed its mind. The light rays gave way to threatening clouds, heralding torrential rain.

In the living room, the atmosphere was imbued with hushed tranquility. Joshua and I were absorbed in our puzzle, while Sheng Xing concentrated on his work, sitting comfortably on the sofa, the glow of his computer faintly illuminating his face.

While his brother Yuan Xie was away today.

The regular ticking of the rain on the windows added a solemn atmosphere to our little bubble of calm. And every piece we put together was a small victory to complete the game.

Moreover, everyone in their own way contributed to a feeling of serenity in the room, whether through Joshua's bursts of laughter, Sheng Xing's seriousness or my own presence.

However the intense rain pounding against the windows was not only a spectacle to me, it was an intrusion into my already dark mood. The icy drops seemed to reflect my own melancholy, amplifying my feeling of sadness.

I hated rainy days. Each drop that hit the ground resonated like an echo of my own inner torment. These gray days seemed to stretch on forever, exacerbating my dark thoughts and fueling my apprehensions.

Tonight I knew a nightmare awaited me. The rain seemed to be an omen, a silent warning of trials to come. I tried to push these thoughts out of my mind, to focus on the present, on the puzzle in my hands, but the persistent rain had already tinged my day with a gloomy and worrying tone.

-Is something bothering you? Sheng Xing suddenly asked me

-It's just the rain that makes me gloomy, I admitted to him, sighing softly.

-You don't like the rain?, he asked me

-Not really, I replied, continuing to assemble my constructions

-I'm going to make you some herbal tea, he said to me, if you want to close the curtains so you don't see the rain, don't hesitate

-Thank you, I replied gratefully, smiling.

-Dad, I want some herbal tea too, asked Joshua, staring at his father

As he prepares the herbal tea, my eyes involuntarily fall on his face, up to his lips.

I quickly look away, praying he doesn't notice. So I decide to close the curtains and turn on the lights to take my mind off things before coming back to Joshua.

He returned about ten minutes later with two herbal teas which he passed to us.

-You can drink it, the water is at the right temperature, Sheng Xing warned us

-Thank you dad, replied Joshua, super happy

Sheng Xing stroked his son's head before returning to sit on the sofa.

-What are you working on?, I asked him curiously

-You will understand soon, he said to me in a mysterious tone.

-You arouse my curiosity, I replied.

He always smiles at me mysteriously without saying anything more.

I see him staring at the time on the clock in surprise before turning to Joshua.

-Joshua, it's time to go take a nap, he said to him.

But the latter immersed in his construction games, as if he were in his own bubble, did not hear him. It was only a few minutes later that he realized that his father was talking to him.

Joshua then nods and gets up to follow his father to his room. Sheng Xing comes back down a few moments later.

-Ruby, do you mind if I ask you to help me sort some documents?, he asked me

-No, I will be happy to help you, I replied, shaking my head.

-Thank you, he said to me

 We went upstairs together.

As I entered his spacious office, he generously offered me a seat in his folding chair, a model that looked very comfortable.

As I settled in, I felt the light brush of my lips against his left cheek. He had leaned a little too close to me while trying to adjust the tilt of the chair.

A moment of surprise froze time. Our eyes met, and an electric tension ran between us. Then, in a burst of embarrassment, he quickly moved away, his ears turning slightly red.

-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…, I stammered, embarrassed by the incident

-No, it's me who was too close to you, sorry, he apologized, also embarrassed.

I assured him it was nothing, trying to cover up my own confusion. But deep inside me, a strange feeling persisted. I wanted more.

And it was at that very moment that I realized that I had never liked Aaron or even Lewis. No, I just like the company he brought me because I was afraid of being alone whereas with Sheng Xing it was a totally different feeling he made me feel.

I felt like I had known him for thousands of years, he understood me so perfectly, he was gentle, kind, so adorable.

-Your cheek is really soft, I whispered, blushing.

-Do you think so?, he asked, staring at me, and I don't even know if your cheek is soft

I took his hand and made him caress my cheek.What was I doing?

With his fingertips he caressed my cheek.

-Okay, now that we're even, I touched your cheek and you touched mine, let's get to work, I said to him, blushing.

He gave a deep laugh before nodding with a smirk.