❝chapter16;

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                                   "Did someone just admit that I look good tonight?"

 

Ji Ae woke up the next morning from a soft groan beside her, before she blinked her eyes opened. Turning to her right, her eyes laid on none other than Kim Jongin who was just an inch away from her. His warm arm was s around her shoulders as he held her in his embrace.

 

 

Oh my god, she panicked all of a sudden. What was she thinking! Allowing herself to be sleeping right beside him? She must have been crazy last night! Thank god nothing else happened.

 

 

She watched as Kai’s chest slowly heaved up and down as he stirred in his sleep, and couldn’t help but blush slightly seeing him like this again, laying this close to him surely reminded her of old times.

 

 

“Morning.” Kai mumbled as he looked up at her with a smile, but Ji Ae could see that he was feeling miserable due to his hangover.

 

 

“M-Morning.” She blinked, nervously greeting him.

 

 

“How did we end up in this position?” Kai asked with a light chuckle, his eyes still fixed on her. Inside of him was doing thousands of happy dances, this was such an improvement. He obviously was enjoying her company, despite not being able to recall the events from last night. All he remembered was holding her to sleep.

 

 

“It’s all your fault.” She nudged him lightly, trying to struggle out of his arms quickly, “Why did you go drinking last night?”

 

 

Oh right. Drinks, tie, Lay. He suddenly recalled everything. Tightening his grasp around her waist, Kai raised her chin with his fingers so that she was looking him in the eye, “Did anything happen last night?”

 

 

Shaking her head almost immediately, Ji Ae tried to get out of bed but he pulled her back down next to him. “My head seriously hurts. Stay here with me?” He pleaded with a small pout forming.

 

 

“Serve you right for drinking so damn much last night.” She scolded before pushing his hands away from her waist, “Let go, I’ll get water for you.”

 

 

“But I feel much better when you sleep next to me.” Kai continued, looking at her eagerly. He didn’t care about his splitting headache right now, so long as Ji Ae was willing to spend a few more minutes lying next to him, he would be more than contented.

 

 

“Stop talking nonsense, Jongin.” She got up and passed him a glass of water, “Drink more. Tell me if you still don’t feel better. I’ll go get medicine for you.”

 

 

Staring at her intently as he took big gulps, Kai couldn’t help but smile. Ji Ae was starting to show more concern towards him! This was definitely going well. Despite her cold tone and attitude towards him, he knows that deep down, she still cares for him, and that’s all that matters.

 

 

“You do recall that we have the company party tonight right?” She questioned, “You better not drink at all, okay?”

 

 

A smirk formed on Kai’s lips as he leaned closer to her wriggling his brows, “Aw, is someone worried for me?”

 

 

Rolling her eyes, Ji Ae sighed at the man who still manages to act cocky despite his hangover, “Yeah right. I just don’t want to be bothered having to take care of you again.”

 

Kai felt on cloud 9 that entire night. And he clearly counted his lucky stars. For Ji Ae had worn a deep red velvet dress with a long slit down the side of her leg. She looked beyond beautiful with that dress, her hair in soft curls, and her light makeup complimented her look so perfectly. How in the world did she look like a mother of a 4 year old, again?

 

 

The both of them were now at the company dinner organised by Chairman Lee. It was held at a big mansion, with a big garden that was decorated beautiful with fairy lights at the backyard. It had taken Kai much effort to decide if they should have really stepped into the party, because the moment they did, almost all of them men in the room had their beady eyes on his girl. Well, his ‘soon-to-be’ girl.

 

 

They all looked like ferocious hungry predators ready to pounce on Ji Ae, and he hated it. That was one problem with bringing her to events like this, like in the past too. On one hand, he feels beyond proud to be able to show off his beautiful girlfriend to everyone. But on the other hand, the bigger problem was that, guys would always have their eyes roaming up and down her body, or try to hit on her.

 

 

“Hey Miss, are you alone tonight? What about have some drinks with me?”

 

 

“Miss, you look drop dead gorgeous. What about we hang out together after this party?”

 

 

“You look stunning from head to toe, pretty lady. Can I have your number?”

 

 

“Why don’t you have mine instead?” Kai snapped at the latter who tried to hit on Ji Ae, before he grabbed her hands in his and dragged her away.

 

 

“You were just out of my sight for 5 minutes and this is what happened.” He complained before sitting her down at the dinner table where Chairman Lee would be making a speech, “Seems like you have to glue yourself to me this whole night. I’m not going to let you leave my side again.”

 

 

“Stop exaggerating, Jongin. Nothing will happen anyway. It’s not as though I wouldn’t know how to handle them.” Ji Ae shook her head lightly. He was still the same as before, overprotective as ever.

 

 

“What?” Kai challenged as he raised his brow, “You’re gonna flash them your beautiful smile and shrug them off? I swear, Ji Ae. They will just eat you alive.”

 

 

“Stop it.”

 

 

Seeing that other guys still had their eyes roaming over Ji Ae’s bare shoulders and back, he immediately took off his suit jacket, placing it over her shoulders.

 

 

“What are you doing? I’m not feeling cold.” Ji Ae muttered, going to remove it to return it to him, but was stopped.

 

 

“Keep it on. And next time, don’t wear dresses that exposes so much.”

 

---

 

“Want to dance?” Kai turned his gaze to Ji Ae standing beside him. The party was almost till the end and the segment on-going was the dance, and couples were all dancing along to the music.

 

 

Ji Ae took a small sip of her wine before replying, “No. You know I can’t dance.”

 

 

“Who are you kidding? I have seen you dance many times before, you always look amazing.” Kai stated as a matter of factly. It was one of his favourite things to do - Dancing with Ji Ae. Even thought she would be clumsy sometimes and step on his toes, he would always find it adorable of her. He thinks she looks exceptionally stunning whenever she slow dances with him.

 

 

“No! Especially not in front of all these people.” Ji Ae scanned the surrounding, they all looked so professional in dancing.

 

 

“Okay then.” Kai smiled before taking her hand in his and guiding her to the garden in the backyard. There was hardly anyone left there since majority of the guests had made their way to the dance floor in the big room, “It’s really romantic here right? Way better than the dance floor.”

 

 

Hell yeah, it was really romantic. A perfect place for couples to be at. “Why did you bring me here?” She eyed him curiously.

 

 

“I figured you want us to dance in a place where we can be alone. So here we are.” Kai smiled before extending his hand out to her, “May I have this dance, Ms Park?”

 

 

Ji Ae looked at him again, contemplating. Those eyes of him were so captivating, and she scolded herself for being taken in so easily. Kai was looking so god damn handsome tonight in his black suit, which woman would bear to reject a dance offer from this man? Her heart says yes, her head says no.

 

 

“Come on, it’ll be really embarrassing if you reject me, you know?” Kai rubbed the back of his neck shyly, making Ji Ae chuckle lightly at his action.

 

 

“Okay. But just one dance, okay?”

 

 

“My pleasure.” He smiled like an idiot, before interlocking his fingers with hers.

 

 

Taking a deep breath, Ji Ae felt the warmth of his fingertips on her palm, and his other hand on her waist. She stiffened slightly upon his touch, and Kai could feel her tensing up.

 

 

“Are you nervous?” He whispered close to her ear, sending chills down her spine, “Don’t be. We’ve done this a million times together before, remember?”

 

 

“Aren’t you afraid I will step on your toes again? I always do, you know.” She replied back shortly.

 

 

“I don’t mind at all.” He smiled back and held her chin gently to meet her eyes with his, “You’re really cute whenever you do that, you know?”

 

 

“You’re ridiculous, Jongin.”

 

 

For a long moment, they both said nothing, only allowing their bodies to sway to the soft music as they enjoyed each other’s close presence. The both of them had smiles on their faces, though Ji Ae tried hiding it occasionally. And Kai realised how much happier he have gotten just by being able to have this one dance with her.

 

 

As soon as the music ceased to a stop, Ji Ae’s body was closely pressed against Kai’s, their faces just an inch away from one another. He stared at her pink lips which looked so damn tempting. How he missed this so much. He wished he could just lean a little bit closer to claim those lips once again. He missed her touch way too much. Ji Ae on the other hand, also did not dare move an inch. She swore that Kai could feel her soft breathing against his cheek. She froze on the spot, not daring to move at all. Slowly, she closed her eyes gently as she watched as his face leaned closer.. and closer to hers… until..

 

 

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but please take shelter in the house right now. The lightning alert has rang, seems like there will be a heavy rain coming soon.” A waiter interrupted their moment, oblivious to the glare Kai was sending him.

 

 

“O-Oh yes, okay. Thank you very much.” Ji Ae hurriedly replied, pulling away from Kai, her cheeks blushing profusely.

 

---

 

“You really don’t have to do this, Jongin. I’m heavy, you know.”

 

 

“You ate a lot at the party huh?” Kai joked teasingly, earning a slap on his back from her. He continued walking up the steep roads back to their resort, while Ji Ae was holding the umbrella sheltering the both of them from the heavy downpour. He didn’t want her to walk all the way back in heels, because he remembered that in the past, it would always kill her feet whenever she has to walk long hours in them, and he knew how much she hated it. Thus, he was more than willing to offer a piggyback ride.

 

 

“Isn’t this nice?” He muttered softly, not even minding the raindrops, which were hitting against him despite Ji Ae sheltering him.

 

 

“Walking in the heavy rain home like this? Not really.” She let out a small laugh, watching as Kai kept trying to avoid puddles of water, “Please be careful.”

 

 

“Yes, my lady.” Kai answered with a smile, before he playfully leaped forward, pretending to fall as he lightly loosened his grip on her all of a sudden.

 

 

“Yah Kim Jongin!” Ji Ae squealed immediately, tightening her grip on him and hugging him closer, while he just kept chuckling at her actions. This man! Her heart literally almost dropped. “This isn’t a joke! Don’t ever do it again.”

 

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll never let you fall.” He simply replied back with a mischievous grin, “Except.. You can always fall.. for me.”

 

 

Ji Ae almost choked hearing his statement. Rolling her eyes at his pun, she mentally facepalmed herself and groaned lowly, “That was really lame, Jongin.”

 

 

“You can’t lie that we did enjoy each other’s company tonight.” His lips curled into a smile, “And you look really beautiful tonight, Ji Ae.”

 

 

Ji Ae froze. Eeeeeek. Her heart was wavering once again just hearing those words slip out of Kim Jongin’s mouth. Ugh, why did he have these kind of effect on her? Get a grip, Park Ji Ae!

 

 

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you being shy again?” He once again.

 

 

“S-Shut up.”

 

 

“I know when you turn shy, you know? You don’t have to hide it from me.” Kai cooed and laughed softly before he continued, “What about me? Do you think I look good tonight?”

 

 

“Mhm Hmm.” She hummed softly under her breath without thinking twice. Crap. Why was she thinking out loud!

 

 

“What’s that?” He daringly, and shamelessly questioned, despite already hearing her answer. A smirk crept onto his lips, “I didn’t hear you, the rain is too loud.”

 

 

“I.. I said nothing!”

 

 

“Did someone just admit that I look good tonight?”

 

 

“Did not!”

 

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a/n; hey loves! hope this story is meeting your expectations so far <3 i apologize for any sort of grammar mistakesss ;_; if you're liking the small interactions between ji ae and kai, please show this story some love and hit the 'upvote' button heh :>

really appreciate all of you reading my fic <3

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