39.

For the first time in a while, her day starts off with fluttering heart as she feels Jongdae’s delicate fingers grazes on her cheeks, brushing her hair to the back before a pair of his soft pillows peck on her forehead. And the smile she tried to hold back then is now surrendering, creeping across her lips for the man pulls her body closer towards him – feeling the warmth of his bare chest touching her face, his lazy morning grunts echoes in her ears.

Her eyes finally flutter themselves open before tilting head up for a quick look, only for a series of giggles to escape for another kiss is snatched by the man – this time from her lips – as if he has been waiting for her to wake up.

“Did I wake you up?”

The pout on Ga Eul’s lips as she nods rapidly drives him to land one more peck on them – addicted with the lady herself – before pulling the duvet up to the top of their head, earning more childlike titters from her. By each seconds spent together, Jongdae keeps revealing new sides of him that she could not help adoring. He is a lot cheekier and lovelier than she has always knew, and her heart swells for the man.

“Okay then, let’s just sleep some more.”

Under the comfy quilt, her eyes glued on his which are shut closed at the moment – appreciating her morning view that day. Jongdae has a unique cat-like mouth shape that shows even with his resting face, and his lashes are the type that she could only wished to have for herself. It is almost unreal to see this divine beauty up-close, let alone having this man loving a person like her.

“What did I do to deserve you” is the question that keeps bothering Ga Eul from the first time the man approaches her but again and again, she chooses to keep it to herself for it is immature to have that kind of wonder – she supposes.

“Jongdae…?”

Another soft groan comes from him as his face nuzzles on top of her head – as if she could sink any deeper into his hug.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” he asks lazily, running his fingers through her soft locks. “Let’s be like this till sunset comes again. Hm?”

The remarks cracks her up, yet still, her arms finding its way to slip around Jongdae’s waist, giving her man the cuddle he wants for a few more seconds before bursting the bubbles, “But I need to go to work.”

“What? Today is…!” Ga Eul is startled by the man’s act of jerking from the bed, exchanging looks of confusion with each other before the latter breathes, “Oh. I thought today’s Sunday.” Somehow the former could see disappointment clouding right above her boyfriend’s head as he spares a glance, and it amuses her. “Still, it’s Saturday. Do you really have to go? Can’t you skip?”

“The holiday season’s starting soon, sweetie. It’s the busiest period for us, you know that better than me.”

With brows furrowed, she curls a faint smile upon his question. This time the lady gets up from the bed as well, and both of them now are sitting facing each other, legs crossed. Her hands then trails up cupping Jongdae’s cheeks, slightly sorry that she needs to leave.

“It’ll take only half day anyway. I’ll finish up real quick, and be home at noon, so we can grab lunch together. Okay?”

The couple takes a few silent seconds to dive into each other’s eyes – and as soon as the man nods in defeat, Ga Eul wraps the duvet up around her shoulders, dragging it with her she gets her garment that is scattered on the floor – aware of the pair of eyes that has been staring. In that split second, a realization punches through her head, leading heat to crawl against her cheeks and now her heart wishes for the blush to disappear from her face.

“I’m…” her lips pursed upon meeting the imploring gaze, feet steering themselves away, “…going to take a quick shower. And you should wash up too. You need to send me home, you know…”

And so Ga Eul vanishes herself into the bathroom, quickly shuts the door before leaning her back against it. Her palms covering the flushed face as the memory of last night flashes through her head, lips pressing against each other to avoid screaming over it. A cussing war starts against herself as she is dumbfounded by how composed and collected Jongdae is this morning despite last night being his first time – feeling like she is alone suddenly acting so childishly, embarrassed and all.

Little does she knows, the man she is thinking greatly of at the moment is kicking and thrashing himself against the mattress – as he is, too, having just the same thoughts as hers.

Her shoulders drop at the sight of the bed has already been tidied once she stepped out from the bathroom, with the nice scent of something cooking on the stove sweep in through the slightly parted door. And so the lady heads for the kitchen, finding her boyfriend is currently chopping scallions – a sweet smile cut across his lips as he notices her presence.

Ga Eul eyes the bowl of batter just by the cutting board then to the boiling stew on the stove – getting the hang of Jongdae’s menu plan, “Kimchi jjigae and pajeon?”

“Yup. Seafood pajeon, your favourite.”

“Such a hassle in the morning,” she sighs to herself, touched by the man’s considerate act. “You shouldn’t have troubling yourself to cook, really.” She holds out one hand, asking for the knife he is using before taking over the work, “You could’ve just buy me a sandwich later or something. Our office’s pantry still has a lot of food stocks too.”

“But also, you’ll end up getting only a cup of instant coffee. Uh-huh, very convincing.”

Upon his sarcastic remarks, Ga Eul gives the side-eye to the other which then receives his giggles before he ambles towards the stove, lifting the pot’s lid to check the boiling kimchi stew. Jongdae reaches for a ladle, carefully scoops a bit of the broth – another arm stretches, waving the hand as he calls her over for a taste.

As now the lady is standing by her side, his gaze never leaves her – adoring every little moves that she made, even as simple as how she tucks her locks behind the ear before leaning in for the broth in the ladle. “It’s been