The title of this chapter is going to be the title of the mini sequel that I'm planning to make, 10 chapters tops. I've done 3 so far, but I still don't know. LOL. Anyway, I figured these two need to have more intimate interactions since they're engaged (even though they're studying in different universities in totally different countries).

Since this is like the 49th chapter already, I decided that the 50th chapter will either announce the link to the mini light-hearted sequel, or it will mark the end of this story aka no more bonuses/sequels/whatsoever. Thanks for all the support. Merry Christmas! Enjoy :)

 

  I retire to our quarters quite late, still brooding over that stupid guy's advances on Sojin. My Sojin. My fiancée. Add to that the open encouragement of my grandparents and they shouldn't be surprised if I'm gonna break ties with the entire clan before this vacation even ends.   I sigh, plopping down the all too wide water bed. It isn't until the silence grows deafening that I notice Sojin isn't here yet. I clamber out of bed and peek over the study lounge. Empty. Maybe she's still out with my younger cousins? She seems genuinely fond of them.   The clock suddenly chimes twelve. It's already midnight? There is no doubt Sojin can pull off an all-nighter. With my cousins though, it's an entirely different story. They can't even last beyond ten o'clock. So where is she? No, she can't be with that bastard. Sojin isn't that careless. There's not a single molecule of indecency in her system.   I haul out my phone from the back pocket of my jeans and swipe on the speed dial. That same instant the bedside table starts vibrating. I yank open the drawer and there sits Sojin's phone. My tongue clucks as I toss mine beside hers and push back the drawer.   Aw, man. This is the first time I've entered our room with an absentee Sojin, and along with this realization is a tiny hollow gaping in my chest. It might be too melodramatic to imagine now but I'm pretty sure I'll have a hard time adjusting to her absence again when she's gone.   In the meantime, I've decided to stay awake and wait for her. I flick off the lights and slide open the shoji—as what Sojin usually calls it despite the term being Japanese and this compound being Chinese. This entrance opens to the outer perimeter of the siheyuan, overlooking the animated metropolitan. The lively city lights below are barricaded by clusters of bamboo trees, but the skies above, with countless specks of stars scattered around a full moon, hang unobstructed.   I step out of the carpeted room and into the varnished floor, into the moonlit darkness. There is no breeze, but the air is crisp and cool. Bugs and crickets whizz quietly in the background. Already, I can imagine Sojin basking in the glory of all this nature.   Where is she? I want her to hurry up and be here already.   "Hello, Luhan."   The voice nearly knocks me off balance. I turn towards my left. Sojin is sitting by the edge, her feet dangling over the elevated floor. Underneath the white cardigan I wrapped around her at the airport a few days ago is a dark garment, matching with black shorts that seem shorter than usual. I immediately look away before my eyes can linger on her flawless legs.   So she was here all this time? Did she return as soon as dinner was over? I'm suddenly wondering what she thinks of me now after I walked out on everyone else earlier. She remained calm under the advances of that guest, but she most certainly didn't follow me out either. Though judging by the tranquility around her now, I believe she's forgotten all about everybody's impertinence, mine included.   "Hi, Sojin."   Truth be told, I didn't expect to see her sitting out here at midnight. She must have finished studying early. After all, it's exams for her once she returns to university next week. Or is she being irresponsible for once? When I come to think of it, I don't reckon I've seen her open any of her books in her library of a tablet ever since I fetched her from her dormitory. And if I remember correctly, all she ever did in the plane and in the train was watch this action sort of anime series.   "What are you doing just standing there, Luhan?" She pats the varnished wood beside her. "Come and sit wih me."   Despite my distant attitude, she's still being open. And I'm being horribly shy. What the hell is wrong with me? I'm hoping Sojin doesn't notice, but when I settle at least five feet away from her, of course she catches on.   "Why are you sitting so far away?"   Damn, she's so adorable. If she keeps this up, I don't think I can control myself any longer. She knows me too well to believe that this setup is actually torture for me. She even told me she'd cooperate. And yet here she is, being so... irresistible.   "I'm sorry if this is very difficult for you, Luhan."   Instantly, I search her face under the moonlight. "What?" She doesn't look affronted but this is Sojin we're talking about, pretty much the cleverest girl when it comes to concealing her emotions. How can I even afford to trouble her like this? "There's nothing to apologize for, Sojin. It's not your fault I'm hopelessly attracted to you."   She chuckles quietly. "Are you, really?"   "So it isn't too obvious?"   "Not exactly," she says, gawking up at the starry sky. Her eyes are droopy, but I don't think she's tired. Or am I misreading her again? "You've been plenty avoiding me this whole time, too," she says with a wry smile. "I'm sorry."   When she finally looks at me, I can see she's had it rough the past few days as well. And I'm too stupid to realize it just now. I've been so immersed trying to put some distance between us that I completely ignored how it must have affected her. No matter how pure my intentions are, it will never excuse my behavior towards her.   The unmasked sadness in her demeanor somehow gives me strength—to clarify myself, something I should have done way earlier had I mustered up the courage to admit to her my weakness, which is presently our proximity. Knowing this girl, I'm sure she's gone out of her way to stretch her patience and understanding. Even so, in my lousy attempt to avoid hurting her, I ended up hurting her instead. What a total wimp.   "Don't be sorry, Sojin," I say, my voice firmer than I would have imagined. "I... I always want to touch you that's why I'm trying to keep my distance. It doesn't help at all that we've been thrown into one room this... entire time... Sojin?"   There's a look in her face that I've never witnessed before. It's so raw and innocent and honest that for a second I'm thinking she's going to pass out. Did I say anything weird or offensive? Did I just freakin deliver the final blow?   "T-touch me...?" Her words are forced.   And then it strikes me. "Ah! No. Uh, no, Sojin, you've got it wrong." Ah, hell, what am I saying? "Sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I mean, not that I don't want to either—but of course not now when we're still studying and very much unmarried." This is totally not going well. "What I'm saying is..." I hold my tongue and take a deep breath. I let my lids roll down and empty my mind. I have to get the right words across. I owe Sojin this much, especially when I must have been unnecessarily hurting her.   "Sojin," I begin,