EIGHTEEN

Yonghwa stood in front of a sketch of a woman’s back framed on the wall of her living room. She was sitting on the edge of a chaise lounge— one hand stretched on her side, her dainty fingers almost touching a fabric on the seat and another was probably resting on her lap concealed from the picture. Her soft wavy hair was loosely tied by a ribbon that some strands fell on the side of her head. She was facing an open window looking out to the world in front of her.

“Is this you?” He found himself saying almost in a whisper and Seohyun answered from the kitchen saying it wasn’t. The more he looked at it though, the more he believed it was her. Despite the , it gave off a very refined sensuality that Yonghwa thought it should belong on a bedroom wall not in the living room. Then again, considering the owner of this house, he thought that Seohyun is not really the type to invite male guests to her private place. With this realization, he felt this sense of pride to be standing here and looking at this work of art.

It reminded him of that day he ambushed Seohyun on her jeans photoshoot. Without her knowing, he registered that scene in his mind and seeing this now brought back the memory of that day. “This is really good…” His fingers traced the lines of the body of the woman and swallowed hard withdrawing his hand. He felt like a ert.

Shaking his head, he opted to slide the large glass door on his right to find a hidden veranda with potted greens, a wooden lounge chair in the center and a small side table with a magazine rack. Yonghwa noticed the stylish wooden furniture all around the house but everything mostly comes in singles. On the far end of the veranda, there was another smaller glass door and he assumed that it led to her bedroom. He was about to take a quick peek when he heard a loud crash from the kitchen so he rushed to check on her.

“What happened?” Yonghwa said the moment he reached the kitchen only to find Seohyun standing in front of the island counter sink staring blindly at what seemed to be their dinner.

“Nothing,” Seohyun turned away holding on to the counter.

He moved behind her, “Are you hurt?”

“Go away.”

“Not gonna happen and you know that,” he smiled helplessly to himself. This one had him on a leash and no matter how many times she would tell him to go away, he won’t be able to move. Now, as he was standing an inch away from her, he couldn’t help but remember the woman on her wall. Yonghwa sighed as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Bending over, he whispered by her nape, “Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

Suddenly, Seohyun pivoted and pushed him on the process, “I said nothing! Leave me alone!”

He saw it—the pain and confusion in Seohyun's eyes. Gently, Yonghwa took her hand without saying anything and when she maintained her bowed head, he hooked his fingers under chin. The moment their gazes met, Yonghwa gave her a patronizing smile as he brushed the slow flow of tears on her cheeks with his thumb, “Seohyuna, there is something wrong. Please tell me, baby. I’m listening.”

Seohyun sniffed then muttered, “Everything is wrong… I-I’m so messed up I can’t even understand myself anymore....”

“Just because you can’t make a proper cream spaghetti?” He wiped off his grin when she remained glaring at him after that little joke. Then his attention transferred from the glimmer of tears on her eyes to her parted lips. Acting by mere instinct, Yonghwa mapped the edges of her lips by his fingertips. He could see the way her breathing hitched and that tiny movement on . “You know what? You’re such a contradiction personified.”

“A what?”

She snapped moving her head slightly to avoid his finger but Yonghwa continued with a deep voice, “You push and you pull me, haven’t you noticed? You want me and you don’t want me.”

“Where the hell did you hear that?”

“Am I wrong?”

“Damn yes!”

“Which part? The you-don’t-want-me or the you-want-me?”

“Just stop.” Seohyun took one step backwards but her back fell on the edge of the counter so she turned away again. He found the opportunity to imprison her on that position by placing both his hands on the edge of the marbled counter then captured her waist again.

“You're crazy, do you know that? But I like you...” Yonghwa whispered softly after kissing her by the crook of her neck. Slowly, he coaxed her to turn and look at him again then continued while watching her eyes slowly turning hooded, “I really like you, Seo Joohun. I’m a kid around. I crave for your attention. I want you to look at me, to listen to me, to see what I’m doing. I really like you. I want to be near you, to listen to you, to see you smile, to hear your voice, to watch you move. I’m crazy about you. I want to kiss you… I really want to kiss you…”

And he did, as his thumbs brushed her cheeks, he kissed her tenderly, one time and another and another because he couldn’t help it. Yonghwa smiled against her lips, “I can’t stop liking you a lot… I can’t, I like you that much—”

Yonghwa’s words hang in the air as he was being pulled into her and before he knew it, Seohyun crashed her lips into his, demanding and urging to give the same. Her arms dropped on his shoulders and her fingers getting tangled on his hair. The pressure that she was creating hummed in his body that Yonghwa couldn’t help but to carelessly brush his hands along the lines of her body until he reached lower. Hoisting her up on the counter, he frantically pulled her behind letting her grind on him until Seohyun wrapped her legs on his waist that he finally let his hands wander on her front.

Yonghwa groaned when he felt her fingers trembling to undo the buttons of his dress shirt that his hand pressed on her tighter. They were both breathless as the minutes passed that they pulled away simultaneously to catch each of their breathing. Yonghwa watched her breathe through her parted lips that it was making him want her more but she tilted her head away when he was about to take another plunge. With shaky hands, Seohyun placed her palms on each side of his face and brushed a soft kiss on the side of his lips. She sighed as her eyes closed, “I like you too... more than I should. I tried to stop liking you.”

Her words made him draw out a heavy sigh. It must be out of relief, it must be after that consuming kiss or it must be because Seohyun finally admitted to him and most especially to herself what had been there since the first time they held each other’s hand. Yonghwa grinned sheepishly as her eyes opened again and focused on him, “Why would you do that? Try to stop liking me…”

“Because you are everything I vowed never to have.” Seohyun bit her bottom lip that was still very much swollen.

“Everything?” One brow raised, he brushed his lips near her ear, “May I know what those are?”

“You’re famous...” Seohyun giggled when he dropped a small kiss on her cheek after she said that.

“And?” Yonghwa maintained his playfully smile while focusing on what she was just revealing.

“Rich.”

He laughed and pecked another kiss on her other cheek, “Okay… what else?”

Seohyun hesitated for a moment then sighed, “Handsome?”

“Thank you, love. You look pretty, yourself,” Yonghwa laughed then kissed the tip of her nose, “Anything else?”

A genuine smile finally curved on her lips as she replied softly, “You make me laugh a lot. And you're too sweet for your own good.”

“So I can make your heart go craz