Rule #33: When you deduce, prepare to come face to face with secrets that people wanted to keep hidden.

BGM: Days and Moon by Elsa Kopf

Learning that the feeling that always burned in Mark's chest when he saw Saera, was actually love, was probably the most drastic thing that he had ever had to adjust to.

And he knew enough to know that he wouldn't feel that way about just anybody.

But he felt that way about her. 

The whole duration of dinner with his mother and sister felt like he was in a trance. When he wasn't talking to his family, his eyes would be on Saera.

However, Mark didn't realize that Saera saw him stare at her when he thought she wasn't looking.

The way his eyes followed her whenever she stood up.

It was almost becoming unbearable because it was making her fall harder for him.

And that was dangerous.

That was very, very dangerous.

She made sure her eyes never strayed to him and just focused on her plate or Mrs. Xiong and Yuan. She couldn't fathom making eye contact because she knew she'd lose her mind if she did.

It made her feel a rush of emotions. It made her feel appreciated, cherish, safe, protected, cared for and most horrifyingly…it made her feel loved.

And that was her worst nightmare.

Or at least one of her worst nightmares.

"So how did you two actually meet? I don't think you've ever talked about it." Mrs. Xiong said as she took a bite.

Saera froze with her fork mid-air before she cleared , "Um…well, we met through his work."

"Yeah, I was working on a case and Saera had called in a tip." Mark said as he leaned back in his char. "She was really helpful, so she came on as a consultant."

Saera kept her head down and played with her food until she felt Mark's arm drape around the back of her chair, like he did at the wedding.

"And then you guys just hit it off?" Yuan asked with a tilt of her head.

Mark turned to look at Saera who had her eyes down and felt himself smile, "It was a crazy ride, but yeah…we got into a groove and I guess we just hit it off."

"It was crazy, wasn't it?" Saera said suddenly, with her own smile.

Mark gently tugged on a strand of her hair, "It is still is."

She looked up at him and felt her heart spin when he smiled at her and quickly looked away, shooting the other two women a small smile before looking back at her food.

Yuan looked at them in awe, "Did you know that you liked each other when you first met?"

Mark and Saera weren't fans of the direct questions about the 'relationship' status between them that he never corrected.

Mark shrugged, "I don't think you ever know when you first meet. That's what I always liked. I could think back to the times when I didn't have feelings for her and see how much our lives changed since then. Changed for the better."

"It shows growth." Mrs. Xiong added, "When you think about that time in between, you see how much you've grown and matured. It's very important."

Saera looked at her, "Important?"

"When you're going to be with someone, most people look for something long term. So when you look back at the time before you fell for each other and see how much has changed, it will help you project what kind of person you'll be in 1,2,5,10 years with them. It helps you see if they will be healthy for you." She said whimsically.

Yuan sat up suddenly, "Mom, you knew Mark when he was single, do you think he changed?"

Mrs. Xiong looked at the 'couple' and smiled, "I think you have. Granted, I didn't know you that well, but you seemed happier. Brighter. I felt like your skin added colour, but maybe it's just because ever since I found out that you knew Saera, you made more of an hang out with me."

Saera laughed uncomfortably and pushed her food around with her fork.

"She managed to my life a little less dull and hopeless." Mark said softly.   

Saera gulped and tried to ignore the ache in her heart, "And he just made me happy."

-----

Mark walked beside Saera as they headed up to their apartment.

It had been a while since he referred to it at his apartment.

"It was good, right? You had fun?" She asked.

He heard the different tone in her voice. Ever since he kissed her, she was acting stiff and cautious around him. It was slowly driving him insane.

He slipped his hands in his pockets, "Yeah, it was. I mean, seeing them made me miss them, but you were right, I'm glad I got to spend some time with them at all."

Saera teasingly knocked her shoulder into his, "See? It's good to trust me. I know what I'm talking about."

He jokingly swung his arm around her neck, pulling her close to his body, "You were right this time. Don't get cocky."

Saera felt her heart melt at his proximity. It made her stomach spin and her heart launch into . She let him walk her to the door before he unwound his arm and dug through his pockets for the keys.

He could tell that she was tired as she leaned against the wall, waiting for him to unlock the door and let them in.

He slid his key in and was about to unlock the door but stopped and turned to her, "Saera?"

Her eyes were closed but she hummed in response, "Hmm?"

She looked so effortlessly stunning that his throat turned dry. He knew that there was something between them and that she felt it too.

And a girl like Saera is a girl that you don't want to lose. "There's something I need to tell you."

She stifled a yawn, "What is it?"

"I-I…I lo-I lo--"

Saera  opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him when he kept stuttering, "Mark?"

"I..I lo-"

Just say it.

What you so goddamn afraid of?

"Never mind." He muttered in disappointment as he unlocked the door to let them both in.

Saera blinked at him in surprise when he slammed the door open and slowly followed him. She set her handbag on the kitchen counter and looked at him, "Are you sure? Is something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing. It's getting late, you should head to bed." He grumbled to her as he opened the fridge.

Saera walked to the bedroom door before looking back at him, "Are you coming?"

"In a bit." He said while pulling out a bottle of water.

Saera nodded and disappeared into the room, leaving Mark to himself.

He cracked open the bottle and took a swig before frowning.

What was he doing?

There was a smart, y, wonderful woman just a few doors down that he was in love with and he wasn't going to do anything about it.

What was he waiting for? Either he was going to make a move or he wasn't going to do anything at all.

And he couldn't imagine just sitting on his hands while someone as amazing as her just waltzed out of his life.

But aside from it all, he never had anyone who made him feel the way he felt about Saera. There was no one who made him feel vulnerable and exposed.

He spent majority of his life not caring about anything outside of work and his family. If a girlfriend wanted to break up, he'd just shrug and move on, he was never bothered by any of it.

But Saera was always different.

And he wasn't someone to shy away from his own feelings and pretend like they didn't exist.

He wasn't a coward.

Mark slammed his water bottle down and stormed to their bedroom before swinging the door open, making Saera yelp and jump while applying cream to her hands.

He panted heavily, even though he only took a few steps, and stared at her, "I didn't plan for this."

Saera looked around incredulously, trying to grasp his sudden outburst, "Plan for what?"

"You. I-I didn't think it would mean anything when I moved into that tiny storage room next to you, but then you started making me baozi because you thought I'd be homesick." He blurted out.

Saera's face had a look of utter perplexity, "Okay…"

"And then when I asked you to move in with me, it was because I didn't want you to be alone after what happened with Mireu. You looked so fragile and broken that it actually hurt me. Still, I didn't think it'd be such a big deal when you asked me to sleep next to you." He breathed as he slammed the door shut behind him.

Saera could only stare as she ran down the events of the night in her mind, wondering what made him tick.

"But then I started to like sleeping next to you. I think I almost started to look forward to you curling up next to me. It made me feel ing human. It made me feel warm, like I had a heart that beat for something other than work."

Saera's heart started to speed up as shivers ran up her arm, "Mark."

"And every tiny, little thing you did made you look so flawless that sometimes I'd just stare at you which is so ing bizarre because I have never lost concentration as quickly as I do when I see you." His whole body looked tense, like his mus