Contracted Roses

I was late.

The room was shrouded in darkness, enveloping us in an air of mystery. "It's so dark, Chen... What's going to happen?" I asked, a hint of anticipation in my voice.

"Get ready... 3... 2... 1..." Chen's voice echoed, followed by a click as he switched on the lights.

As the room illuminated, my eyes widened in surprise. Before me stood a massive drawing, and to my astonishment, it was a portrait of... me. "That's me?" I exclaimed, turning to Chen for confirmation.

He nodded with a smile. "Yes, I drew it the first day I saw you. There wasn't a special reason; I just felt compelled to capture your essence."

I was taken aback, touched by the unexpected gesture. Despite the initial shock, I found myself admiring the artwork's intricacy and the way Chen had portrayed me.

In the days that followed, Chen and I grew closer, sharing moments of laughter and deep conversations. We explored our common interests, discovering new facets of each other's personalities.

One evening, we dined together under the stars, lost in animated discussions until the late hours. Time seemed to slip away unnoticed, and soon it was nearing midnight.

With reluctance, Chen escorted me home. Stepping into the familiar surroundings of my house, I was greeted by Aunt Su, her expression a mix of concern and excitement. "Lance is waiting for you upstairs, in the bedroom," she informed me hurriedly.

My mind raced with thoughts. "Oops, I think it's my last day of peace," I joked internally, knowing Lance's penchant for punctuality. As I climbed the stairs, I pondered how to broach the conversation with Lance, unsure whether to start with the events of the day or the reason for my delayed return.

I hurried upstairs to the bedroom, finding Lance seated on the bed, his expression stormy as he faced the door. The tension in the air was palpable, signaling his deep displeasure.

As I tentatively stepped inside, Lance's voice thundered, "STOP RIGHT THERE! Do you have any idea what time it is? HUH? Where on earth did you disappear to? And I must say, seeing Chen drop you off was quite the surprise. AREN'T YOU GOING TO EXPLAIN?!"

(My Mind Oh no, he saw Chen. Will he misunderstand? I spent so much time with Chen today.)

Uncertain of the time, I glanced at my watch—it read 11:45 pm.

(My Mind I must have lost track of time with Chen.)

"Hehe... time does fly, doesn't it? I honestly didn't realize it was already 11:45 pm. I went to your office early this morning, couldn't find you, and waited for over five hours. On my way back, I bumped into Chen, and we ended up at his exhibition. Since we're friends, I couldn't refuse his company, and he kindly dropped me off because it got dark. I apologize," I explained, trying to diffuse the tension slowly.

"You're explaining after knowing you were in the wrong. There won't be a next time. Why were you at my office?" Lance demanded.

"I needed to talk to you... but," I began.

"What's on your mind? Just spit it out," he insisted.

"It's about last night... I was scared, and I'm truly sorry. You see, we're just a contracted couple. What happens when our contract ends? What if I develop feelings for you? I acted poorly last night, but please forgive me. Don't be angry," I pleaded, on the verge of tears.

"I think I understand... But go shower first. I don't want to smell another man's cologne on you. Hurry up," Lance ordered, his logic leaving me bewildered.

(My Mind What kind of reasoning is that? How could I possibly smell like another man? Ugh...)

_ROSE_...