Joong
"Nine? How long have you been waiting in here?", I came in with a surprise to see Nine sitting on the edge of the table. His feet dangled cutely, and there's a smile on his face. I was back from having lunch with one of the business partner.
"Not long, I knew that you must be on the way back when you asked if I would like anything from the place, so, estimating from that time, I waited in here". I moved closer and put my hands on both sides of him on the table; to cage him, playfully. Nine didn't budge or look nervous, instead he just pressed his lips to not laugh at me.
"Don't you find this scandalous, you, waiting inside the boss room, sitting on the table liked this while playing innocent, but look inviting nonetheless?", I said with a deliberately lowered voice. Nine couldn't help it anymore, and laughed, while cupping my cheeks with his palms. He then moved to kiss my lips, causing me to inhale sharply.
"Joong, you're trying to sound sexy, I know, but, sorry, I feel it was funny, instead. The effort is appreciated, though", he said with a smile, "Besides, you reacted easily that I don't even have to try to this extent, just to flirt around", he said, and I pouted. Nine was right, since that night, two months ago when we kissed for the first time, he made good as what he'd said and now was more accepting. But, the opposite happened to me, that everytime when he's the one who's being forward, I immediately turned into a teen with his first crush again, becoming a clumsy, nervous wreck.
"So, err..is this about work...or what?", I asked, stuttering, as he slowly laced his fingers behind my nape and caressing the side of my neck lightly with his thumbs. I moved my hands too, to hold his waist gently.
"No, not about work. It's something that I want to ask you, personally".
"About what?"
"A date", he said it so clearly, that my hands that held his waist, clenched unexpectedly. Is this his way of saying that we could move a step ahead?.
Though I was a little confuse, this was an opportunity that was not easy to come by, "Alright. Have you any plan, already, or is this just an open invitation?"
"This weekend, let's go for a short vacation. Two of us, at the beach, I'll arrange for everything", he smiled, kissed my jaw, jumped down from the table and walked out.
What had just happened?. We haven't even gone to a simple date, and now progressing rapidly, to vacationing together?. My heart was about to burst with happiness. And, he looked so determine too. I was feeling a bit anxious about this, but also, I had lost six years with Nine, he might have changed along those years.
For one thing, I realized, he was being more forward with his action and honest with his feelings. I didn't have to guess or wonder at all. I shook my head, as I sat on my seat, looking at the calendar and marked the date; four more days. I'd be a nervous wreck again, waiting till that day. Damn Nine! He knew what he'd just put me into, yet not feeling a bit sorry, about it too.
Nine
"Dad, could I ask you something?", I slowly approached my father who was reading a book, while sipping coffee, sitting at our home garden. My mother who accompanied him, went back in just now, to prepare for dinner. The opportunity of being able to talk alone with my father, without the family members around, was now.
"Yes, Nine, go on...", my father put down his book on the table to focus on me. This was his habit, listening intently whenever the children got something to talk about, regardless of how small the issue is.
"The loan that we owed Joong's father, was from two years ago, right? So, in another five years, everything should be paid back as scheduled?"
