Steps of love ✔

END

Joong

I couldn't stand there any longer seeing him falling down unconcious. I ran towards him to hold him but he was already there in Dome's hands. Although I felt jealous seeing him holding my Nine but Nine was in this condition just because of me.

"Joong!" I heard Earth calling me.

But my mind was not functioning properly to reply him properly.

"I'm sorry if I sound rude but I can't let him suffer like that for our stupid plan. I don't care now what he thinks or what he feels but I can't take it any longer seeing him getting hurt like that." I said begging him.

I really didn't care for anyone or anything else other than my Nine at that moment.

"Nine!" I called the sleeping angel lying in front of me and tried to touch his face to rub those tears away, for which I was the only one responsible. But before my hands could touch him Dome swatted them away. I looked at him confused while he glared at me.

"I kept quite all these time just for the sake of Nine but don't you dare touch him. Are you not satisfied yet after hurting my friend so much?" He yelled at me.

 I couldn't say anything I just kept quite. Yes I knew that I was not really in the position to defence myself but neither could I let Dome take him.

Just then another voice interrupted us."What happened Dome? What took- What the hell! What happened to Nine?" It was Ben.

"Dome?! Joong?! Earth?! Will anyone tell me why the hell is Nine lying here?" He shouted at the top of his voice. I knew how much he liked to annoy Nine, but he still cared for him more than anyone.

"Ask your boyfriend." Dome rebuked. And Ben stared at Earth with shock and confusion.

"Okay I believe there is a lot of things to be explained but right now lets please take care of Nine first." He sounded mature and understanding for the first time.

"There let me help you." Ben said taking hold of Nine and I didn't complain. I knew that he would take care of him more than anyone.

Ben and Dome carried the unconcious Nine inside to Pavel's room making him lie on the single bed. I was standing leaning on the wall just opposite to the bed looking at him. Ben and Dome were beside him trying to wake him up, while Earth was standing outside the room peeking from the doorframe. Pavel fetched the duo a glass of water and made his way out, looking at me worried. 

Nine finally woke up making all of us inside the room heave a sigh of relief.

"Oh God Nine you finally woke up." Dome said carresing his cheecks but he flinched away, as his eyes roamed everywhere until they met mine and they locked. There was so much pain in them. I felt so guilty that I immediately broke eye contact.

"Nine are you okay?" Ben asked. He nodded and looked down at his nails.

"So now can anyone explain anything? Earth?!" Ben asked looking at his back towards Earth.

"Ben its nothing. I was just not feeling well maybe for the heat." Nine said immediately defending Earth.

"Nine you better not defend Earth. You don't know the truth yourself." Dome was really planning to not let go of the topic so easily. Nine looked at him confused.

"Okay so let me start I am sure Earth and Joong will help me correct if I'm wrong right?" Dome continued looking at both of us giving us a mischievous grin.

"So basically Joong and Earth had together plotted a plan to make Nine fall for him. The night at the bar only I got suspicious about both of them. So Joong being drunk and Nine taking him to his dorm everything was just an act. And I'm sure Nine you can now relate to everything can't you? Do you really think you being suddenly so close with him was just a coincidence? Everything was their plan. Even this separation which has hurt you like hell. The only thing Joong said to you was lie. Am I wrong Joong? And let me not forget to inform you that the masermind was none other than Earth. Isn't it Earth?"

Nine's eyes were flicking continuously from me to Earth in complete disbelief and shock.

"No its not Earth's fault it was me who had a crush on you Nine. He just helped me." I said looking straight at Nine's face. I was ready for anything. If he wanted to be angry on me and decided to never talk with me I would accept that. But before that I wanted to tell everything to him. Confess everything to him and let him decide the next step. 

"Can I get some time alone with Nine please?" I asked Ben having very little hope.

"Do you really think you can after what you did?" Dome said mocking but Ben had already started dragging him out with him.

"What Ben you-" He was cut off by Ben.

"It's Nine's life so let him take the final decision." Ben said and walked out with a whining Dome behind him.

Finally we were alone as I saw Nine constantly whipping his cheecks. He looked up at me and asked me quietly "What Dome said? Is it true? Were you two..? Was it all a lie?"

I felt so much pressure on my chest that I couldn't stand any longer. I kneeled down beside his bed making our heads be at the same level.

"I'm sorry Nine. Yes it was all planned every single thing that happened after I got your number. But Nine my love was never false. I had fallen for you the first time I saw you and I don't regret anything that happened after that." I could feel my cheecks getting wet.

"I don't know what will your decission be Nine but I want to offer you two options." I said spreading the palm of my hand in front of him.

"Yes I had passed many steps to make you fall for me. But I want the last step,  the ninth step to pass with you. And like that I want to pass each and every steps of my life with you by my side. I will never again lie to you and I will never again let a single drop of tear fall from your eyes for me. If you are willing too to take this step with me then hold my hand." I continued.

 "But if you think you still don't love me and if you regret each and every moment spent together, if you think I should not get a chance, slap me as hard as you can and after that I'll never show you my face again. The choice is yours." I closed my eyes after saying that waiting for the answer. 

The seconds felt like hours but still my hand was left hanging, neither did he slap me yet.

And then suddenly I could feel his cold hand against my cheeks and I already braced myself for the next thing. I was the one who gave him the option didn't I? But still my heart was shouting at me telling that he would hold my hand.

The next thing which happened was not what I had braced myself for neither had I imagined it in my dreams. 

I could feel his cold lips pressed against mine. After a whole second of confusion finally I kissed him back cupping his face in my hands and gently rubbing the moist under his eyes away. 

Not a single word uttered but I already knew that I had passed all the steps of love. 

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TADAA!! I finally completed this story.