The Eternal Winter

CHAPTER 2 - PURPLE DOLL

       Jia was as beautiful as her image I kept in my head. Six years had passed yet nothing much had changed from her. She had always looked mature even before. Her jet black silky hair, parted right in the middle, fell straightly up to her back. She kept it longer than usual. Her rosy cheeks, blushed from the cold air and the kiss. Her white skin, so flawless as it was made of porcelain. Everything about her looked so soft and cute, until she opened her eyes.

       I got drowned in those glaring eyes and I got lost in those clear blue ocean-deep eyes. Even though it was teary a little bit, it was still very intimidating.

       My heart hurt, she was still so beautiful. Way more beautiful.

       I didn't understand why she looked so shocked since she was the one who invited me here. I knew I didn't reply the message, but she should've at least had an expectation.

       I had not taken off my hands of her face. My eyes still locked to hers. But I started to scan every inch of her impossibly beautiful face.

       I was caught up in her face that something missed my attention. I had grown taller than her now. It's a good thing. I could stare at her easily now.

       "Noona," I repeated, my hands were still holding her face. Her eyes shaking from the honorific I used to call her. She opened her mouth but kept it hanging, seemed like she lost words to speak.

       "After all these years, you got nothing to say?" I tried to hold myself together because I could feel that anger started to take control over me. I wanted to squeeze this little face of hers. I really did. But I had to control myself.

       She just stared at me. I could tell she tried to intimidate me with her sharp gaze, but that didn't take effect the same way as it used to be. I was not intimidated. I was the one who intimidated her instead.

       Time's ticking yet not a single word had come out of her mouth.

       I wouldn't release my hands off her face. This time, this beautiful face needed to be mine, entirely. I wouldn't let it go like I did last time.

       Jia put her hands on mine, they were trembling a little. I was not sure if it was because of the cold or she was nervous. She was never nervous before.

       "Ju-won-ssi," she finally said something. "My answer is still the same."

       I could feel my eyes enlarged in surprise. What was it all about?

       "What do you mean?"

       She hesitated for a while. She took her hands off mine then put them on my face. It was so cold. "You have grown much since the last time," she started while her eyes scanning all over me. Her eyes stopped on my lips.

       "You're a much better kisser too," she continued. Her voice continued to get more confident.

       "You're also taller than me now," the tone kept raising and the gaze got sharpen.

       She titled her head to the left, looking up to my eyes, very very intimidating. "Sure thing you've been working out." She put her hand on my chest.

Damn it!

       She had not changed of course. The little innocent nervous girl I saw had not pulled out her full power. She could be cute, innocent, beautiful, sexy, seducing, but on top of that, she could be very intimidating.

       And I had made a mistake by underestimating this power of hers. She had always been good in a mental game. But... little did she knows, I had learned the lesson.