Sun-kissed

Chapter 28

Amina stared unseeingly into the forest hills that rolled outside her window.  A white frost had blanketed the grounds, covering the trees with icicles droplets, and freezing any standing puddle of water into ice.  The pension was deathly quiet, all of its occupants still asleep from their late night rendezvous.  She hugged the blanket closer to her body, warding off the morning chill.  

Last night she had an emotional breakdown.  Her heart had been rubbed raw and there was nothing that would have kept the overwhelming feelings from flooding over.  The more Youngbae held her, the more melancholy she felt.  His warmth and caresses brought back bittersweet memories.  Part of her wanted to be held in his arms forever. But the other, more realistic half, warned her to save her heart from more pain and stay away from him. 

It took a few minutes before Youngbae came and joined her outside, her jacket in his hands.  By then, the cold air had allowed her to collect herself.  Amina remembered looking up at his approach and seeing the cautious but determined expression on his face.

Flashback

"Do you have an aversion towards jackets? Or do you just like to freeze to death?" Youngbae waited for her to take the garment from him. He noticed the effect his comment had on her, the fire returning to her eyes.  He mentally smiled to himself.  He rather have her mad at him than sad.

Amina ungratefully jerked the black puffer coat from his outstretched hand. She shoved her arms inside the garment and closed her eyes, sighing against the warmth.  She opened her eyes to find Youngbae's knowing face on hers, waiting.  "Gomawo," she grudgingly replied, watching him grin slightly with a mocking bow. She turned away from him and continued down the side of the building.  Spotting a rot iron bench, Amina gingerly sat down, wincing as the cold metal hit the back of her exposed thighs.

Youngbae watched her sit on the bench and noticed her legs still shaking slightly. From the cold? Or was it from their moment earlier?  He didn't know.

"Let's go inside," he urged. "You're going to get sick again."

Amina looked up at him and shook her head.  "Ani..."

He made a disgruntled noise.

"I need to clear my mind," she continued, looking away from him.

Youngbae sighed.  He marched over and sat down next to her, ignoring her wary expression.  Wrapping his left arm around her waist, he pulled her halfway onto his lap.  His movements were stopped by her shocked outburst.

"W-what are you doing!" Amina exclaimed, her legs straddling his left thigh.  She tried to pull her dress down while trying to stand up at the same time.  But the force of his arm around her waist hampered her vain attempts. Amina looked over her shoulder and waited for him to explain himself.

Youngbae looked into her heated brown eyes and tried to school his features from smiling.  "If you're going to sit out here and think, then I'm not going to let you freeze to death.  Especially since I know what you'll be thinking about is me."

Amina clamped her mouth shut and faced away from him.  She couldn't deny his words, no matter how arrogant they seemed.  Amina grabbed the sides of his thighs as he continued to pull her fully in-between his legs.  She heard him let out a loud sigh of relief as both arms settled around her waist.

"God, you're freezing," he said quietly in her right ear, his hands wandering up and down her ribcage inside the jacket.

Amina wiggled against the invasion, hearing him grunt behind her.  She her face slightly towards him and chided, "If you can't keep your hands still, you can go back inside." She raised an eyebrow, waiting for his agreement.