Lost in a Masquerade

13

Jimin looked at a decanter in his hand, thinking if he really should present it as a gift to the princess, when the younger turned from the car to see the older fiddling with his arms. "Hurry now." 

She widened her eyes in a warning. 

Jimin smiled, letting a breath out and moving with confidence. "This is for you, princess," the man was now on his knees as he presented the crystal decanter ahead.

 "It's the rose perfume I distilled myself."Jessica's hand shook slightly as she accepted the small old-fashioned bottle that smelled faintly of how Jimin was.

 "You are giving a princess a present?" She asked herself rather than Jimin and the man now bowed his head down, still on his knees.

 "I apologize if I humiliated you in any way. You are free to throw it away."Jessica's empty eyes found a gleam of happiness underneath the permanent layer of darkness. Her lips twitched as she tried to both smile and sob.

 "No one ever gave me a present," Jimin now got up slowly, looking at the face he could get addicted to. 

He looked closely and Jessica avoided tearing up as she batted his eyes quickly. 

"Everyone thinks that a princess has everything she needs and what could they possibly give a rich person? They don't know how poor I am."

 Jessica looked at Jimin's face with a dejected look in her eyes.

"I could make you more," Jimin proposed quickly.

 "It takes three months to make a few milliliters. You'd have to tell me in advance."

"I could also ask for a gift?" Jessica asked, the moist layer in her eyes couldn't be hidden anymore. 

 "Any time from me. I will do my best to give you what you want. I promise."

"You are driving," Jessica flipped her hair with the jut of her head on either side, holding the decanter with both hands as if it would fall and break if she didn't protect it.

Jimin chuckled out loud, making Jessica flinch at the action. 

She always saw the man's eyes smiling, admiring him. 

She wasn't blind and was able to see that look in the counselor's eyes. 

It was always hearing the soft and fond smiles, or a few lowly chuckles."Take me to the ocean," the princess commanded. "Gladly," 

Jimin took a bow as he simultaneously opened the car door by retreating his steps. 

Jessica was happy that Jimin opened the front co-passenger seat door this time instead of the back seat as she sat inside.

Within a few minutes, they were pulling over. 

Jimin understood why the princess dressed casually today as she walked barefoot over the wet sand, carrying the decanter with her. 

Jimin followed behind, sniffing the air that touched the princess's skin first, making it even more surreal. 

Jessica sat down on the sand first and Jimin mirrored her in the next moment. 

They both kept staring at the delicate lapping waves for minutes until Jessica slid back a little towards the left where Jimin sat.

 "Can I lean on you? I am tired."Jimin answered by putting his arm behind Jessica's back, so the woman leaned her head over his shoulder blade. 

The tickle in Jimin's heart was fairly hidden, but the goosebumps over his arms from the folded white silk blouse sleeves weren't so discreet. 

Jessica didn't make it obvious that she knew what she was capable of doing to the older male.