The Running Game

Chapter 18

Present day

She woke up feeling something heavy  against her chest. When she opened her eyes, she saw him sleeping soundly with his head laying on her breast. Her body was caged in his arms, but he didn't fully put his weight on her that would hurt her belly. She watched how steady his breath was and the way he was clinging on to her. Days before, he was always the one who avoided her the most. Making sure they were not having an affectionate act especially after having their intimate moment.

She still hadn't fully grasped the reality that she was indeed alive. She was conscious but not fully conscious enough to grasp the fact that they managed to run into a safe place, him having a Japanese descendant, how she begged him to sleep on the same bed as her, and the fact that she let herself be naked in front of him and let him wash her body. Although, he didn't take any advantage of that moment. That man really took care of her real good. But, blame it on the painkiller that the doctor gave to her. She saw the glimpse of his face, he looked tired but it was better than the time she saw him the first time she woke up from her long sleep. Then, she moved her hand to thread her fingers into his hair and softly stroked it. She could do this forever. Every morning, waking up to him clinging to her, ended by saying goodnight to each other while being in each other's arms. Yes, she could totally see that in her future.

The soft strokes on his head were waking him from his sleep. He felt his head laying on something so tender, warm, and it also moved up and down steadily. Then he lifted his head only to see her already smiling so tenderly at him, and he was still not realizing that he still had his arms around her.

"Did I hurt you?" It was the second time he asked her that question since yesterday.

She shook head and smiled. Her hand then travelled to cup his cheek.

"No. I'm perfectly fine."

He lifted his weight off her but only to pull her body closer to him and fixed his hand on her waist. She shifted to face him and lay her head on the small of his shoulder, hands placed on top of the hard muscles on his chest. His warm eyes kept boring into hers, dark brown-eyed reflected on each other, showing each other's reflection just like the mirror. The soft expression that formed on his face, thanking God silently that he could still see the beautiful face of someone he longed to have in his youth. And her cheeks reddened as she felt shy under his scrutinizing gaze.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked.

"Like what?"

"I don't know. I can't even describe it ."

"I'm still trying to absorb the fact that you're alive. And I'm so glad that you are."

"Why? Didn't it make your life easier if you just let me die instead– argh! What the hell?!" She got startled when he flicked his finger on her forehead.

"No, it won't make my life easier. Because–"

"Because I'm just your job, and you are not allowed to fail your job because my dad will get you fired." Then, she felt him flicking her forehead again. "I swear to god if you're flicking my forehead again, I will–" She moved her hand to his cheek, ready to pinch it as hard as she could. But he halted her by catching her hand first then intertwined it with his.

"Because I could barely live my life when they took you away from me. And If you die, I don't think I have strength to force myself to survive this world." He looked solemnly at her.

She was tongue-tied as she was stunned by his answer. Her heart was racing really fast and her mind was making a riddle about a hidden meaning that is yet to be implied.

"How did you escape from them, Young Ro-ya?" His hand travelled to stroke her head. Feeling the softness of her hair.

"I pretended to have an asthma attack, then punched one of them to grab the gun and shot the gun through the whole van."