Whispers and Giggles || Mark Lee

WHISPERS AND GIGGLES

And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while.

"Hey boyfriend," Yumi’s voice chimed with playful sweetness, her smile lighting up the room as the soft glow of the setting sun filtered through her pale pink curtains. She was nestled comfortably in Mark’s arms on her bed, her head resting against his chest as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Hey girlfriend," Mark grinned back, the corners of his eyes crinkling with affection as he gazed at her.

They both erupted into giggles, their laughter blending into the quiet of the evening. Yumi shifted closer, her fingers tracing gentle patterns on his chest. "You have no idea how fast my heart is racing right now," she whispered, stealing a shy glance up at him before hiding her face against his chest again.

Mark let out an exaggerated gasp, pulling back just enough to gently squish her cheeks between his hands. "Hold on a second! Did I just make the untouchable, super-cool Bae Yumi shy?" His eyes sparkled with mischief. "Guess my confession wasn’t so terrible after all."

Yumi huffed in mock annoyance, wriggling free of his grip. "Don’t think I’m ever letting you live down the fact that you confessed to me right after I woke up from a nap looking like a hot mess. Did you even see my hair?"

Mark chuckled, his eyes softening as he laced their fingers together. "You could’ve had bedhead for days, and you’d still be the most beautiful girl to me," he said earnestly, his smile leaving her breathless despite her best efforts to hide it. "But nice try with that deflection."

She narrowed her eyes at him playfully. "Oh yeah? What if I do this?" He swooped in and kissed her cheek, pulling back with a smug grin.

Yumi froze, her face flushing a deeper shade of pink as her brain seemed to momentarily short-circuit. Recovering quickly, she grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it. "Where’s the warning?!"

Mark laughed, dodging her half-hearted attack as best as he could. "Okay! Okay! Truce!" He held his hands up in surrender, still grinning widely. "I won’t tell anyone that I made you shy! Cross my heart!"

"Don’t test me, Yumi. You’re treading on thin ice here."

Before she could respond, he tossed the pillow aside and caught her wrists, gently pinning them to her sides. The playful atmosphere faded as the air between them grew still, thick with anticipation. Mark’s gaze softened, lingering on her lips before trailing up to meet her eyes. His breath hitched slightly as the room seemed to shrink, leaving only the two of them in the moment.

"I’m warning you now... for real this time," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper as he searched her face for any sign of hesitation.

Yumi’s heart fluttered, but she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, her own nerves kicking in. As he leaned in, Mark hesitated, pulling back just an inch. "I’ve never done this before," he confessed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Like... with anyone. I just want you to know that."

Yumi’s lips quirked up in a tender smile. "Mark, you worry too much. I don’t care if it’s perfect. I care about you." She sat up, placing her hand on his cheek. "Besides, I’m all about living in the moment."

Her words seemed to embolden him, though he still looked adorably flustered. She leaned closer, resting her forehead against his as her fingers slipped to the nape of his neck. "You’re overthinking it. Here, let me show you."

With that, Yumi closed the gap, her lips brushing against his in a kiss that was sweet and tentative. It was awkward at first—their noses bumped slightly, and the angle wasn’t quite right—but the innocence of it made the moment all the more precious. Neither cared about the imperfections; they were too wrapped up in each other.

As they pulled away, both were smiling, a quiet joy filling the space between them. Mark’s cheeks were flushed, his heart pounding in his chest. "I promise... next time, it’ll be even better," he said, lying back down and pulling her with him, his voice still a bit breathless.

Yumi laughed softly, resting her head on his arm. "It was perfect because it was us. And, for the record, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve been practicing on those plushies in your room."

Mark's eyes widened as he let out an awkward laugh. "I, uh, may have rehearsed... a bit... you know, just in case."

Yumi gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. "No way! You actually did?"

He buried his face in one of her pillows, groaning in embarrassment. "Okay, I was kidding! Forget I said anything!"

She leaned over, tugging the pillow away with a teasing grin. "Oh no, you’re not getting off that easily! I want a full tutorial next time."

Mark shook his head, laughing despite himself. "You’re impossible, Yumi."

"And you love me for it," she teased, poking his nose.

"I do," he admitted softly, his eyes full of adoration.

As the evening drifted on, they stayed wrapped up in each other, their conversation flowing from silly banter to quiet confessions. Yumi’s phone buzzed on the bedside table, breaking the peaceful silence. She picked it up, glancing at the reminder on her screen.

"It’s just a note to remind me about gathering some student information for documentation," she said, setting the phone back down.

"Need help?" Mark offered, though his voice was heavy with the drowsiness that had started to settle in.

Yumi shook her head, smiling. "Nah, it’s just to keep me from procrastinating. Besides, I’ve got you to keep me in line."

Mark grinned lazily. "Super supportive boyfriend at your service."

"And what perks come with that title?" Yumi asked with a smirk, settling back into his arms.

"Unlimited cuddles, kisses on demand, and I get to be your number one fan," he replied, kissing her forehead.

She laughed softly, content. "I like the sound of that."

They lay there in comfortable silence until Yumi yawned, snuggling even closer. "I’m a little tired," she admitted.

"Me too," Mark whispered, kissing her temple. "Goodnight, Yumi-bear."

"Goodnight, Markliet," she murmured sleepily, her heart full as they drifted off, wrapped in each other's warmth.