His Lovable Klutz (Completed)

Segment Forty-nine.

♥ Night Kiss ♥

      The house was quiet, the kind of stillness that only deep night could bring. The only sound that broke the silence was the soft, even breathing of Coby, who lay in her bed, fast asleep. The covers had slipped down during the night, leaving them halfway to her shoulder. The faint light from the hallway, and the Ambiance Frame displaying, spilled into the room, with the door left slightly ajar.

      Stefan pushed the door open a little wider, careful not to make any noise. He stepped inside, his movements almost soundless as he approached the bed where Coby slept. Standing by her bedside, he looked down at her, his usually stern expression softened by the sight before him.

      The moonlight filtering through the curtains illuminated Coby's peaceful face, her chestnut hair splayed out on the pillow. Stefan noticed how the cover had slipped, leaving her exposed to the cool night air. Without thinking, he bent down and gently pulled the blanket up, tucking it securely around her shoulder.

      As he adjusted the blanket, his eyes lingered on her face, tracing the delicate lines of her features. Her lips were slightly parted, and a stray lock of hair had fallen across her forehead. Compelled by an impulse he couldn't quite control, Stefan reached out and carefully tucked the hair behind her ear. His fingers grazed her skin, sending a thrill through him that he hadn't expected.

      His heart pounded in his chest, loud enough that he was surprised it hadn't woken her. Stefan was caught off guard by the intensity of his emotions, the urge to be closer to her, to feel the warmth of her against him. Before he could stop himself, he leaned in, his face just inches from hers. His gaze flickered to her lips, and the pull was irresistible.

      Slowly, Stefan closed the distance and pressed his lips softly against hers. The kiss was gentle, lingering, and as he held it, he felt a surge of emotion so powerful that it nearly overwhelmed him. Time seemed to stretch, each second of the kiss lasting an eternity. He finally pulled back, his lips tingling with the sensation, and a small, satisfied smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

      Stefan straightened up, taking one last look at Coby's sleeping face before he turned and quietly left the room, carefully closing the door behind him.

      As soon as the door clicked shut, Coby's eyes fluttered open. She stared at the ceiling, her heart racing as she replayed what had just happened. She slowly sat up, her hand moving to her lips, which still tingled from the kiss. Her eyes went wide with shock as realization dawned on her.

      "Did Stefan just kiss me?" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the quiet room. She shook her head, trying to clear the confusion. "No, I must've been dreaming… But it felt so real."

      She touched her lips again, the memory of the kiss vivid and undeniable.

      "It was so real," she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief and something else she couldn't quite name. "Stefan… kissed me?"

      Coby's mind raced, trying to make sense of what had just happened. She thought back to Stefan's earlier behavior, the way he had avoided answering her question, the way he had suddenly left the room. Now, this kiss—had it all been leading to this moment?

      She bit her lower lip, lost in thought. "Why would he kiss me? And why… why do I feel like I wanted him to?"

      The room felt different now, charged with the memory of something that was more than just a dream. Coby lay back down, her thoughts spinning, but no matter how hard she tried to convince herself otherwise, she knew one thing for sure: Stefan had kissed her, and it had felt more real than anything she had ever experienced before.

      The morning sunlight filtered into the kitchen, casting a warm glow over the countertops as Coby stood in front of the stove, stirring a pot of oatmeal. She was lost in thought, replaying the events of the previous night over and over in her mind.

      Stefan kissed me, she thought, her brow furrowing slightly as she tried to make sense of it.

      Did that really happen, or was it just a dream? The kiss had felt so real, the warmth of his lips still lingered on hers, making her heart skip a beat just thinking about it.

      Coby was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't notice Stefan descending the stairs into the living room. He was dressed for work in a sharp suit, his hair neatly combed, but his expression turned to one of surprise when he spotted Coby at the stove.

      He walked into the kitchen, his footsteps soft on the tile. "Coby, what are you doing?" he asked, a note of concern in his voice. "You shouldn't be cooking with your injured foot. You need to rest."

      Coby, still deep in thought, didn't respond. Stefan frowned, moving a little closer, and called out her name a few more times before she finally heard him.

      "Coby!"

      Startled, she looked up, blinking as if she had just been pulled from a distant place. "Uh? I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," she said, trying to shake off her thoughts.

      "I noticed," Stefan replied, his tone was of amusement and concern. "What were you thinking about?"

      "Nothing," she said quickly, turning back to the stove, but the way she avoided his gaze told Stefan she was lying.

      "Nothing, huh?" Stefan pressed, his eyes narrowing playfully. "You're a terrible liar, Coby. What's on your mind?"

      Coby hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, "You kissed me last night!"

      Stefan's eyes widened in shock for a split second before he quickly composed himself, his expression turning neutral.

      "What? I did no such thing," he denied, shaking his head. "You must've been dreaming."

      "No, I wasn't dreaming," Coby insisted, turning to face him, her arms crossing over her chest. "I felt it. You even covered me up with the blanket before that. It wasn't a dream, Stefan."

      Stefan sighed, giving her an exasperated look. "Coby, you were definitely dreaming. Why would I, Stefan, kiss you?" He kept his tone casual, hoping to defuse the situation with nonchalance.

      Coby's eyes narrowed as she unfolded her arms, planting her hands on her hips instead. "What do you mean by that? Are you saying I can't be kissed?"

      Stefan smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, maybe you just dreamed I kissed you because you secretly want me to." His tone was teasing, and the smirk on his face only deepened as Coby's mouth fell open in disbelief.

      "You—!" Coby started, her face flushing with embarrassment and annoyance, but before she could finish her sentence, Stefan had already turned toward the door.

      "I'm leaving for work now," Stefan announced over his shoulder, effectively cutting her off. "Take it easy on that foot, Coby."

      And with that, he left the kitchen, leaving Coby standing there, her mouth still open mid-sentence. She huffed in frustration, glaring at the spot where he had just been standing. How dare he just walk out like that?

      Coby's thoughts raced as she turned back to the stove, but despite her annoyance, she couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corners of her lips.

      He definitely kissed me, she thought, her mind going back to the way he had looked at her last night. And I'm going to make him admit it.