LIME

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Mark's room has only two colors; black and white. He has a narrow bed with white sheets and one pillow in black and white stripes.

I watched him pull the black and white checkered curtains revealing the big glass window that immediately illuminated his room.

Next to the big window are two black leather arm chairs facing each other.

Mark sat on one chair and looked at me.

"Please, have a seat."

I walked toward him. He reached out his hand and I felt like steel being summoned by a magnet. His hands wrapped my waist and he pulled me to him. His face felt warm on my stomach. I ran my fingers on his soft brown hair and rested my hand on the nape of his neck. I closed my eyes and told myself to feel this moment. This pose would look lovely in our wedding album. I saw myself wearing a simple white off-shoulder gown with baby pink and red ribbons wrapped around my waist.

"Emma," Mark said.

I opened my eyes. He was looking at me. His chin was leaning below my sternum. His hazel eyes were piercing through my irises. What a beautiful groom Mark is!

Stop! Why am I daydreaming about a wedding? I am too young to be thinking of weddings. Mark isn't even my boyfriend. Yet.

Mark loosened his embrace and rubbed the sides of my hips.

I slowly sat across him. The leather chair felt cold on my back.

"I want you to stare at me for an hour," Mark said.

My eyebrows furrowed.

"For an hour? Like a staring contest?"

"Not a staring contest. I call it Overcoming Uneasiness. I want you to be very at ease with me. When you become comfortable with me, we can kiss as passionately as any couple in love."

I swallow uncomfortably but ehat Mark is saying.

"I notice that it's hard for you to maintain eye contact longer than five seconds. One of the basics of being a good kisser is the ability to look at a person eye to eye with confront and sincerity. We will practice every day till you can confront me for an hour. Today, we'll stare at each other for ten minutes, then tomorrow fifteen minutes until we manage to be comfortable staring at each other's eyes for an hour," Mark explained.

"No blinking?"

"We can blink. But we can't move. No facial movements or mouth-twitching. We have to look into each other's eyes. Don't look at my nose. Don't look at my mouth. Look into my eyes."

I inhaled and swallowed. I was nervous and suddenly parched.

"Can I have some water first?"

"Sure. What do want? Water, milk, juice, smoothie, Coke?"

"Water please. A liter of water."

Mark opened a black wooden cabinet and there was a big glass fridge like the ones in Duane Reade and 7Elevens. The top shelf had small tetra packs of soymilk in vanilla and chocolate. The second shelf had different small bottles of smoothies. The third got assorted cans of sodas. The bottom shelf got big bottles of different mineral water.

Mark pulled the sliding glass door and picked two bottles and raised them above his shoulders.

"Evian or Pellegrino?"

"Evian please."

I drank and emptied the entire liter of Evian. It didn't quench my thirst.

"I'm still thirsty," I told Mark.

Mark headed back to the glass fridge and got me a big bottle of Pocari Sweat.

"I get this from the Korean store at 34th St. but it's a Japanese sports drink," Mark says.

"War and I buy there too. We love Pocari Sweat."

I took a bit and the electrolytes worked its magic. My throat was moisturized. I handed back the bottle to Mark and he took a long swig. I find it fascinating that he drank from the same bottle. I hate sharing my bottled drinks with anyone. I think it's not hygienic but with Mark, I don't feel that. Well, we have kissed several times already. I won't squirm if he uses my spoon or drink from my straw.

"Are you okay now?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"Okay. Let's confront."

We both sat facing each other.

"Ready?"

I nod.

Mark sets the timer on his phone.
"Confront. Start."

I look into his eyes. His eyelashes are so long I want to get an eyelash curler and curl them. My eyes wandered down to his perfect nose and then his rosy thick lips.

"Flunk."

"Huh?"

"You were staring at my lips."

"Sorry. I can't help it," I said embarrassed.

"That was only 40 seconds. We have to do an hour of confront, Emma Franco."

Mark reset his timer.

"Okay. Ready?"

"Yes, Mark First. I'm ready."

I'm ready to kiss your lips again, I thought. My eyes wandered downward to his lips again.

"Flunk. Don't look at my lips, Emma. Look...into...my...eyes."

I rub my eyes and blink repeatedly.

"Okay. Okay. Sorry. Eyes not lips."

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What does LIME stand for?

Clue: 룩 인투 마이 아이스

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