Tables Turned | JH

Chapter 25: What About Now?

"Why did you kiss me? Back at the hotel during the shooting?" Cho asks, her voice quiet and almost tired sounding as she looks up at me. The look in her eyes isn't angry. No, but it's filled with curiosity and confusion, a few others that are much harder to decipher with her tiredness at the moment. Though, I feel my face heat up, biting my lip as I look away from her. Of course, my dumbass had to go and fucking kiss her. Of course, she's gonna ask about it once she's got a quiet chance. Goddamn me and my stupidness. The worst part of it all is, I can't think up a reasonable answer for her. Hell, I can't come up with any answer at all.

"Hope." Choyeon says softly, reaching up with her free hand to gently tap my cheek with her finger. Smiling a bit at the slightly childish action, I look back down at her.

"Are you gonna answer my question?" Cho asks quietly, tilting her head to the side a bit. Sighing to myself, I puff out a bit of air as I reach up to tuck a few stray pieces of hair behind her ear.

"Do I have to answer it?" I question, chuckling softly in hopes of the answer being 'no'. However, she giggles softly, rolling her eyes at me. Though, directly afterwards, she gives me the sweetest pout I've ever seen as she looks up at me. It's the most innocent look I've seen on her since I first got here with the exception of her crying just now. Groaning softly, I tip my head back against the pillow as I look up at the ceiling.

"Choyeon, I don't exactly have an answer." I mumble quietly, honestly telling the truth. She hums softly in response, eyes still on me with tiredness in them. Though, after a few seconds, she lays her head back down on my chest. I can feel tears slowly beginning to rewet the robe Jimin had given for me after helping me wash up, and the feeling makes me frown as I look down at her again.

"Did you... did you do it because... it was in the heat of the moment, Hope? Or... did you do it because... you actually like me? Because you... actually have feelings for me?" Choyeon asks, her voice barely a whisper despite its shakiness. I feel my heart drop in my chest as I realize what's going through her head at the moment. Frowning deeply, I gently begin rubbing her back once again as I lightly play with her hair. She curls into my side even further, clearly wanting the answer but afraid of what it is as she buries her face in my chest once more.

"I suppose it's a bit of both, Cho." I tell her, biting my lip as I watch her lift her head up. Looking back up at me, there's more tears in her eyes as a few continue rolling down her cheeks, lips trembling and parted.

"What do you mean?" Her voice is small as she speaks, uncertainty in her eyes as she watches me in attempt to get some sort of read off me. Though, I merely give her a small smile instead.

"I mean, I certainly wouldn't have done it if I didn't have feelings for you. Though, had it not been for the adrenaline and mild fear rushing through me at the moment, I probably wouldn't have ever had the guts to kiss you. Especially without knowing how you felt about all of it." I explain softly, reaching up to wipe away her tears once more as I speak. Her eyes flutter shut at my touch, letting me wipe the tears away once again before opening her eyes when I retract my hand. Humming softly, she looks down for a moment, seeming to think something over. I simply watch her with a small smile, hopefully having eased her mind a bit with my answer.

"What about... now? Would you still kiss me now?" Cho asks quietly, looking back up at me with a mixture of worry and curiosity in her eyes. I chuckle, smiling down at her.

"If that's what you want, then, of course." I tell her truthfully. She blushes almost instantly, looking back down once again as she bites her lip. Cupping her cheek in my hand gently, her eyes snap up to me in surprise from the sudden touch.

"You shouldn't have feelings for me, you know. It would never work with us being trapped in this damned empire. My father would sooner have me dead than allow me to date and it wouldn't help you be any safer, Hope." Choyeon says softly, eyes scanning my face a bit before returning to resting on me.

"No one ever said that your father or others would have to know, Cho. You know Jimin and Jin aren't going to say anything if they knew and they'd be the only ones who'd have to find out at some point. Besides, eventually people will be assholes and start making the comment of you not being fit to rule for the sole fact that you don't have anyone." I inform her gently. Her lips curve up ever so slightly, forming the smallest of smiles, though the truest one I've gotten to see since I got dropped off here.

"Thank you, Hope." She whispers softly, looking back up at me. For the first time out of this entire conversation, it's my turn to be the confused one.

"For what?" I question quietly, feeling utterly befuddled at the moment.

"For everything." Choyeon answers with a full small smile, eyes glancing down to my lips momentarily before looking back up to my eyes. Chuckling softly, I get the memo as I lean forward and press my lips against hers.

The kiss isn't quick like the first one back during the shooting, not in the slightest. No, pressing my lips gently against hers, I feel her lips mold against mine perfectly before we begin moving them in sync together.