I will never be the same without you...

Chapter 24

Song: Cha So Yeon, Yejun Kang, Wall. T, "Fall in love"

Waking up in his arms was even better than in my dreams, but I felt something was off with him. I instantly wanted to do comfort him. I realized at that moment that our well-beings were linked. I would never be at ease if he wasn't. I wrap myself around him, like a human blanket, and showered him with kisses. That silly boy is still so unsure of me, I wonder what or who hurt him so badly that he can't trust that someone wants him.

One thing led to another, and we were back in bed. I wondered if we'd ever get tired of touching each other. Things never stay the same, I knew that all too well. No! No! ... Zon, don't go there! This is Saifah, this is not him. Saifah would never hurt you. I had to work hard to push the intrusive thoughts away, unwilling to spoil the moment.

This time felt more urgent, hungrier. He was willing to hurtle headlong towards climax at full speed. We used our hands and our mouths to please each other and came hard and fast. We fell back on the bed, sweaty and spent. I checked the clock for the first time since we woke up, it was 4 am. I would need more sleep, but not quite yet. I was just enjoying being there with him when he asked me out of the blue,

"Zon, why did you wear the bracelet."

"Hmmm, the one you made? I'm not entirely sure. I wanted you to know that I remembered.

"I ... I was surprised you still had it."

"Why?"

"Well, I thought it didn't mean much to you."

"Oh no, it meant a lot. Even though I was heartbroken after we drifted apart, it's always been with me. It was the only thing left that connected me to you. I stopped wearing it because it reminded me of you too much, and that made me sad, but I would never have thrown it away."

"Oh..."

I could feel his voice catch as he was trying to control his emotions. I was glad he didn't quite manage to do so. I kissed his nose and then his face and his neck.

"You're so adorably mushy and I'm confident. What happened to us?"

We both looked at each other and laughed. We just kept on cuddling and I started to drift off, holding him in my arms this time, my *little* spoon.

"I like it. I like to see you more confident."

"I'm glad you do. I decided that first day in your office that I wanted a second chance. I had no choice, I had to stop being a chicken."

I squeezed him to me, hoping he'd trust my words and believe that I was ready this time. He turned his head and kissed me. A long, deep, slow kiss, I felt all the way down to my toes. I wanted to tell him I loved him and that I wouldn't let him go, but it was too soon. He still didn't trust me completely, so It was my turn to wait for him and encourage him until then.

"Thank you."

"Why are you thanking me?"

"Thank you for coming back into my life."

Oh goodness! I struggled to refrain from blubbering. That jerk always knew what to say to hit me square in the heart.

"I'm glad I did."

I kissed the top of his head and barnacled him, leaving no space between us, my heart soaring to him. We slowly drifted back to sleep, happily holding onto each other.