Chapter 110 - A Bump

Early in the morning, a steaming cup of coffee was placed in front of Long Ah Hai as he watched the sunrise from the balcony of his hotel room, sipping the bitter brew. This was his life for the past decade. Every morning, every sunrise he had seen and waited for another day to pass. Nightmares were his constant companion and he preferred to stay awake then relive those moments. The sunrise was the most peaceful moment of the day. He closed his eyes in salutation of the sun when suddenly the peace of the morning was shattered by an ear piercing shriek. Recognizing the voice, he sat up straight and jumped into the balcony of the room next door where Shi Ai had been staying. Ready for combat and to fight any intruder, he stumbled a bit when all he saw was a shapely bu** covered in pink silk bottoms, sticking out from under the bed.

Scowling, while he tried to calm his racing heart, he called out to Shi Ai, "Heya! Xaio Ai!why are you screaming this early in the morning? Did you by any chance see a lizard?" Ah Hai remembered with amus.e.m.e.nt how once his elder sister in law had panicked at the sight of a little reptile and gave a small smirk. However, his question was answered by another ultrasonic scream causing Ah Hai to wince, followed by a loud bump sound.

This sound successfully distracted Ah Hai's eyes who had glued themselves to studying the piece of art that was on display. Finally, the pretty piece wiggled it's way out and turned to look at him. Rubbing her head, Shi Ai glared at the man in front of her and asked, "What are you doing here? And how did you get in?"

She was rubbing the back of her head as she questioned him. His sudden voice had startled her causing her to jerk in panic, thus hitting her own head in the process.

Seeing her wince, Ah Hai ignored her question and went to check on her head. There was a big bump on the back and it had already swelled to the size of an egg. Shaking his head, Ah Hai went back to the balcony and jumping over it again to bring her an ice pack.

Shi Ai rolled her eyes. At least her question of how he got here had been answered. Ah Hai came back the same way causing Shi Ai to point out ironically, " You could have used this thing called the door, you know." Shrugging his broad shoulders, he replied, "This is faster and more effective."

It was only when Ah Hai kneeled in front of her did Shi Ai realize the intimacy of their position. She was dressed in a thin tank top and shorts whereas he was..not dressed.

Shi Ai wanted to cover her eyes as she watched the male sinewy muscles flex but she wanted to admire them even more. Though they had become comfortable with kinship this was an all-new level of intimacy. Dressed only in black drawstring pyjamas, as Ah Hai pressed the ice pack to the back of her head, all Shi Ai felt was heat as she absorbed the fragrance of his unique male scent.

Her hands wandered on their own and touched the small tattoo he had on his c.h.e.s.t, just over his heart.

The small touch caused Ah Hai to stuffed in surprise and he flinched. But Shi Ai seems not to recognize it and continued to trace the date etched there. Ah Hai wanted to move back when he felt her touch on his tattoo but he held himself still, letting her touch.

The look of innocence and marvelling on her face was a temptation to him. Ah Hai stared at her pink lips that were a few inches from him. So kissable they looked. As if scorched by the heat, Shi Ai broke out of her trance and looked straight into his eyes. Her inexperience caused her to believe that Ah Hai was not moved by what happened just now. If Shi Ai had been a bit experienced, she would have recognized the glitter of d.e.s.i.r.e in his eyes.

Hesitatingly, she took her hand to her head and took a hold of the ice pack, looking at her feet the whole time.

Finally moving back, he scrutinized her carefully before asking her, " why did you scream in the first place? And what were you doing under that bed?"

This question reminded her of what she had been doing and she quickly moved from her sitting position to get under the bed again. Once again Ah Hai was presented with the delectable view. But this time he was unsure that he would be able to resist so he cleared his throat loudly and said, " Xiao Ai, I am well aware that you have a shapely figure. Why are you presenting it to me is the question I would like an answer to."

This caused Shi Ai to almost bump her head again but she immediately wriggled out. Since she did not have eyes at the back of the head, she even missed the man's outstretched hand that was mid-air being pulled back hurriedly. Coming out she smiled her million-watt smile at Ah Hai and said, " I was happy because Brother Min Min is coming back! In my excitement, I dropped my phone and then mistakenly kicked it under the bed. I am sorry I scared you but let me tell you that you scared me even more! And this injury is your responsibility so now you have to take care of me!"

Bowing like a real knight, he said, "As you wish my princess! Why don't you freshen up and I will order some breakfast for the two of us."

With that, the man marched back to the balcony but this time Shi Ai called out, " There is a door in this room!"

Ah Hai turned back and answered ruefully, " Yes but I don't have the key to my room." 

With that, the man was gone leaving behind a zoned out ShinAi.

A little while later, a pair of sneakers jumped inside the balcony of Ah Hai's room. The table was set with a number of plated which we're all covered. Deciding to take a leaf out of his book Shi Ai also used the same method of getting in the room much to the amus.e.m.e.nt of Ah Hai who was standing there leaning against the French doors with a smirk on his face. He repeated the same lines that Shi Ai had told him, "There is a door to come into the room you know."

"This is more fun", came the flippant reply.

Soon Shi Ai asked the question that had been going round and round in her mind. A bit hesitantly she asked, " why do you have a date tattoed on your heart?"

Ah Hai paused in the middle of taking a sip of his juice before answering, " It's the date of my last mission that I undertook for the Army of Country C. It is when I lost all those brothers who fought with me hand in hand but because of someone's betrayal, their glorious lives we're cut short."

Having said that, Ah Hai places down his glass and went back into his room. Shi Ai cursed herself for her stupid question though. Of course, there must have been a reason for that date to be there. It was a scar, not a tattoo. Things like these only left emotional scars so Ah Hai had chosen to have a physical one as well.

Getting up, Shi Ai followed him into the room and seeing his standing against the kitchenette counter with his head bowed, she wound her arms around his waist and put her head in the middle of his shoulder blades.

Like the jerk he was, Ah Hai, took the comfort she offered him and keep his head bowed but his hands took hold of her wrists and turning within her embrace he put his arms around her as well and placing his chin on her head closed his eyes.

Anyone who could have witnessed this scene would have known that this was a couple made for each other. They fit together like pieces of a unique puzzle, be it physically or emotionally.

Shi Ai listened to the heartbeat of the man and her eyes were moist. Maybe just maybe they we're making progress and he would someday give up the idea of leaving her. She crossed her fingers almost hated him for making her wait for so long. But in the end, she could only love him all the more.