Chapter 80：Aftermath

Have you ever thought or waited for something eagerly? Have you imagined the whole thing to just burst out in your face? Has the thing you waited eagerly for to come to you in screaming colours?

Has it ever felt like when something happened it would be something different than the usual? Like the whole world would stop to bask in the glow of your fruitful anticipation?

It's human nature to expect something dazzling when we anticipate and wait eagerly for something to take place.

Sometimes we even reach a point, where our imagination is so active that even aliens come down to earth to congratulate us or the earth might open up and swallow us alive.

But whatever be our expectation, no matter how grand or how dreadful it is, the reality always remains the same. All the anticipation sometimes burns down to being normal. Nothing seems different. The aliens won't come nor would the earth open up. The world won't stop spinning nor would the time stop for us.

The same happened to Ye-Jin and Ray. They thought that when one of them confessed the skies would open up and shower them with golden light. The heavens might bless them- or something along the same lines. What they expected was something earth-shattering to happen when the words were said. But apart from their own messed up heartbeats and breathing nothing was different.

Ye-Jin: (taking a deep breath) here goes nothing. (Staring into his eyes) Ray, I like you- no, a-actually, I a-am in love with you.

She waited for something special to happen while refusing to look away from his shocked face. She could feel her face heat up. But she forced herself to look at him.

She had gathered her courage and finally said the words. She had dreamt about this moment countless times. She had rehearsed her lines much more time than that but what she did, in the end, was completely different.

She thought the affair to be too difficult and suffocating. She had imagined herself to chicken out when the time came.

Unexpectedly, nothing of the sort happened. It wasn't as dazzling as she expected.

The setting wasn't an ideal one with a scenic view behind them. Nor were there tears in their eyes. They were in his home while he was lying down in her lap.

The confession didn't have any long prologue nor was it a huge speech. It was direct and her words flew out naturally. It wasn't in any way difficult. There was no nervousness nor any kind of suffocation. Instead, a calm enveloped her heart. She felt like a burden had been lifted off her shoulders.

She noticed Ray's calm face turning from blank to shock to ecstasy to conflict and back to ecstasy. She was amazed by his changing expressions. She was eager to cut open his head to look into his brain. In short, she wanted to understand what he was thinking.

Unwillingly his eyes teared up and his throat clogged up. He never thought that her confession- which he was badly waiting for- would leave him feeling weak and emotional.

He turned his head away from her scorching and expectant gaze. In an attempt to reign in his tears, he rapidly blinked his eyes.

Ye-Jin continued to play with his hairs quietly waiting for his response. She was calm and ready to accept whatever he chose to do. She had played her part well.

After what felt like an eternity, Ray let out a dry chuckle. He shook his head and turned to face her with a wide grin plastered on his face. His eyes were still a little wet but shining brightly. He looked beautiful.

Ray: (teasing) you look so calm. Aren't you eager for my response?

Ye-Jin: (shrugging) I came this far, it shows that I am ready for anything.

Ray: (chuckling) what if I only want to stay with you as a friend?

Ye-Jin: (nodding) then I'll walk away. My thoughts aren't innocent enough to stay as your friend.

Ray could only chuckle at her serious reply. He never thought that she could become this blunt when it came to voicing out her thoughts. Maybe her feelings changed her personality around him. Didn't the same thing happen to him too?

Ye-Jin: (expectant) is that it?

Ray still in her lap shook his head and snaked one of his arms around her neck. He gently pulled her face closer to his own. Ye-Jin didn't resist whatever he was trying to do. She was waiting to see what he would further do.

Their faces were so close that their noses were touching. He could feel her breath hitch and so did his. He didn't hesitate and closed the little distance between them by capturing her lips in his own.

Ye-Jin blanked out. She felt a strange tingling sensation shoot up from her toes to the tip of her head.

Ray wasn't any better, he too was lost for a moment after the initial contact. He didn't want to tell but show what he felt for her using meaningful actions. He couldn't think of a better way to do so than kiss her.

But he forgot that it was supposed to be his first kiss too. He was robbed of all other sensations the moment his lips touched hers. Their eyes closed on their own accord and everything gradually faded away. He somehow found his way back and focused on the kiss. He gently started to suck on her lower lip and his tongue lightly grazed it asking for an opening.

Ye-Jin came back to earth and abruptly pulled back. The short lip-lock had slackened his grip on her. Ray was saddened by her sudden rejection. He already started to miss her sweet and soft lips.

Ye-Jin: (blushing) we k-kissed?

Ray nodded at her still pouting.

Ye-Jin: (swatting his shoulder) I almost died!

She pushed him from her lap and angrily stood up. Her legs were still weak from the aftermath of what was supposed to be her first kiss.

She wobbled a little and dropped back to the couch beside him with no strength. Her body was shaking by that little peck but it was enough to mess up her coordination. She was after all a newbie to intimacy.

He chuckled but shut up when he saw her glaring at him.

Ray: (clearing his throat) don't tell me you didn't like it.

Ye-Jin: (blushing harder) shut up!

Ray conveniently shut up. He could tell that she was embarrassed, so was he. But he had a thicker skin compared to her.

Ray: (rubbing his stomach) I am a little hungry. You'll join me for some late-night snack?

It was past midnight and their dinner was also a disaster so the couple spent the few hours fixing a late-night snack to fill their stomachs.

Ye-Jin: (sipping on water) This is nice.

Ray: (cleaning the plates) what?

Ye-Jin: I thought things would be different after our feelings came out in the open but it doesn't feel so. The change in our relationship feels so natural like it was meant to be.

Ray: (smirking) of course because we haven't gone on an official date yet.

Ye-Jin: (happily) are you asking me?

Ray: (grinning) should I? I mean we already confirmed our feelings. Does it require any more foreplay?

Ye-Jin: (huffing) Kai was right. You're too stingy. I as your girlfriend am going to suffer.

Ray: (chuckling) Ye-Jin, my girlfriend. It sounds good, doesn't it?

Ye-Jin: (proud) of course. Cuz it's me.

Ray: what do you think? Should we watch a movie?

Ray: you want to?

Ye-Jin: (shaking her head) no don't do that. I have a very important meeting tomorrow.

Ray: (puppy eyes) please! I promise that I'll behave. We'll just watch a movie and then go to sleep. You can take the guest room. I won't bother you. Also, I'll drop you off early in the morning.

Ye-Jin felt that there was something wrong with his words. On careful consideration, she understood that he was implying that nothing intimate would take place between them for the rest of the night.

Unknowingly her face heated up but she nodded her assent to stay the night with him.

Both of them settled on the floor in front of the couch. The movie they selected for the night was a romantic comedy. The genre was just right for their situation.

They spent the night rest of the night commenting on several parts of the movie- including holding hands- and eventually sleeping on the couch in each other's arms.