Chapter 220 - I’m Not Gay

Two hours later, Zoey finally arrived at the parking space Matthew Xi had asked her to meet. Since he left using her spare car, Zoey immediately found him even though she was still in her car. 

"Calm down, Z." Zoey muttered, inhaling and exhaling repeatedly as she patted her chest. 

For some reason, she could feel his penetrating gaze through the tinted windshield. Hence, Zoey rested her forehead on the steering wheel while both her hands were still around it. 

"Alright, Matthew Xi, I like you! I really do... I'm not joking." Sitting straight up, Zoey practiced but to no avail!

After witnessing how Zion Kwan proposed, confessing his feelings to Cora Ma, he just raised the bar that Zoey wanted to compete. She wanted to move Matthew Xi with her confession too!

Alas, words clogged her throat just as she wanted to pour her heart into her confession. Who said practice makes perfect? For Zoey, her practice didn't even make it close to perfect — but it made her realize that practicing her speech was useless!

Just as Zoey was on a brink of weeping, she jolted upon the ring of her phone. Cautiously, Zoey glanced at the caller and her eyes immediately flickered in conflict upon seeing Matthew Xi's name on the screen. 

Tsk," Zoey clicked her tongue as she reluctantly reached for her phone and answered the call. "I'm here. You know I'm still your boss, don't you? The nerve to call me all the way here." As soon as Zoey picked up the call, Zoey's mouth automatically spouted nonsense out of instinct. 

As soon as Zoey realized what she was saying, she slapped her lips before biting her bottom lip. 'What am I saying?!'

"Come ove — nevermind, I'll come over there." Shaking his head, Matthew Xi informed before the line disconnected. 

Meanwhile, Zoey glanced at her phone before she bit her thumb nail. "He's coming over, he's coming over — damn Zoey! Get it together!" Slapping herself, Zoey woke herself up as she needed to relax. 

Seeing that he exited her spare car he was currently using, Zoey immediately looked away. "Girl, I'll disown you if you didn't get your act right." Zoey threatened herself, as if she was talking to another person. 

By the time Matthew Xi knocked on the front passenger seat's door, Zoey somehow managed to relax — a little. Hence, when Zoey unlocked the door, she appeared as if she wasn't whining like a little girl moments ago. 

Upon the click of the door unlocking, Matthew Xi unhesitatingly entered the front passenger seat. Yet, even though he hitched inside, he didn't gaze at Zoey nor did Zoey snuck a glance at him. 

It was as if the second Matthew Xi entered her car, the air grew awkward. Both of them automatically zipped their lips, as if they didn't have anything to talk about. 

"Ahem!" Breaking the awkward silence by clearing her throat loudly, Zoey smacked her lips as she placed both her hands on the steering wheel. 

"Do you want to go on a stroll?"

"No," Matthew Xi didn't even bat an eye when he answered. 

"Well, why not? I drove all the way here because you told me you want to move our third date today! But it seems I expected a bit too much." Zoey shrugged her shoulders, didn't mean to sound rude but it still turned out like that. 

"What were you expecting?" 

"Good food." Zoey shrugged her shoulders once again, raising both her brows as she let out a faint chuckle. 

"Nevermind. Since I told you I'd entrust our third date to you, I won't complain. If this is the kind of that you wanted, then so be it — whatever." Zoey sighed, leaning her head back as she slightly reclined the driver's seat. 

"Before we proceed to our date, listen; after this day, the deal between us is finally over. Just like I promised, I wouldn't bother you anymore after the three dates. I'll act as if I never existed in your life and you wouldn't see me or my shadows anymore." Changing the subject, Zoey reminded him as she recalled the promises she made from the start. 

"As for your job, I'm not that heartless so you'd be transferred to our international branch. I can also let you use my condominium unit in Country H, treat it as a perk for being the manager of our international branch." Zoey detailed the plans she laid out for Matthew Xi if this night ended up in sadness. 

Although she sounded fine, Zoey's grip on the steering wheel tightened. She knew deep down, this wasn't important. However, she felt the need to tell him beforehand as she didn't think she could even say a word once she got rejected. 

"Is that all?" Nodding in understanding, Matthew Xi inquired as he cast her a side eye. 

"No," Shaking her head sideways, Zoey let out a frustrated exhale as she mustered her courage. "That's not all." She uttered, facing Matthew Xi who arched his brow. 

"I — I ..." However, no matter how tough and ready she thought she was, Zoey's heart leapt to the throat as soon as she was about to confess. 

Matthew Xi: "???" 

Zoey pursed her lips on a thin line, staring back at him whose eyes had formed question marks. "Damn it!" Instead of the cheesy lines that could move the heaven and earth she imagined saying, Zoey cursed instead as she snapped. 

That second, Zoey suddenly pulled his neck tie — near his collar — to her as she leaned forward to welcome his lips. "I like you, okay? Not just like - like, but the sort of like that I didn't like, you understand?" Zoey parted her lips from him after a second they touched, declaring her moving speech that even her guardian angel could not help but facepalmed. 

'No, I didn't.' For some reason, Matthew Xi's focus suddenly jumbled as he was momentarily confused at her explanation after the forced kiss. 

"So don't you dare complain if I take advantage of you until I can, because I'll be crying myself to sleep if my charms didn't work on you tonight." Zoey perked her chin up, putting up her brave face despite her honest, pitiful words. 

"You're saying you like me for real? Not the same inkling from months ago?" Massaging his temple as Zoey's explanation was akin to a bad cursive written paragraph. It tends to leave its readers confused. 

"Yes! Do you have a problem with that?" Zoey sounded as if she was looking for a fight, yet, Matthew Xi didn't dwell on it as it wasn't important. 

What's important now was Matthew Xi wasn't as prepared as he thought he was. Hearing her acting tough while trying to express her heart to him was still overwhelming. 

"I think I do." Sighing, Matthew Xi shook his head sideways. "Let me drive, I'll —"

"I love you." Out of nowhere, Zoey interrupted Matthew Xi as she just shoved her love remarks which made him stop and faced her slowly. 

Staring at her eyes that showed her innocence, a faint exhale slipped past his lips as he stretched his upper body towards her. As soon as his lips touched hers, Zoey's eyes widened before they slowly softened and closed.

"I'm not gay," He whispered as soon his lips parted from her lips. For him, this certain topic needed some clarity as it seemed she truly believed it hence, the reckless words that were coming out from her mouth. "So be careful with your words.." He added, his tone had a touch of warning as if he too was uncertain on what he'll do once she began speaking heedlessly.