@Chubbycheeks: 555 you know just what I'm thinking. lots of kisses please! I'm glad you like Kim's story too, and that you enjoy Yaya's character. I tried not to make her too cliche n'ek so I threw in the bratty-ness. She's a whole mix of characteristics and I'm happy things are working out all the way to this chapter.
@Dal: lol we'll see how my mystery-writing skills turn out. I'm still not good at making big twists that are hard to solve. thanks for reading hon! very soon now, those mysteries will be revealed and frankly, I'm still figuring out Nadech's reactions and emotions to everything when that time comes.
@Vimalee: it's nice to see that she also grows. It wasn't something I set out to do since she has a higher EQ already, but turns out she and Nadech learn from each other's pains and joys. I just hope Nadech's character is as enjoyable because he's so complicated to evolve. Pain lasts so much longer than joy so I didn't want an unbelievable transformation to happen overnight for him, so as of now, he takes small gradual steps as she guides him.
Chapter 28 Significant Other
Kim yawned as she saw the two entered the house. “See you guys. I got to go to bed early so I can finish my group project tomorrow morning. Ugh, I have to be there by six. Oh yeah, P’Oh and Uncle will be back by next evening. Good night.”
“Good night,” they murmured in distracted reply but Kim was too tired to notice.
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Nadech was rarely insomnious. He worked enough that when his head hit the pillow, the lights went out in his mind instantly. But tonight, sleep evaded him mercilessly. Why did he have to get so worked up earlier at the hotel? He had never been bothered by that guy Yuke and it was only a small grudge that he harbored for what Yuke had done to Yaya because she was over him. Yaya had told him she loves him and he believed her. So why did the thought of her touching Yuke, however modestly, rattle his nerves?
For that matter, just thinking about all those male friends she had listed and the many he probably didn’t even know about was enough to whip Nadech up in bed, sitting restlessly.
Why had he become so sensitive to everything that had to do with Yaya? Even now he was eating his words from last night already. That confidence that he would never fall prey to jealousy was slowly shattering.
He spotted the rose on his dresser, the extra that he had taken from Mark’s supply with intentions of giving to Yaya before some illogical motor ran his mouth off about her hugging other men and that whole jealousy exchange took place. Then he remembered the birthday gifts from Yuke and thought how dismal his single rose looked in comparison. It wasn’t even red; didn’t guys in commercials usually give red roses to women?
Nadech snorted, also recalling seeing a fluffy teddy bear in Yaya’s arms when they got home. What a senseless gift, in his opinion. What was she supposed to do with it besides let it collect dust on her bed and give her allergies from the dust?
Nadech shook his head in displeasure at the thought that something from Yuke would actually be sitting on Yaya’s bed. Suddenly, a mischievous idea formed in his head. It was obvious she didn’t like Yuke but was too polite to reject his gifts. Maybe he should help her dispose of them. He could simply tiptoe over there, take the bear and she would never suspect what happened. He could get Boy to give it to a child at the hospital.
The fact that he was scheming to kidnap a teddy bear made Nadech realize how ridiculous he was being and that only people who were jealous could ever think up such bizarre thoughts, and he certainly was
not jealous. But Nadech was well aware that his uncharacteristic behavior was as irrational as jealousy and his verbal responses were as careless and intense as love. He dropped backwards and forced himself to sleep.
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Yaya started awake when a knocking bang interrupted her slumber. As her mind cleared of sleep fog, she realized the insistent sound was coming from that middle door and quickly rolled out of bed to answer it. The door opened and Nadech ordered, “Get dressed and meet me downstairs.”
That was all and he closed the door. Her blinking eyes found the luminous alarm clock on the table that told her it was only five am.
“Where are we going?”
Nadech had walked past the garage and out the gates without a word when she appeared outside.
“Just follow me.”
Rubbing her eyes, Yaya yawned and her less than awake body stumbled along the sidewalk. She bumped into Nadech. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
Lips pursed, he wrapped her hand into his and led her onwards.
The sky was tinged with a glowing pink, forecasting a full sun after the greyness of the past few days. A tower came into view and soon the entire playground lay before her eyes. Nadech still had not said a word to her, so she simply followed his lead and grabbed a swing next to him.
Neither of them tried to swing high. When the peeking sun was starting to burn the back of her neck while the crisp air gnawed at her fingertips, Yaya finally said, “Wanna clue me in on why we’re swinging at five in the morning? I’m sure it would have been just as fun with the sun out and my belly filled properly.” Okay, so she wasn’t a morning person, plus he was making her agitated with the stiff silent attitude.
Finally, Nadech leaped from the swing and took two steps to face her. “I was jealous.”
That woke her up, though she wasn’t completely sure she had heard right.
Nadech sighed. “It’s been bothering me the whole night and I realized it would be juvenile of me to deny it.” Hadn’t he proclaimed to her before that he was a straightforward person? So he could not hide this time either, even though jealousy itself was an immature feeling.
“Wait.” She set her feet on the ground to still the swing. “What were you jealous of? Me and Yuke?”
With reluctance, he answered, “Yes.” He winced ever so slightly having to admit to that emotion multiple times, as if he had never met such humiliation before.
“Really?” She was skeptical because he had barely reacted to the hug from Yuke.
Nadech glared at her, as if daring her to ask him to repeat his confession one more time. “Yes.”
“But we’re just friends.” She huffed. “Less than friends now, actually. He crossed the line last night.”
“Nevertheless, I was upset when you hugged him and I realized…you were right. Jealousy is irrelevant to what you feel for someone else. It’s what I feel for you.”
Although he was eyeing her very grimly, with his most serious straight face, Yaya couldn’t help the giddiness that bubbled within her that Nadech actually got jealous over something so…
“But a hug is so trivial,” she remarked. “Didn’t you say jealousy is a waste of energy?”
“Well…” Nadech recalled Oh’s defensive argument from the hotel. “So if I hugged other women, you would be completely fine with that?”
She started to say ‘yes’ but a flashback of Kim hugging Nadech stopped her. She hadn’t particularly liked that image, and much less when they had kissed, even though Kim and Nadech’s relationship was platonic. Yaya was even more bothered by the memory of View holding his arm, even though anyone could tell he had no interest in View.
Her mouth contracted in a little frown. She met his expectant gaze and admitted, “Well, no. I’ve already said that I don’t like seeing you with other people.”
“See? This is
not trivial.” Nadech’s brow puckered in displeasure and he suddenly took her hand into his. “Holding hands is not trivial.” He tugged her up and encircled her with his arms tightly. “A hug is not trivial. And neither is this.” Without letting her go, he kissed her full on the mouth, demonstrating every act of a lover he had somehow saved to be shared first and foremost with her.
Pressing his forehead to hers, he said softly, “You are not trivial to me.” He now knew the meaning of having a significant other.
Yaya breathed his name, besieged by the strength of his feelings. “Haven’t I already let you know that I don’t have feelings for anyone else? With me and Yuke, our friendship can’t even be salvaged. I can’t be around someone who doesn’t respect the man I love.” Her eyes glowed brilliantly in the rising sun, indicating to him who that person was, and she didn’t have to repeat those three words out loud to remind him that she loves him.
Nadech averted his gaze for a second and returned to implore her. “Sorry for being unreasonable last night.” He grimaced. “It was immature of me to hold those things against you.” Especially after he had mightily declared his indifference to jealousy. With relief, he observed the amusement on her beautiful face.
“No. I should have been considerate of how things would seem to you. I definitely don’t want to see you hug another woman, unless she is someone very, very close.” She peered up at him sternly. “You weren’t jealous of Mark too were you? Because he’s a close friend.”
He gave a breathy laugh. “No.”
“Then why did you comment about me congratulating him with a hug?” she asked skeptically.
“To be honest, I was miffed about Yuke’s hug when we entered the hotel but I couldn’t bring myself to acknowledge it at the time.” He tilted his head. “Then I noticed that you fixed Mark’s tie for him and then hugged him and that got my imagination rolling with what Oh said.” Nadech scowled at Mario’s knack to make him irritated, even though they were the best of friends. He looked back her. “I just noticed that you’ve never done that to me before…”
She cocked her head thoughtfully. “Well your tie is never in need of adjusting. It’s always perfect.”
“Huh.”
As he considered that, she realized there was another issue that he might be upset with. Her teeth scraped her bottom lip. “Do you want me to not keep Yuke’s gifts?”
He shrugged. “The flowers are pretty.”
“What about the bear?”
“Max could use a new chew toy.”
They stared at each other for a split second before sharing a euphonious laughter.
He stuck his hand in his pocket, feeling for the black box he had discovered in his room the day they returned. “I’m sorry I didn’t get you anything for your birthday.”
Knowing he was going to ask if she wanted a gift, Yaya replied quickly, “You got Max for me. And staying at the estate was a gift in itself.”
Nadech appreciated that about her, the fact that she treasured the small things while others might seek material gifts. His hand resurfaced, empty, because he could tell she was being honest and it wasn’t necessary for that black box to be opened now anyway. Instead, his hand reached into his jacket and produced the simple rose from last night, bringing it up between them for her delight.
The tip of her nose brushed the petals to catch its fragrance. “Thank you.”
Click: I Can’t Wait
“And Yaya, you don’t need my permission for anything that is your personal possession. Even if the person who gave them to you is not favored.” With a grave manner, he assured her, “I don’t plan on letting this jealousy last. I suppose last night I was more resentful because of the history you have with him, but I’m not anymore.”
“Why is that?” she asked curiously.
“Because I’m using more energy to think for the future I have with you.” A smile touched her eyes for his pleasure to view. Because he didn’t have a gift for her, he wanted to at least be honest, to both of them. A gentle breeze whistled above, but even a storm couldn’t have drowned out his words. “I love you.” If he once thought it might be hard to say those words, he now knew it was not, because they were uttered in truth.
Yaya could have skipped and danced around the playground after hearing the reciprocation of her love. But that would mean missing out on the kiss he pressed to her forehead which made her feel as if their love was secured at last.
Indeed, she was very significant to him. He had found someone to live the present for.
“Thank you.”
“What for?” he asked.
“For telling me how you feel.”
He too felt grateful for this moment in time, for this unforeseen opportunity to invest in matters so deep and fulfilling. For years, he had been detached and searching for something that eluded him so ruthlessly, it was like being lost in the billions of stars with nothing to guide him home. With each new heartthrob for Yaya, Nadech felt himself finally falling where he belonged.
“I promise that from now on, I’ll be honest with you about how I feel. That way, we don’t have to waste time questioning each other.”
“Seriously?” She squinted at him.
He smiled. “Yeah.”
“Okay. No secrets from each other.”
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It was six thirty when they got back, and they quietly returned to their rooms, but Yaya motioned him over to her side. “Remember I wanted to show you something the other day?”
He nodded. “What is it?”
She opened up a drawer and held out the brand new photo album to him.
Nadech eyed it warily. “Is this some kind of test to see if I’m being possessive?”
She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Isn’t that one of your photo albums with the pictures of, you know, that guy?” He had to remind himself he was no longer jealous, but still wasn’t too eager to view what were obviously the pictures of Yaya and Yuke.
Yaya’s lips twitched uncontrollably into a smirk. He was wrong of course, but she wanted to see how he would react. “Yeah. I want you to look at the pictures.”
His brow darkened with disbelief. “Are you serious?”
She peered innocently up at him. “You have nothing to worry about. Go on. Take a look at all of them.”
He exhaled heavily and reluctantly received the unwelcome album. He opened it and started flipping through the pages. The problem was, his determined eyes had not left her face.
She couldn’t hold in her amused laugh any longer. “Hey, that’s cheating! You have to look at the pictures.”
In exasperation he gave in by dropping himself onto her bed and looked down. Catching sight of reality, Nadech’s hands stopped as the album opened to a photo of him leaning on the railing of the estate house’s open balcony. Sunlight dappled his face while his dimple left a deep shadow in his cheek. A lock of hair had been tossed upon his forehead by the wind.
“It’s not finished yet. Do you like it?” Yaya asked, taking a seat next to him.
He nodded, a smile playing faintly on his lips, turning another page. Though he knew the person on each frame was him, Nadech rarely had reason to look at himself in the mirror so seeing such delight in his 2-D self was surprising. It was hard to accept--that is, until he glanced up and caught the face of the person who was responsible for each alien smile captured in those photos. The man in the photo album was truly lucky.
He looked up at her and his eyes were exactly as mesmerizing as when he had told her he loves her. “Do you think I could finish the last couple of pages?”
She hesitated. “But it’s a gift for you. It isn’t appropriate for you to have to work on it.”
“Trust me. You won’t be disappointed.” He could tell she needed further convincing. “Please?” Like the morning sky, her face grew warm with a glowing blush hearing his soft plea and she agreed. “Thank you. There are many things I have to thank you for."
Her eyes softened, fingers brushing his hand, that instinctive search to be near one another flooding both. He set aside the photo album of their growing memories and without even having to think it through, she was in his arms.
With unrestrained fervor he caught her bottom lip with his. Their hot mouths pressed and puckered in luscious synchrony and soon, tongues peeked past lips in yearning. Her hand wriggled near his collar and he tilted his head more while kissing her harder.
“Th…” He kissed her words away. “The others…” Yaya managed to say in between each kiss.
“Are gone,” he reminded her, though it was not without a warning to himself that just because they were alone, they should not be doing anything against propriety. Why could he not stop then? Perhaps it was the liberation of finally realizing how much he felt for her; perhaps it was because she felt just as passionately for him; perhaps it was because Nadech loved talking to her, loved looking at her, loved kissing her.
He loved her. He loved. The truth of that was overwhelming his very being. But his heart kept wanting to pour out that love towards her, and so, it kept him in a delicate balance. And at that moment, that balance was sliding his control just off the fence. She was his and he had twenty five years of kisses and embraces to make up for. “Just once more…”
She sighed his name and one more turned into two and three and so on until they were breathless with racing hearts.
Yaya felt the thrill of his touch and heard the hazards of where their mutual desires could lead them. “We should stop…” She pecked the corner of his lips.
He grazed kisses from her chin down her neck. “M-hm…”
But neither were obeying their words. Until they felt something push space between them and heard a quiet whimper. Eyes darted down and landed on Max, who had woken up and obviously felt left out.
Turning to the side, Nadech ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath. What in the world was wrong with him? Could he not be left alone with Yaya without fearing he would devour her? But she was his happiness and happiness was an addiction. The temptation to bathe in her essence was now out of his control. Inside, he laughed at himself for the sudden ridiculous thought that he had to mark Yaya as his when she had shown over and over to him that she cares for him. Even now, the only reason he knew to trust in love was because of her. She was priceless and deserved the utmost respect.
“Good boy Max.” He rubbed the puppy’s ear and forced himself up. “I’m going to get ready for work. Again, thanks.” He smiled brightly and picked up the photo album that she had all but forgotten.
Before leaving though, Nadech pulled her up beside the bed. His eyes seared hers tenderly. "Remember, this belongs to me." Slowly, with the utmost concentration, his head angled down to claim her lips. Yaya closed her eyes, feeling the warm and gentle sensation that neither of them would ever forget. The kiss was a slight pucker, which he pulled back from. Next, his arms that had cradled her waist released her; finally, as he stepped away, his fingers unfurled and their hands that extended in mid-air slid palm against palm, until fingertips ached with the last lingering touch.
When the door closed off his presence, Yaya let herself fall on her back on the mattress. “Bad boy Max.” She chuckled to herself, cuddling her greyhound puppy.
-------------Author's note :fanfic:
Warning: Updates might be slow for the next week or two. But then again, I might slip in more writing time than I expect.
Anyway, that's why I thought I'd treat you to that little, ahem, makeout scene. >< I hope it doesn't seem like their only connection is physical. I've try to set out an emotional foundation that allows the two of them to be so freed from inhibitions (especially Nadech) that they just won't be able to resist getting closer on every level of intimacy there is. lol Thank you to all readers! :heart:
music credit: Koko26ish at youtube.
jjinxx
thanks for the awesome update!
