His mouth took control over mine, igniting a surge of heat rising over my neck. My heart pounds like I ran a marathon, and my eyes forgot to blink. I couldn't comprehend what was happening around me, as time seemed to be frozen in my body. I never moved; I stayed still motionless, my hands still on the table, and only my fingers turned. His hand behind my nose was gentle, and his lips left me speechless. He unlocks, allowing us to catch some air, and again, he kisses me. My ties curl in intensity as I stare at him, his eyes closed.
He is performing a kind of enchantment, leaving me questioning why I would even entertain the idea of allowing him to kiss me. Yet, despite my reservations, I find myself secretly hoping that this moment never comes to an end. In all honesty, I must admit that I am thoroughly enjoying this experience. Uncertain of the morality behind it, I cannot deny that his touch evokes a distinct and unfamiliar sensation within me, setting it apart from any other encounters I have had.
Mr. Han's eyes slowly open, locking onto mine, and I gasp. He seizes the opportunity, and his tongue slips into my mouth, leaving me momentarily stunned. His eyes convey a complex mix of emotions, though I struggle to decipher their true meaning. I couldn't work on my mind with it as I became lost in the fervour of his passionate kiss.
Anna, where have your self-confidence gone? I'm in a restaurant with my boss, freaking kissing him.
A smirk forms on his lips, abruptly pulling me out of my dazed state. I instinctively push him away, averting my gaze. My cheeks flush with heat, and my heart races uncontrollably. In that moment, he has managed to completely unravel me, leaving me feeling dishevelled and overwhelmed.
"You see," I hear him say, his voice lingering in amusement. "This girl, my assistant, her presence isn't impolite. We are together."
"You gotta pay for this, Han," Lara rants, completely riled up. She grabs her handbag, and she leaves immediately.
I gaze down at my hand, nervously twirling my fingers, still in disbelief over what just happened. This was sudden. I didn't expect him to do that.
Curios to know what he was doing, I turned to my right to steal a quick glance at him. To my surprise, he chuckles softly, his thumb gently caressing his upper lip. My eyes widened as I noticed the remnants of mousse, which were on my lips, were now transferred to his. With a mischievous grin, he rubs it off with his thumb and playfully licks it away.
Reaching for a tissue, he wipes his hand clean. Before he gazes at me, I look away. He leans to his left, his warm breath grazing my skin, leaving a trail of tingling sensations. It seems like I made you lose your appetite. He murmurs.
"I'll drive you home," he says nonchalantly, rising from his seat and walking away, leaving us fuddled once again.
Without even sparing him a glance, I climb into the car and grab my glasses from the dashboard. Settling back into my seat, I take a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself. However, the car remains motionless, and I can sense Mr. Han's gaze fixed on me. I try my best to ignore it, but the awkwardness of the situation weighs heavily on me, and I can't help but feel embarrassed for not reacting sooner at that moment. Why the fuck on earth didn't I budge back when he kissed me? I just enjoyed and allowed Mr. Han, the crazy man, to kiss me. I hated myself for doing that; it was instant regret.
After the short moment of killing silence, which felt like a year, the jingling sound of the key broke the stillness. Slowly, I steal a sideways glance at him. He meets my gaze and leans towards me, rising from his seat.
In a reflexive motion, my hand flies to cover my mouth as I lean back in my seat. The left corner of his lips twitches to a smirk as he looks at me.
He points to the side of my seat. "The seatbelt," he blurts out, his smirk still intact.
I nod, quickly fastening the seatbelt before he has a chance to do it for me. He retreats back to his seat, fidgeting with the handle of my bag. I fix my gaze straight ahead, trying to distract myself from the intrusive image of Mr. Han and me sharing a kiss that haunts my mind.
As soon as I get out of the car, I rush into the elevator; luckily, I don't have to wait for it. I repeatedly press the button to close the doors before Mr. Han can reach them, but unfortunately, he manages to slip his arm in just before they shut. Letting out a vexed sigh, I avert my gaze as he stands next to me. I want to confront him about his earlier actions, but in his presence, I feel small.
Regret floods over me for not pulling away sooner at that moment. He surely knew I enjoyed it, and that makes me embarrassed. I didn't appreciate what he did, but I can't deny the fact that it had an impact.
Summoning my courage, I finally look at him. He stands tall, his gaze fixed on an empty space, his hands casually tucked into his pockets as if he hadn't committed anything wrong.
"Mr. Han, don't you owe me an explanation? I demand, crossing my arms with my chin high in the air.
He looks down at me. "Do I?" he asks, raising a brow amusingly.
My jaw dropped in disbelief. I expected him to explain himself or at least apologize. Is this his way of doing things—kissing anyone he wants without their consent?
"You know what? I shouldn't have agreed to this crap. I mutter angrily under my breath, storming out of the elevator.
"Good night, Ms. Anna," he calls after me like we had a polite conversation seconds ago.
I stomp my feet harder on the floor, purposefully ignoring him. As I enter my house, I slam the door shut in his face as he watches me. Throwing my bag onto the sofa, I collapse onto it, seething with anger. Grabbing the jug from the coffee table, I pour myself a glass of water, gulping it down in frustration. Slamming the glass back onto the table, I can't help but feel a mix of emotions.
Entering my apartment, I slam the door shut in his face as he watches me. Throwing my bag onto the sofa, I collapse onto it, seething with anger. Grabbing the jug from the coffee table, I pour myself a glass of water, gulping it down in frustration. Slamming the glass back onto the table, I can't help but feel a mix of emotions.
I burry my face in my hands. Damn, I can't stop thinking about it. My hands make their way into my scalps, and a lpud groan escapes my lips. Why? Why didn't I pull back? This is driving me insane...
"I hate this; I shouldn't have agreed to this sh*t, so nothing would have happened. How could he do it?
I'm aware that tonight is going to be hectic, and I wish sleep overtook me soon.
***********
"Sundays are the best! Emma exclaims, rising from her stool and lifting her glass of soda high.
"Let's celebrate the partnership between you two," she sings in a drowsy tone. Dylan and I grab our glasses and raise them; his is filled with soda, while mine contains apple juice.
It's not that I don't drink; it's just that I tend to lose control when I'm drunk and I get overly tipsy easily, so fresh juice is the best option to stay in my consciousness.
"Cheers," we say in unison as we sit back down.
Taking a BBQ stick, I savour the flavour as I bite into the meat. It transports me to another world, for a moment, erasing the events of the past few days and stirring excitement in my taste buds.
Emma, Dylan, and I came out for fun. We had lunch at their place, and Dylan's mom's cooking is the best. She is kind and loving, always treating me like a member of their family.
Ordering a third plate, I grab the last stick and devour it.
"What's on your mind? You're eating a lot today," Dylan asks in concern.
I have a tendency to overeat or drink excessive soda when I'm stressed, and my mind is now consumed by thoughts of Mr. Han. The kiss—our kiss—never disappears from my head. I had a hard time last night. I'm glad it was Monday so I could wake up late, but still, I made sure to leave early this morning, avoiding any chance of running into him. I plan to avoid him for as long as possible, for my own well-being, but that is impossible because he is my boss and he lives next door.
"What time did you get home last night? Dylan questions, while I remain silent, what to do at work tomorrow.
"Anna, did Mr. Han give you a safe ride?" he asks.
"Yes, dude. I got home early last night," I lie.
I feel guilty for lying to Dylan, but I can't bring myself to tell him that Mr. Han kissed me and that we went on a date to help him out. How can I tell him I agreed to it for his lousy action? It would only humiliate me further.
"I was just worried," he says, taking a sip of his drink.
"You don't have to be," I shove off, grabbing another stick to fill my stomach and clear my mind as the thought of Mr. Han continues to haunt me. Once the plates and glasses are empty, I check the time.
"It's almost 7. I have to go," I say, putting on my bag.
"Let me send you home," Dylan insists, rising from his stool.
Glancing at Emma, who is now slumped over the table in a deep slumber, I shrug. No matter how many times we've tried to wake her up, she remains unresponsive.
"You need to take your sister home, and don't forget to give her the honey water before Mom finds out," I remind him.
"She needs to control herself. How can she even be my twin? He grumbles as he bends and hoists Emma onto his back, giving her a piggyback ride.
"See you! I wave at them as I walk away, leaving them behind. Emma really needs to get a grip to control herself. Although Dylan and Emma are twins, they couldn't be more different.
I decided to take a walk and enjoy the chilly climate on my way back to the apartment, as it's not too far from the BBQ bar. Pulling out my buzzing phone, I read a message from Dylan.
Buddy: Be safe. Go home before it rains.
I smile, appreciating his caring nature. My pace quickened as the clouds began to get darker, the lightning serving as a reminder. My feet come to a halt on the pavement by the apartment at the soft purr of a cat. I walk over closer to the green area, a home of number plants. A spontaneous smile makes its way onto my lips when I notice a cute little kitten, drenched and possibly injured. It looks at me with pleading eyes, enough to melt anyone's heart.
"Don't look at me like that," I complain, pointing at it. "No pets are allowed in my apartment," I explain, as if the kitten can understand. It purrs again, and I definitely pity it. A few drops of rain begin to fall, turning into a drizzle.
"Alright, forget it," I say, scooping it up in my arms. I rush back to the apartment, regretting not taking a taxi. If I had, I wouldn't have seen the kitten, gotten drenched, or worried about being caught by my peculiar landlord.
I hold the kitten close to my chest in the elevator, trying to keep it dry. As the doors open, I step out silently, aware that pets are prohibited here and to avoid Mr. Han.
My wet shoes squeak on the floor, and I slowly glance behind to find his door. A real-eyed smile creeps onto my face, knowing that he isn't here. I turn around and head towards my door.
Creak!
I pause, my fingers grasping the door knob.
"Ms. Anna," he calls out curiously.
"See you at work, Mr. Han," I reply, swiftly entering my home and shutting the door in the blink of an eye.
Tomorrow is going to be a chaotic day.