The wind wetted her cheeks as she took a long drag. Her mouth was warm but her fingers were cold.
She stretched her other hand under the eaves, letting the rain wash it.
After a while, she thoughtlessly stepped under the rain.
The raindrops instantly doused the cig's ember.
Who knew how long she stood there but she suddenly felt the rain stop around her place only.
This jolted her awake and she raised her eyes only to see a worried soft gaze and thick eyelashes.
"You've been here for 20 minutes? Are you crazy?! You... Max..."
He licked his lips then gulped. The words about to leave his lips were rather unbelievable but he decided to ask anyway.
Someone from the company called him. He just learned of the things she did. To do so much for a former classmate without asking for anything in return...
"...Do you... like me?"
The cold might have frozen her brain but his voice seemed low and magnetic.
"Still not obvious?" She automatically leaned to his body heat.
Out of topic, she asked: "When did flower boy Yel's body become so sturdy and reliable?"
Max might have become delirious as she whispered this. She was just used to him relying on her that she forgot she also needed someone to hold.
She felt so lost right now.
After believing time reversed for her to pursue him, she was confronted with the question: What was there to pursue?
"Why is CEO Max crying?" Gabriel's voice was distressed.
She felt his smooth fingers wiping her hot tears away.
This was the first time he saw such a vulnerable side to Max.
Her lips were trembling from the cold and tears blurred her almond eyes. She looked like a child whose favorite toy was taken away.
He gently pushed her back to the storefront where they could be sheltered from the rain as he wrapped an arm around her waist to transfer some warmth to her.
He had his fair share of women outside the production set but she surprisingly snugly fit in his embrace.
She didn't reply as slow sobs rose from her throat.
Gabriel never noticed their height difference until now that they were standing so close to each other and he looked at her from above.
Maybe it was because Max always had a huge impact on him.
He saw her as an arrogant tyrant. She seemed so big compared to him.
But now, she was softly crying in his arms.
There was an unreasonable ache in his heart as he felt the sobs shaking her shoulders.
Once Max realized that she was crying, she couldn't stop it. She felt helpless against the outpour of her tears.
When did she last cry this hard? She couldn't even remember.
"Shhh." Gabriel couldn't take seeing her so pained.
Why did her cries feel so heartbreaking?
Unconsciously tightening his arm around her, it felt right holding her as opposed to the insecurity, guilt and selfish pleasure he felt when it was Mikee holding him.
He didn't feel this way holding any other woman either.
His eyes flashed as a memory passed his thoughts. It was a long time ago but how many times did his teenage self picture him bullying his bully?
Now that it sort of came true, he didn't feel nice one bit.
He raised a hand to rub the side of her pale lips. His eyes kept darting back to them since earlier.
"Sorry," he whispered.
Her eyes met his for a moment.
He didn't know why he was apologizing.
Was it because he hurt her? Or was it because of what he was about to do?
Still, Gabriel leaned down and gingerly placed his lips above hers.
The scent of tobacco still lingering on hers.
Her eyes slowly closed showing her assent.
Something stirred inside him but he wasn't sure what it was.
He wanted to know.
His hold on her tightening, his tongue hesitantly caressed her soft lips. As expected, the hint of smoke teased his taste buds.
But Max didn't expect this action, eliciting a slight gasp from her mouth.
The other took this chance, his tongue freely gaining entrance and conquering as he pleased.
It took a while for her to respond, her hand clasped the back of his head, the other to his collar.
With flames dancing inside their mouths, they felt their hearts hammering across the zero distance between their bodies.
Gabriel never felt this empowered with swirling sweetness in between.
His hands started to explore in adoration. The softness of her body melted his insides and the aggressive fire of her touches made his knees go weak.
He had a sudden urge to worship her in fullness. To see the goddess hiding behind these fabrics. To make her body the temple of his desires.
It was abrupt and uncontrollable.
A feeling he never had with anyone.
Even the thought of doing it with Mikee wasn't as divine as this.
Breathless, they stopped.
"I want you." He declared unabashed.
It was the 'I don't give a damn about the world' kind of want.
He'd been drowning in confusion these past few days as he held untoward thoughts toward a person of the same sex.
He thought it was lust. Even called it infatuation.
He felt ready to identify his gender as gay and maybe even start a relationship with the person he was eyeing.
But this...
It was so... So different with Max.
Have you ever felt holding someone and know deep inside you, no matter what that person would be in the future, you'd still be holding them?
Max held him that way.
He could clearly feel it.
And it felt so safe being held by her.
Max looked up at him, her eyes curving into crescents, her lips red and slightly swelling.
Hooking her arms around his neck, Gabriel found the little asterisk tattoo under her eye alluring.
"You want me?" She asked in a deep sultry voice, pulling him down to her level.
He hummed in reply, seemingly hypnotized by her eyes and anticipating another hot make-out session.
Contrary to expectations though, she whispered harshly: "You better deal with that little lover of yours first. I won't be your rebound!"
Dazed, Gabriel didn't even notice her slipping out of his embrace.
When he turned around, she was already walking like the tyrant that she was out of the alley.
He let out a laugh.
Why didn't he notice that CEO Max looked so sexy no matter what she did?
Sexier than any man or woman on earth.
He hurriedly followed after picking up the umbrella that must have fallen some time earlier.
Once beside her, she scowled up at him.
He laughed lightheartedly, pulled her waist and pecked her lips.
With a low voice, he uttered on her lips. "Who said I have a lover? Our relationship ended before it began when he started blackmailing me."
He pulled away before she could shove him off.
"But if it will make you satisfied, I'll file a case against him."
He wove his fingers around hers and brought them to his lips.
"Then, I'll tell everyone that I'm pursuing the 'Zero Suitors' CEO Max."
The light was scarce to illuminate Max's red face but she still felt uncomfortable.
"You... You!" With nothing to say, she uttered the first words on the top of her mind. "You're my obedient xiao shou and I'm your reliable xiao gong!"
Once out of the alley, she opened the car door and slammed it shut after getting in.
The flower boy blinked a few times before laughing, his pearly teeth on display.
The window rolled down but before she could yell at him again, he replied.
"Yes, don't be angry. I'll obey you."
He also got in and the limo drove under the thick sheet of rain.
Everything changed starting from that moment.
And this change was something they would both be grateful for, for the rest of their lives.
-fin-