"Get up! Mom might see us!" Adeline tried getting off his grip.
"She won't. I locked the door." Nicholas looked at her lips. "Don't you think I—"
Adeline covered his mouth. "No. A big no! Don't even think of trying to kiss me!"
"You told me you'd do anything to pay me back in return for taking care of your parents."
"Except that."
"You didn't say that it wasn't allowed."
"It's forbidden then." Adeline grabbed a pillow and placed it in between them. "Let's go. We're running late for work."
"What if I don't want to?" Nicholas pulled the blanket over them. "I wanna stay like this."
"Are you—"
"I get to take a leave whenever I want."
"B-But you have a lot of meetings today!"
"Cancel all of them. I wanna rest."
Adeline's mouth dropped open. "Do you know that these people are from—"
"Shhhh!" Nicholas placed his finger on her lips. "I just wanna be with you." he closed his eyes. "This won't last forever anyway."
Adeline did wanted to be with him, but why did she have to deny her feelings? They both felt the same way, so why did she have to push him away? Was she afraid of trying to love him again or was she afraid of getting hurt for the same reason?
"I..." Adeline sat up. "W-Why do you still like me?"
"Do I need a reason to? I just like you." Nicholas stood up and wore his shirt. "I like you because of who you are. Can't I?"
"When do you think it's gonna stop?"
"The what?"
"Your feelings for me."
Nicholas sat down beside her. "I don't think it ever will."
Adeline flushed, trying to look away. "W-What if I end up falling for another man?"
"I won't allow you to."
"You can't control—"
"I'll win you back." Nicholas looked at her. "You're mine."
"What if you don't?"
"Are you looking down on me?"
Adeline shook her head. "I'm just curious."
"If that man treats you well, then I guess I'll have to let you go—"
Without even letting him finish what he was saying, Adeline unexpectedly knotted her fists in his shirt before bringing her face closer.
Adeline flashed his eyes angrily at him. "So that's what you're gonna do? That's it? You're giving up?"
"W-Why does it seem to bother you so much...?" Nicholas scratched his head. "Weren't you just curious?"
"You're letting me go? I thought you weren't gonna give up? You told me that you'd continue to love me despite that!"
"You..."
As soon as Adeline realized what she meant, she instantly covered her mouth before taking a few steps back. "I-I...apologize... I guess I was just—"
"Are you testing me?"
"You?" Adeline laughed. "Of course not! What are you saying?"
"The way how you got angry when I said that... Do-Do you have feelings for me...?"
"In your dreams! Like I said, I was just curious."
"Stop lying. I can see it all in your eyes."
"I know what I'm doing." Adeline turned back before taking a deep breath. "I guess you could say that I was just—"
"Why can't you just admit it? Why do you have to make things harder for both of us?"
"W-What...?"
Nicholas grabbed her wrist and turned her around before she crashed into his chest. "You think this is easy for me too?" he pulled her closer. "Don't you think I've waited long enough? Don't you think it's time that I let you go?"
"D-Do what you want..."
"So you're still not gonna admit it?"
"I told you that I don't—"
"I'll make you say it then," Nicholas said before leaning down to kiss her. His lips were warm and inviting, but the Adeline didn't respond. She just stood there and waited for him to release her.
A moment later, Adeline broke the kiss. "You think this is still gonna work?"