He grab my hand and we move to his office,
the tension from the chairman's proposal still hung in the air.
Leo closed the door and curtain behind us,
He looked overwhelmed with confusion at the same time.
He looked up at me, his gaze sweeping over mine.
"Melody, what about your boyfriend?
I don't want you breaking up with him just because of what my father said.
This whole situation is ridiculous."
Surprised, I blinked at him.
"Hold on, Mr. Cyprus... Boyfriend? What are you talking about?"
Leo rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable.
"I saw you the other night with that guy. I thought… I assumed he was your boyfriend."
I was trying to piece together what he was saying, so my mind was frantic.
Then it flashed on me that he had actually seen me with Zake.
A chuckle suddenly emerged in me.
and I couldn't help but smile at Leo's anxious look.
"I see, so you thought Zake was my boyfriend?"
I said, still chuckling.
"So that's why you were so upset yesterday!
You saw me with another guy,
and instead of asking, you just assumed the worst."
I stepped closer, teasing him lightly. "Leo, are you jealous?"
Leo's face reddened slightly,
and he looked away,
clearly caught off guard by my question.
"No, I—" he stammered, but his hesitation spoke volumes.
Leo's cheeks flushed,
and he crossed his arms defensively,
his voice taking on a childish, almost sulky tone.
"Well, what else was I supposed to think?
You two were hugging like lovebirds who couldn't bear to be apart,"
he muttered, sounding more like he was ranting than making a serious accusation.
His rudeness made me smile because I felt it was cute and amusing how he responded to it.
"Leo, you truly surprise me,"
I shook my head.
"Zake's not my boyfriend. He's my childhood friend,
more like a sibling than anything else.
We were just catching up because he visit me here to check if I'm okay.
That hug? It was just like a brother-sister hug, nothing more."
Leo's expression shifted,
embarrassment flickering across his face as he realized his mistake.
I could see the tension slowly melting away,
and I felt a rush of warmth knowing that his reaction was
fueled by something more than just concern—something closer to jealousy.
You know, there was a time when I liked Zake,"
I confessed, my voice soft but sincere.
"Back then, I thought he was everything I wanted,
but those feelings were just a fleeting crush, nothing serious."
Leo's eyes remained on me,
a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze.
I took a step closer, my heart pounding as I continued.
"But now, there's someone else in my heart.
Someone who's stubborn, infuriating, and completely unpredictable…
but also kind, caring, and always there when it matters."
I looked at him meaningfully, hoping he'd understand without me having to say his name.
Leo's breath hitched slightly,
and I could see the realization dawning in his eyes.
The room seemed to shrink around us, the distance between us feeling smaller than ever.
Leo stood there, staring at me as my words hung in the air,
his expression a mixture of surprise and something more—something raw
and vulnerable that I hadn't seen in him before.
For a moment, it felt like time had stopped,
the silence between us charged with unspoken emotions.
Without warning, Leo stepped forward,
closing the remaining distance between us in a heartbeat.
Before I could even process what was happening,
his hands gently cupped my face,
his touch warm and tender.
He hesitated for just a second,
searching my eyes as if seeking permission, and then his lips were on mine.
His breathing uneven as if he was still reeling from my confession.
The tension between us felt electric, pulling us closer despite everything that had happened.
We weren't strangers to this—this was our second kiss,
but somehow, it felt just as intense, just as charged with meaning.
Without a word, Leo's hands found their way to my waist,
drawing me in with a sense of urgency.
There was no hesitation this time,
no second-guessing.
His lips captured mine with a familiarity that spoke of the past moments we had shared,
yet the kiss still held the same fire,
the same unspoken promises.
It was passionate and a little reckless,
like we were both surrendering to the inevitable pull between us.
I clung to him, my fingers threading through his hair,
and for a moment, everything else faded away.
It was just us—wrapped up in each other,
letting the world outside cease to matter.
When we finally pulled away,
Leo rested his forehead against mine,
our breaths mingling in the small space between us.
"We really need to stop making this a habit,"
he joked lightly, though his voice was still tinged with a mix of longing and relief.
"Or maybe… we don't."
I chuckled softly, feeling a warmth spread through my chest.
"I don't think I mind it being a habit," I confessed, my voice barely a whisper.
Leo's smile was tender,
his thumb brushing against my cheek.
"Neither do I," he murmured, and in that moment,
it was clear—we weren't just dancing around our feelings anymore.
We were diving straight in, and there was no going back.
"You know," I began, still catching my breath,
"you're the first guy I've ever kissed.
I've never had a boyfriend since birth, and this was our second kiss already after our confessions"
Leo's sudden burst of laughter interrupted me,
his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Second time? Melody, this is our third kiss,"
he corrected, clearly enjoying my confusion.
I blinked at him, stunned.
"Wait, what third? How could it be the third already?" I asked, genuinely baffled.
Leo leaned back into his chair,
a smug smile playing on his lips.
"Try to remember,"
he teased, crossing his arms as if daring me to figure it out.
I racked my brain,
replaying every interaction we'd had.
My cheeks grew warm as the pieces finally clicked into place,
my mind flashing back to the night after the dinner party.
I had brushed it off as a dream or maybe some wild imagination
but now it all came rushing back.
That stolen moment, the whispered words, the warmth of his lips against mine.
"You mean… that night after the dinner party?"
I gasped, my eyes wide with realization.
Leo's grin widened, and he nodded, smiling as he teased, that clearly delighted by my reaction.
I covered my face with my hands,
both embarrassed and amused.
"What the H, I really thought It was just a dream?!
No wonder you were acting so weird after,"
I laughed, peeking at him through my fingers.
Leo chuckled, leaning forward with a playful glint in his eyes.
"Well, now that you remember, does it count as our first kiss?
Or should I still work on making the next one unforgettable?"
I playfully nudged him, shaking my head with a grin.
"Unbelievable. You're never going to let me live this down, are you?"
Leo shrugged, pretending to consider it.
"Nope, not a chance," he said, his laughter filling the room.
I couldn't help but laugh with him,
the awkwardness melting into something light and warm.
In that moment, sitting across from him,
the line between teasing and something deeper blurred,
and I knew this was just the start of something far more complicated
and thrilling than either of us had planned.
Leo shifted back to his desk,
picking up the stack of papers and diving back into his work,
his focus sharp as he signed each document with practiced ease.
I watched him, my heart still racing from our conversation,
and I hesitated before speaking up.
"So… does this mean we're in a relationship now?
You know, like… you're my boyfriend?" I asked,
trying to sound casual but feeling the flutter of nerves beneath my words.
Leo didn't look up from his papers, but a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Boyfriend?"
he repeated, pausing to glance at me with that familiar teasing glint in his eyes.
"You're wrong, I'm not your boyfriend, Melody."
I blinked, completely caught off guard.
"W-What do you mean?" I stammered, feeling my cheeks heat up.
He set down his pen and leaned back in his chair,
crossing his arms with an air of confidence.
"I'm your fiancé now, remember?