A Different Proposal

A bright ray of sun peeking through the gaps of the window blinds woke you up. That little light landed exactly at your right eye; talk about luck. However, it’s not actually the light that you first noticed; it’s the cold that Jieun was worrying about last night.

“Ughh… maybe she’s right. I should’ve slept in the bed.” You remembered it clearly: her words comparing the heater in the room and the living area.

But there's another thing you unintentionally remembered: her nipples—

“...”

“No! Why is it the first thing that came to my mind!? What the hell is wrong with me?” You slap your own face, a perfect punishment for your lewd thoughts, and also to wake yourself a hundred percent.

“Aw…” It might be too much. “Slapping yourself is better than a cup of coffee.” You’re wide awake now.

You sit up straight, stretching out the stiffness caused by an unnatural sleeping position. The couch is great, but the bed in her room is much nicer.

Speaking of her, the door's still closed as your eyes landed on it. She might still be sleeping, as there is no woman currently who has asked you to marry her.

“Should I ask for a coffee?” You stood up, gave your body another stretch of life. “Yeah, I should.” You decided.

The room service is as fast as usual; the coffee arrived in less than five minutes, and she was yet to wake up. You got two black coffees, hoping it would energize the day with luck. You asked for a breakfast meal as well; you ordered everything since, based on how Jieun acts lately, you had no idea what she wanted anymore.

“Should I wake her up?” You kept going back and forth from the dining table to the bedroom door.

“Yeah, right, it’s almost time.” You finally made up your mind and decided to wake her up. But the moment you reached for her door, it swung open.

It was the same as the past, but the feelings have changed. She’s always a flower in your eyes, but at that very moment, she’s blooming as if it’s her season. Since when did the morning sun ever come so close to you that it brightens your day in an instant?

“Hmm, you really like it, do you?” She lightly stretched, her arms extending, hands holding your shoulder as a post, and she arched her back. It’s dangerous; a wild snake just constricts you, enough to tighten your breath, but your heart stops as well.

“Hmm? What?” Is it the coffee? The sun? Or her? That you like.

“My bare face.”

Did she read you? Or does your expression just say it all for you like an open book?

“Ehem, coffee.” No answer for that, straight-up admission just what she wanted you to. You pointed the coffee at the table, still hot, the same temperature as your burning face.

“Thanks.” She sat and took a sip.

You took the chair across from her, took your own coffee, and had a sip, mirroring her actions. She took a piece of macaron, a pink one; you watched her lips carefully as she took a polite bite of it.

“Enough with staring and admiration; I know I’m pretty.” Her confidence is a statement; she knows what’s running through you.

“I-I’m not.” You took a sip; no, you drank your coffee in one shot. The black coffee was actually bitter; you almost regretted your choice, but the bitterness was just as you needed to fully regain your energy to think straight.

“I’m wearing it.”

“KGHHH— W-What’s with the reminder all of a sudden!?” As you thought you could think straight, she threw more water to corrupt your system.

“I feel like I should let you know.” She kept staying at her business, eating.

“D-did it dry over time?” You did as well, not lifting an inch of your head. If your eyes met, it’s just inviting more trouble.

“Yeah.” She confirmed. “Wanna see it?” The follow-up is something you expect, but still unexpected.

“JIEUN!”

“Eat.” She picked up a biscuit with her fork and put it on your plate. You took it right away, feeling the added flavor of her teasing in a mix of the biscuit’s filling.

That day, the meeting went smoothly as no one dared to speak except her, though she couldn’t hide her anger. She kept pressing them to the edge of admitting how incompetent they are.

“WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT OTHER THAN THE COMPANY’S MEETING!?”

“Tell me! Is this why we’re at the pit in the Japanese market!?”

“Do you even know how much time you waste!?”

This scenario’s the same when she demanded that she didn’t need anything other than you.

“Should I prepare my wrist?” You muttered as she sat back in her chair, her eyes speaking anger that levels above usual.

“This– take care of this.” She points at the declining sales, reports, and revenues of her company.

“YES, MA’AM!” It’s more like a military response; the unison is incredibly amusing.

“Dismissed.” She’s too mad to look at them.

They looked confused, so you gestured to them that they could leave now. The relief in their faces is noticeable. You can’t hate them that much since they didn’t pocket the company's money, but still, they’re lacking dedication and work ethic.

“Arigato Gozaimasu!” The mix of Korean and Japanese executives showed deep respect for her by bowing lower than most polite people do. At the very least, they have respect for her.

“...”

“...”

“...”

“You don’t want coffee, do you?” You waited for a few minutes, making sure that each one of them had already left and that the two of you were alone before asking her.

“Hmm.” Her humming of agreement, her eyes closed.

“You don’t want water or chocolate, am I right?” It’s really similar to that one day, and you knew what she wanted.

“Hmm.” She answers the same; she doesn't want any of it.

She opened her eyes and looked in your direction. She tilted her head slightly, and her lips curled into a little smile.

You reached your hand out; it’s what she wants.

She took it and intertwined her fingers with yours; her little smile turned into a contented one.

“Just recharge for a while, we need to go to the airport at 1:00 pm.” You remind her before gripping her hand back.

“Yes, I know.” She tightened it more than you do.

Since when did this kind of thing become normal? And why does it matter? As long as both of you are fine with it.

Her recharge session lasted half an hour. She’s incredibly quiet the moment it ended up until now. She didn’t actually recharge with you, and the fatigue finally started to settle in. You took care of her as always, assisting her with anything she needed. Her passport, notes, and the impending schedules she needed to attend once you’re back in Korea.