Chapter 21

Tae

I knocked on the dark blue door of Nari's house, and when it opened, her mother stood there and looked at me in surprise before she opened the door fully.

"This is a lovely surprise," she said warmly. "Nari is feeling a little poorly, though."

"I know, that's why I came over," I said as I returned her smile while holding up the bags.

"Oh, that's so sweet of you, Tae. Please, come in," she said as she opened the door and moved to the side. "You know where her bedroom is."

I'd been in the Choi home far more than my parent's home in the last few months. Although stalking their house wasn't exactly coming inside it, although that was in the beginning.

I thanked her and gave her the large tub of chicken noodle soup. After doing some research, I went to a few shops for various items to help Nari feel better before I got here. Once I stepped inside, I removed my shoes and coat, but before I could pick them up, Mrs Choi lifted them and put them on the shelf. I protested, but she took my coat from me and tugged my scarf off.

"Shush, we are family now. Off you go before my husband gets home," she said with an impish grin.

I dipped my head at her before I left her in the hallway to reach the staircase. As soon as I reached Nari's bedroom door, I gently pushed the handle down and opened the door. Her curtains were drawn, and she lay on the bed. Luckily for me, it was a double bed. I carefully put the bags down and walked towards her bed.

I studied her sleeping face in the dim light. She had one hand tucked beneath her cheek, and the other rested on her belly. I went around the other side of the bed and climbed onto the bed to snuggle in behind her. Hopefully, she wouldn't need to go through this when she was pregnant. Her hand rested on her belly, and I slipped mine beneath it to touch her stomach.

She was due to stay over at my house tomorrow, and there was no way I would forgo my time with her because she had her period. I relaxed on the pillow and enjoyed feeling the heat from her body. Her fragrance relaxed me. She was my home. She would need to learn that a bit of blood and ailments wouldn't come between us.

My obsession with her didn't last days, weeks, or months. It only grew stronger and deeper through time. If she knew what lengths I would take to possess her, she would run for the hills. I aimed to keep her from seeing the darkness within me until it was too late. I sniffed the soft floral scent of her shampoo. It was soothing, and my eyes drifted shut. All that mattered was that Nari was in my arms.

◆◆◆

"Don't you dare wake them up," someone whispered.

"But he is practically on top of her," Mr Choi whined.

"Do you remember what we did behind my parent's house?"

"That was different," he whispered so loudly that I almost smiled.

Nari stiffened but didn't move. I tightened my arm around her waist.

"Why? Because I was someone else's daughter? He isn't even under the covers. Close the door. You're making me feel like a pervert," Mrs Choi said with a snigger.

There was no sound until I heard some shuffling.

"Okay, okay. Stop elbowing me. Dear God, woman, you're a tyrant," Mr Choi grumbled before he quietly closed the door.

Their muted voices faded away as I rubbed my cheek against Nari's shoulder.

"How are you feeling, Aein?" I asked before I kissed her shoulder.

"Much better after my nap. You didn't need to come over. Did you leave work early?" she said sleepily before she turned around to face me. "I'm wearing my ugly PJs."

I leaned onto my elbow to see silky strands of her hair fall down from her face and onto her pillow.

"They aren't ugly. They look comfortable," I said, tracing a finger around the collar of her flannel shirt. "I came because you were feeling poorly and to tell you in person that you're staying over at mine tomorrow night."

"Sweet, yet assertive, but I love you anyway. Thank you for coming to check on me," she said as she held my wrist.

I looked into her dark eyes that shone from the lighting outside her bedroom window. I used to rely on that lighting to see into her bedroom window. She smiled at me as I placed my hand on her cheek to kiss her deep and hard. Her small hand caressed my cheek before it travelled through my hair. A slight shudder ran down my spine as I realised I was one week and two days away from marrying this remarkable woman.

She thrust her tongue against mine and pressed her lips against mine before she moved her hand against my back and began to rub her hand up and down my taut muscles, massaging some of the tension away. Finally, she was mine, and she would eventually learn to love the darkest parts of my soul. I plunged my tongue into her hot mouth before I teased her lips with it until she gasped my name.

"Your lips are like a work of art, baby," I said before I swiped my tongue over her sweet pink lips. "But your words took my breath away."

Her eyes softened, and she released my hair, but then she winced.

"Is your stomach still paining you?"

"It's just a twinge," she said with a strained smile. "Are we not going to discuss my parents being so cringeworthy?"

"Trust me, Aein. Your parents' bickering is cute, and having that kind of love after almost thirty years is a blessing. I want us to be like that in fifty years," I said as I gently rubbed her belly.

"How did I get so lucky with you, Tae?" she said with a sigh before she rubbed my chest. "You always say the sweetest things to me."

I didn't tell her I'd learnt everything from her posts or observing her family. I was an empty shell before her bright light came into my life. My life was cynical, my heart like a cold yet brittle stone. The only joy I had was my work until I met Nari.

The truth was she wasn't lucky. I was.