After setting the food on the dining table, Jae took a seat, both hands grasping the edge as he stared unseeing at the table. But with a sharp turn of his head to his side, he fixed his eyes where Jia always sat but now she wasn't there, her seat was empty. His shoulders drooped, and with a heavy sigh, he rose from the table, before he made his way towards the stairs.
He entered silently into their room, finding her sitting on the bed, laughing quietly as she watched something on her phone. The blankets draped over her legs, her back resting gently against the headboard, and she was utterly absorbed, so much so that she didn't notice he had entered. His eyes lingered on her, a mixture of annoyance and resignation on his face.
His fingers kneaded his temples as he watched her and her behaviour. Since getting her phone back, she'd been glued to it, barely sparing him a glance—much less to talk about that damn fake contract.
"Dinner is ready. Come quickly." His voice was clipped, deliberately stern, a command rather than an invitation.
The sound of his words snapped her out of her trance, but she didn't turn to face him immediately. Instead, her expression hardened into something unreadable, cold indifference masking the flicker of irritation beneath it.
When she refused to acknowledge him further, his patience thinned even more.
"I said come down. I'm not your mother—I won't coax you or carry you there." The words came out sharper than he intended, laced with frustration and that stubborn ego that refused to bend first. Yet beneath it all? There was still concern, just buried under layers of wounded pride.
Her gaze finally cut toward him, sharp and disbelieving before turning away again just as fast.
"I'm not hungry. I won't come." A flat refusal, showing him her displeasure while he looked at her with a mix of disbelief and mild anger.
"What do you mean you're not hungry?" He pressed, voice sharp. "You didn't even have lunch."
"Yeah... so? It's up to me, and I said na I'm not hungry."
"Are you coming or do I need to make you come?" A hint of warning slipped into his voice.
"I am not coming." She kept her gaze turned aside as if to defy him.
Then without a word, he strode toward her, tugging the blanket off before wrapping an iron grip around her wrist and forcibly pulling her off the bed.
"Don't you understand it at once?" Her voice sounded frustrated, but he didn't respond. Instead, he wordlessly dragged her with him to the downstairs, ignoring her attempts to wriggle free along the way.
Reaching to the dining table, he lowered himself onto the chair, pulling her with him, forcing her to sit on his lap. He wrapped his arm around her waist, trapping her legs between his, an iron grip she couldn't break free from.
But she still squirmed furiously against him, desperate to escape. Getting frustrated, he closed his eyes to control his anger but failed as he yelled. "WILL YOU STOP MOVING?"
His sharp voice made her tense, a flicker of disbelief flashing in her eyes before they hardened again with defiance.
For a few seconds, he just stared at her—unmoving. Then he lifted the lid off the food container and served a portion onto the plate. His movements were deliberate as he scooped up a bite of food in a spoon and held it in front of her mouth... waiting.
But she didn't comply, only glared at him with furious resistance, lips sealed tight as if daring him to force it open.
"Open your mouth," he ordered, his voice stern and unyielding.
She clenched her jaw tighter, refusing until his sharp command sliced through the air again.
"DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME?"
With an irritated huff, she balled her fist at his shoulder before reluctantly parting her lips to accept the food. As he fed her bite after bite, he also took portions for himself from the same spoon, since he too hadn't eaten lunch earlier.
A strange flutter pulsed in her chest when she noticed him using her spoon without hesitation… but she buried it beneath a mask of stubborn displeasure.
Even after dinner ended, he still hadn't allowed her to get off his lap.
She looked up at him now as she snapped the question, still seething with residual frustration, "Can you leave me now?"
His face stayed unchanging, but his eyes flickered over her features, reading the tension still lingering in her face. Then, almost suddenly, unexpected words left his mouth.
"Why have you been ignoring me since morning?"
He regretted the question immediately, knew damn well why she was behaving the way she was, but it was too late. The words were already out there.
"Oh, so you don't know the reason?" Her tone was biting, mocking, and it only made him regret asking even more. He stayed silent, jaw tight under her scrutiny.
"Now let me go!" She tried to push herself up from his lap but his arm instantly locked tighter around her waist, no escape granted.
"What do you want, after all?" His voice carried an edge now too; frustration slipping through despite himself… because deep down? He already knew.
She scoffed. "Since when do YOU care about what I want?"
"Stop behaving like wives!" The words burst from his lips, brief irritation in his tone.
She looked at him in disbelief before emphasizing firmly, "I am your wife." reminding him of reality as he was staring at her silently.
"You should be happy the contract was fake." But even as he spoke, he questioned inwardly: Am I trying to assuage her anger and console her now… like a good husband?
"And what about the atrocities you did to me?" Her voice was sharp, bitter. "And since when do you care about my happiness?"
He exhaled harshly, massaging his forehead at her stubbornness before abruptly making her stand on her feet and standing himself too.
"Come with me outside." Holding her wrist he made his way towards the exit door.
She dug her heels in, yanking back. "Where?! I don't want to go with you anywhere, let me go—!" But he didn't stop, didn't even slow down. Just dragged her forward wordlessly… like a man on some unshakable mission.
••••••
As Jia accepted his forceness, Jae led her to a spot in the dark forest where they found themselves surrounded by numerous fireflies. The air was filled with a soft glow, casting a romantic and mystical atmosphere. As they walked, Jae acted as though this was a coincidental discovery, hiding his intentions to make up with her.
Suddenly, they reached a small clearing, filled with the delicate light of the fireflies. The clearing was situated at the top of a small hill, offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape and the star-filled open night sky. The ground was soft and covered with a layer of soft grass, creating a comfortable spot to rest.
As Jia looked around, her eyes widened with wonder and beauty. The fireflies seemed to dance around them, their tiny bodies glowing like a countless number of stars that had fallen to the earth.
Jae took a moment to observe her reaction, she was silently taking in the serenity of the scene and unable to find the right words to express her emotions. Pleased with Jia's reaction, he tried to keep his cool and maintain the pretence that this was an accidental discovery.
She walked forward, to admire the beauty even more. The earlier displeasure on her face melted away, replaced by pure excitement. Carefully, she reached out to let a firefly land on her fingertip, but it fluttered away before settling.
For a moment, she just stood there—breathing deeply—eyes wide with wonder like a child witnessing magic for the first time.
Then suddenly, she couldn't contain it anymore.
With an unrestrained burst of happiness, she took off running through the field… arms slightly outstretched as if trying to catch the wind itself while laughter bubbled from her lips in lighthearted abandon! Every carefree step sent clusters of startled fireflies swirling upwards in chaotic patterns behind her… creating nothing short of pure enchantment under twilight skies where even nature seemed alive with shared delight!
His hands slipped casually into his pockets as he stood still, watching, not the shimmering fireflies, not the glowing field…just her. The way her unrestrained joy painted the night with something brighter than any light around them. And without realizing it... his lips curved slightly.
After running for enough time, Jia collapsed backward onto the grass in a breathless sprawl of laughter and exhaustion, her chest rising and falling rapidly as an effortless smile stretched across her face, eyes reflecting nothing but pure contentment now while staring up at swirling constellations above.
Jae also came and lay down beside her, resting his back of head on his hands, the soft grass cushioning their bodies. The only sound they could hear was the gentle hum of the fireflies, the occasional rustlings of nocturnal creatures in the woods and the faint sound of a nearby waterfall.
He sneaked a glance at Jia, still trying to hide his true intentions. He observed her face, illuminated by the gentle glow of the fireflies. The sky above them was clear and lit up by a full moon, shining down like a spotlight on the couple.
Then, his breath hitched slightly before he forced the words out, voice unsteady—
"I'm… I'm sorry!"
Eyes fixed skyward, jaw tight with lingering pride battling genuine remorse. The admission felt like pulling teeth... but it was there. And hearing it, she froze mid-breath.
Her head turned sharply toward him in shock—was she imagining this? Was his apology real? Did he just drag her to this breathtaking place not just to pacify her anger… but because he actually regretted it? Because he might be… changing? Her mind reeled so violently that for seconds, all she could do was stare at him speechlessly.
Until his voice snapped her back harshly. "I said sorry!"
"Hm." A quiet hum left her lips, simple, noncommittal, as she turned her face away from him. It wasn't rejection; it was hesitation, the kind that came when emotions tangled too tightly to voice properly.
But he wasn't satisfied with just that.
"Just... hm?" The disbelief in his tone made her exhale sharply before suddenly shifting closer to him, burying herself against his chest, arms winding around his waist in silent surrender.
Her response was muffled against him. "Yes. Just hm." She could feel the warmth creeping up her cheeks but refused to let him see it, pressing closer instead of pulling away this time.
And if she had glanced up at that moment? She would have caught the way his arm curled instinctively around her… or how desperately he fought back a smile as relief settled between them like something finally clicking into place.
They remained silent like that for some time. Then, unexpectedly, his voice shattered the silence.
"Are you happy with your aunt?"
She furrowed her brow—not quite understanding where he was going with the question... but replying, nonetheless.
"She was a good friend of my mom," she explained softly. "She saved my life, raised me… I should be happy with her…"
"But are you genuinely happy with her?"
She pulled back slightly to look up at him, searching his face for the reason behind this sudden line of questioning.
Her lips pressed together before she countered softly. "Why are you asking me this suddenly?" There was no defiance in her tone, just quiet confusion.
His gaze remained steady, face unreadable as he muttered, "Just... curiosity."
But her eyes, locked onto his in doubt, then suddenly began to drift downward, lingering on his lips. A strange warmth coiled low in her stomach, an almost magnetic pull drawing her closer without conscious thought. Her fingers twisted tighter into the fabric of his shirt as she leaned in slowly… achingly close… until their breaths nearly tangled together.
And he—frozen in place, didn't move a muscle. His pulse hammered wildly beneath skin that felt too tight while a familiar instinct screamed at him to close the distance… but something unfamiliar held him back entirely.
Then suddenly, she jerked away before their lips could meet; face hastily buried against his chest instead where she could feel the frantic rhythm of his heart matching hers beat for beat now…
Leaving him staring blankly ahead with a shaky exhale he hadn't realized he was holding, thinking since when did he start controlling himself, since when he became tender?
"If someone else had slapped you in the hotel instead of me that night, would you have made her your slave and then married her later too?"
Her unexpected question caught him off-guard. He frowned as he glanced down at her, face still buried against his chest, though he couldn't suppress the faint smile tugging at his lips.
"No way," he admitted bluntly.
Her head snapped up at that, eyes wide with surprise.
His voice dropped lower, almost contemplative. "That night... I investigated you. And I recognized you immediately. That you are the Fairy."
"Ohhh, so after recognizing me..." Her voice dripped with taunting venom now as she leaned back just enough to jab a finger against his chest accusingly… "...your brilliant plan was 'Let's make her my slave and torture her until she breaks?' Hm?"
He just sighed at her taunt.
"Well…Say it again," she demanded, voice barely above a whisper.
He frowned in confusion. "What?"
"Fairy!" She demanded to call her Fairy.
For a second, he just stared down at her innocent face, before abruptly pressing her face back against his chest to hide the traitorous smile breaking across his lips—too wide, too uncontrollable. But of course… she wasn't having it. Her hands shot up instantly to shove his hands away as she leaned back again, only to be surprised when she caught sight of him, smiling.
"Are you smiling?" Her voice danced with amusement as she accused him, eyes sparkling.
Like a child caught stealing sweets, he schooled his features back into practiced indifference—too late. "No," He lied flatly. "Not at all."
She laughed, actually laughed, before grabbing his face between her hands, squishing his cheeks playfully. "Yes you were! Smile again!" She poked at the corners of his mouth like she could will them upward herself. "Why be shy about it?"
He twisted away from her grip with an indignant grumble. "I wasn't. Leave me."
"Okay call me Fairy. Just once!" she insisted, fingers poking at his cheeks as if she could mold him into compliance.
He turned his face away, trying to ignore her. However, she sat on the grass, her touch playful as she traced idle patterns over his jawline like he was some fascinating sculpture rather than a man trying to maintain dignity here. "Fine then… At least smile again!" Her voice dipped into exaggerated coaxing—the kind reserved for stubborn children or cats refusing affection.
His hand shot up to intercept hers mid-prod, only for her to dance out of reach with another giggle before launching right back in.
Relentless creature!
By now? His ears were burning crimson beneath all that fake exasperation because no one warned him how dangerously addictive her joy could be when aimed at HIM like this.
The moment stretched, her laughter ringing through the air, bright and unrestrained, while he fought a losing battle against his own traitorous reactions.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
Sitting on the window seat of a private flying jet, Jia looked down outside the window where morning clouds stretched beneath her, drifting like cotton veils trying to obscure the earth. The sun climbed steadily along its destined path in the sky, its light breaking through gaps in the vaporous expanse. The scene unfolded with quiet perfection - neither hurried nor still, but moving exactly as nature intended that dawn.
"To be honest," she murmured, her fingertips brushing the cold window glass lightly, "I missed everyone so much, but now that I was here..." A soft, contented sigh escaped her. "I felt completely immersed in the moments, like nothing else exists."
Then turning to Jae who was sitting next to her, with bright eyes that held a spark of childlike wonder, she asked eagerly. "Can we come back here again?"
Jae didn't lift his gaze from his laptop screen where he was working with detached precision, his face unreadable, but after a beat... he hummed in acknowledgment.
It was enough for her smile to bloom into something radiant before she turned back to watching the world blur beneath them.
Silence settled comfortably between them again until finally. "I'm suddenly craving something to eat," she declared, her eyes fixed on Jae's focused face.
He didn't lift his gaze from the screen, fingers still tapping away as he asked coolly. "What do you want to eat?"
Her brow knotted in concentration as she thought long and hard. But after a beat...
"I don't know," she finally admitted. "Just something very tasty and sweet!"
Hearing her, he wordlessly signaled to one of his men. Shortly after, a quiet attendant entered carrying a delicate porcelain bowl and placed it gently on the table between them before retreating silently.
Jia's eyes lit up as she approached—there in the bowl sat creamy white soft and sponge-like discs submerged in golden syrup, glistening under the cabin lights and dusted with aromatic saffron strands that bled sunset hues into the dessert.
"What is this?" She poked at it curiously, syrup rippling around her fingertip.
Jae didn't glance up as he simply replied, "Rasmalai."
After hearing him, she immediately picked it up and took her first bite. And as soon as she took the first bite of the rasmalai, her taste buds were immediately struck by the combination of flavours. The soft, spongy texture of the rasmalai, combined with the creamy malai (cream), provided an initial sensation of richness and silkiness on the tongue. Almost instantly, the sweetness of the sugar syrup and the subtle flavour of the malai enveloped her taste buds, creating an irresistible contrast of flavours.
Her reaction was instantaneous, eyes widening, lips forming an impressed 'o' as she savored the rich, milky sweetness. "This is so delicious!" she exclaimed, the taste still warm on her tongue.
Without pausing to think, she picked up another spoonful and held it out close to his mouth. "You should try it too."
He didn't even look up from his laptop, simply tilting his head away from the spoon and replying flatly. "No."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she set the bowl down—fine, if he wanted to be difficult… In one swift motion, her hand darted out to grip his jaw firmly and shoved the spoonful of rasmalai straight into his mouth before he could react.
He swallowed it instantly with an irritated glare as he didn't say anything and just ignored her. Seeing his unbothered behaviour, she looked at his face for a while with a bored look, then snatched the bowl from the table with a dramatic sigh.
"Go to hell!" She mumbled, then proceeded to demolish the rest of dessert herself, each deliberate bite dripping with satisfaction
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
In the early morning, the dim glow of the recessed lights cast long shadows across the expansive stage, which was encircled by towering glass walls. A heavy silence was hanging in the air, undisturbed by any sound or movement.
Against the backdrop of the shadowed auditorium, the figure of Sarah took centre stage.
Her slender frame moved gracefully across the polished floor, executing each dance step with precision and elegance. Her movements were fluid, yet powerful, as she leaps, turns and spins with a grace that seemed almost effortless. Her expression was one of deep concentration, her mind focused on mastering the intricacies of the choreography as she practised alone. The echoes of her footsteps against the glossy surface of the stage were muffled, almost as if the space had been designed to keep her performance private.
The hours of practice she had put in could be seen in the smoothness of her every move, the passion and discipline reflected in her execution.
All the while, her thoughts were consumed by the dilemma of how to invite Samuel to come and watch her upcoming modelling competition, knowing that he harbours feelings for her best friend.
Despite the complexity and emotional turmoil playing out in her mind, Sarah's physical performance was flawless. Her breath was laboured, her body glistening with sweat. The dance practice session felt like a personal ritual, a way for her to release her emotions and find clarity amidst her conflicting feelings.
The absence of spectators in the auditorium added to the sense of solitude and concentration that Sarah was feeling. Every breath, every footfall, and every movement was magnified in the quiet space, echoing off the glass walls and back to her ears. Despite the enormity of the space, Sarah also felt a sense of vulnerability, as if she was exposed to the world, sharing her innermost thoughts and feelings through her dance.
As she reached the climax of her performance, she intentionally let her body go limp, causing her to drop to the floor in a graceful collapse. Her body hit the stage with a soft thump, and she lay there, limbs splayed out in exhaustion, staring up at the ceiling above as she attempted to catch her breath.
Despite the exhaustion that wracked her body, there was a sense of peace that had come over Sarah, her mind still dancing to the rhythm of the music that played in her head like a soft echo.
The auditorium was still silent except for her breathing, the stillness of the place was creating a surreal atmosphere.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
Jackson and Daniel stood face to face on the mat, their bodies poised and ready for action. Without delay, they started their taekwondo match.
Jackson's mind, however, was elsewhere. His thoughts keep wandering to Bella Despite his best efforts to focus on the task at hand, his mind keeps drifting back to her every time he performs an attack or a defence move of Taekwondo.
The frustration and inner turmoil that he was feeling over his unwanted growing feelings for Bella were evident in his every move. His expression was conflicted, torn between the desire to deny his feelings and the growing realisation that they were there. This was not the first time that he was this frustrated about this, he had experienced it many more times but he always shrugged it off.
As the training continued, Daniel noticed that Jackson's mind was not fully present. He attempted to pull Jackson's attention back to the present by increasing the intensity of the match.
As soon as he did, Jackson found it difficult to keep up with Daniel's pace, his movements becoming increasingly sloppy and unfocused as his thoughts and emotions were starting to take over his body, making it impossible for him to concentrate.
While in the acceptance of Jackson's unfocused behaviour, Daniel saw an opportunity to end the match. He landed a well-timed and powerful strike, knocking Jackson out of balance and sending him sprawling onto the mat. Jackson was shocked and embarrassed that he lost the match because of his lack of concentration.
Daniel stood over Jackson, slightly out of breath from the intense match. He extended a hand to help him to get up. "Jackson, what's going on with you? Your mind wasn't on the match. What's distracting you?"
Jackson took Daniel's hand and sat up on the mat, his head spinning from the unexpected defeat. He looked up at Daniel, his expression a mix of embarrassment and frustration. He didn't want to admit the true reason for his lack of focus - that his mind was constantly filled with thoughts of Bella. He tried to play it cool and shrugged his shoulders.
"It's nothing, buddy. Just a bit tired, that's all."
Daniel studied Jackson's face, sensing that there was more to Jackson's distraction than he was letting on. He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Tired? That's not like you. Something's bothering you. You've never lost a match like this, especially not when you were just tired."
Jackson shifted uneasily on the mat, avoiding eye contact with Daniel. He hated that Daniel could so easily see through his half-truths. He knew he couldn't keep dodging the question forever, but he also didn't want to admit the true reason for his distraction.
"Seriously, buddy. It's nothing. Just... just have a lot on my mind, that's all."
Daniel sat down next to Jackson, a look of concern on his face. He placed a hand on Jackson's shoulder and spoke in a gentle tone. "Is it about Bella?"
Hearing his words, Jackson, caught off guard, was surprised at how Daniel had guessed what was on his mind. He quickly tried to protest and deny his interest in Bella, but his frustration and confusion shined through in his response.
"Bella? What makes you say that? Why are you bringing her up? She's just a ... a ... annoying and stubborn girl."
Daniel could sense the hesitation and frustration in Jackson's voice. He knew that he had struck a nerve, but he continued to press gently, trying to get his friend to open up.
"Just a 'stubborn girl'? Come on, Jackson. I know that's not all there is to her."
Jackson's irritation grew, and he responded with a hint of anger in his voice. "She's just a pain in the ass, okay? She's constantly getting on my nerves. Why can't you just drop it, man?"
"You can say all you want, but I can see that there's more to your frustration than meets the eye. Maybe you should just admit your feelings for her." Daniel persisted, unfazed by Jackson's defensiveness.
Jackson's frustration and anger reach a boiling point. "Feelings? What are you talking about? I don't have any feelings for her. She's just an annoying thorn in my side."
Daniel shook his head and let out a sigh. "Jackson, you're only fooling yourself. It's clear as day that you have a thing for her, even if you don't want to admit it."
"Why do you keep pushing this, huh? What is it that you want me to say? That I like her? That I can't stop thinking about her? Is that what you want to hear?"
Daniel remained calm and composed despite Jackson's outburst as he knew since childhood Jackson always behaves like this with him when he is hesitated and confused about his feelings otherwise he always remains calm.
"Yes, that's exactly what I want you to say. It's not healthy bottling up your feelings like this. It's okay to admit that you like someone, you know."
Jackson's face twisted into a scowl, his emotions swinging between anger and confusion. "But why her? She's just a headache. She's stubborn and annoying and always getting under my skin."
Daniel chuckled softly, clearly amused by Jackson's continued denial and the repeated word of 'annoying and stubborn'. "You know, sometimes it's the stubborn and annoying ones that make us feel the most alive. Maybe that's why you're drawn to her."
Jackson scoffed, "Alive? More like frustrated and annoyed. Why can't you just see how much of a headache she is?"
Daniel shrugged, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips as he could see how despite denying, Jackson was still talking about her. "I can see that she gets under your skin. But that doesn't mean you don't secretly enjoy it."
Jackson threw up his hands in frustration. "Enjoy it? Are you kidding me? She's like a constant source of irritation. Why would I enjoy that?"
Daniel smiled, not backing down from the conversation. "Because, underneath all that irritation, there's something about her that you can't quite ignore. Whether you want to admit it or not, there's a spark there, and you can't just pretend it doesn't exist."
Jackson let out a frustrated growl, his emotions a tangled mess. "Damn it, Daniel, stop with the psychoanalysis. I don't need your help figuring out my feelings."
Saying his last sentence, Jackson stood on his feet and ran out of the room while Daniel remained looking at his disappearing figure with a teasing smile.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●