Stay With Me [Ongoing]

CHAPTER 16

Wearing a jacket over her pajama, a cap and a pair of slip ons, Dara steps out of her apartment building after receiving a message from Jiyong that he is waiting for her downstairs. It is already past one in the morning and she wonders what brought him there at this hour.

She found him in front of the building, leaning against his car with a hand shove inside his pants' pocket, and staring on the ground. She blows out air, swallows the lump on her throat, and wets her lips before taking a step forward and starts approaching him.

"Jiyong," she called out. At this, he raises his head and meets her gaze. He smiles and pushes himself off his car as he waits for her to finally make it near him. "Did you wait long?"

He shakes his head. "No," was simply his response.

"What brings you here?'"

He raises the plastic bag he is holding in front of her. "Do you have the appetite for some late night dessert?"

She blinks her eyes before a smile breaks on her own lips. "We're not at the park right now," she teased.

Jiyong chuckles and runs his free hand on the length of his nape before looking at the side and biting his lower lip. "Well... I kind of thought that bringing over some pudding is a better excuse to see you than come here with nothing at all."

Dara's heart jumps inside her chest when he meets her gaze once again after saying those words. Silence fills the atmosphere until a sudden cold breeze breaks it. She tightens her hold on the jacket around her figure.

He was about to his suit jacket and was half-way shrugging it off his shoulders but she immediately stopped him and shook her head, mumbling that she's fine. He nods his head in understanding and awkwardly stands there, waiting for her to say something.

She bites the insides of her cheeks and inwardly counts to calm her nerves first before answering. She masks the fast-beating of her heart with a teasing smile. "You can stay longer as long as it's strawberry pudding you have with you."

His expression brightens as a grin stretches on his lips. "Why look at that. Aren't I a mind-reader?" He pulls out a container from the plastic and shows it to her. "The store only has strawberry ones left."

She cannot help but to giggle at how his face lit up with glee. She walks to his side and leans against his car. "You should probably give more credits to the store owner then. He was the one who sold them to you."

"Oh, I will kiss him."

At the mention of the word, they both stop while staring at each other as their smiles freeze on their lips. Recollection of what happened earlier at the exhibit fill their minds and they both look away, blushing at the thought.

After a moment of silence, Jiyong clears his throat and slowly hands her the container he is holding. "You better eat—eat it while it is still cold," he stuttered.

"Y-you're right," she responded, equally flustered.

He leans back against his car, drawing out a sigh as he pulls his own container. Dara pushes a spoonful of dessert inside her mouth as she ponders the thought of taking the opportunity to tell him. Is it the right time? She hasn't conditioned herself yet but maybe taking up the courage to do it now is better, right? Sooner or later, he'll eventually know. Why make it hard for her?