Running away from the male lead

Chapter 8: Date day and night

(Eunho P.O.V)

I lifted my head to check the time, 5 0’clock, I felt someone kneeing me in the stomach. Curled into my side, in a fetal position, her hair covered her face. Worried that her body would be hurting, I sneak out of bed and run the bathtub with hot water and some essential oils to relax her body. 

I pick her up from the bed, waking her up,” Take a warm bath, relax otherwise your body will be too sore. I will make you something to eat, okay?”

Her eyes were half-open, she nodded and I slowly settled her into the tub after taking off the long shirt she was wearing, kissing her forehead. I go down to the kitchen, whipping up a full breakfast. I rush to a 24-hour pharmacy and buy some patches for pain relief and massage oil.

Returning home, I set the bag on the dining table and went up to see her, putting on one of my long shirts. I quietly sit down on the bed, right behind her. Grabbing the towel on the bed she just used I dry her hair. 

Head resting against my thigh, I see she is drifting off to sleep, “Aera, do you want to eat or sleep for some more time?”

“Eat.”, picking her up I walked down. Setting her down on the chair and arranging her food in front of her, I make myself a cup of black tea. Drowsily she stuffed her mouth.

“How is it?”, giving me a thumbs up she takes a sip of the warm milk. Going through some emails sent, I wait for her to finish.

“Can you walk up, or do you want me to carry you?”, she lifts her arms, her hands wrapped around my neck and pick her up wrapping her legs around me. Grabbing the bag on the table we go up.

(Aera P.O.V)

I was oddly very sleepy, and sore. My eyes were closing again, I felt very safe and warm in his arms. Forgetting about any work I had to do today, I cling onto him.

“Eunho, I am very sleepy.”, I say as he puts me in bed. 

“Okay, remove your shirt.”, I shake my head, “Nope, I am too tired my whole body is sore.”

He helps me out of the shirt and turns me so I am lying on my stomach. I feel a few drops of a liquid drop on my back, and hands massage it gently into my back. I moan as the oil and his hands work their magic on my muscles. Drifting down to my legs, he firmly massages them and removes the excess oil with a towel. My eyes closed at some point, refusing to open.

I lie there with my thoughts, nearing deep sleep, hearing him say her was going out I grab onto his hand. “No, stay with me, sleep.”, pulling him next to me I finally fall asleep.

(Dream)

The room was dark, and slightly wet. This was the old me, the lights were dim. I drag myself to the mirror across the room only to see younger Park Aera going through the same thing. She was crying in the corner, as someone slammed the door closed. Her skin red from getting hit. 

Suddenly I hear the door open, looking away from the mirror I huddle near the wall. Knowing what was happening I close my eyes clutch my shirt. Every time she gets I hurt too, the pain radiates through me. I close my eyes as tears leak out. Every one of her memories are mine, I feel the pain through each one. I feel a pair of invisible hands wrap around my neck, my skin reddens with handprints, I look down to see nothing. Suddenly the room changes, I am sleeping on a bed when ‘Dad’ forcibly drag me out of bed, thrown against the wall like a ragdoll.

I open my eyes to see him, suddenly he slaps me and punches me. Tears fall, but I refuse to make a sound. 

(Dream over)

I feel pair arms around me, pulling me close to him. Suddenly returning to reality, I hear his heartbeat next to my ear. Relaxing due to the small kisses on my head, and the voice near my ear I breathe out.

“Are you okay?”, I get up and dust of the non-existent dust of my shirt and grab the clothes that were on the floor. 

“Let’s get ready I will take you somewhere.”, I say and dash into the bathroom to change. 

The next few hours we went to a street full of food stalls, trying all kinds of food. I found that he loves spicy food, but is not a fan of anything too sweet. We watched a movie called ‘Lurker’, the actor Kim Siwoo portrayed the character a bit too well. The entire time I was huddled in my seat, with my hands over my ears and eyes shut tight. 

It was around 8 o’clock, it was cold and windy. Sitting on the bench in the park, we eat some ramyun, with some hot dogs. Facing each other, and talking. Pulling my hoodie closer to my skin, I practically stuff myself as the steam hits my face.

I feel a hand on my cheek, I look at him with my eyebrow raised.

“You had some splattered slightly on your cheek eat slowly it won’t run away from you.”, his shoulder shakes with laughter, smiling I take a big bite of the hot dog.

“Well now that gives me ideas, we should try them out tonight.”, I hit him on the shoulder, silent stealing a hot dog with the other hand.

“You should ask before taking my hotdog.”, I still, give him puppy eyes, “Keep it I was just joking, as long as you give me something in return.”

“What?”, I say taking a bit of the hotdog.

“Shift into my house, we are married. I don’t want to live apart from you.”, I shake my head. I don’t want to leave my house. 

“It is not that I don’t want to live with you, I don’t want to move out of my house.”, he looked in deep thought but still nodded his head in understanding. I was oddly attached as I designed the house all on my own. Every room had my touch, I would miss that if I moved into his place.

Throwing the trash in a bin nearby, we stroll around the park. When we reached this spot in the park, calling it beautiful would be an understatement. He pulls me with him, his mask was pulled up incase someone recognised him. Nearing the small clearing we could see the sky.

Against the velvety black sky, there was a blaze of sparkling blue. It was making its way across the sky, the tail of the comet was burning a different shade of blue, travelling across the sky it seized our attention. Unable to move our eyes from the beautiful sight, I stay in his embrace observing the comet.

“Wasn’t the comet so beautiful. I know it is a rock travelling across space, but it was too beautiful.”, he nods meshing his hands with mine after he finishes reversing the car and exits the parking area.

I open my phone and search for a house which would suit both our tastes, saving the ones I like in a list. I make sure it has a huge garden and enough rooms to house both of our maids and drivers. That is when I come across a house, more like a mansion but it was perfect.

It was a mid-century modern house, which already had landscaping down, the house was mainly grey with a hint of white on the outside. There were three floors and an attic, the first floor had 6 rooms while the second floor had 8 rooms, the top floor had spaces where you can develop the room. 

The house felt perfect, saving it show it to him when we reach home I set my phone in the holder.

“What were you doing?”, he asks as he lifts our meshed hands kissing my knuckles.

“I was searching for houses.”

“Well did you find any you liked?”, my eyes glide to the building seeing people walk out restaurants talking and laughing, kids skipping with icecream, while some had their heads stuck in their phones.

“Yeah, I saved some on a list. The last one was perfect, I could imagine living there. Sitting in the garden, watering the plants or kicking back and reading a book.”, shifting my eyes to his face, I let myself take him in. I couldn’t believe he was mine, he was like a missing piece of my soul. Although I wasn’t ready to tell him I felt, I knew what it was. I am just going to let myself understand and develop my feelings before telling him.

“ Really, well if you like it, then so do I. Do you want to go see the house tomorrow?”

“Are you sure you aren’t busy?”

“Yes, but I can block off my afternoon if you want, all you have to do is ask.”, unable to believe he was missing work for me. I smile, no one ever treated me with that much importance.

“Only an hour or two not more, I don’t want work to pile up and stress you. I know work is important but I want to make sure you like the place too.”, nodding he parks the car into the driveway leaning to kiss me on the temple.

“ Okay, I will listen to you.”, he opens his door and I climb out of the care. Walking to the house he suddenly steps a bit forward turning to face me, his hands cup my face. Bending down, he lips meet mine. As the wind ruffles through the trees, and the cicadas chirp, I felt at content, something I never felt before.