Jim felt her warm embrace, the softness of her body against his, and the delicate scent of jasmine in her hair. It was as if the storm inside his heart had finally calmed, replaced by a serene peace he had been searching for all his life. His arms instinctively tightened around her, holding her as though she might slip away if he let go.
"Tina," he murmured, his voice tinged with hope and a touch of vulnerability, "are you finally accepting me?"
For a moment, she didn't reply. Instead, she buried her face deeper into his chest, her breath warm against his shirt. Her cheeks burned with a rosy hue, and though he couldn't see her face, he could feel the curve of her smile against him. It was a smile that spoke of years of longing, of walls finally beginning to crumble.
After what felt like an eternity, she pulled back slightly, her hands still resting lightly on his chest. She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with a mix of emotions—joy, hesitation, and something deeper, something she had kept hidden for so long.
"Listen up, Jim," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I'll only say this once."
Jim's heart raced, his pulse quickening as he stared into her eyes. He could feel the weight of her words before she even spoke, and he held his breath, waiting for the moment he had dreamed of.
"Jim, I... I..." she began, her voice trembling slightly. Her lips parted, but the words seemed to catch in her throat. She paused, her face flushing even brighter, and then, in a sudden burst of shyness, she covered her face with her hands and blurted out, "I hate you!"
Jim's eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, he was utterly speechless. His mind scrambled to process her words, and a vein on his forehead twitched as he stared at her, dumbfounded. "Tina?" he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and disbelief.
She peeked at him through her fingers, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "The antonym," she added playfully, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jim's expression shifted from confusion to realization, and then to pure delight. A slow, knowing smile spread across his face as he understood her game. "Aha," he said, his voice low and teasing. "So my little hedgehog is playing hard to get, huh?"
Before she could react, he tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her closer until there was barely any space between them. Tina's breath hitched, and she placed her hands on his chest, trying to create some distance, but Jim held her firmly.
"I like your antonym," he said, his voice warm and filled with affection. "Say it to me every day."
Tina's face burned, and she stammered, "I-I won't do that!" Her voice was firm, but the way her eyes avoided his and the faint tremble in her hands betrayed her true feelings.
Jim chuckled, the sound deep and rich, and he leaned in slightly, his breath brushing against her ear. "You don't have to say it," he whispered. "As long as you mean it."
Tina tried to break free, her cheeks burning as she looked up at Jim's face. Her brows furrowed in a mix of confusion and embarrassment, and she asked in a flustered voice, "What do you want?"
Jim's eyes softened, and a playful smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Like this," he said, his voice low and filled with warmth.
Before Tina could process his words, Jim pulled her closer, his arms wrapping firmly around her waist. Her eyes widened in surprise, but before she could protest, his lips met hers in a gentle, yet deliberate kiss.
Tina's breath hitched, and for a moment, her mind went blank. Her eyes, slightly open, took in the close-up of his face—the way his lashes brushed against his cheeks, the faint stubble on his jaw, the intensity in his expression as he kissed her. Her heart raced, and she thought inwardly, 'At this moment...'
'I just feel. Jim's lips are so warm.'
The warmth of his kiss spread through her, melting away the walls she had built around her heart. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment, and felt the sweet taste of his love through his lips. 'As if it can... cure all my pain.'
Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in the kiss. For Tina, it felt like an eternity—a moment of pure connection, of vulnerability and trust. For Jim, it was a promise—a silent vow that he would cherish her, protect her, and love her for the rest of his days.
But the moment was interrupted by a chorus of gasps and giggles. "Oh!" The kids, who had been watching the scene unfold, reacted with a mix of shock and amusement. Two little girls covered their eyes in shyness but peeked through their fingers, unable to resist the temptation to watch. A little boy, his hands on his hips, rebuked Tina with all the seriousness a child could muster. "Sis Tina! Why did you kiss Uncle Chin?"
Tina quickly pulled away, her face still flushed with a rosy hue. She glanced at Jim, who looked aside awkwardly, a drop of sweat rolling down his cheek. He muttered under his breath, 'These little devils! Seriously...'
Jim cleared his throat and straightened up, trying to regain his composure. With a playful grin, he answered the boy, "Well! Because she's my girlfriend!"
The children's eyes widened in curiosity, and they turned to Tina for confirmation. "Sis Tina, is that right?" one of them asked, tilting their head innocently.
Tina, still embarrassed from being caught in such an intimate moment, pouted and looked away. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she replied, "...Yes."
Jim's heart swelled at her admission. He had always found Tina adorable, especially when she was flustered or pouting, but seeing her like this—shy, yet honest—fluttered his heart in a way he hadn't expected. It was a new realm of happiness, one he hadn't known existed.
The children, however, were far from done. They erupted into cheers and laughter, running around in circles as they shouted, "Wow! Sis Tina has a boyfriend! She's getting married!"
"Great! We'll have candies!" another added, clapping their hands in excitement.
Tina's eyes widened in panic at the mention of marriage. She waved her hands frantically, trying to stop them. "No, not yet!" she protested, but Jim grabbed her hand tightly, preventing her from chasing after the kids.
She turned to look at him, her expression a mix of embarrassment and exasperation. But as she met his gaze, she realized something—something that made her heart skip a beat. Although she had just become his girlfriend, she already felt a deep, unshakable connection to him. It was as if, in that moment, everything had fallen into place.
Jim smiled down at her, his eyes filled with warmth and affection. "Let them have their fun," he said softly, his thumb brushing against the back of her hand. "We've got all the time in the world."
Tina's lips curved into a small, shy smile, and she nodded. For the first time, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something truly beautiful.
"Lets Go" Jim's fingers slipped in Tina's hand as he continued, "Let's go meet Miss Hsu."
To be continued :-