บท 31: Get To Know You

Hours passed, but the rain continued to shower heavily. Anton Yeong could not find himself getting out of Yanmei's apartment. Thus, he made use of his time wisely.

"Yanmei, we need to sit down and plan how to make the relationship as real as possible, especially in front of my parents. I suggest we outline the things that people do on a date or being a couple," said Anton. He had the most serious look on his face as he sat in the living room, folding his arms.

"S-seriously?!" Yanmei asked. Her eyes grew wide in surprise. Her inside almost wanting to fall to the floor and laugh at the situation.

"Aside from having dinners, what do couples do? I am absolutely not kissing you, by the way," said Anton expressionlessly. "Not even holding your hand."

She immediately raised her brow at him saying, "Excuse me, neither will I!"

Yanmei put a hand to cover her mouth, trying to stop herself from reacting strangely at him. After taking a deep breath, she said, "Basically, couples talk. They get to know each other, go out and watch movies, shop together... Have you not done any of those?"

"I've only been forced to take women to dinner a few times by my parents," said Anton. "Regarding your suggestion, let me put that on my notes."

Yanmei, "???"

Anton then looked at her and said, "How often do we need to talk and get to know each other?"

"Pfft! Haha! When we have the time?" She said while trying to hold her giggle. "Girl, you are taking this too serious- "

"And because we are doing this, you have to stop calling me girl," he strongly said after noting down Yanmei's suggestions. "I'll schedule with Junsu our get to know you dates on a regular basis... Maybe once a week."

Yanamei's eyes were nearly wet. She could feel her insides laughing out uncontrollably. She cleared her throat and said, "Okay, but seriously have you not even watched movies when two people date?"

Anton stared at her before saying, "I prefer war movies, martial arts, and hero movies… Anyhow, mother said I should buy you roses so I will have Junsu order one for you."

She rolled her eyes, saying to herself, 'No element of surprise.'

"So I guess we can make use of this time and make it officially our first date," he said. "Let me think for a second."

Yanmei started laughing, bringing her head back and slamming her hands on her seat. Seeing Anton's eyes thinned, she pulled herself together.

"Are you mocking me, woman?" He asked with an icy tone.

"Sorry, I just remembered something. I'm sorry. Yeah, I guess we can start," she answered quickly.

He was silent for a moment, doubting Yanmei's words, but eventually, he said, "Right." As he let out the word, his forehead creased. He then resumed, "Then I'll start."

Yanmei, got comfortable on the couch, putting her leg up to her chin. She didn't realize she was exposing more of her legs to him.

Once again Anton gulped at her actions. His cheeks puffed as he blew air while trying to look away from her slender legs. After shaking his head, he asked, "Have you ever killed, anybody?"

Yanmei's eyes moved from side to side. She asked, "What? No! Why would I?"

Anton was immediately reminded that Yanmei lived a normal life. He crossed his legs before adding, "Hmmm…Yes, of course, you haven't… but it doesn't mean you haven't thought about it... Well then, if you say so… Do you know the point system in a boxing match?"

She gave a near frown and awkwardly said, "Ahhh… I don't watch boxing."

He scoffed before saying, "Let me change my question then… If a handsome stranger approaches you in a bar and offers you a drink, would you take it?"

Yanmei burst out laughing. She could not understand why Anton was asking these kinds of questions. It took a minute for her to recover and she said, "That is not how to talk to someone are having a date with. Yeong! If it were any woman, she'd be scared of you by now. You are giving me a feeling that this is some sort of a test!"

She could see clearly how his brows nearly touched as his eyes narrowed at her. She heard him say, "Then… what do normal couples talk about?"

"You know, questions like." Yanmei paused for a second, searching through her thoughts before finally giving an answer," Like…what were your first thoughts when we met?"

"I thought you were a bed climber," he said outright, making Yanmei shake her head.

It was now Yanmei's turn to frown at him, but remembering his cold self, she let it be.

Y: "You know what, Yeong. Let's just talk about our favorites. What's your favorite color?"

A: "Black."

Y: "That's not even a color."

A: "Okay, gray then."

Y: "Pfft… Whatever girl - "

A: "No calling me girl!"

Y: "Okay! Okay! What's your favorite food?"

A: "Japanese, sushi, western steak, barbecue, mostly anything spicy… Live octopus thrills me."

"Eww… I heard people die from that you know," she sneered before adding another question. "Have you ever been… in… love?"

Yanmei immediately gulped, scared the question might agitate him, but to her surprise, he said, "I fancied someone in college, but I never acted on it."

'Of course, I understand,' Yanmei told herself. 'Must be hard.'

Y: "Okay, then… can you tell me why are you so stiff? Mean, indifferent? Cold?"

Anton changed the position of his legs and leaned forward with both elbows on his knees. He looked at Yanmei intensely and said, "Yanmei, I will only give part of the reason - a tip of the iceberg… Remember when I got cut from an attempted robbery at the gun factory? What I did not tell you was how the thieves were armed with guns."

"That kind of life? Being attacked - engaging in fight is something that I have grown to get used to - Also, how my biological parents died… I think - I think it is a risk to make relationships even as simple as friendship," He added.

"What - what happened to your parents?" She asked, sensing that there is more gravity behind it.

"I will consider telling you if you stay loyal to me as an employee for ten years," He plainly said while turning his gaze to the window.

'Ten years?' Yanmei thought while raising her brows.

Anton stood up to take a closer look at sky. He noticed how the rain had started to slow down. He said, "I think I can get going now."

He turned to Yanmie and said, "Thank you for your hospitality. I will schedule another get to know you date. We can have it in the office, in the conference room."

Yanmei went laughing hysterically again. She concluded that Anton is absolutely unromantic and dull.

Anton walked towards her and slammed both hands against the cushion. Yanmei was literally in between Anton's strong arms, her face inches away from him.

He remained giving her a fierce look and asked, "What's wrong with my suggestion?"

Yanmei was taken aback. She gazed directly into his light brown eyes in awe, but still had the strength to say, "Nothing... the conference room is perfectly romantic."

A smirk appeared on his face. 'So you wanted romantic?'

After an hour, Anton already found his car. He got in and called Junsu. When his assistant picked up, he asked, "Junsu, what is a good romantic restaurant you know of? Must be exclusive - with a good view."

"Okay, make dinner reservations this Friday evening."

It was yet another dinner, but then again, that was all Anton knew about. He figured he would start from there.