Chương 12: I Think I Love You…

After taking a long soak in a warm bath for over thirty minutes, Veronica reappeared to find the aroma of food filling the whole house.

In the living room was Fabian who was already halfway done with his meal and Davie taking a nap next to his empty bowl looking stuffed.

"Really?", she leaned against the door frame in her nightie. A pair of cotton trousers and a long-sleeved shirt.

"Don't blame me, Davie was hungry", he shrugged slightly as he turned to face her. Taking a few seconds to admire how pretty she looked in a messy bun.

"It's just noodles", she rolled her eyes while approaching the seat next to him which had a plate covered in front of it. "And you sounded like you were gonna cook up a buffet".

"With the kind of ingredients you had, I'm lucky I could even rustle up noodles".

They both laughed as she took the lid off the plate and began to eat slowly.

There was silence looming over them for a few minutes before Veronica swallowed to ask. "Why are you staring at me? Pervert", she was trying hard not to seem like an amateur although she had no plans of doing anything with him.

He leaned closer and she felt her heart rate increase before he wiped off something from her cheek. "Arghh, you still eat like a kid", he got up to return to the kitchen to wash his hands and plate. "Sometimes I can't believe you're older than me".

Veronica felt embarrassed that she'd expected him to attempt kissing her regardless of knowing she wouldn't let him. She ate in silence, not wanting him to return to watch her eat.

Although they ate together during lunch breaks for the past couple of weeks, it still felt awkward at the moment. She couldn't help but anticipate what moves he was going to try on her and how she planned on avoiding each and every one.

"God...am I becoming a pervert?". She couldn't deny that she enjoyed the attention from him, and his persistence overall. Maybe it was because she'd never had someone seem so interested in her without bringing up sex even once in a while.

But it was normal for a girl to feel this way when alone with a boy, right? She was a grown woman anyway. What was the harm in being excited when there wasn't anything between them? She wouldn't even let him, right?

Veronica shook her head in an attempt to clear away all the random thoughts that came flooding in. "I won't...".

"Won't what?". Fabian leaned against the doorframe leading to the kitchen.

His sudden interruption made her jump a bit before hurriedly getting up with her empty plate. "N-Nothing!", she hurried past him. "Don't you know it's weird to randomly stare at people?". Her tone returned to its usual sarcastic pattern as she turned the tap on to wash her plate.

"I didn't see or hear much...", he casually moved to stand behind her. "Just from when you called yourself a pervert". He whispered, carefully wrapping his arms around her waist.

Veronica felt her heartbeat grow erratic at the feel of his bulge pressing against her back. "F...Fabian...".

"Don't worry, I won't do anything ", he was being honest as he buried his face in her neck. "Just let me hold you a little longer".

She shut her eyes for a moment as the warmth of his breath lingered against her earlobe. His arms remained around her waist till she was done with the dishes.

For some reason, it felt different from that man's touch—and not in a good way.

"I'm done!", she cleared her throat as a signal for him to let go since she was beginning to feel awkward.

"Just wash it again", he whispered but Veronica used her hands to remove his.

Her eyes scanned down his body before stopping at his trousers where his bulge was obvious. "You shouldn't come to sick people's homes to seduce them".

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I know I might not be able to get this close to you again with my life intact".

Veronica laughed. "Am I that scary?".

Fabian tapped his foot repeatedly before answering. "I think that's what you just want others to think, am I right?". He tried to take a step closer but Veronica outstretched an arm to stop him.

"And I think you don't have to get so close when having every conversation", She turned to leave for her bedroom. "Also", she paused at the doorway to add. "I don't intend to share a bed with you so you'll have to sleep elsewhere".

"Oww? Is that why your face is so red?". He teased.

"What? No!", she called out from the living room, rushing towards her bedroom and slamming the door behind her.

She heard him chuckle, followed by footsteps coming towards her bedroom, and then stopping outside, "You're flustered".

"I said I'm not...".

"It's cute. I kinda wish I could see this part of you more instead of the pouty version". She couldn't tell whether it was genuine or merely a teasing remark. Maybe both.

Fabian sat with his back against the door. "Have you ever been in a relationship, Ver?".

There was a pause as the question had taken her off guard and she'd thought about whether not to answer. "Yes". There was another round of awkward silence as she sat on the floor with her back to the door. "You've probably been in a lot".

He chuckled, "Maybe", before continuing the conversation. "So you've had sex before?".

Another question that took her by surprise and she pondered on whether to say yes or no. She'd never done it by her own will or in her right mind, and it wasn't like he asked when last she did it. It was better to give him an answer that wouldn't bring more questioning since ignoring it completely would be awkward for them the next day. "I haven't". She lies, followed by a short silence as she nervously rubbed her neck. "Why so quiet? Are you surprised?"

"Hardly", his voice was soft and tender when he answered. "That could explain the way you act".

"So you believe me?". She asked, feeling somewhat guilty.

"Do I have a reason not to?". He took another pause before staring up at the ceiling to speak. "Ver?".

"Yeah?".

"I think I love you".