"See you guys tomorrow!"
We bid our farewell and sneaked outside the restaurant.
I walked back with Ilyas as the direction of our house was the same.
"Do you want to hang out for a bit?"
Ilyas suggested, which I gladly accept. We walked to the nearest bar and rented a private room. Feeling conscious of Ilyas, I shifted in my seat. If I came close, I felt like my pounding heart could be heard by him, that's just how loud it was right now.
Ilyas' brown hair swayed slightly, his cheek a little flushed, and when he met my gaze, his almond eyes curved upward, making his face look beautiful.
Yes, I chose the word beautiful rather than handsome, because Ilyas' face had the perfect combination of masculinity and femininity. It was a perfect androgynous face that could captivate both women and men.
He blinked slowly, "It still didn't feel real to me that you chose me."
Curious, I asked, "What made you fall in love with me in the first place?"
I was by no means had any intention to court others since the start. While I understood that I was one of the male leads, I didn't understand what action I did that made them romantically fall in love with me.
As if noticing what thought was circling inside my head, Ilyas smiled.
"You underappreciate yourself sometimes, in fact, there are a lot of things we like about you."
"For example?"
Ilyas intertwined our fingers together, the smile on his face becoming wider.
"How you're kind and considerate toward others, how you act cute when you're embarrassed, how capable and amazing you look when leading us. All of them are qualities I adore from you."
The more Ilyas spoke, the more my face turned red. I tried to hide my embarrassment by turning my gaze away, covering my mouth with my hand. But it didn't help much, as Ilyas — who noticed even the slightest change in my expression — could read my gesture like an open book.
"Haha, see what I mean? Your flustered face is a sight to look at."
He brought our intertwined hands to his lips and gave it a kiss, like a prince ready to snatch away his princess.
"And it's a sight I'll be seeing often now."
The steady but slightly dark gaze he gave seemed to lure me in, capturing me in its snare.
Every time I was with Ilyas, there would always be something he did that drove me crazy. As a result, I would repeatedly think about him, leaving me swirling in confusion.
'Why does my heart race when I'm with him?'
The more we were together, the more I couldn't deny that time spent with Ilyas was definitely the happiest moment I had since transmigrating here.
But I didn't want to admit to my own feelings. I always thought there might be someone better out there for Ilyas rather than some battle maniac like me — that I was just an outsider with no rights to intervene with the main character's fate.
Regardless of my aversion, Ilyas still reached out to me, accepting my all – my good side and my vulnerable side.
"You know, I've always wondered why fate always plays around with my life, taking away my everything as it please."
"Ilyas..."
"But I can't exactly blame it, I guess it's a way for the universe to correct itself after our family repeatedly twisted its predetermined end with our power."
He observed my face, gauging my reaction.
"And after learning from grandma about shamanism and understanding the balance of the universe, I'm afraid that same thing could happen to you."
"..."
"When you first asked me what the universe's gaze was and how it caused injury to your body, I knew something wasn't right and if I didn't take action, I feel like I could lose you."
"..."
"That's why I study shamanism."
Ilyas brushed my hair, the warm gentle touch tingled against my skin.
"I don't know what happened to you for universe to reject you but I'll do whatever it takes to keep you by my side."
"Ilyas... I... "
"So don't be afraid to receive my love Ethan."
My head was pulled forward, and my shoulder was wrapped in Ilyas' arms. His soft lips touched my parted mouth as his tongue slipped inside, exploring every bit of its inside.
His guiding energy flowed to me as we kissed, enhancing the sensation of our tongues twisting with each other. My emotions were laid bare for him to see and so were his.
'How is he so good at kissing?'
My head spun at the intoxicating feeling. Maybe because I was out of breath or maybe because Ilyas' lead was so good it made my head go blank.
"Haa..."
By the time we parted our mouth, heavy panting was all we heard from each other.
Ilyas' face was thoroughly flushed, but I bet mine was the same. My face felt hot and I could hear my heart thumping loudly.
He smiled as he gave me one last peck on the lips.
"Your flushed face is pretty too, I'll engrave it on my mind."
'That's not something you say out loud Ilyas.'
Embarrassed by his honest words, I coughed awkwardly. He chuckled at my gesture, claiming it to be adorable.
I could feel every bit of Ilyas' emotions from our kiss, his love for me was genuine. Even without guiding energy, I could feel every considerate movement he made to show how he genuinely cared for me, far deeper than just lust.
'So this is how it feels to be wholeheartedly loved.'
I had never dated in my previous life so I never tasted the feeling of romantic love. All I thought about was work and money so I didn't have any room to date.
Even after transmigrating here, it took a lot of my mental state to keep myself together and the possibility of creating a romantic relationship was thrown to the corner of my mind.
But if Ilyas was willing to go this far just for me…
If he's willing to do everything and even fight the fate the author had created just to be together with me.
I couldn't help but fall in love with him.