**Painful Situation

Spring breeze filled the air, and the Magnolia trees that lined outside the Wan Household where tiny green buds that were beginning to sprout wiggled in the breeze. Its grace and fragrance a cut above the rest, stealing every passersby's attention except for Hugo, who wrinkled his nose — a charcoal pen in hand while his nose stuck on the sketch on his notebook. He was a few touches away from finishing his drawing, yet his sister hasn't arrived. 

Achoooo!

Instead of his nose, he held the bandage at the back of his head where he felt a twinge with every sneeze. His nose twitched again, this time not because of the pollen, but at the thought of getting his payback. 'That giant dare imprint his tooth on my head!'

He went on to finish his sketch, adding a Magnolia flower that stood out amongst the tiny green buds. He penned a quote at the bottom of his sketch: "Everything and everyone at their own pace. Flow with, and not against yourself." 

Inside the Wan Household, Zoey took light steps towards Grant's room as if she was dancing, looking like a swan with every pointe and stretch of her foot. It was almost dinner time, and Grant hasn't shown his face after he received his "schooling," embarrassed at his predicament.

A soft knock followed by a small opening of the door revealed an exquisite beauty. Zoey popped her pretty face in between the gap that made Grant cover his face, not because he was embarrassed, forget about it. His ears were red from vexation. 'I want to be alone, godd*mnit!' 

"Hoy, Grant! Dinner time!"

"The f*ck, Zoey? Are you some hoodlum or what?"

"What's wrong with 'hoy' when you're the one who's cursing?"

Grant laid back on his bed and covered his face with a pillow, his long legs kicked in the air, as he questioned himself on how he could drop that cursed cigar.

Zoey sat down on the edge of the bed. She clasped her hands over Grant's and examined his sore palms. "Where does it hurt? Here?" she blew cool breaths against his big hands that were almost as big as her apple-shaped face. She tilted her head to see Grant's reaction, but the Giant decided to be the bigger man and continued with his hysterics.

Under the pillow, Grant's face looked comical, and his ears painted abnormally red. Through the years, everybody knew how he chased Zoey like a puppy, and even that young miss knew herself. He blew off the steam that was building inside him out of his nose and pulled the pillow away from his face after he mustered up all his remaining courage for the day.

"I like you, Zoey. I like you a lot. Please give me a chance to prove myself to you," Grant pleaded, his hands turned as white as the pillow that he had strangled. Tonight was the third time this year that he confessed his affections to Zoey and asked her the same question, and he was hopeful that she would say yes. They said third's time the charm, right?

"Graaaaant, I don't want to ruin our friendship, okay? We are best friends, and that is the perfect route for us to go. Listen to me," she lifted his downcast face and rescued the down-feather pillow away from his hold. "What if 'us' don't work? What if we break up and I lose you? I don't want to place my cards on that." Zoey let out a long exhale before she stretched her neck like a swan. That was also the third time she refused to give it a try, and each subsequent rejection was more complicated than the last. 

Oh, young love, how could it hurt so much?

"I will make it work. I will do everything for you, Zoey. I promise," Grant's face full of determination.

"You are not the problem. I am. And we both know that, Grant."

Grant sighed but pushed on, and he held her hand close to his face like a little puppy waiting to be doted upon, desperate for Zoey's three-letter word answer. Zoey kneeled on the bed and gave him a bear hug instead. 

"I will shield you from your detractors, Zoey. I will shield you even from your mom too."

Zoey giggled at her friend's boldness, "You can't do that. You are a wimp."

Grant pulled Zoey, the force of gravity working to his favor, that she wasn't able to escape his trick and fell on the bed with him. He pecked her lips, then asked, "Who said I'm a coward?"

Zoey's lips pouted, she held the small smile that tried to etch on her face. She didn't want to give away that she liked his arrogant kiss, so she teased him a bit more, "Yes, you are." Zoey gasped when Grant suddenly rolled over the bed, pinning her down. Her lithe body three times smaller than his. He crawled his hand under her shirt then asked, "Is this someone who's a scaredy-cat, Zoey Sai?"

She gulped and nodded her head, curious at how far this little game would go. The determination in Grant's eyes never wavered; he would get Zoey's yes tonight. He squeezed the small mound on her chest, his breath was ragged and deep when he spoke in his low and sexy voice, "I don't think so."

Zoey eyed her friend's plump lips that looked like a forbidden fruit inviting her to taste it, so she lifted her head - biting it and surrendering to her innermost desire. She moved her lips to his ears and whispered, "Prove to me that you are not."

Grant bid as told and dove straight to claim his prized possession. Their teeth clashed and their tongues fought like swords at the awkward sync of their kisses. Zoey arched her back, she wanted Grant to touch her more. His hand traced on her skin, moving its way to her back, where he scrambled to loosen her bra but ultimately failed.

"Why is it so hard to take off? Does it need a key or something?" he grumbled under their amateur kisses.

Zoey chuckled and put her hands behind her back, ready to take off her bra. Grant peppered her with kisses while she busied herself with the task. A naughty smile formed on her face when she finally unhooked the thing that kept them on a standstill. Grant's hand were inches away from the cherry on top when the door to his room flung open.

Oh my gah!

Zoey scurried to hide under the duvet, pulling it over to her to conceal herself from the shameful twist of events.

Hugo locked the knob and closed the door behind him. 'Oh my gah. Zoey's in big trouble. There's no turning back now,' he said in his thoughts.

Inside the room, Grant threw the duvet away, his face looked smug as if he had won their little game. Zoey eyed the giant, this time, her head was clearer than before, so he pushed him away to escape their painful situation.

She fixed the hook of her bra, her back against Grant, anxious that he would see her hesitation as she said, "It's still a no, Grant."

Edited by Swaning