48 Opening up!

Luna's POV:

It is warm... After a long time, I am sleeping on something so snuggish... But how can I feel so warm inside my car?

Yes, that's right! I am sleeping inside my car! But why is it warm? Huh?

I woke up from my nap and to my surprise, I was sleeping on Alex's warm and broad shoulders! He was gazing outside the car with a pleasant smile on his face. What the hell?

I almost jolted up from his shoulders! He was startled to see my panicked reaction.

"He-Hey? Why was I sleeping on your shoulder?" I interrogated him as soon as I regained my senses.

"Well, you were dozing off as we started this journey. Maybe you were sleep-deprived, so I just helped you to sleep comfortably here!" Alex replied to me gladly while pointing at his shoulders.

"Hey? Who told you to help me? You shouldn't decide things on your own!" I whined at him as I was completely flustered and deliberately wanted to hide my shyness from him.

"But I just couldn't let you get hit on the car window while dozing! Besides, you can't whine at me after drooling on my shoulder!" He smirked while teasing me with a sly expression.

"Did I drool on you? Oh my Gosh! Mr. Ri get me tissues--" I almost died in embarrassment to know about the deeds I performed in sleep! Damn, I can't even look at him now!

"Relax! It's fine, I was just teasing you! Pfft, but you are so flustered now, Haha!" Alex continued to pester me as I was getting annoyed pretty fast! Besides, I was too hungry that's why my mood was already grumpy...

"Mr. Ri? When we will reach our hotel? I am dying in hunger goddammit!" I groaned at Mr. Ri to vent out my anger.

"Just 5 mins more, madam!" He replied to me abruptly.

...

It was a beautiful hotel by Kim Merchandise beside our raw material industry. Mr. Ri had already booked rooms for Alex and Mr. Shin separately. As we get out of the car, my legs were completely stiff and I badly needed rest.

"Well, shall we head to have some food? I am hungry too!" Alex said in a gentle voice while staring at me.

"I am too tired to go anywhere now. So I will have something in my room, Mr. Choi! I at least need some sleep." My shoulders were stiff with the long journey as I was massaging it while talking to him.

"Then can we have dinner together? I will wait for you!" He was quite persistent to accompany me.

I looked at him sternly and observed that he was already gazing at me with his puppy eyes... "Ugghh, fine! Call me when you go for dinner!" I replied quite reluctantly as it was hard for me to reject his kind request. How troublesome!

"Okay!" He happily nodded his head with a wide grin.

...

It was around 9 pm. I walked up to the VIP food court of our residency hotel and saw Alex was already waiting for me on a table. He had a black full sleeve shirt worn with a comfy coat, his hairs properly styled, and a golden wristband on his right hand, looking at the menu.

But I was dressed too plain compared to him due to tiredness from the long journey. Why does he always dress up so perfectly all the time? I just don't get it...

"Oh, hello Miss Kim?" He noticed me pretty quick and waved his hand towards me.

At a slow pace, I reached him. "Hello." I greeted him in a cold voice while seating opposite him.

"I was waiting for you! Still, you took about 30 mins to reach here after I called you!" He was sulking like a small child which made me laugh a bit.

"I am too tired and we need to conduct our survey tomorrow. It's better both of us gets proper rest today." I tried to have a normal conversation with him in order to get him to know a little better! 

"Ahhh I get it. But, sitting here is more comfortable than staying in that room! I don't like to stay inside unknown places..." He mumbled gently with a gloomy smile.

"Why? Do you have a phobia?" I asked him abruptly out of curiosity.

Immediately his face darkened as he was staring at me intensely."N-No." His stuttered reply seemed very cold.

I sensed that he is a private person undoubtedly. Damn, it will be tough to know about him! Soon we ordered our food along with 2 bottles of soju(Alcoholic beverage in Korea).

(Phone ringing)

I flinched with the phone call and looked at the screen. It was... Noah! I was reluctant to pick it up as it can make Alex infuriated. And I was too tired to deal with an unnecessary fight!

"Who is it?" To my awe, Alex asked me about it sharply.

"Ummm, it's Noah. I will talk to him later--"

"No need to do so! And no need to pick it up! Let it be!" He intervened me quickly in a hoarse tone. As I mentioned Noah, his facial expression seemed offended.

"Mr. Choi but he is my only friend! I will talk to him later!" I tried to state my view while he looked grumpy.

"Yeah, but why does your mannerless friend always interrupt us when we are together? Is it so impolite to seek a dinner date with you?" He sounded very displeased as he groaned at me in a rugged tone.

"Dinner date? Ahh, so that's why you are so properly dressed! But, are you jealous of him?" I sneered at him as I wanted to tease him a bit while drinking.

"Yes! I am jealous of every single person who can stay beside you without your reluctance! While I am the one who is always treated by you so coldly... I don't understand my fault! You are someone very impactful in my life but why do you keep me avoiding? What can I do to stay by your side without getting yanked? I don't expect anything but I don't want to be treated so coldly by at least you! About rest, I don't bother." For the first time, he opened his heart towards me with such a bold explanation. Maybe, that's because of the effect of soju.

"I wish... I could tell you about my inner conflicts." I thought with a sad smile on my face while glancing at him.

"Why are you smiling so sadly?" He questioned me in a sulky voice as he observes me too well.

"Well, to be honest, you remind me of someone whom I should forget... At least, I want to protect myself this time from getting hurt..." I answered him softly as my mind was getting a little dizzy from the effect of the alcohol I guess.

"We... We both are broken from inside... That's why we chose to be tough on the outside, but you are someone worthy to whom I seek a little warmth, Miss Kim!" His eyes seemed suffocated in pain while he was speaking to me while gazing at my eyes.

To my surprise, the same heartfelt statement was given by my beloved Ji-Hoo when I confessed to him... 

"You shouldn't be similar! It... torments me badly..." My eyes were tear-filled while I replied to him hoarsely.

"Miss Kim?" He was quite surprised by my odd answer as he uttered my name.

"I think I should leave now! Will see you tomorrow, good night Mr. Choi!" I hastily stood up from my seat and walked towards my room to avoid the conversation. Tears were rolling down as I was leaving him all alone behind.

"They...shouldn't be similar! It hurts my heart so much to face him as Alex... I know he must be someone else this time but I am treating him avoidably due to my past life...

I should apologize to him tomorrow!" I mumbled slowly while heading back.

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