Windows of The Heart

Chapter Twenty-Seven Perfect Night

Background music: DREAM by Paul Kim and PERFECT by Ed Sheeran

Hyun-Ki gives her a meek look, and Rielle feels something different in her, trembling involuntarily, feeling a tingling in her veins; she cannot refuse Hyun-Ki's gaze at her as much as his loving, gentle embrace.

Hwan Chul knocked on Hyun-ki's Office, letting him know he was leaving for home.

"Don't you have any plans for tonight, Chul? It is Friday! Why leave for home? It's still early." Hyun-Ki hopefully suggested. Hwan Chul seemed shy to respond. "Maybe next time, Hyeong, I'm still saving time to mingle with old friends. I am not ready to socialize as yet; I have some things in mind to consider. Maybe next time. How about you coming late again tonight?" Hyun-Ki just gave a thumbs-up sign and smiled.

"Okay, I'm leaving now. What's your plan for tomorrow, by the way? It's Saturday?" Hwan is curious. "I have my condo fixed because Benny left the place. He was about to get married in a few weeks, remember Benny?" Hyun-Ki returned Hwan's question.

"Oh, why does marriage seem to be the town's talk lately? Hwan spoke in surprise, but there was sadness on his face.

"C'mon, namdongsaeng, don't take it seriously, Okay? You'll see things turn out well in the unexpected time."

Back to Rielle and Hyun-Ki, they discussed their plans to fix his condo. He wanted to complete his plan of filling his place with the necessary furniture and appliances to make his place home. They had dinner and then went back to the condo to see how they would arrange things in their proper places. Then both decided to go home so they could meet early and shop for everything the area needed.

The following day, Hyun-Ki dressed casually, wearing a yellow collared T-shirt and denim shorts paired with white sneakers. He sprayed himself with light-scented cologne. Meanwhile, Rielle was in a hurry to find an outfit that she could wear that fit their plan to decorate Hyun-Ki's place. She decided to wear denim shorts and an off-shoulder yellow blouse, matched it with white sneakers, sprayed herself on the perfume Hyun-Ki gifted her, then put it in her bag with her cosmetics. She was ready to go when the doorbell rang. Donna, her sister, opened the gate and was surprised.

"Wow, did you talk about what to wear and the color of your shirts?" Rielle was behind Donna when she saw her sister's outfit. "Not only the color, the outfit, and the sneakers, huh? Your wave trend matches perfectly well! You are truly a perfect pair." Donna exclaimed cheerfully.

"Yeah, we never talked about what we'll wear today, Hyun. Funny, isn't it?" Both couples laughed at the turnout of their early start.

The couples decided to take their breakfast first, then strolled down the park near the mall while waiting for the mall to open. A little longer, they were already window shopping, choosing and deciding which were best for each unit area. After their purchases, they bought some take-out meals to eat in the apartment for a busy day ahead. While they waited, Rielle asked Hyun-Ki to bring in the ladder so she could hang the curtains in the bedroom. As she was tiptoeing to reach out the top of the curtains while adjusting them to make them look good, Hyun-Ki was staring at her legs and body; with a thought of mischief, he tickled Rielle's legs making her out of balance and fell straight on Hyun-Ki's arms.

Rielle's face was shocked and laughed at by Hyun-Ki's mischief that she pretended to be angry, pushed him out of the room, and locked herself.

"Pulling some tricks on me, huh! Do you think that is romantic for you? Just wait and see how I am pissed off, Hyun." Cried out, pretending to be pissed off.

Hyun-Ki continued laughing and apologetic at the same time, but when Rielle did not budge, he went silent, pretending to close the main door and hide in the next room. Rielle was done fixing the bedroom curtains and went out of the room, calling for Hyun-Ki.

"Hmm, playing hide-and-seek, ha? I won't look for you; get stiff there!" pretending but padding to the bathroom thinking he was there when Hyun-Ki suddenly appeared behind her and screamed in shock. Both of them became playful at that moment, and their cheerful waves of laughter spread all over the place, and they felt like kids who were hungry for playtime. Feeling tired, they rested on the floor and leaned against the wall. Hyun-Ki opened his cellphone to listen to the music he had collected. Rielle leaned on his shoulders, listening to the playlist, and realized the songs were Korean.

"I love the melody of that song, but only a few were English then, mostly in Korean. I wonder what they mean, Hyun?" asked Rielle, pleading to make her understand.

"You want to know? I'll rewind and translate it for you. I want you to listen carefully, okay? The title of the song is Dream by Paul Kim."

You are my dream; you are my love. It's you who showed me, love. Follow your time, follow my heart, I'm still staying on that dazzling day I love you, I love you Since the time I met you, It's all you. You are flying in my heart You are my dream, You are my love I wish there was your warmth 'til the end You are my dream, you are my life, My days in black and white, colored with your color. How is my heart? Since the time I met you, It's all you. You are flying in my heart, I love you In the many times that were mixed like this, I realized I'm meaningless without you I love you, I love you For you, I'll find you anywhere in the world. You are dazzlingly beautiful I love you, Saranghae

And as he began in the rhythm of the song, whispering them on Rielle's ears, holding her close, and as the song ended, he lovingly and passionately uttered the last word, Saranghae. The music kept them in silence, feeling and relishing every line Hyun-Ki sang to her, giving a sticky stare at each other; Hyun-ki, in a gentle voice, his reflection in her eyes slowly meeting with their lips, repeated the words, "Saranghae, I love you" and fallen again into the trap of time.

They were startled when there came some knocking by the door.

"It could be the delivery of our furniture, Sweetheart." And Rielle hurriedly fixed her face and hair, then Hyun-Ki opened the door. The bed was first delivered, and then the men assembled it, placing it beside the wall of the room with the edge of it facing the glass window. Then a set of two-piece armchairs was established by the window as Rielle instructed.

They arranged the following furniture sets in the living room and dining room and placed a table of four-seaters near the kitchen island. The men put the appliances in their proper places. The last piece of furniture, a couch, was brought in, and Hyun-Ki couldn't think of a better place for it, and Rielle decided to place it in the next room since it was still empty anyway.

After accounting for every piece of furniture and appliance, the couple took a deep breath of relief; at last, they had accomplished every single thing in just one day.

Rielle went back to the bedroom to put the bedcover and the pillow covers, and while fixing them, she asked Hyun-Ki if he would stay here beginning tonight, for it was already a quarter past seven.

Hyun-Ki thought for a while; his eyes held a hint of mischief, suggested to Rielle:

"I wanted to, but I feel not going home tonight. But the thing is, I have no one to accompany me; I guess I'm not used to staying alone anymore." He met her eyes and smiled mischievously.

Rielle pretends to be unaware of his teasing, suggesting: "Anyway, it's time for me to go home; bring me home now, Hyun, and go back home, too."

And when she said this, he got closer to her, held Rielle in his arms, and with a hint of seduction, whispered gently and passionately, "Stay with me tonight, Rielle." Hyun-Ki gives her a meek look, and Rielle feels something different in her, trembling involuntarily, feeling a tingling in her veins; she cannot refuse Hyun-Ki's gaze at her as much as his loving, gentle embrace.

Hyun-Ki wraps her around in his arms, gets close to her breathing space, and begins touching her face and cheeks, then whispers to her ears, "Stay with me tonight, Rielle. I want to be closer to you, feel you in my skin. I want you; I need you; sleep with me. Rielle."

Rielle, at that moment, felt weak and helpless; Rielle couldn't fight back; she froze that she couldn't move away, and it seemed like she wanted to give up herself in his arms. She can't refuse him now that she returned Hyun-Ki's kisses passionately, her heart fluttering, and there seemed a flow of electricity creeping into her veins, making her thrilled and tremble as Hyun-Ki continued to make his advances on her.

"Let us make love tonight. Stay with me, hold me close, Rielle, and I won't let you go." And they kissed gently, passionately, and torridly, and as they kissed, Hyun-Ki once more whispered, "Let me get inside you, Rielle, follow my lead, and feel me. You are mine now, and I am yours."

Hyun-Ki slowly took off her top, and Rielle did so with Hyun-Ki's, both feeling aggressive now, clasping their palms tightly. Hyun-Ki continued to move on her with bated breath in excitement, only the murmurs of their love hovered them, and the dark silence of the night was the only witness of their love.

An hour later, Rielle was back to her senses. She rose and covered herself with the bedsheet, then leaned at the bed's headboard; she wrapped her folded knees with her arms and stared at Hyun-Ki, watching him asleep. Thinking about what happened between them tonight, she felt like crying; she had never felt this distinct sensation that awakened her consciousness, and she seemed to like this feeling wrapped around her body and creeping inside her. And as she watched Hyun-Ki, she realized that she was indeed in love with him and would fight for that love.

Hyun-Ki was roused by the sound of Rielle's sniffling, that he went close to her and hugged her, wondering what those tears were.

"Rielle, why are you crying? Do you regret what happened to us tonight?" Then Rielle answered no by shaking her head. "What are those tears for then? You're making me worry." Hyun-Ki in a worried tone.

"I love you now more than ever, Hyun. Please promise me." Rielle said with a feeling of fear and insecurity. Hyun-Ki held her chin and felt her fear as he looked through her eyes and embraced her tightly.

"Please don't cry. I feel my heart melting every time I see those tears in your eyes. I love you so much Rielle, and you were the only one who made me feel this way. I feel like going crazy if I'd lose you and I don't want to lose you. You are now the center of my life. You are the one who makes my life com-plete. And no one shall ever stand between us. I'll protect you and you are the only one who can make me leave you, but I will never leave you even if you tell me to because that's how much you mean to me. I love you Rielle, so much."