Page 40 of When Worlds Collide
“Yeah, but he’s like, super famous.” I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from bursting out laughing at the affronted look that creased his beautiful face.
“Yah!” he burst out, “I’m super famous, Cho Hyungsoo is only a little bit famous,” he pinched his thumb and forefinger together. “If you want to admire someone, I’m standing right in front of you,” he tapped his chest with his finger, and it was so caveman I couldn’t help the laughter that poured out of me.
“Oh baby, you’re so adorable right now.” I pinched his cheeks, and he allowed it for all of half a second before he gently batted my hands away, making a sound of disgust in his throat, but I saw the twinkle of amusement in his eyes, even if it was a side-eye.
“You drive me crazy, jagiya,” he murmured, all softness now that my giggles had quieted. “I even love the way you laugh at me; it makes your cheeks pink. It’s so cute.” I held my hands to my cheeks, and sure enough, they were warm as I stared up at him, suddenly breathless under the intensity in his eyes.
He took one step towards me, closing any distance there might have been between us, until I only felt that quiet thrum of energy that vibrated in the space between our bodies. A soft sigh escaped my parted lips, and my tongue darted out to run across my bottom lip. Jihoon’s eyes seemed to darken as they flicked down to watch.
“What is his name?” he said so quietly I had to focus on the words to make sense of them.
“Who?” I asked, dazed.
He leaned forward, his lips skimming the corner of my mouth, his breath skirting across my lips. I reflexively parted them.
“The actor. What was his name?”
“Hmm? I-I can’t remember.”
Then, he straightened, and the look in his eyes was mischief and seduction in equal parts.
“There, now you are only looking at me.” He reached out one hand and put the photo frame down on its face.
Damn sexy magic.
Chapter 14
“Hi mum!”
“Hello, love, I wondered when we might hear from you.”
I cringed at the gentle reproach in my mum’s voice. I’d been putting this call off, and it had been way too long since I’d checked in.
Jihoon and I had gotten back to the hotel a little while ago. After leaving Hyungsoo's apartment we'd done a little sight-seeing in the city. We planned on checking out in the morning, and I’d wanted to call my folks now before I got distracted by packing, or anything else.
“Yeah, I’m sorry I’ve been rubbish recently. Life’s just been a bit hectic.” To say the least.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” My mum immediately frowned, going right into the specific kind of mum-mode she entered when she tried to find things in my life that needed fixing.
“No, mum, I’m fine,” I sighed. “I just need to tell you some things, and I-I need you to try and understand.” I swallowed past the lump that was forming in my throat, taking a deep breath in through my nose. I will not cry.
When I got too emotional, it all tended to spill out of my eyes, regardless of what emotion it was.
Jihoon was in the living room. He’d offered to leave entirely, but I hadn’t wanted him far away, so I was in the bedroom, packing.
“Hang on, let me get your dad.” I watched as my mum stood up and walked through the airy kitchen and into the living room, supposedly seeking out my dad.
“Ern? Ernie, Ky’s on the phone. You’d best talk to her with me.”
The phone shuffled around, sounds of scuffling and muted colours flashing on the screen as it was passed over until, eventually, it was propped up on something – probably the fruit bowl – and my parents could be seen sat closely together at the familiar, scuffed dining table.
“Hey, Pops.” I waved at my dad, watching as he slid his glasses down his nose from where he’d perched them on top of his head.
“Love? What’s wrong? Do you need money?”
I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of me. Such a dad response.
I rolled my eyes as I said, “No, Dad, I do not need money.”
