[Music Recommendation: "Winter Bear" by Kim Taehyung (BTS - V) available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

[Please note: We're still in Crystal's POV - when they were shooting at the beach]

"Huh? Wait, what?" I asked, bewildered by what he meant.

"Hop on me."

My eyes widened in surprise.

'Hop on him? I-In front of him? Like a baby? Wait—No. T-that's… straddling on his hips! What the fudge! Is he for real? That's so embarrassing and well, VERY, very, intimate. If I slide down, I-I'll… KYAAA! No!'

I felt my cheeks burn realizing what he just said. But he looked so innocent as if what he asked was the most normal thing to do in the world.

Badump! Badump! Badump!

'Oh no, my heart is thumping so loud again. I'm so nervous. But Verdandi will get irritated if we take so long. Uggghhh… Fine! I'll do it! It's just Callan, anyway. But I'm not doing this with any other guy! It's too much!'

And so, after gathering the courage of the seven seas, I hopped unto Callan. My legs wrapped around his waist and his arms served as my seat, supporting my buttocks. Waaa… This was why I didn't want to do it. He's basically touching me there! A-and my chest was in front of his face. In my embarrassment, I bent down low but in return, our face was too close.

Badump! Badump! Badump!

"There it is! Good! Give me more! More sweetness!" Verdandi shouted energetically as she took pictures. It seemed that she liked our current pose.

"Crystal," Callan called me again.

"Yes? What is it this time?"

"Let's do that nose to nose thing. And look into my eyes."

"What? Why are you so good at this? Did you get a girlfriend without my knowledge?"

"Ha-ha-ha! No, of course not. Let's just say it's the things I want to do with my girlfriend when I get one."

"Pft! Ha-ha-ha-ha!" I burst out laughing. He's just so cute. OMG! Thinking of things he wanted to do with his future girlfriend. "HA-HA-HA-HA!"

"Ha-ha-ha! What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing, you're just so, ha-ha-ha!"

We ended up laughing together for a whole minute. When I recovered, I did what he said and inched closer to his face. But my smile didn't leave my face. I chuckled as I got closer. Then, I looked into his eyes just as he instructed.

'Wooow… what beautiful amber eyes. It looks like it's burning like the sunset.'

Staring into his eyes, I couldn't help but smile warmly at him. I'm really so lucky to have a friend like him—always there when I'm in a pinch, always bringing laughter to me when I'm sad.

Next thing I knew, I was caressing his cheeks gently. And he smiled so dearly to me. This guy… he'd make a pretty good actor with how great he's acting right now. He's looking at me as if he's in love with me. Nice one, Callan. Didn't know you had such great talent in acting.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

I heard continuous shutters from Verdandi. She wasn't saying anything anymore. It probably meant she was satisfied with whatever we were doing.

And then, the wind blew hard, making my hair fly to my face. Callan quickly freed one of his arms and gently brushed the hair on my cheeks. I chuckled again. Always the knight in shining armour.

"Wow. How strong," I jested, "you can carry me in one arm."

"That's why I keep on telling you to eat some more. You're too light and thin. The only thing that's big to you is your chest and your butt."

"Shut up! You shouldn't be saying that to a girl, you know."

"Ha-ha-ha! I'm only saying it coz it's you."

"Oh wow. So it's alright for you to offend me?"

"Ha-ha-ha! Are you offended?"

"Ha-ha-ha! … No."

Soon after that, our shooting ended. Verdandi kept on giggling in joy as if she got the most precious and perfect picture she wanted to capture. Curious, I asked if I could see the shots. She kindly showed me her favourite and I was surprised it was a picture of us!The one where I was straddling on Callan, nose to nose, chuckling, caressing his face, and Callan was brushing the hair on my cheeks!

'Wow! I didn't know it looked THAT beautiful. Seeing the picture up close, we really do look like the happiest and most in love couple in the world! And it was all thanks to Callan's idea. How amazing!'

We wrapped up after that and went back to the hotel where we were staying. Feeling tired and hungry, we decided to stop by the restaurant for dinner since I didn't want to exhaust Callan by asking him to cook—though I love his cooking.

Once we finished eating, we went up to our rooms. My room was just beside Callan's and our assistants, in front of ours. As I opened the door to my suite, I didn't know what got into me but I paused and turned to Callan.

"Uhm, Callan…"

"Hm? Yes?"

"Can you accompany me some more?" I shyly asked. What am I even being shy for? It's only Callan.

He looked surprised but he agreed and opened the door for me, walking straight inside. I followed him and he went toward the living room.

"Should we continue watching movies? Or do you want to play a game?"

"Hmm… I don't have anything in mind. I just want to…"

"To what? Why do you keep on pausing, acting all shy?"

"Huh? I-I'm not."

"Come on, spill it. What do you really want?"

'Damn it. He got me. I did have something in mind but I'm too embarrassed to ask. Should I say it or should I not? Hmrgh…'

I took a deep breath before spilling it out. I've been wanting to ask this since last week actually but I just couldn't get the courage and the chance to ask. Now that I had both, I might as well say it.

"Callan… p-please, can you sleep with me tonight?"

Waaaaa… My face was probably so red. It's just that, I couldn't sleep properly and I know I would be able to if he's there with me—like this morning.

"Pft! HA-HA-HA-HA! That's what you're shy about?"

"Shut up!"

"Ha-ha-ha! It's alright. I'll sleep with you."

"Really?" I suddenly felt so happy.

"Just don't take the blanket away from me."

"Ha-ha! I won't. We can share. The bed is big enough anyway."

"Okaaay. So, do you want to sleep now?"

"Can we?"

"Wut? Take a shower first and change to your pajamas."

"Yes, sir!"

I quickly showered after that and changed into my cute purple sleeping dress. He showered after me and changed to his pajamas, too. Then, we laid down in bed together.

"Can you do that again? Stroking my hair until I sleep?"

Callan chuckled. "Anything for the princess."

And so, he moved closer to me and stroked my hair until I fell asleep. It's amazing how quickly I dozed off with him beside me.

Truly… Thank you so much, Callan.