[Music Recommendation: "Usui Takumi" theme (Kaichou wa Maid-sama OST) - 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 on Kaiden's POV - when Senara visited him in his bedroom]

We walked across the room and towards the couch to sit down.

"Would you like some snacks? Or drinks?" I asked as she sat down in front of me.

"No. I'm good. Thanks," she replied. She seemed nervous. I wonder why?

"Hm… Is there a problem?"

Senara glanced at me for a moment and sighed. Then she started fidgeting her fingers as if she did something wrong and was having trouble telling me.

"Ahm… Actually, I came here to confess something," she said with an embarrassed look and a slightly blushing face.

My heart thumped loud when she said that. For some reason, I got nervous and somewhat expectant. Confess? Confess what? Did she finally… fall for me, too? No. That's impossible. Not this fast. It hadn't been long since we started the deal. I doubt she'd fall for me that fast. I shouldn't get my hopes up. Besides, I'm still enjoying our charade.

"What is it?"

She tensed up more, fidgeting her fingers faster, and avoiding my gaze. Now, I'm really curious.

"T-the truth is… I—ah," she struggled to find the right words.

She could just be honest with me. I doubt she'd do anything I'd hate anyway.

"I'm really sorry!" she blurted out and bowed her head. "About the contract… you said I'm not allowed to tell it to Crystal and any family member or relatives but I ended up telling it to her. I'm really, really sorry! My… my big mouth slipped. We were happily chatting with each other when she came back and before I realized it, I already told her."

…

…

…

A moment of silence passed by.

That's it? That's what she was so nervous about? Pft! I wanted to laugh so bad but she'd be upset. Ha-ha! What should I do? Hmm…

"I'm really sorry," she apologized again, almost with teary eyes. "I already talked to Crystal and she said she'll keep it a secret. So there's no need for you to worry."

"Hmm…"

"Are you angry? Are you going to cancel the contract and look for somebody else?"

'What is she saying? Why would I do that?'

Senara's face looked so sullen and sad as if just a few more of my silence would make her cry. Seeing her like that… I felt sorry for her. But aside from being sorry, I also enjoyed the sight. She looked so cute pleading like that. Somehow, I wanted to tease her a bit more.

"Should I cancel the contract and go with somebody else?" I asked her in a serious manner. "Or should I just punish you accordingly? What do you think? Which would you prefer?"

"A-ahm… don't cancel it please! And don't look for somebody else."

Badump!

My face felt hot. I had to admit, hearing her say that was more than satisfactory.

"So punishment it is."

"Y-yes," she averted her eyes again. Then, looking back at me as if she remembered something important, she said, "B-but please… be gentle."

"A-ah…"

My eyes widened and I was taken aback.

'What the… this girl… I almost lost it. Saying something like that, doesn't she know how dangerous that sounded? Good thing I have my condition or else I would have attacked her by now. What kind of punishment is she thinking?'

Feeling more mischievous than I was earlier, I decided to press on and tease her some more.

"Come here," I told her, still keeping up with my serious face.

Senara flinched. But she followed what I said and walked towards me.

"Yes?"

Once in front of me, I grabbed her arm and pulled her towards me in an embrace. Then, I laid our bodies down on the sofa. I made sure to wrap her tightly in my arms with her face buried unto my chest. I didn't know what got into me but somehow I just felt a really strong urge to hug her.

"W-w-why are you hugging me?" Senara asked with a flustered face. She lifted up her head and faced me, staring into my eyes with both anger and embarrassment.

My lips curved into a smirk. "I… slipped."

"Huh? No, you didn't! You purposely pulled me and—wait a minute, is this my punishment? O-or is this revenge because I said my big mouth slipped?"

"Hmm… I wonder. Or maybe, I just wanted to hug you?"

Her face turned redder. I noticed she could easily get embarrassed.

"T-that's not true! You're taking revenge on me because you're a vengeful Kaiden!"

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Please let me go," she mumbled. "I'll die at this rate."

"Eeh? But I wanted to stay like this for a while."

"H-huh? B-b-but… but…"

[Music Recommendation: "Scenery" by Kim Taehyung (BTS - V) available in Youtube or Spotify]

"Come to think of it, it's July. Should we try touching again?"

"July just started. We still have lots of time and I still haven't thought of anything yet. Unless you wanted to do the same thing—the finger to palm thingy."

"No, I have another idea," I smirked.

"What idea?"

"Something closer… Your hands, I want to hold them."

"Are you sure? But that's…"

"Yes, I'm sure."

Then, I offered one of my hands to her. In truth, I was really nervous. Thinking that I'd need to touch someone again, my heart started to beat louder. But it's with Senara. Right. I trust her. So this much should be fine. Right. I could do this.

Senara lifted her other hand and placed it near mine.

"I think it will be better if you initiated it like last time."

"Yeah."

Gathering all my courage, I slowly moved my hand closer to Senara's—my palm, towards hers. I started to breathe heavily again. Come to think of it, Senara was right. I didn't need to rush it. Why was I so impatient?

But then I… I really wanted to be able to touch her sooner. I wanted to do more than just a hug. I wanted to be closer. And I wanted her to fall for me, too. Who would even fall for a guy who couldn't even touch?

Badump! Badump! Badump!

Touch…

"Ah… I did it," I blurted out in my joy. "I did it! I…"

"Yes!" Senara's face lit up and her smile was so beautiful. "You did it, Kaiden! Well done!"

Finally, I was able to hold her hands. I couldn't explain how overjoyed I was. In my happiness, I pulled her closer and embraced her, while I held on tightly to her hand.

'So warm… I like it.'