After confusing Ivan for five more minutes, she noticed Ivan was getting annoyed to hear her friend. She couldn't believe he was fine calling her a friend and wasn't liking it from her mouth.

Ivan grabbed their cups and went towards the sink bowl to keep it there and take a moment to breathe and relax. Else, he might knock on her head hearing friend again and again.

​​

This was the first time Arna was calling him a friend. Even his introduction to her family wasn't as a friend after she returned. The random thought of Arna really giving up on him crept up, shuddering his heart. But he didn't know if it's alright to confess in her vulnerable time.

He turned around to take a good look at her. She looked calm, her eyes were already swollen and her cheeks were slightly pink. But she didn't look sad anymore, rather she was delighted. Her moist twinkling eyes had earned back the enthusiasm and cheerfulness which she didn't have before crying on his shoulder. There were fewer messy thoughts and she looked clearer and confident.

'No, she didn't give up on me. What is she trying to play?' Ivan thought.

She had tried to do everything against his actions. She repeatedly responded twice, once as Arna who loves him, another time as Arna who emphasized being a friend. Arna wasn't fickle-minded else she would have given up on him a long time ago. If she really wants to give up, she wouldn't show it to him, rather, she will be smooth in backing away.

He tested again. If he tries to personally escort her out, he is sure she will put on an act and walk away from him. So waved his hand towards the door like shooing a dog away by showing a hint of annoyance, "Alright, go back to work. I have a meeting soon."

Without reading, he already dug out her little act. She skipped to him and gave him a warm hug, just like always. Ivan thought before he gently rubbed her head without hugging her. He did as he used to so that she could continue her act of going against his action

Arna stood back right after his hand glided down her head once. She smacked herself as though she committed a mistake. Then she mumbled loud enough to reach his ear, "This isn't how A FRIEND should hug."

She stood with a gap between them and lowered her shoulder and gave him a formal, shoulder hug as she barely placed her hand on his back.

Ivan understood what she was trying to do. She was guilt-tripping him for calling her friend for so many days. He might have looked vulnerable at the thought of losing her and she had discerned everything. 'Heartless,' he realized why.

Before she pulled out another act, he held her arm and pushed her against the wall aside. His eyes sharped, narrowing his gaze at her mischief.

Both heard a few gasps at the door, yet the duo stared at each other and Ivan waved his hand, ordering them to leave them alone. The three employees quickly closed the door behind them and giggled, murmuring something.

"A friend." He uttered with a devilish smirk.

Arna shrugged her shoulders without trying to get away from him. Although she wanted to torture him for a few days with it, she wasn't surprised to know he could read through her actions.

"I see, you are taking revenge on me." He discerned, looking at her smug smile for finding out he likes her for a long time.

"You started it." She was just playing along to see how long he could keep up with his good friend image.

Ivan's eyebrow lifted at her words. He gave a faint nod accepting he started it, he took a huge risk and blindly waited for her to return. He wasn't wrong anyway, he knew she wouldn't give up on him and she would slowly but surely return. The risk was huge, his whole life was at stake but he felt worth it.

He went closer, covering the distance between them, "Then you should be punished for taking so much time." His deep, low voice tickled her ears.

Her heart seemed to enjoy this side of Ivan, she unknowingly held her breath to feel her heart and his close presence. It wasn't the first time she was close to him but him getting closer to her 'not as a friend,' was giving her butterflies in her stomach.

She always thought about how it might feel to be loved by Ivan who she loves. She always felt protected and secure around Ivan. And now, she felt her body surging with a new kind of feeling, a different kind of happiness filling the hollows of her heart. She felt peaceful yet excited and she loved that feeling more which nobody could give her other than him.

A smile was threatening to spill off her lips while she whispered to his ear before he could back off, "I will wait for it." then she smirked when he faced her. The eyes which always held indifference or gentleness had affection, strong and deep.

How she always waited for him to show little fondness towards her! She knew he wanted her to return, accept her mistakes and stop running away hence he always controlled his feelings. Probably, it was tougher than she could think off, but he stood strong, with faith in her.

So she wasn't angry or disappointed. She was happy to know he had that faith in her when she didn't have it for herself. His punishment? She will gladly accept it.

Her eyes slightly widened when he got close enough to steal her breathe before his lips landed on her right cheek, soft yet firm. Her heart picked up speed while his warm hand slid under her left ear and he whispered to her right ear.

"The kiss, you asked me when we were four." He breathed, slow and hypnotic.

He still could remember how he had poked her pink chubby cheek when he was actually enticed to kiss her cheek. He hadn't dared to tell that to his parents and he used to blush whenever he was remembering her words showing her cheek towards him. He had hidden from her for many days when she was around. She had an effect on him from the age when he didn't even know why he was shy.