Heuk Jin froze, his palm instinctively gripping his katana, "Uh.. Why are you asking that?"
She bit her lower lip shaking her head feeling stupid all of a sudden, "I'm sorry, that was obviously a stupid question," her cheeks burned as she tried to get off him.
He just stared at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips, "Oh well, I still have not answered it, do you not want to get an answer?"
"Alright, go on," she sat beside him, "Were you?"
He also sat up, exhaling deeply, "I.." he paused.
"Yes?" She arched her brow, feeling quite surprised that she was even this bold.
"I.." he rubbed his neck, "have not slept with a lady before, I never had the opportunity to," he shifted a bit uncomfortably on the ground.
Her chest bobbed up and down, "Oh I see.." she hung her head, her chest beginning to hammer against her ribs.
"Have you?"
Her cheeks immediately burned as she clasped her thighs together, "What? No."
"Never had a boyfriend I guess?" He squinted his eyes.
She raised her head to slowly look up at him, battering her lashes as she tried so hard to force the blush in her cheeks down her neck, "I had.. a fiancé."
"Mmh?" He drifted closer.
She swallowed hard before responding, "He didn't.. touch me so much after our engagement, he didn't even touch me when we were still dating," her shoulders drooped.
"He does sound like an asshole," his lips turned downwards.
"You think?" She shrugged.
He ruffled her hair, "If he cared, he would at least try showing his affection in one day or the other, not necessarily through sex though, but at least..."
"He only hugged me for just a few seconds and that was it. It seemed as though he was forced to date or engage me or something."
"Forget about him. He is not worth your time now," he lay back on the sand.
She watched him for a while before getting to her feet, "I have got a task to complete. I would talk to you later."
"A few minutes with me will not hurt you," he mumbled, his gaze now on the crimson red sky.
"What do you mean?"
"Just come lie down beside me," he patted the side beside him, "Enjoy some peace and quiet before you soak yourself in tasks again."
"Aegenesis how many hours left do I have before the day is over?"
[Beep! You have fifteen hours, twenty five minutes, and thirty seconds left.]
"Hmm, that is a lot of time left," she fell back to the sand, "I guess and hour or two wouldn't do much damage."
There was silence for the next few minutes before Soo Min-ji finally broke the silence.
"I don't know if I've asked you this before, but I'm curious how come you don't look like the rest of them?"
A low velvety chuckle rumbled off his chest, "I can not answer that, I just saw myself this way, and I am content with it."
A shiver went down her spine, "Oh, that is nice," she balled her hands into fists, before turning to steal a glance, but she caught him already staring.
They just stared into each others eyes lost in the moment.
"Have I ever said you are very pretty from a close angle?" His voice was now hoarse.
Her heart skipped three beats, "I think you said that earlier," her feet shook.
His eyes softened, "I want to say it again.. you are perfection itself."
Her heart fluttered, while the knots in her stomach tightened. This felt unusually good, too good to be real.
"I.. don't think.."
"No," he placed a finger on her lips before she could finish her sentence, "Never ever develop that mindset of low self-esteem. You are beautiful, you are smart, you are brave, you are everything goodness. You don't have to think it, you just have to accept it as who you are," his hand slowly grazed her neck.
Shivers ran through all parts of her body. With trembling hands, she wrapped them around his waist, burying her face in his neck, "You are so kind," her voice was muffled, "No one has ever been so kind to me."
His hand tangled in her hair, "I am here now," he rested his chin on her head.
She closed her eyes, savoring the moment, "You are beautiful too," she blurted out.
She got a low chuckle as a response, "That is quite flattering, thank you."
She tried to stop herself from grinning so foolishly by biting her lower lip, her heart still basking in his compliments.
His scent of fresh lemons filled her nose, causing her heart to beat faster.
'Is he really a zombie? He is beyond perfect!'
"I wish you were alive," her hands came to rest on his chest, "You are way better than the living ones."
He looked down at her, "Oh no, I am just like everyone else, the only difference else I am just kinder."
She nodded, "Why can they not be as kind as you are?"
He pursed his lips, "It is their choice after all, sadly."
His hand found its way to her waistline, "May I?"
She nodded, and he wrapped his arm around her waist firmly.
"This feels nice," he locked eyes with her again.
She sucked in some breath, "Hmm," she pushed the lump that was forming in her throat for the umpteenth time down.
He leaned closer, his warm breath fanning her face. Excitement surged her veins as she was expecting a kiss from him.
His lips brushed against hers. She didn't know why, but she drew a tip of her tongue out wanting to take his lips in already.
"Would you kiss a man with no heart?" His eyes crinkled as his lips turned up in a bright smile.
His question left her shook as she didn't know what had gotten into her all of a sudden.
He placed a soft kiss on her forehead, "I do not want to hurt you, so it is better things between us remain cordial, Min-ji."
He knew her name already?
Something like pain tugged at her chest, while she just tried wrapping her disappointment with a small smile.
"You are not so bad."
He slightly tapped her head, "I do not mind becoming less monstrous for you Min-ji."