Yu Kim was still in a daze when he pulled away from her. She could see his eyes blazing with an indescribable feeling. Her heart had started drumming against her chest. She had dreamed about kissing him hundreds of times and yet, none of those fantasies actually could justify the emotions that she felt when his lips actually touched hers.
She felt that her lips had perfectly merged with his as if they were meant to connect from the very beginning. His lips had electrocuted her senses and she couldn"t help but feel the gooseb.u.mps rising on her skin.
Li Qiao palmed her face and said, "Kim, I"m sorry for taking too long. I"m sorry for being a coward as well. But I"m not sorry for falling in love with you. Even though I hurt myself all these years keeping my one-sided love but I never regretted any of it. Because even in pain, at least you"re right there with me."
His thumb gently brushed against her lower lip as he went on, "I don"t know when it happened or how. But I know that I started dreaming about a happy life whenever I saw you smile. Truth is, I have been utterly and deeply in love with you. Only you! I have only dreamed of even marrying you. In my every dream, there had always been you."
Yu Kim kept staring at his face in silence making him feel anxious even more. "Is it a yes or no?" She heard his question and flinched a bit.
She lunged forward and wrapped her arms around his neck saying, "Yes, yes, yes... It"s definitely yes." She felt his body visibly relaxing as he heard her cheerful voice. Li Qiao heaved a sigh of relief and smiled placidly. After a moment, she thought of something and pulled away to ask, "You said the girl whom you love chose this ring? I didn"t choose it."
Li Qiao pinched her nose and said, "You chose it yourself. Remember our business trip to Paris?" At this reminder, Yu Kim realized that she had indeed chosen this ring herself. But how did he know that?
Back then, they were choosing a pendant for his mother when her gaze suddenly fell on this particular ring. Seeing the dreamy look in her eyes, the shop attendant had displayed the ring for her to try saying in French, "Mademoiselle, this particular ring is actually one of a kind. Try it, it"ll really suit you. The designer had specifically named it; a lover"s wish. It might make your wish come true."
Listening to the shop attendant, Yu Kim had tried on the ring and thought to herself, "If this really can grant a wish... My only wish would be that I could wear this ring from his hand when he proposes me." She knew it was wishful thinking and that"s why she had returned the ring with a heavy heart.
But she didn"t know that Li Qiao had seen her longing eyes and how could he bear to see her disheartened? That"s when he bought the ring solely for her. He didn"t know whether he"ll be able to give her the ring or not but he knew that he"d love to keep the ring with himself since Yu Kim had tried it on. That one touch had left her reflection on the ring for him.
She just realized that her wish had really come true. It was the same ring... It was the same guy she loved for years... And it was indeed the proposal, she wanted.
Hearing why he bought the ring and kept it for so long, Yu Kim punched his chest. "You"re an idiot!"
Li Qiao smiled at her and held her wrist saying, "Didn"t I once tell you that only an idiot will be able to fall for a girl like you?"
Yu Kim remembered those words, he was angry at her about something and that"s why he chose harsh words to reprimand her.
"I guess, I"m that idiot whom I was talking about." When she heard his words, her face burned and she lowered her head to hide her beet-red cheeks. "But now there is no refund option. You"ll have to deal with this idiot for the rest of your life. Can you do that?"
Yu Kim gave him an uncertain look before saying, "I think only I can deal with this idiot. After all, he"s rightfully mine now." Her words had put Li Qiao under a charm as he couldn"t help but smile.
Loving her all alone was one thing but being loved by her in return was a whole different thing. She had come in his life as a friend, stayed as his biggest supporter and now, she was going to be his life partner. What more could a person ask for?
They both once felt that their one-sided love was enough for them. Loving and admiring from afar meant that they"d be able to see each other happy. But it took them both years to realize that the happiness they were looking for was right beside them. They could find happiness in each other"s arms.