Zee's POV
It had been weeks since the case wrapped up, and Joong and I had been... navigating this new dynamic between us. It wasn't exactly easyâfar from it, in fact. But it felt like I was waking up from a long, exhausting dream. The professional façade I had worn for so long had slowly started to fade, leaving behind something more raw, more real. And in the quiet moments between cases, between discussions and plans, I found myself thinking about Joong in ways I hadn't expected.
We weren't officially dating, not yet, but everything about our time together felt like it was leading in that direction. And yet, for all that, I still couldn't seem to take the step. I didn't know how. There was a part of me that wanted to keep it light, casual, because I was terrified. Terrified that if I took the leap, if I asked him to be my boyfriend, everything would change. That this thing between us, this warmth, this connection, would somehow unravel.
I wasn't used to this. Not used to letting my guard down. Not used to wanting to be vulnerable with someone. But with Joong, it felt like I had no choice.
I leaned back against the couch, absently scrolling through emails while Joong sat across from me, looking at his phone. He had been busy lately, working on another case, but there was something different about today. We weren't talking much. Just being in the same room, comfortable, like we didn't need words to fill the space.
But I could feel the question hanging between us. The unspoken one. The one I couldn't seem to ask.
I heard Joong sigh, and when I looked up, I saw him studying me with an almost bemused expression.
"You're not going to ask, are you?" he said, his voice soft, but I could hear the edge of frustration in it.
I furrowed my brows. "Ask what?"
"Ask me to be your boyfriend," he said, his voice tinged with exasperation. "You know, the thing where you actually, you know, make it official."
My heart skipped a beat at his words. I blinked, unsure how to respond. My mind raced, and for a moment, I couldn't speak.
"I... I wasn't sure if you wanted that," I finally managed, my voice low.
Joong's eyes softened, but there was a glint of amusement in them. "Zee, I've been waiting for you to make a move for weeks now," he said, sitting up straighter, his tone teasing but with a hint of sincerity. "If you're waiting for some grand gesture or some perfect moment, I'm telling you nowâthere isn't one. I'm right here, and I want to be with you. So, why don't you just ask already?"
I felt a warmth spread through me at his words, but the familiar knot of uncertainty tightened in my chest. I knew Joong wanted thisâwanted usâbut still, asking him to be my boyfriend felt like I was crossing some invisible line. What if I messed it up? What if it changed everything?
Joong must have seen the hesitation in my eyes because he leaned forward, his expression softening. "Zee, I'm not going anywhere. I'm already here. But I'm not going to wait around forever for you to figure out if you want me."
I swallowed, the words sticking in my throat. But then, something inside me snapped. I couldn't keep doing this. I couldn't keep dancing around it. Joong was right. We both knew what we wanted. It was time.
I stood up, walking over to where Joong was sitting. He watched me, his gaze steady, but there was an unmistakable flicker of hope in his eyes.
"I do want you, Joong," I said, my voice steady now, the uncertainty slowly fading. "More than anything."
Joong's lips curved into a smile, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn't feel afraid. I took a deep breath, moved closer, and knelt in front of him. His eyes widened slightly, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he reached for my hand.
"Will you be my boyfriend, Joong?" I asked, my heart racing, but the words coming easier than I'd imagined.
Joong didn't answer immediately, but his gaze softened, and for a moment, I thought he might say something more. Then, to my surprise, he grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"You finally ask," he teased, his voice warm. "About time, Zee."
I felt a flush spread across my cheeks, but before I could say anything else, Joong closed the distance between us, pulling me in for a kiss.
A kiss that wasn't just a response to my questionâit was a confession. A promise. And as he pulled away, his forehead resting against mine, I heard him whisper the words I hadn't expected.
"I love you, Zee."
My heart stuttered in my chest at those words. I opened my mouth to respond, but he kissed me againâslowly, gently, and this time, I kissed him back with everything I had.
When we finally pulled apart, I looked at him, my hands resting on his shoulders. He had a satisfied, almost smug expression on his face.
"Guess you've got your answer, huh?" he said, his voice low.
I laughed softly, a lightness filling my chest that hadn't been there before. "Yeah," I said, smiling, "I guess I do."
Joong kissed me back again in response. This time as the kiss lingered, I could feel the electricity between us, that undeniable spark that had been there all along, finally breaking free. Joong's hand slid around my neck, pulling me closer, his lips urgent against mine, as if he were trying to make up for all the time we had spent tiptoeing around this moment. My hands found their way to his waist, pulling him even closer, the warmth of his body pressing against mine.
There was no more uncertainty, no more hesitation. I could feel it in the way he kissed meâthis was real. This was us, here, right now. I groaned softly when his tongue brushed against mine, the taste of him sending a wave of heat rushing through me. It wasn't just a kiss anymore. It was everything.
Joong pulled back slightly, his breath coming fast, his eyes dark with desire. "Zee," he whispered, his voice rough.
I felt my heart skip a beat. The way he said my name, the intensity in his eyesâit all felt like an invitation, a promise that things weren't going to stop here. I could feel the heat building between us, the tension that had been simmering for weeks now finally boiling over.
Before I could say another word, Joong was pulling me toward the couch, guiding me down onto it, his lips never leaving mine. His hands roamed over my chest, his touch searing and hungry. Every inch of him was eager, desperate even, and I couldn't help but respond in kind.
We were tangled in each other, the world outside of this room fading into nothing. It was just us, the soft sound of our breathing, and the heat between us that grew with each passing second. Joong's hands slid down to my waistband, tugging at my jeans, and I helped him, our movements frantic as we undressed each other. The weight of the moment, the rush of desire, made everything feel amplified.
When we were finally bare, I could feel the cool air against my skin, but the heat between us was undeniable. Joong's lips found mine again, soft at first, but quickly turning more desperate, more urgent. His body pressed against mine, and I could feel how much he wanted this.
I pulled him closer, my hands running over his back, memorizing the feel of his muscles under my fingertips. Every touch, every kiss felt like a promise. A promise that we were here, in this moment, together.
"Zee," Joong murmured against my lips, his voice husky. "I need you."
That was all it took. I couldn't wait anymore. I pulled him on top of me, feeling the weight of his body press against mine. My hands were everywhereâhis back, his chest, his faceâanything I could touch, I did, as if trying to ground myself in this reality.
Joong groaned softly as I traced the line of his jaw with my lips, and I couldn't help but smile against his skin. This was everything I wanted, everything I'd been too scared to ask for. But now that it was here, now that he was here, I didn't want to stop.
We moved together, every kiss, every touch pushing us closer to the edge. I could feel my pulse racing, my body reacting to his in ways I couldn't have imagined before. This wasn't just about physical pleasure anymore. It was about connection, about showing each other that thisâwhatever this wasâwas real.
When Joong finally came to a stop, his breath ragged, his body trembling slightly, I pulled him close, holding him as he rested his head against my chest. We stayed like that for a while, the world outside completely irrelevant.
"I've wanted this for so long," Joong whispered into the quiet, his voice a mixture of satisfaction and something deeperâsomething more vulnerable.
I could feel his heart beating against mine, and I smiled, the weight of everything finally sinking in.
"Me too," I replied softly, running my fingers through his hair.
In that moment, as we lay together, I knew this wasn't just a fleeting thing. This wasn't just about the physical connection. This was about trust, about understanding, about love. And I wasn't going to let go of thatâof himâanytime soon.