Feeling her lips on his made him burn.

It was freezing cold in his apartment, but Zen was burning. It took him a while to actually register in his mind that Cara herself was kissing her. He felt hot, he felt confused, and he felt... well, fuzzy. He could feel heat spread across his cheeks as Cara's lips left his and she rested her head on his forehead. She cradled his head between her small white hands as she rubbed her nose on his and she sighed.

"I-" She started as he felt her say something he knew will damage him more than her surprise kiss would. He grasped her shoulders as he shook his head and he said, "Please... Don't say anything." he murmured as he placed his lips on hers.

Her eyes widened for a moment but she welcomed his kiss with equal fervor. She clutched as his shirt one more time as she tried to come nearer to him, as if the blanket was such a big barrier to their bodies. He started to shift their positions as he pulled her to him and she sat on his lap. Their lips separated for just a moment to take some air, their eyes closed, feeling the tension and the heat between them, and the kissing once again ensued.

Zen kissed her with all the love that he felt as she too responded with so much eagerness as if she was waiting for this moment to happen for such a long time. Her kisses were filled with longing and passion that Zen could not, and haven't seen from her. He tried to control himself and tried to not get carried away, but as she wrapped her arms around his neck, he could feel himself slowly slipping away from his control. He grasped her hips as if to stop her from moving because one twitch from her lower parts is enough to bring him to his knees.

He needed to stop this. They must stop.

He slowly lifted his head from hers and opened his eyes. She was still breathing heavily from the kiss. Her lips were kissed-swollen, her cheeks flushed, her hair in a lot more disarray than it was when he woke her up.

"Look at me." Zen hoarsely said.

She opened her eyes. What Zen saw was enough to instigate a feeling over him; he desired the way that she only shown this look at him, and nobody else.

Her eyes glistened and they were heavy lidded as they stared at his. Her lips were slightly parted.

"W-we have to stop." he whispered as he placed a peck on her lips.

"This isn't the time." he added. She closed her eyes as if she too, felt that it wasn't the right moment. He was sure of his feelings, but he wanted her to be sure of hers too. He cannot take advantage of her, not when she is this distressed.

She closed her lips and she gulped as she nodded. She was still in his embrace and he was in hers. They stayed this way for a moment until she finally spoke.

"Stay with me."

Zen had no choice but to shift their position and laid her on the bed with him on top. He kissed her forehead as he moved himself beside her and stared at the ceiling.

What is this? What were we doing?

This were the thoughts that came into his head as he placed his arm above his head and he continued to contemplate on what happened between the two of them. He wanted to ask why she did that but he didn't want to know the answer either. He took a deep breath as he felt her shift and turn to him. She felt her poke him in the dark and he looked to where she laid.

"I'm sorry. For kissing you." She whispered.

"No... It was... Okay." Zen quietly said. She sleepily chuckled and she buried her face on the side of his arm.

"Your smell comforts me. Thank you." she murmured.

"Cara?" He asked. He was too enveloped with the realization that they shared a kiss and that he loved her and that she wasn't done being a sweetheart after she had that nightmare.

"Yeah?"

"Can I hug you?"

"Yes."

He smiled in the dark as he wrapped his arms around her. He sighed as his nose were filled with the smell of her. He was always happy and contented whenever he could hold her this way. He wished time would stop so that he could hold her like this.

Suddenly feeling her breathing evenly, he allowed himself to dismiss the thoughts that have been swirling inside his head and he finally closed his eyes to sleep.

The sun's rays flitted across Cara's face and she squinted to remove the brightness from her closed lids. She was not ready to get up yet. She slowly raised her arms as she stretched but her arm bumped on somebody else's arm. As she looked at her side and saw a sleeping Zen beside her, she recalled the events of last night.

The feel of his lips on hers was something that will engraved in her memory her entire life.

She could feel herself get warm and she felt the huge urge to kiss him again. right now, in his sleep.

Her hands slowly reached out to him, she prayed he didn't budge or even stir from his sleep.

Cara felt his soft warm skin on her fingertips and she slowly whispered something that has been caged in her heart for a long time.

"I love you."

She felt tears prick her eyes as she realized everything all at once. She felt bliss, confusion, frustration, and fear. She was afraid. She remembered the circumstances she bore through a year ago and she never wanted Zen to do that to her.

He deserved someone better, but she loved him and she didn't want to.

She had no choice, but she didn't want to allow herself to be happy. If she gets too happy, she'll get hurt.

Just like the last time.

She leaned in to Zen as she planted a kiss on his forehead, his eyelids, his cheeks, and lastly at his mouth. Zen did not even stir from his sleep; not one bit. She chuckled softly as she rose from his embrace and grabbed her phone and left the room with a soft closing of the door.

Zen wasn't in a good mood.

Not only was his costume too tight on the lower areas of his being, but he has not seen Cara from the moment he opened his eyes in their bedroom. He stretched his body as his hand absentmindedly reached over to where she has lain last night and all he felt was cold sheets. She left a letter to him saying she had some business she had to attend to but she didn't state where. This made him incredibly uneasy.

Today was their final practice and dress rehearsals so he will be here all night. He knew she wouldn't come by their final rehearsals since she had a lot of things to finalize for the incoming RFA party and she needs to prepare for her return to her full time job. He got more nervous for the celebration after the performance tomorrow night because he wasn't sure if she'll go but he wanted her to be there as his date. He was thinking of what happened last night and he sighed.

"Well, that's a long sigh." His friend nudged him as he removed the cravat that was tightly tied on his neck. "Shut up, Tobes. I am in no mood for your meddling shit." Zen warned. His friend just chuckled and he smiled.

"Where's our lady love?" Tobes asked.

Lady love?

"I have no idea." her murmured.

"Oh but a little birdy told me that she was shopping with a woman in a suit and a man in a suit for a dress." Tobes snickered. This caught Zen's attention.

"Dress?" Zen voiced out as his thoughts ran. She's coming to the banquet.

"Yeah. I also had a paparazzi image of her fitting things... But I won't show you to surprise you! My lady saw her and she took a photo." Tobes waved as he laughed at Zen's reaction.

Zen continued to stare at his friend's back...

Is this why she was absent? She was asking for help from the C&R people for help on her outfit after the performance?

He suddenly couldn't wait for the party.

Cara twirled once more in the mirror as she readjusted the soft midnight blue straps on her shoulder.

"Jaehee, do I look okay?" She asked her friend who was blushing as she stared at her twirl around and around the mirror. Jumin was also having a faint blush at how she looked.

"I didn't even fix my hair..." she murmured as her hand drifted atop her soft brown curls which was simply let down, her curls framing her beautiful face. She spent the entire day yesterday to fix herself for this night because she wanted to look beautiful for the main actor of this play and she wanted to be beautiful beside him at the party. She positioned herself in front of the mirror and she took one last look at herself.

Her dress was primarily a midnight blue Grecian dress which has elegant soft straps falling on her shoulders, her dress freely flowing down and ending in a pool at her feet. There were floral patterns as the midnight blue color transforms into a cream skirt as it lands on her feet. her hair framed her face as her stubborn curls roamed up until her back. She simply looked like a Greek goddess.

"You look beautiful, Cara. Zen is not worth being beautiful for, but it is your choice and i want you to be happy so I am obliging you." Jumin suddenly spoke up. Cara looked at him at the same time as Jaehee did and she smiled.

"Thank you, Jumin." she silently smiled as she took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror one more time.

She wanted to fix her feelings and confusion tonight since she needed clarity from Zen's side. She needed to know what's going on with her. She needed to accept her feelings, she needed to make sure.

"I'm ready." She said.

She didn't know if she said this to signal her departure at Jumin's house or she was simply talking to herself.

Maybe it was a little bit of both.