(A/N): We have finally reached the midpoint, or the beginning of a new relationship. Because of the increasingly intimate content, I felt it necessary to change the rating. Ah, I so want to write M-rated stuff, but am debating whether or not to write those scenes in a separate story or just simply change the rating again. XD Thoughts? Feedback?

Chapter 15: Stirrings

"Love cannot endure indifference. It needs to be wanted. Like a lamp, it needs to be fed out of the oil of another's heart, or its flame burns low."

– Henry Ward Beecher

Yuna throws her backpack against the wall, running to seize his unoccupied bed. Perching herself on the edge, she swings her legs back and forth, giggling in glee.

Setting his messenger bag down on his desk, Baralai throws her an amused look and moves to stand in front of his vanity mirror, unlatching his watch first. "Your attempts to claim my bed are becoming bolder and bolder by the visit. Where are you planning to invade next, my room?"

"Maybe," she says, smiling. "If only you knew my grand master plan."

He chuckles, placing the watch on his bureau cabinet. "I'm too afraid to even ask." Pulling his sweater vest over his head, he proceeds to throw it into the hamper. In the middle of unfastening his necktie, Baralai catches her look of fascination in their reflection and smiles, tossing it aside. "What? Am I not allowed to unwind inside the walls of my own house? I was feeling rather stiff."

Caught guilty in her silent appraisal of him, she grins. "Oh, so you are aware."

"Of course. I only appear this way to ward off unwanted attention. After all, does this not give off the impression I am uninterested in teenage shenanigans?"

She giggles. "It certainly does."

"But with you, I am always tempted," Baralai says with an enigmatic smile, unbuttoning the collar of his shirt.

Struck by the softness of his sultry tone, she gulps and averts her eyes, blushing. She wants to continue watching him, but somehow manages to suppress the impulse, too scared of broadcasting her thoughts. Looking around his room, she notices something on his nightstand and picks it up, delighted with her discovery. "Hey, look what I found. Baby oil!"

Panic seizes his face, and Baralai turns around at once to dash for it. "Don't touch that."

Yuna scurries across his bed in glee, escaping to the opposite side. "Why not?"

"Because! I don't want you touching at my stuff."

Frustrated by her mischief, he climbs on after her, and she retreats, laughing in playful fright as he begins to chase her around the room. Baralai lunges to eliminate the distance, snatching her arm to yank her back; she stumbles against him, clinging to his arm as she plummets to the ground, and yelps in pain after bringing him down with her. They both groan, extracting themselves from each other to sit up.

Yuna pulls her hair out of her face, breathless. Before she can recollect herself, Baralai lunges for the bottle again. She collapses beneath his sudden body weight, unable to catch her breath when he sits on top of her and locks her wrists down. She gulps, frightened by the genuine frustration found in his glare.

"I am not playing around with you. Give it here, please."

"W-Why are you freaking out? It's just massaging oil, isn't it?"

"Yuna, think about it. What else do I use it for?"

"What? Um… I-I don't know. Is it something I should know? I can't think straight with you so close."

Baralai sighs, bowing his head in defeat. As he moves to climb off her, he steals the bottle back. "Never mind. In the future, refrain from touching my personal belongings unless you have my explicit permission, understand?"

She sits up, bewildered. Turning away from him, she clasps her wrists to her chest, startled to find them trembling. 'He's so strong...' If all of a sudden he decided he wanted to take advantage of her, she wouldn't be able to stop him. The thought sobers her how often she took his kindness for granted. "I-I'm sorry. You looked tired and I wanted to offer you a massage, that's all..."

They sit there in awkward silence, until Baralai breaks it. "Here. If you really want to, you can go ahead."

She stares, doubtful, and takes the bottle he holds out to her. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." He sighs as he says this, standing up to rub his neck. "And I must apologize, for I... I didn't mean to frighten you like that." Wringing his hands in guilt, he does not expect the embrace that comes from behind. She nuzzles his shoulder as her way of apology, and he allows himself a remorseful smile. Pulling at her arms, Baralai wraps them around his waist, squeezing her tight. "Will you forgive me?"

"Of course. You don't even have to ask," she says, pressing her giddy smile to his back. "...but if you really want to make it up to me, you can start by lying down on the bed for me."

Baralai chuckles. "Why does it sound like I'm about to walk into a trap?"

Yuna's grin widens. "Because you think too much."

"What's wrong, Dr. P? You're looking mopey."

"But I'm always mopey." Paine reclines into her seat, bored out of her mind. After watching those two duke it out on the DDR machine, she followed them to the food court, and now Rikku and Gippal have taken to pointless talk and annoying public display of affection. Usually she wouldn't mind hanging out with them, but not by herself. Yuna's the main reason for her sanity around those two; without her, the group feels more hollow.

"Not ever this mopey," Rikku says, chewing a french fry, "I bet you're all lonely because Yunie ain't here."

"Now that you mention it," Gippal says, tearing a bite out of his cheeseburger. "Yuna's been pulling the Baralai on us lately. What's up with that?"

Paine rolls her eyes. Nobody's been wanting to hang out lately. Tidus opts out whenever Yuna can't join, often going on dates with every new girl of the week. And of course, Baralai never wants to hang out, always making up excuses. Not like she cared about what they do in their free time anyway. She only cares about Yuna, and whether or not she's been entirely honest with how she spends her time. After all, Yuna did say she wanted to focus on her studies more. It made sense why she would turn to Baralai for help, but she didn't have to act so damn flirty–

"And you!" Gippal interjects, snapping Paine out of her thoughts. "You were supposed to drag Baralai here. Kiss and make up, run off into the sunset together. You know, become friends again? What happened?"

She blinks to acknowledge his pouty face. "He was with Yuna."

"So? You could've just dragged them both here. You know they can't say no."

"Trust me when I say this: they did not want to be interrupted."

"Ooh, ooh, ooh, were they making out? Getting frisky?"

Annoyed by Rikku's penchant for gossip, Paine rolls her eyes. "What do you think?"

"Ahh, I get it." Gippal smirks, licking ketchup off the corner of his mouth. "Dr. P couldn't handle the G-rated cutesy-ness. Heh, I gotta say, though... never thought the day would come where you two fall in love with the same guy. How does that feel, by the way?"

"I'm not in love with him."

"Uh-huh."

"And I don't want to talk about this." Paine scowls, crossing her arms, and glares at her neglected milkshake in contempt. "Lately every time we meet up to hang out, we end up talking about relationships and crap. I'm getting sick and tired of it."

Her frustration somehow manages to ignite his own, and Gippal frowns. "You know what I'm getting sick and tired of? This awkwardness. I mean, what's been up with you guys lately? You hate Baralai, Tidus hates Baralai, Yuna loves Baralai, but you love him, too, and now you're angry at Yuna – and don't get me started on the two ex-lovebirds. It's getting too awkward. The way I see it, Baralai's the victim and all because Yuna freakin exists. So, what? Is it that bad they get along? Y'all being too much."

"Look…" Paine says, weary. "It's really complicated."

"Well, I'll say!" Gippal brightens up, ignoring Rikku's exclaim of discontent as he proceeds to stuff his mouth with the french fries pilfered from her tray. "Start by talking to Yuna. I'm sure she'll understand. Hey, she might even help you two to forgive each other. Baralai listens to anything that girl says, I swear."

This gives Paine reason to pause. 'Does he?'

Baralai makes it a frustrating habit to challenge other people's opinions. He pushes people to work hard while expecting only the best; he holds high standards for everything while accepting no excuses; behind that deceptive, polite mask of his, he hides a whole mountain of anger issues. But the moment Yuna entered the picture, Paine saw another side of him emerge. His typical, stiff politeness became a natural kindness. He talks sweet to her, always hanging on her every word. His eyes soften around her, always looking to connect with her own. Even that aloof mask he tends to wear would slip out of alignment every time she joined a conversation. Where does he get off acting like a nice guy for? What makes Yuna so special?

Oh, right. Because nice girls are his type.

Paine knew, ever since Valentine's Day. Even though he never noticed it himself, he developed an instant attraction towards her soon after they met. Something about sharing common interests or being like-minded individuals, Baralai explained once in denial of her blunt question. Then again, Tidus had been dating Yuna at the time, so he must have programmed that answer into his brain to stop himself from getting any ideas. Since that obstacle no longer exists...

Paine sighs, uncomfortable of the thought.

'What are they doing right now?'

It did not take long for Baralai to shed his shirt considering how often it bundled up. As Yuna glides her hands down his naked back, enjoying the smooth and oily touch of his warm skin against her palms, she drinks in the sounds of his quiet pleasure, his heavy sighs and muffled moans, and feels her own face warm, grateful of the fact he cannot see her blushing right now. Reaching for his shoulders, she kneads them with her thumbs; the harder she presses down, the deeper his moans, and she blushes hotter.

"I'm glad I let you convince me to do this. It hurts so much, but it feels so good…"

"See? I told you you needed a massage," she says, smiling. "But no, you just had to be in denial."

He squeezes the pillow close to muffle his laugh. "Remind me to listen to you more often."

She hums in amusement, allowing for peaceful silence to settle again. Reaching for his neck, she kneads his nape with her thumbs and glances over at his content face. His eyes are soft, staring off into space until they start to flutter, and she decides to speak in order to keep him awake. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," he says with a smile, closing his eyes now. "Just relaxing... which is odd, now that I think about it, because I can't seem to remember the last time I felt this way. It feels good."

"That's because you're always so busy. Do you ever give yourself a break?"

"Yes. I believe that is what eating and sleeping is for."

She giggles. "Apart from that, though."

"Not really." Baralai gives a shrug, and regrets the motion right after with a hiss of his breath. Feeling her hand on his shoulder, easing the soreness with soft, soothing circles, he sighs in divine relief. "I hate feeling idle. But, if I had someone to bask in the idleness with, I suppose I can make an exception."

"Then, what do you call all those times you napped with me?"

"You were the exception."

"That's it?" she says, skeptical.

"Do I need any other reason than the girl who provoked each and every cuddle session?" He breaks away from the mirth to balance himself on his elbows, eager to move. "Also, can I turn over? My neck is starting to ache."

"Oh, sure," she says, climbing off him.

Baralai sits up on his hands and knees to stretch like a cat, groaning in satisfaction, and then falls back down on his bed, looking up at her with timid eyes. "Do you want to keep going, or are your hands tired?"

"Oh, no, I-I'm not tired, but…" Yuna stares, nervous. When Baralai grabs a small pillow for her to sit on, it quells some of her unease, and she crawls back to straddle him again. It occurs to her she has to look at him look at her now, and that thought makes her blush to the tips of her ears. "Are you sure?"

He looks no less embarrassed than she does, and yet he still smiles. "I trust you."

"Really? O-Okay, then…" She places her hands on his chest, frozen in fear. 'Where should I be looking? His chest? His face? My hands on his chest? His eyes looking straight at me? Where do I look?!' She feels her face combust from her rapid-fire thoughts, and retracts her hands. "I-I don't know where I'm supposed to be looking. Do you mind where I look? You have a really nice chest, and I don't want to seem rude. You know what, I need to add some more oil. Yes. I need to do that. Give me a second..." She fumbles for the bottle, desperate for a distraction.

Baralai laughs behind his hand, amused by her rambling. "Yuna, I caught you staring at my chest before. I don't see how that– Jesus Christ, be careful with that!"

She squeezed the bottle too hard in her panic, and now hurries to cap it shut. "Oh, no, I'm so sorry! Let me, um…"

"No worries. I apologize for yelling at you." Baralai sits up to wipe the excess oil on his hand, and then pulls her hand to his shoulder, massaging it onto her arm. "Do you feel nervous? I can understand why you might be, but if you can not relax, then I can not relax, either."

His soft and soothing voice calms her, and she leans into his touch despite her embarrassment.

"Do you feel better now? Hm?" He pauses, giving her a chance to nod. "Do you want to stop here? I will understand."

"No, I… I-I want to touch you– massage you! Massage you, yes, that's what I meant. I want to, um, massage you, i-if that's okay with you…"

"I don't mind," he says, settling back down. "Like I said, I trust you. And if you are worried about staring at me, don't be. I happen to like the attention."

Yuna stares, skeptical. "Is it just me or are you being oddly comfortable about this?"

"Well, maybe I enjoy your massage so much, it only makes me want more." Baralai smiles, unabashed.

"Coming from the guy who said 'I want to keep my shirt on' and 'I don't like to be touched,' that's a pretty big deal," she says, amused nonetheless.

"Just to be clear, I gave you permission to touch me, and that shirt was annoying me, so a compromise had to be made."

"I see how you are."

"Judge me all you like, I stand by my reasons." His smile falters as he appears to hesitate about something. "Where is it okay for me to place my hands?"

"What?" She looks down, all of a sudden aware that she wears a skirt, and blushes a little. "I-I don't know. Anywhere, I guess."

Baralai puts his hands on her thighs, decides against it, and then settles for her waist instead. As Yuna begins to rub him down using the oil she spilled, he tilts his head in thought, staring at her stomach. "Has anyone ever told you that you have nice child-bearing hips?"

She sputters, caught off guard. "No, but that's nice to know! Thanks, I think?"

"I'm sorry. Did that sound odd?" He blushes, embarrassed. "We were visiting Shelinda the other day, and that kind of thought just sprang to me... I apologize for startling you."

"That's okay..." She calms down once she starts thinking about it. "You know, I think you're the first one to tell me that."

"Well, I meant it as a compliment. See, if your hips are wider than your waist here," he says, indicating with a slight squeeze to her sides. "Then that means you have room for the baby's head to fit through. But if your hips are closer together like this... See how bad that would be?"

"Oh, I get it! I never really thought about it, now that you mention it. You'd think my mom would have... told me by now..."

Conversation dwindles there in light of the sad reminder, and they both agree on peaceful silence.

Yuna drops her eyes to her hands, willing herself to focus. The chest she massages happens to be Baralai's chest, and that makes her gulp, becoming embarrassed all over again. She can sense him unwind in the way his abdomen undulates to the flow of his breathing. When he rolls his head to the side, closing his eyes to breathe in deep pleasure, Yuna feels herself warm again. The sight of him so vulnerable beneath her curious fingertips causes pleasurable heat to pool down below, and she sighs. 'If only this annoying pillow didn't stand in the way, maybe...'

"What's wrong? You stopped all of a sudden."

Her eyes are hooded, blinking in confusion, and then she looks up to acknowledge his question. "Oh. Nothing. I-I was just… um..."

Baralai smiles at her, retracting his hand to rest it beside his head. "Do you like what you see?"

"What?! N-No, I… I wasn't staring or anything…" She hates how smug he looks, and knows that he has caught on to her. "I was just thinking about... how, um, smooth your chest is!" She clears her throat, recollecting herself. "Y-You like to shave?"

"Yes." He chuckles, a little self-conscious. "I don't like feeling hairy. You don't find it weird, do you?"

"Oh, no, not at all! I… I really like it," she says with a bashful smile. "You care about your hygiene. It's nice. Refreshing, even. You know what, I wish more guys could be like you."

Baralai smiles, flattered, but makes no further comment, closing his eyes again. His hand drops to clasp her leg, brushing her thigh with his thumb.

Yuna watches him relax in silence, enamored by his serenity, and pulls back on the pressure to marvel at his vulnerability. She lies in the perfect position to do anything. Does he really trust her that much? Her eyes follow the movement of her hands, tracing the contours of his chest. He sighs and adjusts himself a little, but does not protest against her intimate, lingering touch.

Every fiber in her being screams at her to kiss him right now, to move forward and hold him in her arms, to lose herself in the warmth of his lips, the heat of his breaths, the feel of his body– and Yuna stops right there, overwhelmed by her own desire. The only reason why this closeness exists because Baralai trusts her. Yuna can act on her feelings and confirm his affection for her, but that would make her no different from them, those flighty girls who desire him for the sake of satisfying their own lust.

Yuna sits back on his lap, unaware that she had been leaning forward in the first place, and sighs. The vulnerable tilt of his face entices her to touch him, but she does not stray, choosing to indulge her hormones in the safety net of her imagination. Yuna wonders what would it be like if they were wearing no clothes right now, lying together with no reservations, cuddling...

"Your hands feel so nice and soft..." He disrupts her reverie with a reverent sigh, lifting her hand to twine her fingers in his. His eyes are half-lidded, staring at nothing in particular until they look up to capture her in his gaze.

Yuna gulps, tongue-tied. If he were to pull her close right now, or roll them over so he can hover on top of her, staring her down with those smoldering eyes of his, she wouldn't be able to resist him. Scrambling to say something, anything, she blurts out the first thing that comes to mind.

"Do you like to shave down there as well?! I-I was wondering, since you shave up here and all..." Of all the things she could have said, it had to be that? Yuna wants to die in the pool of her embarrassment.

He hums, smiling. "Now, that is a secret."

She pouts, but lets it go in respect of his privacy. At least he chose not to tease her about that mortifying outburst. Even then, that does not stop her mind from wandering to other questions of morbid curiosity. Noticing how her hand starts to sway in his grip, she blushes and debates whether to pull away or keep it there. For some reason, Baralai doesn't seem to mind that she stopped massaging him.

He watches her in pensive silence. "You look like you have something you want to ask me. What is it?"

"Um, well, it's kind of a really personal question, so…" Yuna clears her throat, becoming more self-conscious with each passing second of their growing desire for intimacy. Because in the midst of laziness, contentment and a desire for more may fester in their hearts, leading to the fulfillment of certain, amorous thoughts. As much as she wants that, she also runs into the constant fear and indecision that paralyzes her. "You don't have to answer it, if you don't want to."

"Okay."

"Have you… done it before?"

"Done what? I'm afraid you will have to be more specific."

"You know…" She halts, tongue-tied. "S-Sex."

"Yes."

The answer hits her so fast in its sincere simplicity, Yuna does a double take. As much as that disheartens her, it also stokes the flames of her curiosity. "Really?"

"Does that surprise you?" He looks amused, if not a little offended.

"Yes. I mean, no. That is, you don't act like you have. Oh, what am I saying? Forget what I said. That's not what I really wanted to ask. So, um… How does it feel?"

"You are asking me personally? Well, I cannot speak for the rest of the male population, but… Hmm…" Lost in thought, he eventually sighs and sits upright to lean on his hands. "Can I be honest with you?"

"Sure." Yuna shifts to relieve the growing numbness in her knees, but runs into trouble finding a new, comfortable position. "Um, wait a second, let me, um..."

"No need. Let me help you."

"–eek!"

In one fluid motion Baralai pulls her onto his lap, holding her close as he spreads her legs over his lap. His body heat engulfs her, intoxicating her with his sweet and oily scent, and she barely remembers how to breathe before regaining the sense of mind to straighten out her skirt. His eyes are soft, his smile calm and amused as she struggles to relax in his open arms, her eyes flitting to and fro, looking at anywhere, but his face. He touches her cheek to his palm, provoking the beat of her anxious heart to spike up as he tilts her chin up in askance of her full attention.

"I don't like calling it sex. I prefer to call it 'making love,' because 'having sex' and 'making love' are two different things. Do you know what it means to make love?" Baralai allows a moment for that question to sink in, letting his hand fall to her knee. "When you make love, you not only share the same breath and the same heartbeat, you also share the same… Being. It's as if you have become one with that person. You want to give everything of yourself to that person. You create a connection so powerful, you essentially give that person a piece of your soul. A piece of you that will never come back, even after that person leaves you."

She stares, amazed by his wisdom, yet feels her eyes prickle from the implications. "Is that what happened to you?"

Pain flashes in his eyes for a split second, and then he looks away, clenching his jaw.

"If it were me," she says after a long moment. "I'd never leave you."

"You don't know that."

"But I do know, because that's how I feel."

He turns his head to look at her, eyes moist with emotion. "How do you know?"

"That's the thing. I can't explain it, but…" Yuna tilts her head to smile. "I like to call it faith."

"You really believe in that?"

"You don't?"

"Lately, I haven't." He admits, eyes downcast, and then he feels her fingers down the bridge of his nose, moving across his cheek to trace the outline of his jaw. This causes him to lean in, ducking his head to rest it on her shoulder. "But I want to. I really do. You make me want to believe again."

They sit so close, Yuna can feel his eyelashes flutter against her flushed neck. She remembers feeling frustrated before, wondering why he would let her come close if he only meant to keep her at arm's length. In all of his tireless attempts to push her away, she forgot to think about what sort of insecurities or scars he hid behind the constant smile. However way that last relationship ended, it shattered not only his trust in people, but also his belief in love. How can she be angry at him when she never stopped to ask about his feelings? She pulls him into her arms, taking him by surprise.

They fall back onto the bed, and Baralai catches himself on top of her. Her legs are caught beneath his own, wriggling with discomfort, and he gulps, tantalized by the motion and her parted, pink lips, apologizing before leaning on his side to lessen the pressure. They were close enough to bump foreheads, inhaling each other's breath– but he tries not to let it sway him, because that moment has already passed along with its frightening potential for more. He balances his cheek against the ball of his fist, smiling. "I want to know what your attitude on sex is."

"M-Me?" She exhales, underwhelmed by his nonchalant air. "Well, i-it's, uh, terribly cliche and old-fashioned of me, but, um..." Clearing her throat, she frowns, solemn. "I used to believe I would wait until marriage to do it. My first time will be with someone I love and trust, someone I want to spend the rest of my life with. If he loves me enough to wait, I know that his feelings are sincere."

"It's not cliche at all. There is nothing wrong with abstinence." He hums in thought, using his free hand to brush the hair out of her eyes. "After all, I used to practice it."

"You did? Then, what changed your mind?"

"A lot of reasons, actually. One of them being self-control, or lack thereof. And second... I very much wanted to be with that person." Baralai says that last part in a mumble, quick to recover. "But in all honesty, I don't think waiting is the best choice for everyone."

"What makes you say that?" she says, curious.

"Despite what everyone says or how the media portrays it, sex is very important in a relationship. After all, your compatibility in the bedroom determines the state of happiness between you and your partner. Speaking from a logical standpoint, how would you feel if you waited until marriage to have sex only to find out you have no chemistry? They can be the most amazing person in the world, your best friend and soul mate, but it just so happens you don't click in bed."

"Well, when you put it that way, you make a good point..."

"Naturally you will have your reservations the first time you do it, but... I think sex before marriage is acceptable as long as you are doing it with someone you want to be with. The stronger the commitment, the easier the decision, I think."

Yuna stares at him, at a loss for words. "How do you exist?"

"What?" He laughs, only to be silenced by her hand on his cheek.

She scoots into the space of his arm, gazing up at him with awe and absolute adoration. "Right when I thought you couldn't be any more amazing, you go and do something like this, and that only makes me want you... more..." Mortified by her Freudian tongue, Yuna panics. "...as my best friend!"

Startled by her random outburst, Baralai smiles. "...Is that so? Well, I'm sad to say that Gippal lays claim to that particular title, so be mindful of the competition."

"I-I'll keep that in mind..."

"Thank you." When she looks confused, he elaborates. "For what you said, and... for generally spending time with me like this. You don't know how much that means to me."

Yuna smiles, curling up to his side so she can hide her bashful face. His warmth lulls her to sleep, as well as his wonderful scent, and she fights to stay awake. "Really? I'm glad."

He hums in confirmation to her aimless thoughts, shifting to lie down across from her. Clasping her cheek, he touches his thumb to her lips and smiles. "You are so beautiful, you know that?"

Her face glows pink from happiness. "...you really think so?"

"I always thought you were, ever since the day I first met you. I especially love your eyes. They are your most striking feature."

"It's funny. You know, even before I officially met you, I always saw you around. You were like the prettiest boy I've ever seen, so it was hard to forget your face."

"Really? Hm." Baralai looks bashful, trying to contain the smile, until his eyes light up with mischief. "Then, does that mean you considered me more attractive than your own boyfriend at the time?"

She blushes. "You're evil!"

He laughs when she slaps him on the arm, because that can only mean yes in his book. "If being right means that I'm evil, then so be it."

She pouts. "Oooh, I hate you."

"No, you don't." He smiles, shameless. "You love me."

Flustered by the utterance of those three words, she blushes. "No, I don't. I don't love you."

"Now you're just lying to yourself."

"No, I'm not!" She shoves him, receptive to his teasing in spite of her embarrassment, and laughs out loud when he tickles her side. "What are you doing? You're the vulnerable one. I can attack you at any ti–yikes! That tickles!"

Baralai rolls on top of her before she can attempt to wrestle him off, and pins her down by the wrists, amused by her resistance and breathless laughter. "I want you to look me in the eye and say it. Say that you hate me. Then I will know you are telling the truth."

Yuna tries to look mean as she glares at him, striving to keep a straight face. Her cheeks grow redder and redder with each passing second, until she finally gives up by looking away first. "O-Of course I don't hate you... That's not fair. How can I hate you when you smile like that? I'd feel guilty."

He loosens his hold on her to give her some allowance of freedom, leaning on his side. "Because I am such a nice person, I will refrain from saying 'I told you so'."

"You're still a meanie."

"A meanie whom you love very much."

"Oh, quiet, you."

"Is that your thing now? Are you going to tell me to be quiet every time I'm right?"

She blushes, biting back the smile, because she finds his newfound, insufferable wit too endearing to resist. "You're impossible."

"And you never outright disagree with me." He taps her lips with the tip of his finger, smiling.

Yuna pops the unsuspecting finger into her mouth, pleased to see this somehow succeeds to shut him up. She saw an opportunity for mischief and she took it, but she did not expect his smile to disappear or his eyes to glaze over. When he withdraws his hand to wipe her saliva off across her cheek, she giggles and snatches his wrist, pulling his finger back into her mouth.

"Continue what you're doing, and I will rape you." Although he sounds mild-mannered, his warning sounds anything but. He sighs, finally relenting after a few moments of half-hearted resistance. "I'm starting to wonder how much of your innocence is actual artifice."

She pauses, confused. "What do you mean?"

"...does this not remind you of anything?"

"Hmm..." Sucking his finger in thought, she does not notice his body tense, his gasp of short breath, or his conflicted, red face. Wracking her brain for the meaning behind his cryptic question, she frowns. "I... can't... think of anything."

"I understand the feeling," he says, annoyed.

Oblivious to his sarcasm, she resumes her mischief, soaking his passive finger with her playful tongue.

He decides to humor her just to see how much he can get away with, and feels her nip at him as he slides his finger in and out. In spite of his silent, hot frustration, he chuckles. "...Are you having fun over there?"

"Mmhmm." In the stretch of long silence afterwards, Yuna starts to feel lazy, closing her eyes to sigh.

He sighs as well, extracting his finger once he notices how content she lies there.

She gazes up at him, curious. "What are you thinking about?"

"You," Baralai says, tender at first, touching her chin to his fingertips, before shoving his thumb into her mouth. "And how much you frustrate me."

She almost chokes under his rough touch and mewls her discomfort, before removing his grip. "You're mean."

"Now, that is up to interpretation." He grins, ignoring her petulant look. "What if you are in all actually the cruel one?"

"I don't know what it is about you..." She starts, until a private thought sneaks into her mind unbidden.

"I think I know." Baralai looks serious when he says this, yet his fond smile breaks the tension.

Yuna swallows, self-conscious. All of a sudden, she becomes aware of how close they are, talking too low for mere conversation when they are already alone, touching hearts in the meeting of their eyes, and she wonders, always: does he feel the same way she does about him, towards her? The hope of reciprocation frightens her just as much as the possibility of rejection, and she averts her eyes, solemn and indecisive. Even though he has finally started becoming receptive, something still holds him back. She reaches out to him, tracing the contours of his chest in thought.

He twitches at first, but does not protest. "What are you thinking about?"

"I want to know how it feels..."

"Hm? How what feels?"

"To make love."

He shivers from her words more so than her touch, and grabs her hand, intending to pull it away, only for his hand to adopt a mind of its own and twine her fingers in his.

They lock eyes, startled by this development.

"...are you sure?"

She nods.

A phone rings in the background, breaking the intimate spell between them. Yuna blinks, looking up to catch the irritation in his eyes, and follows the line of his gaze. That must be her phone, because she hears it coming from her backpack. Suppressing her sigh of dismay, she drags herself off his bed. "Sorry. Give me a second..."

"Of course." Baralai moves to sit on the edge of his bed, retrieving his shirt from the floor.

His eyes linger on her backside as she stands up to shift her weight on one foot, checking the call she missed. This innocent motion pulls his attention to her smooth and supple legs, and the skirt that stops below her mid-thigh, teasing at his carnal imagination. When she lifts a hand to brush her hair back, this draws him to look at her neck, her nice and slender neck as he follows its gentle slope to her petite shoulders. He wonders what her body will feel like, all pressed up against him.

Opening the first drawer of his nightstand, he rifles through the contents and sighs in disappointment. 'Out of all the times I could forget, why did it have to be now?'

"Do you mind if I take this call? I'll just be downstairs."

He snaps back to attention, blinking. "Yes. That is, no. I don't mind. Take your time. I need to go to the bathroom anyway."

"Okay. I'll try not to be long." She departs with a smile, holding the phone to her chest.

He returns the smile, watching her leave. Once she steps out of sight, descending the stairs, Baralai grabs the bottle, rushing to lock the bathroom door behind him.