The surroundings are peaceful as consciousness slowly penetrates me, prompting my eyelids to open. In a way, I feel a weight on my back, signifying my position on the mattress. At the same time, a comforting warmth envelops my stomach. I feel curious. I direct my gaze towards my abdomen and discover a medium-sized heating pad unexpectedly placed against my bathrobe.

As I lay on the mattress with my head gently resting on the pillow, I shift my head to the side only to realize her absence. Confusion fills my thoughts.

"Athy?" I called out, raising my voice slightly as I turned my head to survey the room, but she was nowhere to be seen.

The bedroom remained silent, yet illuminated by the gentle rays of morning light filtering through the sliding glass window on the right side. As I lay down on the mattress, I adjusted my position using my arms and hands to sit up. 

Upon sitting up, I noticed my robe was open and made sure to securely fasten it around my chest, ensuring a proper fit with my hands. 

However, my gaze was drawn to the enticing entrance of the en-suite bathroom next to the bedroom. I gathered my thoughts upon awakening, meditated myself and I recalled something. 

She had assisted me to the bathroom last night. I couldn't help but change my clothing, and she even went as far as purchasing new underwear for me in the specified size. The bathroom amenities included disposable extra pads. But I realized this, she left without telling me. In a matter of minutes of thinking, I heard footsteps, causing me to divert my attention towards the door on the left side.

"Good morning," she greeted me with a smile as she emerged from the open door, holding a glass of water. She was dressed in a gray boat neck t-shirt, light brown shorts, and cotton closed-toe slippers with socks. 

"Seeing you first thing in the morning brings a smile to my face and reminds me that you are lovelier than the day itself. Truly, I feel grateful to begin each day with you by my side."

She spoke cheerfully as she walked towards me, leaving me speechless and noticing my eyes blinking as I sat on the mattress. Earlier, I felt sulky as she wasn't here when I woke up, but now I feel cheered up.

"Good morning, you surprised me," I chuckled, feeling relieved that she hadn't left. She approached me and sat in front of me as I remained seated on the mattress. 

"Anyway, where have you been?" I continued speaking. "Thank you," I said as she handed me the glass of water, which I took and drank with both hands. 

"I didn't realize that I surprised you," she said with a chuckle. "I woke up before you and went to the mall to purchase clothing and necessary items for both of us. I made sure not to disturb your sleep. Now, let's have breakfast, as I have already prepared it," she continued speaking.

As I look at her and listened, I noticed five distinct marks on her neck or side of her neck, which resembled a red or purple color. I remember the physical contact we shared last night.During our physical interaction last night, not a word was spoken; it was a purely physical connection as we touched each other. I felt my heart pound and heat spread across my face, resulting in a blush. At the same time, I glanced at my chest which felt light and relaxed. Still, I couldn't help but think about the possibility. 

Did she just massage my bosom...? No way, I could tell this. The presentation of this thought is out of the question.

"Agnes?" she called me, causing me to startle as I directed my gaze towards her. With a perplexed expression, she stared back at me. Gathering my thoughts, I attempted to utter something.

"What were you wearing when you went outside earlier?" I inquired.

"It's the same outfit, but I didn't wear a suede jacket," she replied. 

"You see, I happened to bite your neck and suck, which resulted in the formation of a hickey," I admitted, feeling a sense of embarrassment. She remained momentarily speechless. "You should wear something that can hide the marks," I continued speaking.

"I understand now. That explains why people have been looking at me. It had me wondering," she chuckled. "Yes, I'll follow what you said," she answered. However, I observed a small, red bruise on her naturally pink lips, and upon seeing it, I felt bad. Fortunately, there was no swelling.

"...Are you experiencing any pain in your lips?" I asked with hesitation. 

"I was shocked, so I abruptly bit you," I admitted and caressed her cheeks with my hand.

"Are you still thinking about it? Please don't worry. I am only experiencing a burning sensation. I even consumed cold beverages to ease the discomfort," she replied as her response triggered a memory and she kissed my forehead.

"I'm relieved that you didn't get mad at me," I calmly expressed after she planted a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"There is no possibility that I would become angry with you. I won't be mad because I value our relationship and respect you too much for such emotions," she responded with a smile, filling me with an overwhelming sense of joy. 

"May I inquire as to why you mentioned for the second time that I should wait until I am of legal age? It has only just occurred to me," she continues speaking. It surprised me, causing me to become bashful.

"...I was unaware that you would interpret it in that way," I reply in a soft tone, briefly averting my gaze and then looking back at her. 

"It was merely my instincts guiding me. The way you looked at me has a deeper meaning." I explain, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Exactly," she chuckles.

"Goodness," I mutter, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over me. 

Both of us suddenly burst into laughter without realizing it as we exchanged glances. The sound echoed in the room as morning rays illuminated the space.

Without uttering a single word, the room fell into peaceful silence. However, she unexpectedly drew closer to me, causing me to instinctively lean back against the headboard of the mattress. With a gentle touch, she cupped my face, tilting it slightly upwards. Time seemed to stand still as a rush of warmth and excitement surged through me when she planted a soft, unexpected kiss on my lips. In that moment, I extended my arms, enveloping her in a tight embrace, and she placed one hand on my waist. I noticed her closed eyes as her lips brushed against mine with a gentle force, followed by the sensation of her nose traveled up my chin and traced along my neck.

"...Mm."

While we were snogging, a soft moan escaped my lips as I closed my eyes, allowing my head to rest against the headboard. Unexpectedly, she pressed a kiss to my collarbone. It seems she was unable to hold back her desire as she continued to place her lips on my neck with a gentle peck.

"Hah."

In the moment of intimacy, a gasp escaped my lips as I experienced a warm sensation. As I gasped, I momentarily held my breath as she bit me and left a personal mark on my skin. The feeling was a mix of warmth, tenderness, and slight pain as she sucked. However, I didn't mind. Her movements were slow yet gentle, and it made me comfortable.

"Agnes," she called my name after snogging me, with happiness evident in her voice. 

As her hand still rested on the back of my neck, she then gently lifted my head to meet her gaze. I felt a romantic excitement; however, I couldn't help but say something.

"Do I appear vulnerable to you?" I asked. "Being vulnerable can easily make one approachable or an easy target."

"I-I just couldn't resist your lovely smile, which made me want to touch you," she stammered, trying to explain herself.

"Am I truly that beautiful?" I inquired, fixing her with a piercing gaze.

"Of course, you are. Every time I look at you, I find you attractive," she confessed enthusiastically, accompanied by a delightful smile that rendered me speechless.

"When I focus on you, it feels as if you are the only thing on my mind. I've gotten used to having you around as well," she continued speaking. It feels as though Cupid's arrow has struck my heart, causing my heartbeat to quicken.

"Please, stop. I couldn't handle what you had just said," I interjected, feeling quite embarrassed, and chuckled. However, I remembered something.

"Did you recently apply a heating pad to my abdomen?" I inquired.

"Yes, I did. While you were asleep, I noticed you tossing and turning, eventually curling up into a fetal position, hugging your knees to your chest. It seemed like you were feeling uneasy, so I immediately purchased the heating pad," she confirmed.

I listened to her explanation in astonishment, unable to formulate a response.

"Thank you for taking care of me," I managed to express my gratitude eventually.

"You're welcome. I won't stop taking care of you either," she proclaimed.

"...How did you become aware of the heating pad?" In an attempt to change the subject and ease my embarrassment, I asked.

"It was due to my older sister. She sometimes orders me to purchase items for her," she chuckled and replied.

"Ah, that's right, I recall that your sister has been traveling in another country. It seems she has yet to return home," I stated, realizing the situation, and she nodded in agreement.

"I have just realized that your name is quite beautiful, and as a result, I would like to continue calling you by your name," she expressed. Upon hearing her, I couldn't help but feel delighted.

"Oh, really? I was unaware of that. My parents were the ones who named me. I suppose I'll search the meaning of my name," I replied with a chuckle. "Just continue calling me by my name; I would prefer that," I continued speaking.

"Considering that your full name originates from Spain and some relatives reside there, if your parents were to suggest returning to the hometown, would you want to go?" she asked calmly, seemingly thinking about the well-being of my family members.

"If the decision is made to return to our hometown, I would decline, as I am capable of taking care of myself and have my own responsibilities. I would only visit them," I stated. She proceeded to hold my hand with one hand while the other lovingly ran her fingers through my hair.

"To be frank, what I desire and cherish the most is to have you by my side," I spoke with determination. Once again, I noticed her cheeks turning red. It appears that our way of communication truly connects us.

"Should we make arrangements to travel to the other country soon?" she inquired, catching me off guard.

"I am open to the idea of traveling to the other country," I replied with a smile. 

As I observed her sitting on the bed, I couldn't help but notice a small bruise on her knuckles, displaying a reddish or bluish discoloration. I gently withdrew my arms, which were resting around her waist as I hugged her, and reached out to hold her hand in both of mine, placing it on my lap.

"Does it hurt?" I asked, gently caressing her hand as she looked at me.

"It did hurt at first, but not anymore," she admitted. "You seem to have a concerned expression on your face, but rest assured, I am fine," she continued speaking, and her hand reached out to caress my cheeks.

"May I ask if you are satisfied with the arranged marriage in the beginning?" she unexpectedly asked in a subdued tone, surprising me. "And do you desire to have children in the future?" she continued, the sorrowful expression on her face and raised eyebrows conveying disbelief, evoking pity within me. I intend to provide reassurance in response.

"I didn't find the arranged marriage to my liking. Also, we only met once, and last night was the second time we met together, as I chose to ignore his attempts to contact me." I expressed as we gazed at each other.

"I have a fondness for children." I continued speaking, observing her body make a sudden movement.

"However, I made it clear that I did not want to have children of my own, and I don't want a husband. That's a major reason why I disliked the idea of an arranged marriage leading to starting a family," I spoke further, noticing her calm demeanor.

"For me, it is not suitable. Like, it just didn't work for me, and I started feeling really negative about it. Then, you came, and it seems like everything affecting me disappeared because of you. However, you unexpectedly fell in love with me, and gradually, I realized that I had fallen in love with you as well," I confessed, momentarily lowering my head as I felt myself blushing. But with this newfound realization, I couldn't help but recall something important.

"I-I see. Love may be complex, but we can feel its presence," she stammered in surprise.

"Agnes, I am glad and relieved upon hearing from you, as they confirm what had been on my mind," she said with a smile, transitioning to a different subject.

"I feel the same way, I am grateful that you opened up to me about your thoughts," I responded with a smile, briefly adjusting my hair behind my ear.

"May I inquire about your emotions at the time when you handed the CD box to my younger sibling? I noticed you seemed down during that day. Please tell me, I'm curious." I continue speaking, which was I remember.

"Last year, I was hurt. I have come to believe that there is no hope for myself," she confesses, lowering her head slightly. 

"However, I've learned that dwelling on negativity leads to defeat, so I choose to let it go. My focus is on moving forward, finding satisfaction, and being by your side," she continues speaking. I was rendered speechless by her words.

"As a result, I have caught myself observing you, wondering about you, even going to the extent of stalking you," she admits, raising her head and fixing me with a serious expression, though her face displays a blush.

Once again, we exchanged a glance and fell into silence.

"There is something I would like to express," she finally spoke, breaking the silence.

"What is it?" I said with a sense of awe.

"You mentioned our family members on the phone, and suddenly we're living together. So essentially, you believed it would be better for us to live together and meet regularly, rather than staying at our parents' house. Is that correct?" she turned to me and spoke in a surprising manner, her words accompanied by her relaxed sitting position on the mattress. One leg was crossed, leaning on the mattress, while the other foot rested on the carpeted floor. 

"No, I never had such intentions. I didn't anticipate my actions to lead you to that conclusion." I calmly responded while sitting on the mattress, my legs stretched out and a heating pad on my stomach. She fell silent for a moment, not offering a response. 

"What?" she responded finally.

"What?"

I consciously echoed her words, sensing the mutual confusion reflected in our furrowed brows, slightly tilted heads, and partially open mouths as we looked at each other's eyes. 

In a matter of seconds, the meaning behind her question sank in and ignited a spark within my mind.

"You may be correct," I replied.

"Should we inform our parents about our relationship?" she asked, surprising me and simultaneously evoking a fear within me.

"We should reveal our relationship with them as soon as you reach adulthood," I responded, drawing closer to her as I extended my arms, wrapping her in a comforting hug, my eyelids slowly closed.

"Why?" she questioned implying confusion, reciprocating the hug but maintaining a low tone. I hesitated before answering.

"I don't want us to be separated." I confessed, the weight of my words hanging in the air as she remained silent for a moment.

"What leads you to say that?" she finally inquired, her voice barely above a whisper.

"When we inform our parents about our relationship, they take our age into consideration, which causes them to separate us or complicate things," I expressed calmly as I held her tightly in my arms. 

"So, let's discuss our relationship with our parents in the future when you reach adulthood. Do you understand my viewpoint?" I continued to communicate while she attentively listened.

"I understand," she affirmed, kissing my hair. Despite feeling fearful, having her by my side made me feel better. In the same way, I made the decision to not dwell on the future but to focus on our present connection within personal reflection and our future together.

– – The events that have happened between us have brought comfort and closeness, so as we move forward, our connection to each other has obviously deepened, intensifying my emotional attachment.