Even with just that light touch, she made him yearn for more.
He wanted so badly to kiss her with passion, yet he reminded himself not to cross the line.
But his self-control always wavered in her presence.
How could he resist the urge to be near the one he loved? Yet even a little more closeness than usual might make him lose control of his feelings for her. Worst-case scenario, she would come to hate him and perhaps never speak to him again.
In the end, he lifted her gently, pretending it was nothing out of the ordinary. Silently, he carried her to the car and drove her home.
When he safely brought her home, it was Elise's mother who answered the door.
Seeing her daughter being brought home by her longtime friend's son again, Elise's mother could only sigh deeply.
"Auntie, Elise's asleep," Braden said as he got out of the car, informing Vargas's mother. "I thought I'd carry her to her room like last time."
"You two… seem to be getting closer lately," Elise's mother said, a bit suspicious, though uncertain if her hunch was right.
She had always sensed that their relationship was not just ordinary, yet they both denied it, leaving the parents guessing in the dark.
If they could be together, she would, of course, be happy as a mother. But after knowing each other for so long with no sparks, maybe they were truly not meant to be.
Yet she couldn't understand—if they weren't attracted to each other, why were they inseparable lately?
"We're just very, very good friends. You know that, Auntie," Braden replied, downplaying their relationship and hiding his feelings deep inside.
Since saying anything wouldn't change things, it was better not to say it at all—at least that way, it wouldn't cause any trouble.
"I really don't understand the two of you." Elise's mom rubbed the back of her neck, yawned as she walked into the house, "I'll leave it to you, then. As long as you don't feel tired, I appreciate it. She can be a bit willful."
A faint smile appeared on Baden's lips. "I've known Elise for so long, Auntie, and you've always been by my mother's side, listening to her worries. So, naturally, it's only right for me to take extra care of Elise."
"It's a pity you're only friends." Mom could no longer resist the wave of sleepiness as she turned to head back to her room, "I'll go to bed first. You should go home and rest soon too. Good night."
"Yes, good night, Auntie." Braden nodded politely before returning to the passenger seat.
He opened the car door, placed Elise's right arm over his shoulder, and wrapped his long arm around her waist, slowly guiding her back to her room.
In his arms, she continued to sleep soundly, peacefully, breathing in the cedarwood scent on him, which seemed to lull her into an even deeper sleep.
He gently placed her on the bed, pulling the quilt up to cover her, worried she might get cold.
He squatted by her bedside, gazing at her sleeping face for a long time. He was reluctant to leave, but staying wasn't an option.
He softly touched her face. "What do you really think of me…?"
He chuckled lightly. He never imagined he'd reach a day where he'd fall so deeply in love.
He had never loved a woman this way. He had wondered, if it weren't for that promise he made to her, would he have fallen for her even sooner?
He didn't know the answer. The only thing he knew was that she truly didn't seem to have any feelings for him…
Maybe, not even a little bit.
Before leaving her room, he took one last, long look at her, trying to etch every detail of her appearance into his mind, so he could feel her presence over and over again in his memory.
His attachment to her was truly deeper than he'd ever imagined.
------
The night had grown deep, and silence enveloped everything. The house was so quiet that even the faint rustle of leaves outside could be heard clearly.
At three in the morning, Elise woke up under the quilt that had been carefully tucked around her. She recalled being at Baden's place, yet now she was back in her room. She had probably fallen asleep at his house again.
Last time she'd drunk too much, she hadn't known how she got back home, and now, even without any alcohol, she still had no idea how she got here. A bit troubled, she thought, how could it be that she had no recollection of it twice in a row?
Hopefully, she hadn't embarrassed herself in front of him…
She remembered that when she arrived at his place, he had stayed in his room, seemingly not wanting to talk to her much.
She was fed up with this feeling. After realizing she liked him, he only seemed to grow more distant. Did this mean that if she didn't like him, they could be closer again?
But it wasn't as if simply deciding not to like him anymore would erase all her attachment, right? She didn't know how others might handle it, but she knew she couldn't do it.
His elusive aloofness felt like a cage holding her captive, and she was the prisoner trapped inside, unable to escape.
Giving up on her restraint, she decided not to overthink it. She grabbed her phone and called him, deciding that if he didn't pick up by the third ring, she would hang up.
He usually doesn't sleep early, so calling him in the middle of the night means he'll answer. Besides, he has a day off tomorrow, so it would be unusual if he didn't play games until dawn.
However, the speed at which the call was answered surprised her. She didn't even have to wait for the third ring before the call connected.
"You're awake?" His voice was gentle.
"Yeah, I figured you usually stay up late, so calling now... you'd probably answer." She spoke timidly, clutching her phone. "But I also thought if it rang three times and you didn't pick up, I'd hang up so I wouldn't disturb you."
"I'm a bit tired but can't sleep well. I thought of having a little red wine; maybe that would help." On the other end, Braden swirled his wine glass in his room, unable to shake the image of her lingering in his mind.
"Why can't you sleep? Are you having insomnia?" Elise wanted to know what was troubling him.
"Well... my mind's a bit messy." He suddenly felt playful, teasing her, "But could you at least not sleep so soundly? At least keep a bit of guard. After all, I am still a man."
"You're not just anyone, so of course, I can sleep well..." she said, though her cheeks flushed and her heartbeat quickened.
Was he... interested in her? Or was he just teasing out of boredom?
"I told you, you're kind of naive, but you don't believe me." Braden chuckled helplessly. Did she really think he wouldn't ever try anything?
"That's because I trust you. I know you wouldn't hurt me."
He froze for a moment. Her words seemed to carry an additional meaning—if he ever did something, she'd really avoid him.
Maybe she wouldn't just dislike him; she might actually hate him.
"How could I ever want to hurt you? If anything, it would probably be you hurting me." Braden said it simply, but his heart was in turmoil. "How could I ever want to hurt you? If anything, it would probably be you hurting me." Braden said it simply, but his heart was in turmoil.
It was clearly her who had teased him when drunk, but once sober, she remembered nothing. Only he remained entranced, only he held onto that deep affection.
He felt conflicted. He didn't want her to remember that night, yet he disliked how she could tempt him as if he didn't matter.
As if that kiss was just some drunken illusion, not because it was him she was kissing.
He felt jealous and possessive. When she kissed him, what exactly was she thinking? Who was she thinking of…
"Of course, I wouldn't. I care about you too, or why else would I call you at this hour? Besides, it's you who didn't want to talk to me..." she mumbled, feeling a bit hurt, countering his implied distrust.
She felt wronged. She had gone to his house just to see him more, to talk to him more, but he hadn't given her the chance.
He was slightly taken aback. "You were waiting for me to talk to you?"
"What else did you think I went to your place for? Of course, I wanted to talk to you, and also..." Realizing how suggestive her words sounded, she quickly switched topics, "And also to play games!"
"Didn't I say I'd give you the gaming console? That way, you wouldn't have to come all the way to my place to play." On the other end of the call, he chuckled softly, his eyes reflecting a warmth she couldn't see.
"But I want to see you!" She regretted it the moment she said it, realizing she'd been a bit too impulsive.
He was indeed taken aback, speechless, repeatedly analyzing what she meant by that.
"I mean… and the dog we're raising. Why haven't I seen Matcha Pudding in so long?"
"He's been sleeping in my mom's room lately, so you haven't seen him."
"Then, next time, can you not just stay in your room? Otherwise, there doesn't seem to be much point in me coming over…" Her disappointment was clear in her words, though she wasn't sure if he understood her hint.
"Do you really want me there?" he asked with a steady voice, a hint of anticipation in his heart for her answer.
"That'd be nice. Plus, I could ask you for help if I hit a wall in the game." But she kept her answer vague.
He raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"
She laughed, her eyes crinkling with more warmth than usual. "Of course, I just want to ask you."
"Hah, if you, Miss, ever get married someday, I think I'd be a bit reluctant to let you go." He chuckled wryly, somewhere out of her sight.
"Then I just won't get married. Who says I have to…" She looked down at her fingers tightly entwined, completely oblivious to what she had just said.
She may not have realized what she said, but he was listening intently. Did she say that because she thought he'd feel reluctant?
"Didn't you tell me before that you wanted to find an amazing man to marry and that I'd have to give you a big wedding gift?"
"Can't I change my mind now? Not that you'd understand…" She huffed, feigning annoyance over the phone.
Didn't he understand? He was the one who'd said he'd never fall for her, forcing her to tread so carefully around him, scared he'd see through her and find out just how much she liked him.
She wanted to marry, to wear a beautiful wedding dress and marry the man she loved most. What woman wouldn't? But he didn't like her, and if she ever confessed, it would only add to his troubles.
She might end up cast aside, like Mylee, although she couldn't be sure he truly had no feelings for Mylee at all.
"Alright then, I'll save my money." He didn't think much of it, but somehow, just talking with her lifted his spirits a bit.
"Are you feeling a bit better?" she asked with a smile. "You used to comfort me all the time. It's only fair I give back now and then."
"You should focus on next week's business trip. You don't even like traveling for work, so why did you agree to go when Chairman Wu suggested it?" His tone was flat, but the dissatisfaction in his heart eased, thanks to the concern in her words.
"I…" Her face turned redder than a freshly picked peach. "It's all because of you!"
"I…" "Me? I was clearly speaking from the stage. How could it be because of me?" He laughed aloud, finding her sudden rambling a bit amusing.
"Never mind, as long as you're feeling better. I'm tired. I'm going to sleep!" She quickly ended the call, wrapping herself snugly in her blanket.
Ugh, why did he have to ask so many questions? How was she ever supposed to forget that dream?
After the one-sided end to the conversation, Braden gazed at the picture frame on his desk, a graduation photo where Elise had dragged him in for a shot.
He had just hung up, and he already started missing her.
How would he adapt to life without her from now on?
