Wild Young Miss: Mister, Let's Kiss!

"Please keep yourself together! This is so wrong! Harassment! I'm a patient!" Zoey prattled endlessly, putting up her defensive stance. However, he was slowly and steadily leaning closer and closer.

She gulped, hearing the sound of it along with the loud throbbing of her heart. When his face was just an inch closer, Zoey drew her head away slightly; her lips pursed into a thin line while her clenched fist rested on his chest. "What's wrong with you…?" She whispered, staring at his menacing yet flirtatious russet eyes staring back at her.

"Are you shy?" He asked. His soft, minty breath wafted her nose, sending a strange electricity down her nerves that caused her cheeks to flush.

"No," Zoey denied, gulping a mouthful of saliva as she pursed her lips into a very thin line once again -- almost hiding her lips.

"So you're fine with it?" Again, he asked; the corner of his lips tilted up with a playful mirth.

"No," Zoey shook her head lightly, frowning as she did so. "How does that correlate to my permission?" She added, still bearing a frown as he was rather crafty for taking advantage of the fact that her mind was focused on his actions more than his words? 

If Zoey wouldn't pay attention to his words and succumb to restraining herself from letting this aggressive Matthew, he would have his way with her. But no, she had trained her mind for the past one year to not focus on just one thing. Thus, despite that her heart and mind was currently on a fierce clash against each other, she was well-aware of the meaning behind his actions and his playful words.

"It doesn't, your expression does." Matthew smirked, briefly raising his right brow as he shot her a knowing look. "Makes me wonder what I should do at this moment." His eyes slowly scrutinized her visage, wondering if he got her signals right or wrong. 

He was inexperienced, after all. He might know which card to play if it was a business negotiation, but this was different. Her expression might have given him the green signal, but there's also a mix of something inexplicable -- it was hard to decipher which is what. Thus, he had to pause and think if he was going over the line.

"What you should do is give me space." Zoey, who found this as an opening, pushed him lightly, breathing heavily in relief with the added space between them. 

'Good thing I caught him off guard! I almost lost it and my perverted side almost took advantage of his curiosity!' She screamed internally, antagonizing her own self as her heart nearly stood victorious! 

Who would keep their sane mind if someone like Matthew was inches away from them; thinking of what to do as his Adam's apple moved slowly when he gulped? Indeed, with that close distance between them, Zoey's senses noticed every little detail including his scent, the times his eyelashes fluttered, the beating of his heart in the blue vein running on the side of his neck, and admired how he was almost poreless!

Gosh… he was torturing her even without knowing it! For pete's sake! She was head over heels in this guy in her previous life and until now, he was the reason Zoey remained sane! However, Zoey was afraid she would make the wrong decision that would endanger him.

'Right, there's still Inigo! I can't lose my head yet -- I can't follow my heart's desire yet! Wake up, Z! This is not the time -- you have enough time! You got together with him seven years later! You have seven years! Patience, patience!' Not minding Matthew XI, Zoey reminded herself of her goals, engraving each word on her mind so she wouldn't get distracted by the beauty of her darling.

On the other hand, Matthew examined her aghast side profile, as if her mind was tangled in something he was unaware about. "You'll be fine." He muttered, his hand patted her head unconsciously.

He didn't know the reason, but deep down, he knew she was in conflict with herself. Well, it was obvious with her expression, but his heart felt there was more to it. Whatever that was bothering her, making her head go haywire, he thought she shouldn't fret about it more that makes her look ugly -- a little.

"..." Speechless, Zoey turned to him at a snail's pace. Her eyes bore confusion, as if her muddled mind suddenly went blank.

"I was just teasing you earlier, Miss Zhou." Upon the sight of her baffled front, Matthew faintly chuckled as he ruffled her hair. She has smooth, silky hair, making it easy to play with it despite that she hadn't brushed them yet. 

"I mean, although the doctor's note still stands firm on the condition of your early discharge, I am not planning anything to harm you." He stated, this time, his tone colored with gentleness and amusement. "Since we're dating, I thought it's only appropriate for me to take care of you. Moreover, if not for you, Ken might have been in a critical condition. In other words, we owe you. I would rather do this menial task than let another persistent man do that for you." He explained, not a shred of deception in his tone and eyes could be detected.

"Oh…" She nodded lightly in understanding. 'So he's just doing this because he owes me.' Zoey murmured inwardly, continued on nodding her head as she was being too paranoid.

"Mhmm," Pleased that she understood, he hummed a tune as his palms rested on the surface of the bed, supporting his upper body as he turned to her. His eyes studied her relieved front, causing the side of his lips to tilt into a slight smile. 

Upon sensing his gaze, Zoey raised her eyes and cocked her head to the side. "What?" 

"I sort of like you." Without batting an eye, he expressed his thoughts causing her to let out a series of coughs.

"Can you not joke about something like…" her words trailed off as he interrupted her midway.

"I am not joking." He affirmed, smiling gently that rendered her speechless.

'Darling, were you this expressive before I met you?' Her subconscious mind whispered, wondering what happened during the seven years before they met and fell in love.