AM I PERFECT

CHAPTER 20: BETWEEN ROSES AND RIVAL NAMES

The mall's bridal outlet was bright, elegant, and unusually calm that day. Irav and Liara

stood near the display counters, surrounded by soft music and neatly arranged gowns.

"This place is actually really nice for men's collection too," She said casually. "Let's go

there as well."

"Sure," he added, glancing at her. "You choose whatever you want. Just take what you

like."

"Can I say something?"

"Go ahead."

"If you select it for me… I think I would like it more."

Irav paused, slightly surprised, then nodded.

"Alright."

Without saying anything else, Liara slowly began browsing through the dresses. Her

movements were calm, focused, almost quiet.

"This one looks good," she said after a while, pointing at a dress.

"My favorite color…" Irav murmured. "How do you even know that?"

Liara looked up at him.

"It's your favorite color?"

"…Yeah."

"I just picked it randomly then," she said lightly. "Coincidence, I guess."

Irav gave a small nod.

"Alright. Let's pay and leave quickly."

As they stepped out of the outlet.

A man suddenly came running from the opposite direction.

Everything happened in seconds.

He bumped straight into Liara.

The impact pushed her off balance, dangerously close to the third-floor barrier.

For a split second, it looked like she was going to fall.

"Liara!" Irav reacted instantly.

He grabbed her waist and pulled her sharply toward him, holding her tightly against his

chest.

The entire floor went silent.

People froze.

Liara herself didn't even process what had just happened. Her mind went blank, eyes

fixed somewhere ahead, breathing unevenly.

She just stood there, still holding onto his collar tightly, her fingers trembling slightly.

Irav exhaled sharply, still angry, still scared.

Then suddenly, without thinking, he turned toward the man.

And in one swift motion,

slap.

The sound echoed through the floor.

"Don't you have any sense?" Irav said coldly. "If anything had happened to her because

of you…"

His voice dropped lower, dangerous now.

"I wouldn't have spared you."

The man froze for a moment, but the anger inside him was still visible. His voice rose

sharply.

"How dare you slap me like that?"

He stepped forward, raising his hand as if to hit Irav back.

But before he could even get closer

Irav caught his wrist mid-air.

His grip tightened instantly.

"One thing," Irav said coldly, his voice controlled but sharp, "you mess up, you're

irresponsible… and on top of that you throw tantrums?"

With a firm push, he twisted the man's arm slightly and forced him back.

The man stumbled and fell a few steps away.

"What is happening here?

"Stop it!" someone shouted nearby.

Two officers quickly approached.

The man immediately pointed at Irav.

"He hit me! He slapped me first!"

"So what?" he added aggressively. "He didn't hit anyone?"

"He hit me! What if something had happened to me?"

Before things could escalate further, Liara suddenly stepped in.

She gently grabbed Irav's shoulders.

"Just… stop," she said softly.

Irav paused.

For a moment, his focus shifted completely to her hands on his shoulders.

He looked at her as if only now realizing she was there.

"…Sorry," he muttered under his breath.

He immediately stepped back. "Let's go home. This place is turning into a circus."

The officers stood between them and the man.

One of them looked at Irav carefully.

"Mr. Irav, right?"

"Yes."

See, you cannot raise your hand. You could've reported it to security or the police. But

you seem educated… so please be careful next time."

He simply nodded once, expression still tight.

"Let's go," Liara said quietly.

As they walked away, Liara kept looking at him from the side.

It was the first time she had seen him like this.

Not calm.

Not composed.

But fiercely protective.

And she never expected… that someone like Irav would become like that for her.

They were both sitting in the car now.

Silence filled the space between them.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

Finally, Irav glanced at her softly. "You must be hungry. I'll go get something to eat."

"No," Liara replied quietly. "We can eat at home."

"Liara…"

Before she could look away, Irav gently held her hand.

So gently… that she couldn't even hesitate.

There was no force in his touch, no pressure, just warmth.

"Soon, we're going to become one. So I want you to share your emotions with me."

Liara stayed silent.

"I know it'll take time," he continued calmly. "But I want to understand you."

For a moment, her eyes remained fixed on their hands.

Then Irav slowly let go and opened the car door.

"I'll be right back,"

"And yeah, I'll just be at the restaurant across the street, so don't worry."

Liara nodded faintly. "Hmm."

Irav stepped out of the car and walked toward the restaurant.

The moment he disappeared, Liara leaned back against the seat.

"What am I doing…?" she whispered to herself.

Irav had held her hand… and she hadn't stopped him.

Not even once.

Yet she had promised Arin that she would keep her distance from Irav.

But how was she supposed to do that now?

He was about to become her husband.

If she pushed him away completely, then what was she supposed to do?

Liara closed her eyes slowly, lost in thoughts that only made her heart feel heavier.

A few minutes later, Irav returned to the car carrying several food boxes in his hands.

"Here," he said as he sat down.

Liara looked at the bags in surprise. "Why did you bring so much?"

"I know you skipped breakfast this morning," he replied casually while starting the car.

"As a doctor, you really shouldn't skip breakfast."

Liara stayed quiet.

Then Irav smiled faintly and added,

"When you come to my house… I'll make sure you eat breakfast every morning myself.

I'll feed you with my own hands if I have to."

For a second, Liara froze.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the food box.

Without responding, she quickly opened one of the packets and took out a burger,

pretending she hadn't heard him at all.

But the slight warmth spreading across her cheeks betrayed her completely.

Liara took a bite of the burger while Irav quietly started eating his own food as well.

"Tasty?" he asked casually.

"Hmm," Liara nodded softly.

She began taking quick bites one after another, almost unconsciously, because she was

genuinely hungry.

The way she was eating so quickly, like she hadn't eaten all day properly.

But he pretended not to notice.

He kept his expression calm and looked away every few seconds, not wanting her to feel

embarrassed or uncomfortable under his gaze.

Still, a faint smile appeared in his eyes.

For some reason, watching her eat peacefully beside him felt strangely comforting.

Liara was eating so quickly because of her hunger that she suddenly choked on a bite.

At that exact moment, Irav was drinking juice.

Liara immediately started coughing, placing a hand against her chest.

"Liara here, drink this."

He quickly held his juice toward her.

Liara looked at him for a second.

"Quick," Irav said worriedly.

Without thinking much, Liara leaned forward and drank from his straw. Irav gently

placed a hand on her back, rubbing it softly until her coughing eased.

"I'm okay now," she said between breaths.

"It happens," Irav replied with a small smile. "I choke like this too whenever I'm

extremely hungry."

Liara looked at him… then unexpectedly smiled.

But there was embarrassment hidden behind that smile.

Irav quietly took another straw from the bag and placed it into her own juice.

"Thank you," Liara said softly.

For some reason, her mother's words echoed in her head.

"Irav really is a good-hearted person."

"By the way," Irav suddenly spoke again, "I have tickets to a concert. If you want, we

can go."

Liara looked interested immediately. "Whose concert?"

She genuinely loved music.

"Guess."

"How would I know?" she muttered. "Still… I don't know. Justin Bieber?"

"What?" Irav laughed softly.

Liara's eyes widened in excitement before she suddenly realized she probably shouldn't

have reacted like that.

"Yeah… okay," she said quickly, trying to compose herself. "But I don't know if I'll be

able to go or not…"

Then, under her breath, she whispered,

"If Arin finds out…"

"Do you want anything else to eat?"

"No," she said while looking at the leftover food. "There's still so much left."

Then suddenly

Irav reached into his pocket and pulled out a single rose.

Liara's eyes immediately fell on it.

Wait… is he really about to give me a rose?

Then he held the rose toward her.

"Liara… this is for you."

Her breath caught slightly.

"I've wanted to give it to you for a while now," he admitted with a shy smile. "But

honestly… I was feeling nervous."

Liara stared at him silently.

"I hope," he continued quietly, "that you'll accept it."

Liara fell into thought again.

Now, what am I supposed to do in this situation…?

"Liara…" Irav called again, this time with quiet hope in his voice.

And the truth was,

Irav's behavior made things difficult for her.

Every word he spoke, every small gesture… made her feel comfortable around him.

A part of her wanted to agree to whatever he asked.

Slowly, Liara reached forward and took the rose from his hand.

The smile that appeared on Irav's face was impossible to hide.

"I knew it," he said happily. "I knew Liara would accept my rose."

At that moment, his happiness clearly appeared on his face.

Suddenly, Irav's phone started ringing.

Liara's eyes instinctively shifted toward the screen.

Best Friend Calling

Before she could think much about it, Irav calmly picked up the phone.

"Excuse me," he said softly before answering.

"Hello, Emily."

The moment Liara heard a girl's name, her expression changed slightly.

Emily?

A girl?

And why is she saved as "Best Friend"?

For some reason, an uncomfortable feeling settled inside her chest.

Then she immediately looked away.

Why am I even thinking about this? She told herself. Whoever she is, it's none of my

business.

Liara turned her face toward the window, pretending to focus on the city lights outside.

But despite herself…

Her ears remained completely focused on Irav's conversation.