Chapter 2 How Embarrassing
1207 Words
By the time they got home, the sky was completely dark.
Clara led Jack upstairs. He didn't bring much, just a backpack, so he didn't need her help unpacking.
At the door, Clara told Jack the door's code and had him try it out.
Clara lived alone. Once inside, she remembered she hadn't prepared any men's slippers.
She pursed her lips, took out a pair of her own slippers from the cabinet, and placed them by Jack's feet. "These are all I have. I forgot to buy men's slippers on our way back. You can use these for now. I'll go to Seven-Eleven to get you a pair later."
Jack didn't mind at all. He put on Clara's slippers and cheerfully thanked her.
Now that he was so well-behaved, Clara's fondness for him grew gradually.
Her slippers were too small, with Jack's feet sticking out awkwardly, making it hard for him to walk.
Clara couldn't stand it and helped him to the sofa. "Sit here for a bit. I'll go buy some things."
Jack nodded obediently.
After a short while, Clara returned from Seven-Eleven with lots of items, mostly for Jack.
She handed him the new slippers. Having forgotten to ask his size, she bought a larger pair just in case.
"Try these on. If they're too big, I'll get another pair for you tomorrow."
Jack tried them on and, surprisingly, they fit. "Clara, they fit perfectly."
"Great."
Seeing his hair still wet, Clara worried he might catch a cold and suggested he take a warm shower.
Jack looked up at her, hesitating.
Catching him hesitating, Clara asked, "What's wrong?"
Jack pointed to his bag. "Clara, which room am I staying in?"
Only then did Clara realize that she hadn't arranged a room for Jack yet.
Her father had bought this apartment specifically for her while he was still alive, modest in size with only two bedrooms.
Pointing to the bedroom adjacent to hers, Clara said, "You can stay in that one."
Jack noted the proximity of the rooms, thinking it would be very convenient in the future.
"Thank you, Clara."
Jack picked up his backpack from the sofa, intending to settle into his new space before his shower.
But Clara stopped him, taking the backpack from his hands. "I'll set up your room. You go ahead and take a shower."
"Clara, you're so kind to me!" Jack naturally hugged Clara, resting his head on her shoulder and rubbing against it.
She smelled faintly sweet and pleasant, causing Jack to close his eyes in comfort.
The hug caught Clara off guard, and she stood frozen for a moment, allowing the embrace to continue.
Jack's charming presence and his breath on her neck tickled her.
Clara hesitated about whether to push him away.
Fortunately, Jack was tactful and released her after a brief moment.
With her straightforward nature, she didn't dwell on it, heading into the bedroom to help Jack with his things.
Jack turned on the shower, the water cascading over him as visions of Clara's tender skin and her subtle fragrance danced in his mind.
Somehow, he just felt an unusual warmth within him with those images lingering.
He needed a cold shower to calm down and ensure he wouldn't lose control later.
Clara cleaned Jack's room, changed the sheets, and tidied up. When she was nearly done, she heard Jack calling her from the bathroom. "Clara."
"What is it?" Clara walked over to the bathroom door.
Jack hesitated, his voice barely audible. "I forgot to bring my underwear."
His underwear!
Clara's eyes widened, her face instantly turning red.
"Clara, did you hear me?" Jack's voice continued. It was the first time Clara felt so embarrassed that she wanted to flee.
"Yes... I heard you." She managed to answer, her voice sounding strange even to her own ears.
"Clara, could you help me buy a new one?"
"Okay."
*****
The next thing Clara knew was that she had managed to get to Seven-Eleven, having no idea how.
She stared at rows of various men's underwear, her embarrassment deepening.
The clerk, sorting items on the shelf, noticed her standing still in front of a bunch of men's underwear, blushing intensely, and immediately understood.
Approaching her, she asked, "Shopping for your boyfriend?"
Clara looked at her upon hearing the voice, nodded, and then shook her head, her face reddening even more. "It's for my brother, not my boyfriend."
Understanding her embarrassment, the clerk didn't press further. Instead, she gave Clara some tips on buying men's underwear, like sizes and fabrics. Clara was absent-minded and didn't absorb much of what was said.
The only words she had caught were that she should buy a larger size for comfort, as it could affect s*x if it was too tight.
Seeing Clara's shyness, the clerk guessed it was her first time buying such things for her boyfriend and kindly asked, "Do you understand now?"
Clara really didn't want to delve into it further.
It was the first time she had realized that excessive enthusiasm from others could be a bad thing.
Clara couldn't bear to look at the clerk. She randomly picked one from the shelf, paid for it, and hurried back home.
Jack heard the door close and purposely asked her, "Clara, did you get it?"
Clara felt embarrassed but still replied, "Yes."
"Clara, I'm not wearing anything. Could you bring it to me?" Jack pushed his luck further.
He wanted to see how much Clara would tolerate, planning his next move accordingly.
Clara rubbed her burning cheeks, trying to gather her thoughts. "I'll leave it by the bathroom door. You can come out and get it yourself."
After saying this, Clara tossed the underwear aside and hurriedly ran back to her room, closing the door behind her in a fluster.
Jack then emerged from the bathroom, picked up the underwear from the floor, and looked at Clara's closed door. A smirk played across his lips.
Clara was too easily shy.
After changing, Jack noticed Clara's door was still closed, so he walked over and knocked.
Clara, who had just calmed down after finishing her nightly prayers, sighed in relief and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Clara, I can't find the hairdryer. Could you help me get it?"
"Okay," Clara agreed.
Getting out of bed, Clara opened the door to be greeted by Jack's handsome, innocent face. His hair was still wet, drops of water running down his face and slipping into his collar.
He wore a white T-shirt, soaked around the waist, revealing his prominent abdominal muscles and a smooth waistline.
Clara gulped.
She believed all her prayers just now had gone futile upon seeing such a picture.
Jack lowered his gaze, observing every change in Clara's expression, pleased with her reactions.
"Clara, what are you looking at?" He asked, feigning innocence.
Flustered, Clara looked away, coughed nervously, and changed the subject. "I'll go find the hairdryer."
With that, she hurriedly escaped.
Finding the hairdryer, Clara turned around to see Jack standing right behind her, eyeing her earnestly.
Clara touched her face, asking, "What's wrong?"
Jack shook his head, smiling. "Nothing."
Clara handed him the hairdryer and explained, "I usually keep it in the drawer under this cabinet."
"Got it, Clara."
- Writer
