Love at the Nth Time

Once Again

Chapter 52

"I'm really sorry," I exclaimed earnestly. I asked Chaoxiang to do me a favour after I apologized for the rude behaviour I showed.

"Celine, I'm willing to cover you, but there's something you need to do for me," Chaoxiang stated over the line.

In a private room of a Chinese restaurant, we waited until his mom entered the video call. She resembled her son from the eyes and thin lips. Her hair was tied neatly in a bun behind her head with a traditional dress she wore. Her kind smile induced me to continue what we had planned—no thoughts of the consequences in the long run.

"I heard lots of great news about you. Chaoxiang likes you very much, and we don't have any against you being part of our family."

The lunch was spent on their ancestors' history and privileges by handing them down to their three sons, and Chaoxiang was the eldest. Encountering the kind of fixed marriage at this age where the eldest could choose whoever they wanted to marry marked the chances of living with no regrets, lest not for me.

The Chinese man of his late 20's displayed great honour with the wealth passed down to him. With the wrong idea of my reason for dating him because of his close relationship with Ryan, stupid he was to believe the statement of others even they were acquaintances. Blame him; I didn't, as it didn't give me the second thought of liking him where it would turn to marriage, as my mind and heart were already fixated on exploring a venture far way more daunting.

His auto stopped in front of the terminal where I could ride a jeepney going to my house. My hand took off the seatbelt, Chaoxiang called my name.

"Hope this isn't our last meet-up," he uttered. A smile I wore, wishing my friendly farewell to him where he could find the woman who'd desire to join his journey.

The lights everywhere portraying the festive season which would soon come cleared my head to the last concern I couldn't fathom how to face. It was a country with Gods and Goddesses that people knew, the enormous structural presentation of the history the nation proudly owned, and its unimaginable cuisines, culture, and lifestyle dissimilar to my motherland. How exhilarating it was.

*On call... Seth

"What do you like to have at Christmas?" I asked cheerfully.

"Hmm, guess," Seth responded.

"Psh, you'll gonna make me stressed over it first." She chuckled softly. The conversation started minutes ago when she was still in her dad's office working overtime to finish other tasks in advance.

"I'll be in Laguna next week. It's for five days. Appointments," Seth stated, and there were voices in the background, speaking to her. She added, "Damn, it's hectic. The last day I'll come back to Manila, I'll pick you up to stay the night or see you in the unit?"

Stared at the merchandise of the stalls as I strolled around them, Seth chose to remain busy in our last two weeks in the country.

"I'll buy gifts for my family. Tell me what you like, at a reasonable price, okay?"

"Right now? Unfair, you should tell me beforehand so I could as well."

"Oh, I'm only gonna buy them small gifts that meet the budget. No expensive ones here for your family, wait." I groaned inaudibly. The urge to buy something for her dad and older brother too popped up.

"You okay?"

"Seth," I called her attention.

"Hm?"

"I'll be searching for a job in Rome. We'll be there for half a year, right?"

"Did Win send this? I'm looking for the sealed documents, the original," Seth spoke incessantly. She was fighting her battles differently than I do. Anyhow, the determination to carry the title of his dad's next CEO had emerged, and the more she climbed heights, the more it felt overwhelming to imagine the stairs added to the steps I must take. "Cel? Sorry, I'm talking to other departments. Tomorrow, can we meet? I'd take a half-day at everything," she stammered. I chuckled as she used the word.

"Friday, sure. I'd make a list of what I want," I jested.

"That's my baby. Call you later."

As I went back home, asking the eldest sister to lend me money was no help carrying out the plans. Bank savings would be fatal to use because of the unknown emergency, at least to expect in a country far away from my comfort zone. To think Seth and I would get into a fight for whatever reason, and she would kick me out of the same roof we'd lodged on, the joke would be on me when that happened.

Set of clothes, accessories, shoes and a few bags. I kept a record of thoughts that wouldn't stop bothering me with important documents, a set of clothes again, books, and a journal. I took a deep breath after checking the stuff I'd brought. A phone call grabbed my attention.

*On call... Win

"Win-"

"Celine, Celine," he called my name worriedly. My heart pounded.

"H-hold on, calm down, what is it?"

"I booked a taxi for you. It's on the way in 5 minutes. Seth's in the hospital," he uttered in panic. Restless, I scurried outside the room. Mom called me to help her store the preserved foods in the kitchen, but my feet dragged me outside.

Win already dropped the call once I checked the phone screen. The taxi knew where to go and, with my heart beating fast, several times after contacting Seth and Win, dashed me into the hospital wearing a short and sleeveless blouse. Smiling green eyes met mine. Panting I was, my steps advanced to run into her in a tight embrace. Sitting on the bed with dextrose in her arms, she held my back.

"Did Win...tell you?" she questioned in awe. I faced her.

"What are you doing?? What happened to you? Win just told me you're in here, and he has already booked a taxi for me!" Slowly, the pulse of my heartbeat went back to normal as she chuckled a little.

"Damn, that gay. It's just sudden dizziness, lack of sleep," Seth stated, smiling. My arms wrapped around her, smelling the musky flowery scent in her hair and neck, a sigh of relief.

Seth kissed me on my head, a tickling sensation as her lips touched my ear. "Since you're here, be my sleeping drug," she whispered deeply with her hot breath sending shivers into my spine.

"He just wanna transfer the responsibility of watching over me to you," Seth figured and took the smoothie I made for her. "Thank you." I sat on the bed beside her. I insisted she take a rest as we arrived at the condo unit she owned.

"How many days have you guys been doing overtime?"

"Hmm, six days or so?" She nodded in appreciation of how good the smoothie was. "Can you bring me my laptop? It's in the closet," she requested.

"Why? Are you working again? Did the doctor tell you to stop overworking?" She stared at me, smiling. I glared at her, and her grip pulled me to sit down again as I thought of cleaning the area in the kitchen.

Her warm hand cupped my cheek and leaned closer to me, my eyes on the thin nude lips of hers in front of me. "You're worrying too much. I'm fine," she softly uttered and kissed me on the forehead. I closed my eyes, a deep breath skipped, and realized how much I missed being with her this close. Forefinger lifted my chin to take a glance at her inviting eyes, and there she pressed her thumb on my lips. An alluring hint of Seth, who was withdrawing her usual dominant self, my hand grabbed the back of her head and took the lead. "Mmm," Seth moaned between the deep kisses, and her hand carefully moved me away. She showed me the glass of smoothie and put it on the nightstand. I smiled as she chuckled, putting my back on the bed. She said, "Aggressive are we, tonight?"

Soft whimpers upon the contact of my skin with hers, quick breaths of s****l stimulation emanated as we hungered for kisses and heated touches of the sensitive flesh. In between our thighs, we were connected in the dim light. The bed moved in sync as our bodies danced in the shadows of the night. At a fast pace, we were reaching the c****x, the beautiful face dripping with sweat and her half-open mouth, shut eyes, and glances of checking the same pleasure we're creating, grunts and small moans escaping as she moved fast on top of me.

Clasped on her hand, she locked it with mine, and our bodies' backs arched, releasing the heat which formed in the warmth we missed upon each other.

"That felt good," Seth whispered and kissed me on the cheek. I laughed a little as she wrapped her left hand on my back, pulling me, and I laid on top of her, which I followed. Her head rested on her arm on the pillow, and I happily moved on top of her, feeling our chest. "Stop it," Seth stated, smiling. I chuckled excitedly to tease her more.

"I can top you now," I boldly affirmed. Seth's mouth hung open in surprise, and scoffed in doubt, she laughed.

"Don't dare me. You have no idea how wild my thoughts of you are." I fell speechless, and we laughed over it. A peck of kisses I planted on her, and she lifted her head, wanting more. She groaned in annoyance, throwing herself on the bed. I laughed. Seth grinned, and her fingers trailed onto my thighs.

"Be my guest," she assessed. I raised my eyebrows and leaned closer to touch each other's nose, and her lips accepted mine.

"I am not your guest," I revised. Her earnest gaze pierced into my soul, and her hand caressed my face gently.

"You will never be," she murmured and grabbed both my cheeks to attack a mouthful of intense kiss once again.