After Cosette and Maxen's little experiment, both of them agreed to take a shower together. Yes. Together. Cosette proposed it and dragged him with her. Now they were dipped in the tub, sitting on each side, facing each other.
"Max?" Cosette called, resting her hands on her knees that were above the water's surface. She rested her chin atop her knuckles, eyes on Maxen, who was sitting on the other end of the tub. His arms were spread on the rim, his knees were bent up over the water.
"Mhm?" he cocked his head to the side, waiting for whatever she would ask him. Since they took their relationship to the next level, staying in the same tub, butt-naked, felt more natural.
"When did you know you like me?" she asked out of pure curiosity, watching him raise his brows.
Maxen pressed his lips into a thin line, humming. He glanced up to ponder when it all started, but alas, he couldn't think of any date.
"I… don't remember," he answered, setting his eyes back to her. "I didn't know when it started or how it even started. I just… felt it."
"Felt what?"
"Felt that I would sometimes think of you in the most random moments," he continued with a shrug, not feeling embarrassed speaking his heart out loud. "There were nights I will subconsciously stare at my phone, waiting if it will ring. Sometimes, I would notice I'm smiling just hearing your voice, and then look over my shoulder to check if you were there."
Her eyes softened as she smiled. Those were all the times when Maxen hadn't moved in the Blac manor. Yet, she didn't notice that at all. She only thought he was being lenient since he would still constantly distance himself from her.
"I didn't know you already liked me back then," she mumbled, smiling in satisfaction.
"What about you?" he returned the question, watching her brows elevate. "When did you realize you… like me?"
"The first time." Her answer was quick with no trace of hesitation, catching him off guard as it seemed he didn't expect that. Cosette chuckled, resting her cheek on top of her hands that were still on her knees, eyes fixed on him.
"That time I rushed you to the hospital, I told myself… 'wow, he's really cute,'" she added.
"Cute?" Maxen cocked his head to the side. "I had a black eye at that time and my face was swollen."
Cosette grinned. "I picked up your school ID."
"Ahh…"
"You were definitely my type," she continued her confession. It wasn't like she was lying. She was simply taking out the fact she was a fan of him, thinking she was in a novel. "But then, when I transferred school and got to know you more, I realize your hands were so cold."
Maxen furrowed his brows. "My hands were cold?"
"Mhm." Cosette lowered her eyes, staring at the little ripples on the surface of the water. "They are rough and cold as if you were outside in the middle of the winter with no gloves on. And yet, when I was scared, you allowed me to hold on to your finger. It's ironic how your hands felt so cold, yet it warmed up my heart and could wash away the fear in my heart when my demons come knocking in my head."
She slowly raised her eyes at him and smiled subtly. "So I told myself I'll keep his hands warm and clean. But the more I spend time with you, the more I feel this greed. I don't want to let you go."
Maxen's eyes softened as he stared at her subtle and soothing smile. Her eyes were soft and full of affection, revealing the truth and nothing but the truth. He dragged his butt forward until he was sitting in front of her.
Maxen carefully crawled his arms around her body underneath the water. He lowered his head, looking at her straight in the eye, but said nothing.
"What?" she asked, tilting her head to the side a little. "Won't you say something cheesy in return?"
"I just want to look at you, that's all." He chuckled. "What else can I say?"
She pouted. "Like, what do you feel right now? Don't tell me you're horny, Max. You orgasmed like three times in a row! That's too much!"
"I am a healthy young man," he argued while she planted her fist on his bare chest.
"Won't we catch a cold?"
Maxen chuckled and leaned his face forward, brushing his nose against the tip of her nose. His lips were stretched from ear to ear.
"I feel lucky," he muttered, drawing his head back. He scanned her beautiful face gently before looking into her eyes. "No, I'm the luckiest."
There were many things he wanted to add, but those words were the only words he managed to utter. Maxen felt lucky, and until now, he felt like he was in a beautiful dream. Not because of the fact that he did all sorts of unholy things with Cosette, but just the sheer thought that this intelligent, wonderful, and beautiful young lady was in love with someone like him.
"Sometimes, I wonder if I saved the world in my previous life to be this lucky," he added in a humorous tone. "Actually, I never thought I would ever use that term. Lucky. I thought I was born unfortunate, but everything felt bearable ever since you came into my life. It felt normal."
"I don't hate it as much as I hated it before. Matter of fact, I think life is so pretty, and this world is so much better with you in it." Maxen leaned his face again and rested his forehead against her forehead whilst cupping her face. "I know we're still young and many things can happen in the future, but what I can promise you is that I don't think I will ever like somebody else."
His lips curled up into a charming smile. "I love you, Cosette Blac, and that will never change."
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