Chapter 155: Not love at first sight.
"Charles, I don’t," Augustine murmured, his voice dipped in something low and seductive—but the playful wink he threw Charles’s way, paired with the sly smirk curling on his lips, said otherwise.
Charles shook his head slowly, feigning disappointment as a small sigh escaped his lips. "You are so weird," he purred.
"I’m weird only when I’m around you," Augustine replied, his voice sincere this time, eyes locked on Charles with a warmth that softened his usual mischief.
Charles sneered, turning his face away from Augustine as his gaze shifted to the rain-soaked window.
Droplets of water streamed down the glass in chaotic trails, blurring the outside world.
From the way the sky looked—dark and brooding—it was clear the rain had no plans of stopping anytime soon.
Charles exhaled deeply, his breath fogging a small patch of the glass, and without meaning to, his mind slipped back to that moment—the day he’d collapsed on the road.
’Ohh! It was the day I met my doctor for the checkup about my health,’ Charles mused inwardly, his eyes widening slightly as the memory clicked into place.
He swiftly turned his gaze back to Augustine, surprise dancing across his features. "Did you fall in love with me right there?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper—curious, vulnerable, almost breathless.
Augustine averted his gaze, his confidence suddenly dimming as a shy smile tugged at his lips. "I did fall in love," he whispered, though his words were clear enough for Charles to catch. "But... I wasn’t certain if it was true love."
He paused for a moment, then let out a soft breath. "I wanted to take your number... maybe even shoot my shot. But the doctors told me you ran away from the hospital the moment you woke up."
Augustine sniffed softly, then turned his gaze back to Charles, eyes locking with his in a stare that was deep, unwavering, and far too intense.
Under that gaze, Charles’s heart skipped a beat. His cheeks flushed a shade deeper, warmth spreading through his entire body like wildfire.
Charles could feel the heat creeping up his neck, and suddenly, the air inside the car felt far too thick, far too charged.
Charles remained frozen in place, eyes locked with Augustine’s as if caught in a spell.
Then, in a voice that was both raw and intimate, Augustine continued, "I never thought I’d see you again. But the very next day—on the eve of my birthday—I got a call from my mom. She told me I had to get married as soon as possible... or she’d cut me off from the family’s wealth and profit."
As Augustine spoke, he reached for Charles’s hand, gently intertwining their fingers.
The moment their skin touched, a spark surged through Charles’s entire body—electric, tingling, almost dizzying.
His breath caught in his throat, and his heart thudded against his ribs like it was trying to escape.
Charles’s stomach churned, as if a swarm of butterflies had suddenly taken residence inside him, their frantic wings beating against his insides.
The pulse in Charles chest was so rapid, so intense, he thought for a moment it might burst through his ribs.
Every nerve in Charles body hummed with energy, and he couldn’t tear his gaze away from Augustine, whose touch seemed to ignite a storm within him.
Augustine gently ran his fingers over the back of Charles’s hand, his smile soft yet full of unspoken meaning. "That day, my mom threatened me, but honestly, I wasn’t scared of her words. I knew she was capable of doing what she said, though..."
Augustine voice trailed off and without warning, he lifted Charles’s hand to his lips.
Augustine blew a slow, heated breath across Charles’s skin, the warmth sending a shiver racing up Charles’s arm.
The sensation was electric, and Charles found himself subconsciously curling his fingers, the touch igniting a fire that spread through him in waves.
Augustine’s gaze softened, his lips curling into a knowing smile as he let out a breath. "Well, after that phone call, I looked up, and my eyes landed on you. The same young man I had rushed to the hospital the day before."
Charles rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. "So, are you saying you fell in love when we bumped into each other on the road? Or was it when you saw me at your office?"
"Both," Augustine said with a bold grin, his eyes gleaming. "I thought you were cute when we met on the road, but when I saw you in my office... the way you spoke to me with such confidence... I was like, damn, this is the one." Augustine stated as his voice was laced with a seductive purr that sent a shiver through Charles.
"Hahahaha," Charles laughed, rolling his eyes. "You’re just messing with me." He scoffed, though a smile tugged at the corner of his lips but Augustine just shook his head, a serious glint in his eyes as he leaned in closer to Charles.
"I’m being serious, Charles Donald," Augustine murmured, his voice low and filled with conviction. "The very first time I saw you, I knew you were the one. Maybe I didn’t fall in love immediately because I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, but there was a pull—something powerful. A connection I couldn’t ignore."
Charles bit down on his upper lip, his gaze drifting away from Augustine as warmth flooded his cheeks. "I... I don’t know what to say," he stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper, eyelashes fluttering as a deep blush spread across his face.
Charles heart raced, caught between disbelief and the overwhelming emotions swirling inside him.
"I’m glad you fell in love with me, Charles Donald," Augustine whispered, slowly pulling his hand away from Charles’s and gently lifting his chin with his fingers.
His touch was soft, tender—almost reverent. "Come on, Pookie... look at me," he purred, his voice like silk wrapping around Charles’s heart.
Charles inhaled deeply, trying to steady the storm brewing in his chest. "What do you want to say?" he asked, his voice breathy as he gave a slight shrug, still avoiding Augustine’s gaze, though his lips trembled with anticipation.
Augustine sigh. "Just look at me, pookie."
Although Charles felt shy, he willed himself to turn around and meet Augustine’s gaze—those mesmerizing amber eyes that seemed to undress every layer of his soul.
Augustine’s thumb gently stroked along Charles’s chin, his touch featherlight, deliberate.
Then, ever so slowly, he leaned in, his breath brushing against Charles’s lips. "Every time I say I love you, butterflies flood my stomach," Augustine whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "But even with that, I’ve been meaning to tell you just how deeply I feel. And now that I finally have the chance to confess it..."
Augustine paused, his gaze locking with Charles. "Just know this, Pookie. Now that I can confess my feelings to you, I’ll keep loving you—madly, fiercely, endlessly—for the rest of eternity."