Kenneth inched closer, cupped the back of her head, and planted a kiss on her lips. There's nothing a kiss can't solve. If one kiss doesn't work, I'll give her another.
A breeze brushed through the courtyard beneath the starry night.
After kissing her for nearly ten seconds, Kenneth finally released Natasha.
Gazing into her eyes with affection, Kenneth said, “Nat, I know I've let you down, and I know nothing I say can undo the damage I did to you. But I'll make it up to you with the rest of my life and do anything you say.”
Natasha was mesmerized by his dazzling eyes as they glistened in the night sky. To her, those were the best sweet nothings.
She went up and reciprocated with another deep kiss. After pulling herself away, she gazed into his eyes and whispered, “All right. Deal.”
Kenneth smiled upon hearing that.
Natasha, too, responded with a grin.
They continued talking for hours under the night sky.
Time went by quickly, but the love birds did not seem tired. They were so engrossed in the conversation that they stayed up all night.
When the first light appeared in the sky, Natasha leaned against Kenneth and asked, “What about you, Kenneth?”
“Me?”
“How have the last few years been for you?” the dainty-looking Natasha asked while resting her chin on his shoulder.
Kenneth thought about it for a while. “You want the truth?”
“Yes.” Natasha nodded.
“Life in the last few years was meaningless as it was all about work. I've been trying to search for what's missing in life but couldn't tell what it was. I basically lived like a zombie.”
Upon hearing that, Natasha tilted her head to look at him. “What about now? Have you found it?”
Kenneth glanced at her from the corners of his eyes and said, “Yes, I have.”
“You found it?” Natasha gazed into his eyes. “What is it?”
“You!” Kenneth said while fixing his eyes on her.
Kenneth continued, “It's you and the childhood memory I lost. Nat, I might find you annoying in the past, but ever since you went away, I felt empty. Yet, I never thought the emptiness I felt had anything to do with your disappearance. When I learned that you were pregnant, my restlessness turned into anger, and I vented it on you. That was why I was always furious when we reconnected.”
Natasha glanced at him and kept mum.
“The feeling of emptiness eventually vanished when you appeared. You drove me nuts, but admittedly, I didn't live like a zombie anymore. Though I was always thinking of ways to punish you, somehow, you kept popping into my mind!”
Upon hearing that, Natasha teased him with a subtle smirk. After observing his facial expression for a while, she asked, “Are you sure it wasn't because you were horny?”
Kenneth did not deny it. He replied steadily, “You're right. But I only have that feeling for you, not anyone else!”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“The moment you returned, I'd made up my mind to stick with you through thick and thin for the rest of my life. I'll not let you go again,” Kenneth said while looking at her.
“At one point, I thought she was the one for you,” Natasha said.
Kenneth cut in, “I never had any feelings for Thea. Yes, I admit I thought she might be the one for me when she was working with me. I thought I would fall for her because she knew me well. But soon, I realized I felt nothing about her. She had never driven me crazy or triggered my emotions, and I would never give her my all. That was why I immediately told her how I felt about her.”
“How did you tell her your feelings?” Natasha asked.
Kenneth pondered on her question for a while before giving her an answer. “During one of the dinners, I told everyone I'll not marry and might not want any woman in my life.”
“But at that time, Thea was crazy about you, wasn't it?” Natasha made an assumption.
Admittedly, Kenneth said, “I think so. Perhaps, I'm partially responsible for all the crazy things she did.”
Natasha bobbed her head in response. “It's a rude awakening, but I'm glad you're willing to acknowledge that.”
Kenneth turned around and cast her a curious glance. “So all those years, you'd been secretly observing me?”
“Just once—the interview you did,” Natasha replied.
“Just once? How did you learn about Thea then? She hadn't appeared when I did that interview,” Kenneth analyzed.
Natasha froze for a moment and replied, “Maybe twice? I can't remember anymore. Anyway, I hadn't paid attention to you after Thea entered your life!”
Kenneth gazed at her affectionately. He was happy with how things had turned out, but at the same time, he felt sorry for Natasha. Once or twice—it doesn't matter. What matters most is that she still cares for me.
Following that thought, Kenneth wrapped his hands around Natasha's slender waist and whispered beside her ear, “Nat, don't you think we're a match made in heaven? I was tortured for years, and you were jealous for years. I say we call it quits, okay?”
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