Chapter 39: A Date With Ari
A few days passed, and everyone settled into Travis's apartment. Soohyun claimed his own room, while Mijoo and Ari shared another. Meanwhile, construction began at the Lodge, with workers bustling in and out. Travis made it a point to visit the site every day, keeping a close eye on the progress. Each time he saw how swiftly things were moving, a sense of satisfaction welled up in him.
On a quiet Tuesday morning, a sharp knock on the door jolted Travis awake. He had fallen asleep on the sofa, his game console still on the home screen. It had been the best sleep he'd had in weeks, despite the uncomfortable position. Groaning softly, he stretched out, feeling the stiffness in his back, before getting up.
He shuffled to the door, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. When he opened it, Ari stood there, dressed to perfection, her makeup light but expertly done.
"What you want?" he asked groggily, his voice heavy with sleep as he wiped the stubborn residue from the corner of his eyes.
"Well, I'm here to see my boyfriend. That's what I want," she said with a hint of playful sass, stepping closer. "Days have passed, and you and I haven't done anything boyfriend and girlfriend related. I'm starting to question our relationship."
'Bitch, you being serious? You practically blackmailed me to date you,' he thought, his expression remaining neutral despite the sharpness of his inner thoughts.
"What do boyfriend and girlfriend do? Never been in a relationship before, you know," he replied, leaning casually against the doorframe, his eyes scanning her outfit briefly before meeting her gaze.
Ari's face flushed at his words, her mind immediately jumping to thoughts of intimacy. She quickly cleared her throat, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Well, um... we could go on a date! Today. In fact, let's do it now. Go get dressed—I'll wait for you inside," she declared, brushing past him to enter the apartment without waiting for a response.
Travis let out a sigh, his gaze drifting to the balcony where the early morning sun illuminated the serene beach view. The waves crashed rhythmically, a gentle contrast to his chaotic thoughts. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. 'Have a feeling I'm about to finish this arc soon enough,' he thought.
With that, he turned and headed to the bathroom, letting the warm water of the shower wash away the remnants of sleep. The heat loosened his muscles, and he stood there for a moment, enjoying the stillness.
Meanwhile, Ari made herself comfortable on the couch, flipping through TV channels absentmindedly as she waited.
She appeared calm, her legs crossed casually as she lounged on the couch, but inside, Ari was in full panic mode.
'Was I being too pushy? I don't want him to hate me or anything. But... it didn't seem like he was bothered by it. Maybe he likes feisty girls?' she thought, biting the inside of her cheek to keep her expression neutral.
Though she'd never admit it out loud, it was painfully obvious she had fallen for Travis. He knew it too—checking her status confirmed as much. Still, he wasn't interested in making the first move. Fortunately for him, she had taken the initiative, and now, he intended to use that to his advantage.
The sound of the bathroom door opening pulled her from her thoughts. Ari's eyes darted to Travis as he emerged, a towel slung low around his waist. Water dripped from his hair, trailing down his toned chest and defined abs, glistening under the apartment's soft lighting. Her cheeks flushed instantly, but she didn't look away. Instead, her imagination ran wild, and for a fleeting moment, she found herself picturing her wedding with him.
Travis didn't acknowledge her stare, walking past her without a word as he grabbed some clothes. She quickly turned her gaze back to the TV, pretending she hadn't been ogling him. Once he was dressed, he returned, looking effortlessly put together.
"Let's go," he said simply, his voice calm yet firm.
Ari perked up and followed him out of the apartment, her excitement barely contained.
The city was alive with activity, the streets bustling as vendors called out to passersby and musicians played on street corners. As they strolled together, Ari found herself relaxing, enjoying the easy flow of their conversation. For someone as reserved as Travis, he was surprisingly good at keeping a conversation going.
They eventually stopped at a cozy restaurant tucked away in a busy plaza. The smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling dishes filled the air as they stepped inside. They ordered food and continued talking, the conversation flowing as naturally as the warm ambiance around them.
Ari hung onto every word Travis said, even when he rambled about things she didn't care about. Whether it was about his latest gaming achievements or mundane observations, she found herself engrossed. In her mind, showing interest in everything he liked was her way of getting closer to him. And, to her relief, it seemed to be working.
Travis, for his part, enjoyed talking to her more than he expected. Her responses weren't just polite—they were engaging, often turning even small topics into longer discussions. By the time their food arrived, he felt oddly at ease with her.
When they finished eating, Travis paid the bill, ignoring her half-hearted protests. They left the restaurant and continued their walk, the afternoon sun beginning its slow descent toward the horizon.
As they wandered, Travis's eyes landed on a café across the street. His lips twitched upward slightly as recognition hit him. It was the café from the popular pornhwa Staying With Ajumma.
'That's nice. I really like the characters in that story,' he thought, a quiet amusement in his gaze.
They kept walking until they reached a towering building that dominated the skyline. Ari looked up, marveling at its sleek design, but Travis was focused on the sign above the entrance. This was the Universal Group branch in the area.
A faint, smug smile crossed his lips as he looked at the building.
'I can't wait to meet my beautiful milf Team Leader Kim,' he thought, his anticipation hidden behind a calm exterior.
After wandering through the park for a while, the two of them settled on a secluded bench shaded by tall oak trees. The late afternoon sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, and a light breeze carried the distant sound of children laughing. Their conversation had flowed easily until Ari's sudden question caught Travis off guard.
"How will you tell my mom you're dating Han-Bada Noona and me as well?" she asked, her voice steady, but her gaze probing.
Travis blinked, momentarily surprised. He leaned back against the bench, a lazy smirk curling his lips. "Oh, I haven't thought about that yet. I never really planned on keeping it a secret, honestly. Han-Bada already knows I'm open to seeing other women, but I haven't talked to Mijoo about it yet. Guess I'll do that tonight," he said, his tone casual, as though discussing the weather.
Ari's brow furrowed slightly. "Wait... you're coming over tonight?"
"Of course. She invited me for dinner. Who am I to refuse? Besides, her cooking is to die for," he replied, his grin widening.
Ari felt her stomach sink, disappointment flickering across her features as her mind raced.
'Fuck, I thought tonight would finally do it. Guess I was wrong,' she thought bitterly, the sting of frustration mingling with her growing desire.
Gathering her courage, she decided to confront the issue head-on. "When are you and I going to... you know, do it?" she asked, her cheeks flushing a deep red as her voice wavered.
Travis chuckled, tilting his head to the side as he studied her. "Ari, I haven't even kissed you yet," he teased, his tone light.
Before he could say anything else, Ari leaned forward and grabbed his face, pulling him into a kiss. Her lips were soft but eager, and the sudden boldness of her action took Travis by surprise. His hesitation lasted only a moment before he responded, deepening the kiss as their tongues danced together in a heated rhythm.
Ari's heart raced, her inexperience making her every move feel clumsy yet exhilarating. She pressed closer to him, her arousal building as she savored the sensation of her first kiss. Travis's hands rested lightly on her waist, his movements deliberate yet restrained, as if testing her limits.
When she finally broke the kiss, her breathing was ragged, her lips glistening. A thin string of saliva still connected them, and her flushed face radiated with an unmistakable mix of nervousness and lust.
"We've kissed now," she said, her voice trembling but laced with arousal. "So when are we going to do it?"
Travis smirked, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement and a hint of something more. "If you insist, then... let's do it tomorrow," he said, his tone smooth, like velvet.
Ari's heart soared at his words, but Travis's thoughts had already begun to wander.
'Han-Bada invited us to her place tomorrow. Guess I'll be having a threesome,' he thought, the corner of his mouth twitching as he suppressed a grin.
TO BE CONTINUED
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