Chapter 36: Universe
Chapter Theme: I Love You - AKMU

Flexing Seungwoo's arm 💪 and his undercut.

Han Seungwoo

"Are you sure about what you're doing?" I teased Harin when she accidentally cut her finger while cutting onions. I moved closer to her to examine whether the wound was deep or not.

"When there's no pain, there's no gain. This is far away from my intestine Seungwoo, no need to make me stop cutting the onions." She justified and flaunted her finger which had a small amount of blood in it.

"I told you I can do it for you. It will save time too," I reasoned which made her raised her brow.

"Getting hurt is part of the learning process Seungwoo-yah. It's good that I'll experience getting hurt, atleast I know how it feels." She shrugged her shoulders and placed her wounded finger on the running water.

Her back was facing me so I moved closer to give her a back hug. My arms laced on her waist and my chin on her shoulder. "What's with the sudden drama Harin-ssi?"

My face twitched when she elbowed my side. "You're a sadist!" I exclaimed right on her ear.

"That's what you get for teasing me!" She fired back and returned to chopping vegetables.

I smiled wickedly as I thought of revenge. After she put down the knife on the chopping board, I started to tickle her armpit. She jolted when she felt the tickles lingering on her skin. Instead of hearing laughs from her, she scolded me.

"Han Seungwoo you better stop!" She warned me and then suddenly drew the knife to me. Her face was fuming red and I don't think she's kidding.

I suspended my hand midair as a sign that I surrendered. "I-it was just a joke.." I justified with my trembling lips.

I'm deeply inlove with Harin but I am not willing to be literally stabbed by the woman whom I love.

"C-can you please d-drop the knife?" I pleaded, hands still on the air. An awkward smile occured on my face because I'm actually nervous deep inside.

I don't want her to be a murderer and become her victim. It's enough that I'm drowning with her love.

Harin confidently wave the knife in the air teasing me. She slowly touched the edge of the knife and threw deadly glares at me. To stop her cruelty, I smelled my fingers which tickled her armpits.

"I'm loving your scent, baby." I uttered confidently, acting that I am drowned at her armpit's fragrance.

From being angry, she became embarrassed. Actually, her armpit doesn't smell foul so I wonder why she's embarrassed.

"I'm busy!" She shouted and turned her back on me, resuming chopping the vegetables.

Today is Monday which marks as Harin's first day of her leave. I fetched her earlier from her house so she'll be here in my house. She suggested that she wanted to cook for us so I let her be but she refused to accept my help which was practically convenient.

Dongpyo's at school, abbeoji's with his amigos and noona went to work. Basically, it's just the two of us.

I leaned on the counter adjacent to where Harin was chopping vegetables. My hands clutched to the counter's edge, flexing my arms. I stared at my girlfriend who was serious in chopping. My heart fluttered upon seeing her effort on making the food. She was only  chopping but it was like she was fighting for her life.

I examined her body and it was beyond perfect. She got the perfect body proportion that every woman were dreaming of. In short, my girlfriend is sexy and hot. I bit my lip unconsciously while staring at her.

Harin turned to me with her eyes glaring. "What are you staring at?" She asked with brows furrowed.

I scoffed and smirked. My eyes travelled down to her toes up to her head. Her eyes widened in incredulity and as initiative, she crossed her arms on her chest.

"Pervert!" She hissed and ran away from me, leaving her work.

The house was filled with my laughs when I heard a door slammed. Probably, my girlfriend was upset to me now.

"Yoon Harin!" I howled her name while walking towards my room where she was hiding.

My stomach has been hurting for laughing nonstop. Harin stormed out from the room looking upset.

"If you want your family to eat a proper dinner then stop bothering me and just watch with no malice!" She ranted and slipped away from my sight.

Teasing her and her feedbacks to my tease will always make me love her even more. I love everything about her, not only her good side but also her bad side. It is not love if you're not willing to accept all of her perfection and flaws. It should be the whole round of her. If it's too much, you can play a big role on her life and help her change in a good way. Don't turn her into a person whom everybody hates.

"Seungwoo-yah! You run out of tofu here. You better hurry and buy it now!" Harin yelled because I was still at my bedroom.

I grabbed a jacket and slid my wallet inside my pant's pocket.

"Can I leave you alone without burning the house?" I teased her but she just gave me a dead silence. "Okay, I'll buy tofu now. Is it only the missing ingredient?" I asked another question hoping that she will answer me now, verbally. She just gave me a nod without looking at me.

My heart sank at her cold shoulder. This was my first time getting a silent treatment to Harin. I always thought she's head over heels on me that's why I never worried about her ignoring me.

Before going out, I kissed her cheek and did expect that she'll smile or show any reaction but she didn't. I went out the house thinking about how can I get back to her. What should I do to make her talk to me?

A. Just let her be 'til she cools off?
B. Give her a gift?
C. Compliment her cooking skills?

Ah, what should I do?

***

"May I ask, what you're cooking?" I inquired then placed the tofu I bought earlier.

The house was quiet enough for me to get bored. Only the sound of the boiling water can only be heard. Harin's still giving me cold shoulder which made me trigger to do it to her too. I want to know how she'd react if I'll act deaf whenever she'll call me to do something.

I exited the kitchen without a single noise coming from me. I comfortably jumped at the couch and turned on the television. It was a survival show called Produce X 101. The boys there were quiet talented that they deserved to be recognized globally and to receive the grand slam of rookie of the year whoever the lucky eleven boys.

"Han Seungwoo, set the table." Harin commanded. I flashed a silly smile only for me and acted like I heard nothing.

"Han Seungwoo, set the table!" She commanded for the second time, louder but I didn't budge.

I could imagine how furious she is right now but I am too afraid to glance at her. I'm scared for my life. Harin might actually make me the precious ingredient at her unknown food!

The aroma of the food lingered on my nose that made my stomach growled. I glanced at my wristwatch and it's almost lunchtime. Abbeoji, noona and Dongpyo should be home right now.

The survival show amused me causing my attention to be focused on it. I was immersed at their performances and to think that there were trainees whose name were Han Seungwoo and Dongpyo made me burst into laughter.

"He's going crazy." Harin stated enough for me to here. "I wonder when will he set the table. I do the cooking so I think he should set the table. It would be unfair for my part if he will not help, especially for the fact that this is his house not mine. He should be ashamed though." She lamented, particularly guilt-tripping me.

I stood up acting like I'm just forced to do setting the table. I moved my feet slowly that could be a sign of laziness. Harin's brow raised as she saw me moving slowly.

I intentionally bumped into her causing her to trample and with a swift move, I trapped her on the counter with my hands both sides. She rolled her eyes like she had enough on me and bludgeoned my chest with her fist. I resorted to hold her fist instead of caging her, my chest was getting hurt anyway.

"I don't hate you for being a sadist but can you please don't put too much force everytime you hit me with your fist? I bet you don't want a boyfriend with broken ribs." I bantered pleasantly at her ear. She shove me away by hitting my head with her. Does she have a numb stone head?

"Enough with your balderdash and set the table!" She bossed, pointing the empty table.

After setting the table, she laughed at me like a psychopath. "You're such a sissy Seungwoo." She commented.

"It's because I have a bossy girlfriend. I'm afraid she'll hate me if I won't follow her." I replied dryly.

She scoffed delightly. "You're a whipped man, I see."

"Yoon Harin whipped to be exact." I proudly uttered. Her eyes glistened as she heard her name, delighted that I spoke with my heart. "Thought you'll never speak with me after the burning the house joke."

She shrugged her shoulders like it's not a big deal. "Can I really do that?" She said in a British accent.

I reached for her head and fondled it adoringly. "You never fail to make me fall deeper into you baby. I never thought the deepest can still go deep."

Harin came to me and hugged me with her loving arms. "When I fell for you, I know it by then that I can't get away from you. I love you and will always be."

Harin cupped my face and teased a peck on my lips. Our nose touched and we smile at each other. Things like this will be always enough for me. I do not wish for more intimacy.

"Appa!" Our little intimacy was disturbed when Dongpyo came running to us and wrapped his arms on my legs.

"You little brat," Harin patted Dongpyo's head and kissed his forehead.

"The lunch is ready eonnie. Where's uncle?" Harin asked my sister while preparing the food she cooked.

"I'm here!" Abbeoji gladly replied and went to his seat, devouring the food right away.

***

"I played soccer when I was in middle school. An ace player." I answered her question with head held high. Middle school was fun. I was quiet a heartthrob back, thanks to my soccer skills.

Harin gave me an accusing look. "What? It's true! I can even show you my medals and photos!"

"I never said that I don't believe you." She defended herself.

I removed my jacket and placed it to her shoulders. The stars were pretty glittering the firmament and the moon was big enough to made a good story about vampires.

She leaned her head on my shoulder and clung her arm to mine. "I wish we went on the same school before so we could know each other earlier."

"If we did, I don't think we'll be together. It's your fate to be mine after getting cheated on that Chan guy."

"Why bring him up if you'll only get jealous?" Harin smacked my face, I pouted. "Honestly, you never looked cute in my eyes. You're always sizzling hot!" She giggled and pinched my cheek.

"I'm hot but you pinched my cheek?"

She laughed unbelievably. "What do you want? Touch your abs? It's not modest!"

"I'm giving you the right to touch my abs everytime you want, babe." I said sexily, licking my lips intentionally.

"Unfortunately, I don't easily get tempted you fool."

I slightly acted that my heart hurt. "You should have keep it in your mind, miss. You just hurt my feelings." I sniffed acting like I'm about to cry.

"Do you actually believe that? Who wouldn't be tempted to you?" Her eyes became puffy and I was lost on her eyes. As I closed my eyes, I felt her lips into mine.

"You'll always be a temptation Seungwoo but not to me because you're mine." Her voice was tender, giving me soft chills.

My heart smiled as her words touched my whole being. I love it everytime she claims ownership on me because I'm actually hers anyway.

"I love you Harin." I whispered to Harin, my universe.