Chapter 71: He was teasing me

Chapter 71: He was teasing me I could tell Jin-Yeok was just teasing me and yet... I was falling for that tease more than I should. Where was the guard I decided to keep up? I squinted my eyes and used my hand, which still had popsicle residue to brush beneath my eyes. "Are you doing this on purpose?" Jin-Yeok asked and I opened my eyes to look at him, wondering what he was talking about. "Let’s just pay for the popsicles and leave," I said and turned around. I couldn’t even enjoy my Popsicle because it had melted while I was enamored by this man. I should’ve gotten another one but I wasn’t feeling that hot anymore. And who knew what he would do with my new Popsicle? As I turned around, Jin-Yeok caught my hand and I glanced back, wondering what he needed this time. "Master, what is it?" I asked and he drew closer in the blink of an eye. "It’s nothing," he said. Then why was he getting so close to me? "I just felt there was still a bit of the popsicle that should be in my mouth." My eyes widened as he pressed his lips on my cheek, just beneath my eyes, and licked off the residue with his tongue. For some reason, my eyes trailed towards the ice cream man, wondering what his reaction would be seeing such a powerful public figure doing such a thing but to my surprise, I saw the back of the guards. I don’t know if they decided that was the best time to pay for the popsicles or if they did that on cue, knowing no eyes should witness such a display from their master. I endured and then watched the van drive away from there. I had no idea what the guards talked about with the ice cream man because my heart was beating so loudly that it blocked my eardrums. The guards had surrounded us at a certain distance to prevent anyone from prying into what was going on in the encirclement. There weren’t a lot of people there to begin with. In any case, I guess I didn’t have anything to worry about. I rolled my eyes back to his face, and our eyes locked. My eyes skipped a beat, seeing that mischievous look in his eyes as he sucked on my cheek, as if purposely provoking me to see how I’d react. He was teasing me. And that was all there was to it. I knew that from the start but for some reason, my stupid heart wouldn’t stop reacting. As I said, it wasn’t my doing. It was the fault of this body and the fact that this man was too handsome for the heart to handle. And because of that, I got even more anxious. I needed to set something straight. What if... Jin-Yeok wasn’t just teasing me? "Master," I called. "What is it, Jo-Pil?" Jin-Yeok responded as he tore his lips off my face and held my hand. "Will you still confidently say the same thing you said that night?" I asked, but I left them confused. "Will you refresh my memory?" He asked, tilting his head and I shook my head. Maybe I should just forget about it. I might just be the only one thinking deeply about his actions when he was only playing around. "You said," Still, I couldn’t help but be curious as to where the train of his thoughts was going. He still hadn’t promised to be honest with me, but I hoped he would at least answer me honestly this time. "There was no rush." I changed my words last minute and shut my eyes tight, squeezing my eyelids together and pressing my lips tightly together. It was as if I was trying to wish this was all a dream, and by the time I opened my eyes, I would be on my bed, but I could still feel the rays of the sun seeping into my skin, Jin-Yeok’s gaze on me and his gloved hand holding mine. I slowly opened my eyes to find him patiently waiting for me to finish my words. "Master, I don’t know if I’m overthinking it but when I think of your actions, it feels like you’re trying to start something with me. Something you wouldn’t do unless you had ’other’ plans for the kind of relationship we have right now." I said and hoped he understood clearly. It felt awkward since I was the only one doing the talking while he was meticulously listening to me. "I understand what you’re trying to say, and I assure you, I’m not trying to start anything of that sort," he said, and I nodded, feeling relieved. He did not hesitate to say it so I was sure he meant it. "I see." I looked at his hand on mine. "Master, you make my heart flutter but not in a good way. In an anxious and nerve-wracking way because I have no idea what you might be thinking." I said and looked him in the eyes. "It makes me even more anxious then and I try to figure out what you want or what you would want me to do." It must be wrong for a slave to ask their master such questions but thank goodness we weren’t in a normal master and slave relationship. He was the one who said to exercise the privilege I was given and try to live as their equal. He didn’t say that last part but I was sure that was what he was trying to make me understand. And thus, I had to boldly ask the questions that were troubling me in order to understand his intentions better. I wouldn’t have to worry needlessly if I just knew what he was trying to do. "Master, you held my hand, licked the melting popsicle from my hand, and even kissed my cheek." I touched my cheek. "I don’t know what you’re thinking, and it bothers me. I don’t know how to react and that makes me deeply conflicted." I glanced up at him, gazing at his eyes with my pleading eyes. "So, will you at least make something clear to me? Are you doing all of this simply because you’re fond of me or you’re curious to get a reaction out of me? I just want to know. Are you simply messing with me while expecting nothing in return?"