Stealing Your Heart

After a long separation, she runs into her ex-boyfriend. He pretends not to know her, as haughty as ever, and teases her in a flippant tone: "You're quite pretty, little girl. Have you finished your homework?"

She suppresses her irritation at the jab about her being underage and smiles serenely, innocence shining in her eyes. "You're handsome too, Uncle. Where do you work?"

His expression stiffens. "I'm 24."

She plays dumb and exclaims, "Uncle, you're so young!"

He grits his teeth. "Call me big brother!"

She answers crisply, "Sure!"

He: "??"

At a class reunion, their classmates see that the two are still together and offer their congratulations. They thank everyone calmly, then tell the group matter-of-factly, "We've already broken up. We're friends now."

Later, their relationship becomes ambiguous. They keep a clear boundary between them, while intimacy and restraint collide.

After a mix-up with an invitation, he holds the note covered in date plans, his fingertips brushing it casually. Looking at the woman before him, her face flushed red, he curls his handsome lips into a playful smile. "Your place or mine?"

She asks cautiously, "Mine?"

His next move seems deliberately calculated to tease her. His expression turns serious and solemn. "Then let's go to the movies."

She clenches her little fists and smiles sweetly. "Sure."

Later, he gives an impeccably innocent explanation: "Given where we stand right now, it wouldn't look good for a man and a woman to be alone together in one room. Understand?"

On a sunny day, he emerges from her bathroom as if it's the most natural thing in the world, closing the door with practiced ease. "Xixi, I'm borrowing your towel."

She pauses, then answers casually, "Sure."

Their friends, who had been mooching food and drinks, see this and make themselves scarce.

[My profile has lots of short stories cooked up by a master chef. Head over and binge-read, or pick and choose: "The Brooding Sweetheart Makes Her Handsome Boss Cry," "The Forbidden Buddha-Like Monk Loses Himself to Animal Lust for Her," "Short Stories of the Ex's Road to Redemption," "The Brooding Prince Won't Leave Her Alone," "She's Being Stalked by a Brooding Man," "The Princess Who Loves Military Academy Life," "What Should You Do If You Get Pregnant and Get Dumped?" and "Transmigrating to Ancient Times to Build a Modern City (Farming)."]

Theme: A sweet everyday romance