Merging Hearts (Smitten Hearts #1)

Chapter Thirty-nine

Hazel

“I’m not joking,” Su-mi chirps, her voice laced with laughter. I settle into the couch in my sitting area, while Su-mi sets her face toner on with a cotton pad.

Her video call came in as soon as I settled in for the day after Rain and Joe picked me from work, and she has since been launching the funny story of how another model sprayed the test perfume the wrong way. Apparently, as her eyes hurt, the camera crew kept shouting ‘ more emotions, we need more emotions . ’ Her dramatic reenactment is even funnier than the story and I’ve been giggling uncontrollably.

“What more emotions do they need than the pain she was showing? You’d think they care considering how bold they write ‘ do not spray into eyes. If you do, rinse immediately with clean water . ’? I tell you, these people don’t give shits about their models as long as their products sell.”

I nod in agreement. It sucks that they couldn’t even allow the poor girl to wash her eyes with water.

“At least my shoot went well and I got a box of deodorants. Nice ones.”

She always gets a lot of products from the companies she works with, and I think it’s a cool thing. She gets skincare products, body care products, hair care, perfumes, and even clothes. If only I have a knack for modeling.

“Proud of you. What’s their instagram name? I’ll follow them and hype you up when they post the pictures.” She tells me and I search the brand name up, click on their profile, and give them a follow. “First it’s social media posts, then it’s a bigger screen, until it’s the Paris billboard like you’ve always dreamed.”

She beams and nods, as she applies her moisturizer. “A girl can dream.”

“What’s your opinion on this skincare brand? Do you think it’s good? Base your judgment outside of working with them.”

“It’s so good, Hazel, trust me. It’s just my skin that’s not caring. Their products are mostly niacinamide and retinol, and you know how well those two work together.”

No, I don’t. Regarding skincares, I’ve always been a lazy and clueless type. Other than my sheet masks and sunscreen, I find it hard to layer six to ten products like most do.

I remember buying five products to take skincare seriously. Jokes on me because I only used it once every six days. At some point, I didn’t remember they existed.

“What do you mean your skin isn’t caring? You’re literally glowing.”

“This pimple says otherwise.” She points at a barely visible mole and I snicker. “What? I’m right! Does my skin even know how much the products would cost if I wasn’t given for free?” I giggle when I catch her stifling a laugh. “Hold on, I have to mix my coffee.”

It takes Su-mi five minutes to return with a cup of coffee that she drops on her nightstand. She curls on her bed and cradles her laptop.

I bite on my lips, wondering how to drop the news to her. I’ve waited for her to finish her story, and it’s time to tell mine, but I’m so nervous.

Unfortunately, I must tell her. First because she’ll kill me if I don’t, and second because it’s her plan that worked. She has never been in a relationship before, how she’s such a good coach is amazing.

“I’ve done it.” I shut my eyes with a groan. Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have dropped it like that, it’s too sudden.

“You’ve done what?” she asks puzzled, but I keep staring at her. There’s no way I’m yelling that I’ve finally lost my V-card.

“SHUT UP!” Su-mi yells with widened eyes, and I pull my earbuds out with a wince, reinserting it after she’s calm. Thank goodness it’s connected, or Rain would have heard that. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

“Oh-em-gee! You whore! How was it? I’m sure it was fire. Rain gives off BDE.” I choose not to ask her what BDE stands for. It’s Su-mi, so that can’t be an abbreviation for a good word. “Really, how was it?”

I shrug, feeling the way my cheeks heat up. Is it normal to feel so embarrassed when talking about it?

Su-mi waves her hand as if she heard me. “Don’t worry, it’s normal to feel embarrassed. You’ll be better after more spicy nights.” Oh God . “Now tell me, how was it?”

“It was different and very painful.” I still feel very sore down there and I winced a couple of times when taking my bath for work. “But Rain made it bearable. He was so gentle with me.”

“He was, wasn’t he?” She smirks, taking a sip of her coffee. “It’s good that he was. I want to stick to being a model. But how did it happen? Please don’t tell me you crawled to him after we spoke about giving the plan a few more days.”

“ He crawled to me . Everything happened so fast last night. And guess what, he suggested we try being in a relationship.”

“Really?” Su-mi’s face lights up like fireworks. “Wow, that was faster than I thought. Bro’s obsessed.” She laughs.

“So you need to get along with him, hm? For my sake.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault we don’t.”

I believe her. Rain wasn’t welcoming to her on the first day they met, even though she was a fan of his for years —well fan of a magazine that religiously features him, but still, she knew everything about him and his family.

Despite threatening him earlier in the car, I can’t assure he’ll be nice to her. Maybe to me—to not offend me, but never to Su-mi herself. They are polar opposite in characters.

Rain is too cold and stoic for Su-mi, and Su-mi is too loud and kaleidoscopic for him. They are like oil and vinegar—salad dressing ingredients that separate.

“Fine! I’ll be nice to him… If he’s nice first.” I give up. That’s not going to be possible. As long as they don’t murder each other, I’m sure we’ll all be fine.

“Um, I’ll talk to him about it.” Su-mi chuckles.

“I have to go. I have a beauty sleep to maintain,” she mutters between yawns. I glance at the clock and it’s already itching toward midnight.

We say our byes and soon after the call disconnects, I hear a knock on the door connecting Rain’s room to mine. I get up to open it, and Rain is standing there with, of course, his infamous frown.

Who is he always angry at?

“When do we start sharing a room?” he abruptly throws at me.

“What?” My voice falls low. “You want us to share a room?”

“Married people share a room,” he says as if he wasn’t the one who gave me a separate room in the first place.

I roll my eyes. “Really?”

“Let’s share my room, starting tonight.” I stand for a few seconds, before I turn my back on him to grab my sleep mask.

Rain pulls me back by my forearm, lets out an aggravated sigh, and rubs his hand over his face. “I know I said we’ll go at your pace. Am I rushing you?”

I search for it inside me, but I don’t feel rushed. What I do feel is fear. What happens when the relationship doesn’t work and it hasn’t been six months yet? Will I have to return to my room in shame?

I shake the thoughts off my head. As my sister always says, don’t throw out today because you’re scared of tomorrow.

I know I want to do this with Rain, so I just have to forget how the past has been, enjoy what the present holds, and pay no mind to the future until it comes.

“No, you’re not rushing me, but let me be prepared beforehand too.” He nods, and a smile appears on my lips.

Rain is actually, true to God, cute.

As we settle into the bed, Rain wastes no time in making me comfortable by propping his arm under my head. I yawn, feeling sleep starting to overcome me.

“I didn’t… think you… were the type of guy to… to get obsessed with a woman after one night. I’m surprised.” I’m yawning so much now and can’t hold it in anymore.

Sleep takes over and I drift into the land of peace, but not before I hear Rain’s voice saying something like; ‘I’m surprised how obsessed I am too.’

I can’t fully comprehend if it’s one of those dreams I have, or if Rain Dacosta is admitting to being obsessed with me.