I Love Hugging You

XIMUN

Truly, Ximun didn’t know if he was worthy of her appreciation, but he quietly accepted it and allowed it to ease a portion of the huge burden on his heart. The burden in his heart increased the moment Aysu mentioned what Mayana said.

And since that pointed out that his ex was most likely the culprit, Ximun went deep into his thoughts and wondered if he would be able to get rid of Mayana.

He might hate to recall details about that woman because of the brutal things her rejection made him feel, but he truly made amazing memories with her. And as already established, she was one of the few people, if not the only one that he loved.

Well, that was until Aysu came along.

Ximun knew for sure that what he was feeling for Aysu was far greater than the feelings he used to have for Mayana.

“Ximun?’ Aysu called.

“Yes, Aysu?” He hugged her tighter.

“I love hugging you.”

That statement melted his heart and Ximun almost neared tears. Being with her in such a simple way was so relieving that it felt that all his troubles could be solved with that embrace.

“I do too.” He made sure his arms were holding on to her as though it was the only way to survive. “I love being with you.”

She then looked up at him. “Do you have anything you have to do right now?” A twinkle that suggested that she wished to spend more intimate time with him was in her eyes.

Ximun was ready to make her wish come true. But the Mayana issue was still bothering him. So, he decided to deal with that first.

“I actually do. But it won’t take too long. Can you wait for me?”

The prettiest smile formed on her lips and extended to the beauty of her eyes. “I will.”

“Thank you.” Her smile made him joyous. And it made him focus on the details of her face for a long time.

Aysu noticed his lingering gaze and averted her eyes to the side. Then, with the cutest pout, she asked, “What?”

“I lo…”

“Don’t say it!”

“What?” Ximun frowned. He wished to let her know his feelings. “Why?”

“I haven’t reached that part yet. It’s taking me a while. If you keep saying it, I might feel terrible for not being able to return the words and emotion.”

“You don’t have to feel terrible, Aysu. I am not saying it to make you feel bad. I am doing it to tell you that no matter what, I will always feel that way. And I don’t mind if it’s going to take you a while to reach that part. I think that makes our bond more interesting.”

Again, she smiled. “I guess it does.”

“I should get going. So that I can return faster.”

Slowly, very reluctantly, Aysu detached from their embrace. “You should.”

“Should I call someone in?”

“I am fine alone.”

He was now walking away, his back yet to face her, “Sure?”

Aysu nodded. “I am. I am a very strong baby she-wolf.”

“Speaking of wolves, when do ours get to meet?”

“Soon, I guess.”

“The full moon will soon be here,” Ximun informed. Every time there’s a full moon, it’s easier for their wolves to leave their unseen realm. On other days, it takes a little summoning on the human part to get their wolves out.

“They can meet then, I guess.”

“Alright.” The more Ximun walked, the less willing he was to leave. But since Mayana’s issue still weighed on his mind, he had no choice but to turn and leave after saying, “See you.”

It took Ximun a while to find Mayana and when he did find her, she was doing her flexibility exercise which she used as a way to get him to try some dangerous bedroom acts when they were still together.

Ximun gently knocked on the opened door that exposed her activity and when she saw him, her excitement overrode her exercise and she rushed to him.

“You are here, Ximun. I knew you would come around.” She held his arm and pulled him into her room. “Why are you just coming now? I missed you so much.”

Ximun didn’t find her pretence amusing. Nor did he find her arm-pulling intriguing. So, he snapped his arm off her grasp in a way that shocked her. Then, with the coldest gaze that was enough to push anyone away, he asked, “Why did you meet Aysu?”

“When did I do that?”

That lie was a recipe for inviting trouble. So, Ximun intensified his gaze while his feet began to slowly move until he pinned her to a certain corner.

“Watch the words you use, Mayana. If you answer carelessly, things won’t end well for you.”

Her brows knitted in confusion. “Are you really going to treat me this way?”

“Are you going to speak the truth or not?”

Mayana scoffed and stepped out of the cage his height placed over her. “I can’t believe you are choosing that bitch over me.”

“Watch your words before I make your mouth bleed.” Ximun turned and their eyes met. Then, he repeated his earlier question. “Did you meet with Aysu earlier today?”

After a few seconds of probing the side of her mouth, Mayana replied, “I did. I wanted to see what she looked like.”

“You did?”

“I thought your wife would be better-looking, Ximun. You should do better. You should be doing me. You should be with me.”

“If being with someone was solely based on what they looked like, I would have never been with you in the first place.”

Mayana squinted her eyes in slight annoyance. “Why are you here?”

“I have a very simple question to ask.”

“Before you ask, I have something to ask as well.”

“What is it?”

“Do you love her?”

“I do.”

Mayana’s breath visibly hitched. “As much as you loved me?”

“A million more times than I loved you,” Ximun replied without remorse. He would have felt bad for saying those words if it were another day, but the fact that Mayana could be responsible for their baby’s death and the threat to Aysu’s life was enough reason to be cold.

“I don’t believe you.” Mayana seemed to have a hard time processing Ximun’s truth.

So, he moved closer, placed a haunting touch on her shoulder and said, “I am not lying. Aysu is my present and will always be. Whatever you and I shared is of the past and will remain there. So, snap out of the lies you are living in and let me ask my question.”

“I can’t believe you would do this to me, Ximun.” Tears began to form in Mayana’s eyes. “I still love you, Ximun. Even though I rejected you because of the curse-”

“The curse wasn’t the only reason,” Ximun interrupted, his patience now running thin. “I know you found someone else while we were still together. You just took advantage of the curse because you knew I was blinded by the curse and the effect it had on my life.”

“That’s-”

“You have said enough. It’s time for me to ask my question.” Ximun sighed. “Before you walked out of Aysu’s ward, you said you wished that the poison took her life as well.”

“I did?”

“Don’t bother lying.”

“What if she’s the one lying?” Mayana retorted.

“Speak one more nonsense and I’ll end your life.” The seriousness in his voice shut her up. “Why did you say that about the poisoning? Do you have something to do with it?”

“I don’t. You don’t have any evidence.”

“I do.”

Her stance became destabilised. “Wh- What?”

“The moment you mentioned the poison, it was clear that you had something to do with it. See,” Ximun took a step back, “not a lot of people know the deep details of Aysu’s condition. So, the moment you mentioned the poisoning, Aysu knew that something was up. So, I will ask you once.” He intensified their gaze. “Did you poison her?”

Mayana’s jaws hardened and that hesitation gave Ximun a response. But he chose to be a little patient for an audible response.

“Yes,” came Mayana’s shiverish response. “I did it.”