Minra was too comfortable.
She knew it.
She felt it.
And now—Shuun knew it too.
Because the moment she flushed, shifted, tried to sit up straight—
He noticed.
And instead of ignoring it—
He leaned into it.
.
He didn’t do anything obvious.
Not at first.
Just little things.
The way he leaned back more comfortably, stretching out his long legs, completely at ease while she was clearly trying to pull herself together.
The way he swirled his wine lazily, fingers tapping against the glass, his attention still fully on her.
The way his voice dropped just slightly, lower, smoother, as he spoke.
“Relax, Minra.”
Minra stiffened. “I am relaxed.”
Shuun smirked, resting his chin on his hand.
“No, you’re not.”
And then—he tilted his head slightly, watching her.
“Why?”
Minra froze.
.
Why?
Stolen story; please report.
Why was she suddenly so tense?
Why was she hyper-aware of the way he was looking at her?
Why was she noticing things about him that she never had before?
Minra gritted her teeth.
She couldn’t let him know.
Couldn’t let him see that he was getting to her.
So she forced herself to breathe.
To meet his gaze head-on.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Shuun hummed, unconvinced.
Then, with zero hesitation—
“You’re looking at me differently.”
Minra’s stomach dropped.
.
She reacted.
Just a small reaction.
A blink. A sharp inhale.
But he caught it.
And that was all he needed.
Shuun’s smirk deepened, but his voice remained calm.
“You weren’t like this before.”
Minra swallowed. “Like what?”
Shuun tilted his head slightly.
“Distracted.”
Minra scowled immediately. “I’m not.”
“Mm.” He took a slow sip of wine, eyes never leaving her.
“If you say so.”
Minra clenched her jaw.
Because damn it.
He knew.
He wasn’t guessing anymore.
He knew she was seeing him differently.
And now—
He was enjoying it.
.
Minra tried to ignore him.
She focused on her script, on her glass of wine, on literally anything else.
But Shuun?
Shuun wasn’t letting it go.
“You’re blushing.”
Minra snapped her head up.
“I am not.”
Shuun raised an eyebrow, amused. “Sure.”
Minra groaned, rubbing her temple. “You’re the worst.”
Shuun chuckled. “You’re just bad at hiding things.”
Minra gritted her teeth.
She refused to fall for his games.
Refused to let him know that she was noticing everything about him now.
But Shuun—Shuun was relentless.
And just when she thought he would back off—
He leaned in slightly.
Just close enough to tilt his head toward her, eyes sharp, voice calm.
“What is it?”
Minra’s heart jumped.
Too close.
Too comfortable.
And the worst part?
She didn’t move away.
.
Shuun didn’t need to touch her.
Didn’t need to trap her against the couch.
He just needed to be there.
To sit close enough that she felt it.
To speak in that low, lazy tone that made her focus on nothing else.
And suddenly—
The air felt different.
Minra clenched her fists.
“Stop it.”
Shuun raised an eyebrow. “Stop what?”
Minra scowled. “You know what.”
Shuun smirked. “You think I’m doing this on purpose?”
Minra exhaled sharply.
“Aren’t you?”
Silence.
Then—his smirk widened.
“Maybe.”
Minra’s stomach flipped.
Damn him.
.
Minra needed to get out of here.
She needed to leave before she said or did something she couldn’t take back.
Because this wasn’t normal anymore.
She had gotten too comfortable.
And now he was using it against her.
Minra quickly set down her glass and stood up.
“It’s late. I should go.”
Shuun leaned back lazily, watching her.
He didn’t stop her.
Didn’t argue.
Didn’t even look surprised.
He just—smirked.
Like he knew exactly why she was running.
And before she could reach the door, he called out—
“You’re thinking about it now, aren’t you?”
Minra froze.
Her fingers clenched at her sides.
She didn’t turn back.
Didn’t answer.
Because—damn it.
He was right.
She was.
And that was the most dangerous part of all.
.
Chapter 18: The Moment She Almost Left