The Alchemists

"Oh, Rose..." Rune couldn't hold back his feelings any longer. He rose from his seat and came to the girl, pulled her to his embrace, and hugged her tightly. "Please don't say I am too good for you. I love you. I hope you know that."

Rose started sobbing softly when their bodies touched and she heard Rune's soothing voice. The man didn't resent her for the radio silence?

He understood what she was feeling?

Rose looked up and saw the man's face only inches away from hers. His eyes looked gentle and his smile curved up on his face, making him look so welcoming and doting.

Rose couldn't believe Rune still treated her like she didn't do anything bad.

She ghosted him.

Any man would feel their ego bruised if a woman did such a thing to them.

Right?

"Why...?" Finally, that was all Rose could ask. "Why do you love me? You can get any other women you could ever want... You are smart, rich, and you have a good personality. Any woman would want to be your girlfriend."

Rose was worried if Rune was actually a strange man who was attracted to broken women, that's why he could be interested in her. So, she looked at him deeply, trying to see something wrong in the way he looked at her.

There was none.

She only saw gentleness, understanding, and acceptance.

She couldn't believe this man was sincerely in love with her.

Rune replied with a smile. "Why not?"

He didn't want to speak further and said that she was beautiful, kind, interesting, and all that. What's the point? She wouldn't believe him.

Her self-esteem was ruined by what she had experienced in the past. He would need to show her, that she was worthy, not just say it with words. So, he tugged her chin closer and landed a deep kiss on her lips.

Action speaks louder than words. Right at that moment, Rose realized she had got all the answers she wanted to know. Her knees suddenly felt weak as she melted in his embrace.

Rune held her more tightly and supported her waist with one hand, as his other hand supported her back and rubbed her hair lovingly. Rose kissed him back. The two didn't care about their surroundings because this reunion filled their hearts with so much joy.

"Oh my... you have no idea, how happy I am today," Rune gushed when he reluctantly removed his lips from Rose's. "I am so glad I am a good uncle. I agreed to accompany my niece and nephews to come to see the exhibition... I am rewarded with seeing you."

Rose chuckled when she heard him.

"You are a good uncle. Also a good man."  She looked at Rune deeply. "And I feel lucky that I took that offer to participate in this exhibition. I could bump into you and..."

She lowered her face. Rune tugged her chin and smiled at Rose. "No, I am the lucky one."

The girl finally smiled back and shook her head. "Rune Schneider. Are we really going to fight over who is the lucky one between us?"

"Ahahaha... no, you can win this one," Rune replied. His voice sounded relieved. He clasped her hands and spoke gently. "So... does this mean, we can start over?"

"Yes..." Rose smiled sheepishly.  "If you still want it."

"I do," Rune replied. He pulled Rose to sit beside him so he didn't have to let go of her hand. "Should we pick up where we left off?"

"I'd love that," Rose said. "Where do you live now?"

When they were pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend, Rose had asked Rune to move in with her. However, after the fateful trip to Medion, Rune never returned to her loft apartment.

She was wondering if he was staying at his sister's place or in hotels. Now she knew his family owned the biggest hotel chain in the world. That was also the reason why they could easily dine at The Lily without prior reservation.

"I am staying at the Lindens,"  Rune explained. "I just arrived several days ago."

"Oh..." Rose nodded. "How are you? How is your mother? How was the family year-end holiday? Is everything okay?"

"Ahaha... so many questions, but I'd love to answer all of them. What do you think if we talk at dinner?" The man asked Rose. "I also want to know how you are doing. I don't read the media after the news broke out because... I was jealous and I couldn't bring myself to read more news about your relationship with Leon."

Rose nodded in understanding. "Well, I'd love to catch up with you properly. So... where should we have dinner?"

There were several places where they could have dinner that held importance for both Rune and Rose, like the cafe in East Village where they had their first blind date... or The Lily where they had proper and fancy dinner for the first time. It led to their first kiss.

Or... they could also go to...

"What about dinner in my place?" Rose asked Rune with a faint smile. "The past few months I spent so much time learning how to cook because I didn't feel like meeting anyone. I just kept myself busy in the kitchen to find something to do. I can cook now, so I don't mind cooking for dinner."

Rune clicked his tongue in excitement when he heard the offer. Yeah... having dinner at Rose's place was perfect.

It's not that he wanted to see how good were her cooking skills now, but he felt that being invited back to her apartment showed that they really picked up where they left off.

"Well... I agree. Dinner at your place sounds good. I can also help," Rune said. He cleared his throat and continued. "I actually haven't really unpacked my bag since my arrival several days ago. Do you mind if I brought my suitcase with me?"

He batted his eyes and smiled so sweetly, that Rose couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Yes. you can bring your suitcase," Rose finally nodded and replied. She then added, "Welcome home."

.

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From the author:

I'm sorry for taking such a long time to publish a new chapter for "The Alchemists". In the past four days, I sat for hours in front of my ŀȧptop and tried to type more words for this chapter. Every time I could only add 100-200 words. I couldn't finish this chapter.

My heart was not in this book this week so I couldn't force myself to write for it. My heart and mind are currently filled with "The Cursed Prince" because the story is now in a very important part and it's hard to break focus.

I wanted to do Rune and Rose justice, that's why I waited until I could put my heart into their story again.  Today, it worked!

I hope you like this chapter :).