Wild Young Miss: Mister, Let's Kiss!

"I know saying this now is wrong, but I really like you." His last remarks repeated in her mind over a hundred times.

Cora blinked her eyes, staring at Zion who just confessed to her. "Bro -- brother Zion, what -- what did you say?" She asked, doubting her ears from what she was hearing.

She thought she was just hearing things early in the morning. There's no way her long time crush would magically like her and confess to her, right? Maybe, it was just the alcohol from last night or she was being delusional.

"Cora," Slowly, Zion placed his hand over hers, squeezing it lightly. "I like you, from then until now, I really like you not just as my sister's friend, but as a woman." Once again, Zion expressed his heart.

This time, he sounded more natural as he didn't find it that hard to express his heart's desire anymore. It was only hard at the beginning, but after that phase, saying it once again felt easy. Deep down, he knew he was trying to snatch Cora from Ivan, but he knew it's now or never.

This confession had been long overdue. He should have told her before and not now that she was taken. However, this once in a lifetime opportunity wouldn't open for him once again. Thus, it was now or never. Whether Cora rejected him, Zion had prepared himself for everything all night.

"What???" Speechless, Cora blinked her eyes many times as possible. She could not believe her ears, hearing Zion confess to her. She could not believe that the man of her dreams was confessing to her and telling her that he had liked her for a long time.

Cora's eyes softened, melting at the sweet words she had been longing to hear from his lips. However, her heart reacted otherwise. She had daydreamed of such a scenario for years, but why was her heart not celebrating? Why does she feel that there was something wrong? She couldn't point it out, but she just couldn't bring herself to celebrate and tell him she liked him too.

"It's fine," After a long silence, Zion smiled at her gently. "I know it's wrong to say it now since you're taken, but I did it anyway." He chuckled, ridiculing himself as there was part of him that hoped she would say the same thing as him.

"Don't worry. It's my fault for saying this now??? saying it when it's late." He added, a glint of painful bitterness flickered across his eyes. "It still feels good that you found yourself a good man." Zion nodded his head approvingly, forcing his lips to stretch into a subtle smile.

"..." Cora, who was still speechless at what was happening, just stared at him blankly. "No, Ivan, he --" Just before she could explain that Ivan wasn't her boyfriend and he was just toying with her because he's that kind of person, Zion spoke once again to divert the conversation.

"Anyway, I need to go back to the hospital in two hours." He glanced at his wristwatch before lifting his head with an expression so bright it was more fake than genuine. "You have to update your boyfriend. He told me to take care of you -- maybe because he knew I'm a doctor." Slowly, Zion patted his legs before he got up to his feet.

"But after that, you have to rest, okay?" He added, smiling at her as if he didn't confess his feelings just seconds ago. "Good girl. I'll tell Zoey to check on you." With that last note, Zion turned his back around her.

The bright smile on his face immediately vanished as he gritted his teeth. Zion's every step away from her felt heavier but it didn't make him stop from his tracks. He didn't glance back either as he knew he would beg her to give him a chance.

'She's happy??? he's a good person, Zion. Don't bother her. You lost your chance.' As he walked away, Zion repeated this mantra over and over again to remind himself not to push his luck further. He had taken the opportunity and he shouldn't ask for anything in return.

Meanwhile, as she watched his retreating back, Cora wanted to call him and tell him to stay. However, words clogged in her throat, disabling her to speak anything to stop him. Her mind wanted to say 'Brother Zion, don't go.', but her heart wondered about Ivan.

In the end, Cora didn;t stop him from going. When Zion finally left her bedroom and closed the door lightly, she looked down. "I'm so stupid???" She muttered, whispering to herself at how cowardly she had been until now.

"I wish I had even the slightest courage of Z??? maybe???" She whispered, biting her bottom lip as the sense of regret crept in her heart. However, her mind didn't dwell longer on the missed chance to accept Zion as Ivan's image crossed her mind.

'He's the one who brought me home?' She wondered, frowning at the thought of Ivan seeing her in a bar coincidentally. Just as she racked her brain, Ivan's words last night struck her mind once.

"Are you going to waste your life like this? You aren't capable of protecting yourself once you're in this state. How reckless???" These words sounded vague, but for some reason, she could feel the care and hopelessness laced in it. Cora thought she was just dreaming last night, but now that she thought about it, these words were not uttered by Zion who she was dreaming about.

It was words from a foreigner who couldn't speak the same language as her. Since the language barrier with that guy frustrated her, Cora had studied English so she could insult him fluently. Although she didn't understand Ivan's complete message last night, her heart could.

"What's wrong with me????" As she recalled Ivan's words last night, Cora felt her heart thump loudly. Her hand reached on her chest, feeling how her heart raced at the thought of the man. "How fickle...." She whispered, thinking that these previous nights, Cora had always felt like someone was watching her.

Although it should give her the creeps, for some reason, it didn't. If anything, that mysterious presence every night with her made her feel she wasn't alone. It was comforting that she knew if she ever got wasted just like last night, she would wake up safe and sound.

The thought that Ivan might be the person and her heart reacting to it like crazy, Cora was in conflict. "No, Cora. No. You can't???" Just as she was about to remind herself not to like him, it was too late because Cora knew herself and her heart.

It wasn't beating the same for Zion anymore.. It was longing for the company that's been with her in her lowest time. "How can this be????" She bit her lower lip, having a headache at the thought of how and when did her heart start racing at the thought of him?