Evan looked at the watch once again, then glanced at Michelle. "Nice," he replied briefly.
Michelle smiled with relief. "Thank goodness. I was afraid I chose the wrong one."
Evan didn't know what else to say. He wasn't the type to care about gifts, especially birthdays that felt more like reminders of his curse. But this gift… was different.
He looked at Michelle again. This woman really wasn't like Vanessa, Celline, or the others. She didn't try to control Evan or use their relationship.
She was truly here because she wanted to be.
But the question was, for how long?
Evan clenched his fist on his thigh, holding back something that suddenly felt like a lump in his chest. He couldn't afford to fall for her.
He had made that mistake before. Raka.
Even today, he could still remember that boy — how Raka called him, how the kid laughed, even his innocent, trusting gaze.
Then, January 1 came.
Evan woke up, and Raka was gone. As if the boy had never existed in his life.
The pain still lingered. Emptiness.
Evan looked at the watch on his wrist, then glanced at Michelle, who was still smiling innocently, unaware of anything. What if Michelle disappears too someday?
He didn't know if this woman would vanish like Raka did. But if she did… was he ready to lose someone again?
Evan took a deep breath.
"Van?"
Michelle's voice broke his thoughts. He turned and saw her looking at him with a slight worry.
"What's wrong? You look like you're thinking about something."
Evan was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "Nothing."
Michelle stared at him for a few seconds, as if doubting his answer. But finally, she didn't press further.
Evan diverted his gaze.
He couldn't fall too deep. Not again.
Michelle sighed, then crossed her arms. "I think you're hiding something from me."
Evan glanced at her briefly. "Just your feelings."
Michelle leaned in a little. "Really? I'm your arranged-match girlfriend, so I should have the special right to know what's on your mind."
Evan snorted softly. "Arranged-match girlfriend? What kind of term is that?"
Michelle shrugged, then leaned back on the sofa with a satisfied expression. "Well… a match-made girlfriend but still a girlfriend, right?"
Evan sighed. "Whatever."
Michelle looked at him for a moment, then suddenly grabbed his wrist and lifted it. "Look! It actually looks great!" She pointed to the watch she gave him. "Your hand looks even cooler."
Evan raised an eyebrow. "So before wearing this, my hand wasn't cool?"
Michelle thought for a second, then answered casually, "About 70% cool, now it's 100%."
Evan stared at her expressionlessly. "...Thanks?"
Michelle giggled, then released his hand. But just as she was about to pull away, Evan suddenly grabbed her fingers again.
Michelle was surprised, eyes wide. "Eh?"
Evan looked at her calmly. "Never mind. I like it like this."
Michelle immediately got flustered. "Eh, eh, my hand..."
Evan shrugged. "Well, arranged-match girlfriend, right? Should have special rights to do this, shouldn't I?"
Michelle was silent, her face starting to blush.
Evan smiled faintly. Funny, this.
He still held Michelle's hand, enjoying how the girl started to get restless and awkward. But beneath all this, there was one thing that puzzled him.
"Why are you so quiet?" he suddenly asked.
Michelle blinked. "What do you mean?"
Evan leaned his head against the sofa, looking at her casually. "People out there are busy talking about me. Some say I'm a playboy, some say I like high school girls, some gossip about me with celebrities. But you don't ask any of it."
Michelle blinked a few times before finally smiling softly. "So, if I asked, would you answer honestly?"
Evan looked at her, not answering immediately.
Michelle sighed, then shrugged. "Besides, I'm your girlfriend, not a gossip reporter. I know you as Evan, not from what others say."
Evan was silent.
That was the simplest — and most sensible — answer he had ever heard.
While others might have exploited him or interrogated him about rumors, Michelle? She didn't care.
Not because she was naive. But because she chose to believe.
Evan suddenly felt something warm in his chest.
Unconsciously, his grip on Michelle's hand tightened slightly.
Whatever impulse took over him, Evan suddenly pulled Michelle closer, wrapping his arm around her waist, then hugged her tightly.
"Eh, Van—!" Michelle was startled, but before she could protest further, Evan leaned down and kissed her cheek.
Once.
Twice.
Then, without thinking twice, his lips moved to her forehead, kissing her gently.
Michelle froze in place. Her face, which had only been slightly red, was now like a ripe tomato.
"V-Van…" her voice was almost a whisper, still shocked by what just happened.
Evan didn't let go immediately. He could feel Michelle's body trembling slightly in his embrace, whether from surprise or some other feeling.
Then, in a calm tone, Evan said, "You said arranged-match girlfriend, so you should have special rights."
Michelle gently pushed his shoulder. "That doesn't mean you can just… do this!"
Evan chuckled but still didn't fully let go.
Michelle looked down, her face really hot now. "Ugh, why are you like this..." she murmured, still too shy to look directly at Evan.
Evan smiled faintly, enjoying how awkward Michelle was. Very funny.
He didn't know why he suddenly did that.
Maybe because Michelle was just too sweet.
Maybe because he was tired of fake relationships.
Or maybe, deep down, he was beginning to fear losing this girl too.
—
Michelle was still busy calming her flushed face, but Evan hadn't fully let go. Instead, he leaned in closer, tracing Michelle's face with a gaze softer than usual.
"You know, when you get shy like this, you look even sweeter," he whispered.
Michelle immediately looked down. "Why do you like teasing me so much…" she muttered, her voice barely audible.
Evan chuckled. "I'm not teasing, just enjoying your expression."
Michelle cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. But before she could speak, Evan pulled her back into his embrace, tighter than before.
"Van—"
Too late. Evan had landed a kiss on her cheek. One. Then down to her jawline. Another one.
Michelle felt her heart pounding hard, and when Evan finally touched her lips, she could feel her body going weak.
The kiss was slow but deep. As if giving Michelle a chance to pull away, but she didn't.
Instead, her hands slowly went up to Evan's shoulders, unconsciously gripping his shirt.
Evan noticed this, then smiled between their kisses. "Are you comfortable?" he asked in a hoarse voice.
Michelle could only nod quietly.
Evan took that as a sufficient answer. With one motion, he lifted Michelle into his arms.
"Eh, Van! What are you doing?"
"Ssh… just trust me," he replied calmly.
Michelle tried to protest, but as her back touched the bed, those words vanished. Slowly, Evan made her skin bare.
She looked at Evan, who now hovered over her, realizing how close they were. Their breaths nearly merged, and her body still trembled because all this felt so new.
"This is my first time," she whispered softly, almost inaudible.
Evan paused for a moment, looking at her more deeply. Then he brushed her cheek, his thumb wiping away the remaining tension.
"I know," he replied, his voice softer than before, as he traced from her neck down to her chest with his lips. Pausing at the tip of her breast, savoring it like candy. Continuing to the pubic area, planting a fierce kiss there.
Slowly but surely, Evan penetrated her, tearing her hymen.
Michelle bit her lip, enduring the pain in her womanhood, then took a deep breath. She looked at Evan for a moment, then finally nodded.
When Evan kissed her lips again, Michelle closed her eyes and let herself sink into the pounding feeling filling her chest.
And that night, for the first time, Michelle truly became Evan's.