CHAPTER 101: CHAPTER 101: WILL YOU BE MY BOYFRIEND

The next morning, I woke to the soft rays of sunlight streaming through the window, and the faint scent of breakfast already in the air. My eyes fluttered open, only to find Evric staring at me, his gaze warm and steady.

Before I could even say anything, he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. "Good morning, love," he whispered softly.

I smiled against him, replying, "Good morning, babe."

He pulled me into a tight hug, holding me close for a moment. "We have a long journey ahead today," he murmured. "Let’s get up, shower, and dress so we can be on our way."

I laughed lightly and told him to carry me to the bathroom. For a brief second, he hesitated, glancing at my weight, but with a confident grin, he scooped me up effortlessly. The warmth of his strength and the steadiness of his arms made me feel safe as he carried me across the room.

We showered, brushed our teeth, and got dressed, moving with quiet coordination and playful teasing along the way. Just as we were finishing, Liana appeared at the doorway, calling out that breakfast was ready.

I turned to Evric, raising an eyebrow. "That was quick."

He chuckled softly. "I guess she woke up early... for us," he said, his voice filled with admiration. "Your mom really is a kind woman."

I couldn’t help but smile, feeling proud of her and the way she made him feel welcome. Hand in hand, we stepped outside, ready to start the day ahead.

When we entered the living room, the table was beautifully set, full of different meals arranged neatly. My mom, as usual, guided Evric to sit beside her, and I slid in next to him, with Liana taking her place nearby.

Breakfast began in a comfortable rhythm, the clinking of cutlery and soft chatter filling the room. My mom, as usual, took extra care of Evric, even feeding him little bites here and there, smiling warmly as if he were her own son. Evric, in turn, leaned toward me and fed me with the same tenderness, his eyes full of quiet affection.

Liana frowned dramatically. "What about me? Everyone’s caring for each other except me!"

I chuckled and reached out, feeding her with a playful grin. She laughed, satisfied.

Then my mom raised her brows, pretending to be left out. "And what about me?"

The three of us laughed together, and just like that, everyone’s attention turned to her, making sure she was cared for too. The moment was so lighthearted and warm that it felt like something that would stay with me forever.

After we finished eating, my mom looked at us, her eyes softening. "I can see both of you have dressed up nicely. I’m going to miss you when you leave. Please... always take care of each other, forgive quickly, and talk openly about anything that needs clarity, okay?"

We both nodded, absorbing her words.

Just then, Evric’s driver arrived. Evric had told him to go lodge somewhere since our arrival, and now he came back to fetch us. We stood up, and the driver went to pack our things. My mom handed me a few items to take along for the journey and hugged both of us tightly. I hugged Liana and then Evric, feeling a mix of warmth and sadness at the thought of leaving.

We waved goodbye, the morning sun shining gently over us as we stepped into the car, ready to continue our journey.

As the car pulled away from my mother’s home, I leaned back against the seat, watching the streets slip by. But soon I realized something was off, the driver wasn’t taking the usual road home.

I frowned and turned to Evric. "This isn’t the road to the house. Did your driver make a mistake?"

He looked at me calmly, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "No, he didn’t. We’re not going home directly."

I blinked at him. "Then... where are we going?"

"You’ll see when we get there," he answered mysteriously.

I sighed, giving up on questioning him. Instead, I leaned against his shoulder, feeling his warmth and steady heartbeat. The drive stretched longer than I expected, and before I knew it, my eyelids grew heavy. Wrapped in the comfort of him beside me, I drifted into sleep.

When I woke, it was to his gentle voice and warm hand on my arm. "Babe... wake up. We’re here."

I rubbed my eyes and stepped out of the car, only to find myself standing in front of a grand mansion. It looked new, untouched, with no signs of anyone living inside.

"Where... is this?" I asked in disbelief.

Evric chuckled softly. "We’ll be staying here tonight. Tomorrow we’ll head home."

I turned to him sharply. "Whose house is this?"

He smirked, brushing his fingers through his hair before replying, "It’s mine. Well... one of my hiding places."

My jaw dropped. "Yours? This huge place?"

"Yes." His eyes glinted playfully. "Now come on. Let’s go inside."

He unlocked the door with his fingerprint, which only made me more curious. Once inside, I couldn’t resist asking again, "Why are we here, Evric? What’s going on?"

He gave me a small smile and said, "You’ll know soon enough. Just follow me."

At first, everything felt normal. But halfway up the staircase, I noticed something, red rose petals scattered along the steps. My breath caught.

I turned to him slowly. "Evric... what is this? What are you playing at?"

He only squeezed my hand. "Nothing. Just... follow me, babe."

Even though I already guessed where this was going, my heart thudded heavily. I had done things like this before, for a woman. Never in my life had I imagined a man would do the same for me. And yet, here he was.

As we climbed, more petals appeared, leading us toward a closed door. My chest grew tight, emotions swirling. I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. "Evric... are you for real?"

He said nothing, only guiding me forward until we reached the door. With a soft click, he unlocked it and gestured for me to enter first.

I pushed it open. The room was dark at first, but the moment he flicked the lights on, my breath was stolen away.

The room was beautifully decorated with flowers everywhere, on the floor, the walls, and the bed. And there, laid out across the sheets, were the words spelled in petals: Will you be my boyfriend?