Catch up: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8

What is he doing? She isn’t truly asleep, she knows what he’s trying to do! Breathing is a little hard, her heart needs also to figure out its rhythm.

DJ doesn’t admit to doing anything, in fact, he teasingly dares her to say whatever is running in that pretty head of hers.

SZ tries to pull herself together. “Come closer, I won’t say it out loud”, she instructs.

DJ shifts a bit closer, then closer. Is she planning on whispering it? Then all of a sudden, in a swift and uncharacteristic move, SZ kisses him on the cheek!

Pleasantly surprised, DJ smiles at her acknowledgment that she has no idea what she just did.

“Even though I did that just now, it doesn’t mean I have feelings for you. Got it? I haven’t yet agreed.”

“If it doesn’t mean you’ve feelings for me, then you took advantage of me”. DJ isn’t about to stop teasing her that easily.

Will she reciprocate everything he does then? SY can’t take it anymore, she threatens if he does it again, she’ll tell her brother. But DJ isn’t fazed since they’ll have to go public eventually.

・❥・

Walking around campus after the guest lecture, the two come across SZ’s roommates cheering at a basketball game. The loud voice that brought them there was none other than NW’s cheering her boyfriend.

JM also happens to be part of the team, engrossed in the friendly match.

As they watch, JM falls to the ground. A concerned WW doesn’t think twice before rushing onto the field. Diagnosing JM with a sprained ankle, the team is now one man down.

NW’s boyfriend looks at DJ’s tall figure and suggests he fill in. DJ turns to ask SZ out of courtesy (since he’s accompanying her) if he can join.

Looking at him, SZ leans closer and with a lowered voice asks, “Can you play?”

DJ smiles at that, heck he can play. He’ll show them just how to play and, know what, he’s pretty damn good.

“Isn’t that guy SZ’s brother?” JM asks WW who’s next to him.

“You misunderstood, they’re not related,” WW confirms. JM had picked up an undercurrent of something — it now made sense.

If you never agree to be with me, I’ll pursue you every day

With the summertime approaching, SZ and her roommates try to figure out what they’re going to do during the break.

NW plans to travel with her boyfriend; JY has an internship lined up which rather surprises the girls. WW and SZ both find that appealing, especially SZ who won’t need to leave DJ alone for months on end while on holiday at home.

The problem is, her parents and brother won’t be too keen on the idea. She tries to convince SY first to use him as an argument buffer but SY doesn’t think her being with her “old” boyfriend is good whatsoever.

Plans can wait for the moment though, today is DJ’s birthday and SZ has a very big surprise.

She picks him up at work with a balloon present, a gesture that touches DJ who thought she’d forgotten and was too busy to spend time with him. In fact, he’d nearly forgotten the day considering how rarely he’d celebrated the past few years.

SZ is disappointed to hear SY and QF haven’t contacted him to wish him a happy birthday. DJ assures her that they barely remember their birthdays, why would they remember his? Even his colleagues are too busy to have time for things like that.

While DJ drives, SZ attempts to covertly text SY. Noticing, DJ inquires who she’s texting so ardently and luckily a text from a senior classmate comes through regarding one of their ongoing projects. Not that DJ considers this a lucky omen.

“Is he handsome? Morally upright? A head taller than you?”

SZ rolls her eyes, those were all the requirements she provided when he asked what she expects in a boyfriend. “He has a girlfriend,” she assures her jealous pursuer.

A minute later, SY just “happens” to call. SZ urges DJ to pick up, what a coincidence that SY remembered his birthday? (She did pointedly instruct her silly dog of a brother to wish DJ happy birthday.)

As the two have a hot minute of felicitations and birthdays, SY suddenly asks if DJ has come across his sister’s boyfriend. The postgraduate student who SZ is apparently so infatuated with that she plans on not coming home for the summer holidays.

SZ sits in silent annoyance—this is not how she expected this call to go. It was supposed to be for DJ and his birthday, not about her and her alleged boyfriend. She’d remained silent up to this point but it seems she needs to intervene.

“Is that my sister? Are you two together?” a taken-aback SY asks.

Afraid he’ll misunderstand (or, in this case, figure out the truth), SY tells him to not overthink it. She knows what he’s going to say though SY doesn’t get why she’s getting so worked up.

Yes, she’s having dinner with DJ to keep him company. She can’t be a heartless friend like SY.

But, as usual, the two siblings are far from the same wavelength. SY just tells her not to stay up too late and hangs up. That sister of his needs to chill.

SZ on the other hand lets out a breath of relief, she thought they’d gotten busted.

Yet DJ is on a whole other wavelength himself. He’d let the two siblings banter but now it’s time to zero in on the one bit of info important to him, what “boyfriend” was SY talking about?

Ugh, not him trying to officially claim the title he’s been trying to earn. SZ tries to save face by explaining she’d told SY she’s about to start dating not that she’s currently dating.

DJ starts his typical teasing to get her a little riled. She’d already told her brother she has a “boyfriend”, why won’t she admit to liking him?

SZ can’t tell if he knows that she not only likes him now but has liked him for a very long time.

“Do you really not have feelings for me?” DJ asks.

“Maybe a little bit,” SZ admits reluctantly. Okay.

Huh, just okay? SZ is puzzled, this guy is strange.

“Don’t you find it strange that I’ve feelings for you, but won’t agree to be with you and make you pursue me?”

“You said just a little, so it’s probably not strong enough for you to want to date me,” DJ honestly answers.

“What if I never agree to be with you?” she curiously asks.

“Then I’ll pursue you every day. After all, this might be the only relationship you’ll have your entire life,” DJ throws a hopeful look her way.

Whatever other girls have, SZ has to have it too.

I want to be by your side for all your future birthdays

Arriving at their destination, DJ sees that SZ has reserved the entire restaurant. Everyone is getting off work soon, it’ll be up to SZ to prepare a mysterious feast for him.

It takes some struggling and a near-missed instance of burning down the kitchen but SZ manages to keep DJ out and prepare her mom’s birthday recipe for him.

DJ looks at her creation—it’s cute, in the rough sort of way, and the taste makes it edible but there’s no way he’s going to let her try it.

She puts a candle on a pretty white cake with a smiley face that has two hearts on either side of the mouth. DJ makes a wish and blows with the sound of SZ’s cheers.

“What did you wish for?” she curiously asks.

“You know what I wished for,” he casts a lovingly intense gaze at her.

“Well, your wish is too easy to fulfill. The answer is yes.”

DJ looks on in a trance, did she agree to be his girlfriend?

“That’s because I want to be by your side for all your future birthdays. Can I?” SZ earnestly asks.

As she hands him a plate with cake, DJ pulls her up and brings her head closer to him while leaning in.

SZ can only stare as his lips come to eye level then approach closer and closer. She barely has time to process the thought that DJ is about to kiss her when she feels his lips on hers. It’s a gentle caress filled with so much sentiment.

“I don’t know how to do this. You always call me old; it’s quite embarrassing to admit this myself. This is also my first relationship, my first time liking someone this much. So don’t even think about dumping me.”

It’s SZ’s turn to be touched by DJ’s confession.

A little later, seated outside basking in the night view, DJ admits he didn’t expect she’d agree this soon.

But it’s a special day today. “This is your first birthday that I’ve celebrated with you and it’s also our first day together. From now on, I’ll always be by your side.”

DJ can’t help looking at her adorably, appreciative and thankful for her feelings and that they reciprocate his.

“There are a few things I feel I should let you know about my family situation. My mom has passed away and my dad’s in a coma. He killed someone while drunk driving. But I’ve paid off the compensation; right now, I don’t own a house but I have a car. I also have some savings,” he looks at her. He’s sorry to bring this up out of the blue and make her uncomfortable.

She’s not uncomfortable. SZ is only worried that talking about these things will make him sad.

DJ admits he’s nervous if anything, not necessarily sad. He’s worried she’ll mind.

Resolutely, SZ holds his uncertain gaze and tells him she doesn’t mind. He should have no doubts when it comes to her or her decision to be with him.

・❥・

SZ is heading down the stairs aiming to go to the library and get some studying done since there’s a power outage in the dorms.

She suddenly spots DJ outside, why’s he here?

The question should be why she didn’t tell him the power is out and there’s nowhere to study. The library SZ is about to head has limited seating, most probably taken that late in the day.

He proposes she go to his place. SZ is taken aback, his place?

To study of course. Plus, he’ll make something tasty for her since, yes, he can cook, he’s got a lot of skills.

SZ has her doubts though not so much about his cooking skills. How the heck is she going to focus on studying with him around?

I’m trying to be your girlfriend but you make me nervous

“DJ, while I’m studying what are you going to be doing?” SZ asks her newly titled boyfriend as she unpacked her bag on the desk in his room.

“I’ll just be sitting here,” he says while seated on his bed.

Wait, what? SZ stops and turns around, he’s just going to be sitting there looking at her? That won’t do, she’ll never focus.

Abruptly SZ comes inches from DJ’s face. Without saying anything she turns her head from one side to another letting him have a really good look. A surprised DJ looks on mesmerized partly by the lack of distance and partly by his pretty girlfriend.

“Have you had enough? If you don’t leave, I won’t get anything done,” SZ says in a somewhat disgruntled voice. She starts moving away when DJ gets and draws her closer into his embrace.

Can’t he stay there without saying a word? But his little cruel girlfriend reminds him that he won’t get in the way of her studies. Fine, he’ll go make her some food instead.

SZ isn’t disappointed at that for he’s good at cooking as her taste buds attest a while later as the two eat lunch.

DJ insists she head back into the room to study, leaving the dishes to him however SZ can’t let him do all the work of cooking and cleaning.

Giving into her, DJ gently ties an apron around her waist and then joins to help. Working together, they clean up and SZ heads back to study though it’s hard, she’s so sleepy.

Why is she so sleepy? Settling on DJ’s bed, she sees the little white bear plushie she’d left with him that fateful day two years ago.

Maybe she should take a five-minute nap. A knock on the door is followed by DJ asking if she’d like some water.

In a mini panic, SZ slides down the side of the bed onto the floor covering her face with her hands. What in the world is she doing?

Too late to remedy her hurried actions, DJ comes upon her on the floor. He laughs, what is she doing?

She’s studying in a more exciting way so she won’t feel sleepy. SZ cannot bring herself to admit she fell asleep considering DJ had asked her after their meal if she wanted to nap and she’d declined citing her pending studies.

As she gets up, DJ grabs her waist and sets her on the bed. Lying on her back, DJ over top, SZ is a little breathless. It feels like her brain stopped processing.

“Do you like excitement?” DJ softly whispers.

She can’t respond, she can’t say anything, she can only look at his lips so close.

“Then let’s make it exciting.” DJ comes in for a kiss when SZ pushes him to the side and gets up asking why he’s being naughty.

They’re already together, why call it naughty? Shifting close to her, he asks why she’d been on the floor. He’s actually really curious.

SZ admits she’d been dying for a nap but had turned down his suggestion and feared he’d think she’d been ignoring him if he found her doing the very thing she’d said no to.

DJ smiles affectionately then moves on to tucking her into bed for the damn nap. It’d be a bit boring not having her company but he won’t deprive his girlfriend of sleep.

He’s about to leave when SZ grabs his hand to hold him in place. She looks up into his eyes, “DJ, it’s not that I don’t like you being like this, it’s because I’m nervous when you get close to me, I don’t know why. So I want to tell you it’s not that I don’t like you,” SZ felt compelled to explain.

The last thing she wanted was for DJ to feel that she pushed him away during that intimate moment because she hand’t wanted his kiss. Far from the truth.

DJ assures her he gets it and isn’t holding anything against her. They’ll work on it together.

That night, walking her back to her dorm, was the first time they held hands like lovers.

・❥・

A couple of days later, SZ walks into the dorm to find NW alone reading one of her romance novels.

SZ admonishes her friend for not working on the essay that’s soon due—NW has typed all of two words in two hours. NW promises she’ll go to the library tomorrow to finish up; she asks SZ when the best time is to get there.

Considering for a moment, SZ reveals she didn’t go to the library the day of the power outage, she studied at DJ’s place. This info alone is enough to have NW smiling and imagining.

“I want to ask you something,” a conflicted SZ interrupts NW’s fantasies. “When you and your boyfriend have intimate moments, do you get nervous?”

“Nervous? Why should I get nervous? He’s the nervous one! When we started dating, he was afraid to even hold my hand, it made me frustrated,” NW responds.

Suddenly it occurs to her that maybe her friend is asking because she was nervous.

“I was nervous. I might look upset when I get nervous, but I even explained it so he wouldn’t misunderstand. I told him it wasn’t because I disliked but I still think that he…” SZ’s concerned voice trails off.

NW doesn’t think he’ll misunderstand. “But when couples are alone together, they should get along as usual. There’s no need to be so cautious. If every little thing warrants an explanation, it can get annoying over time,” she advises.

Is SZ getting nervous out of habit? Does she fear he’ll find out that she has liked him for a long time? The two of them are together now, it’s normal for couples to share intimate moments when together. Besides, NW doesn’t think her friend is timid.

Newly encouraged, SZ takes the initiative to ask DJ out on a date, one that she plans to make the move to show him that she more than wants his physical touch.

・❥・

DJ fixes her rollerblade laces while SZ is concerned about him looking exhausted. She worries this date plan is adding more pressure to his work. They can do something else like take a walk and chill instead but DJ insists he has skills he’d like her to see.

It’s SZ’s first time roller skating so she’s relying on DJ to help her not fall and royally embarrass herself.

“I want to warn you that I plan to kiss you today,” SZ reveals as DJ guides her into the rink. Hearing this, he momentarily loses balance nearly making the both of them topple over.

She wasn’t planning on telling him but worried he’d find it too abrupt and would get nervous.

DJ smiles, she’s giving him a heads-up. SZ continues saying if he doesn’t want the kiss today, they can postpone.

Oh, he wants it alright. Trying not to laugh as he’s aware of her discomfort, DJ can’t help teasing if she’s going to initiate or if he should.

While the two move around, DJ instructing SZ on various moves and giving a variety of tips, she tries to find different opportunities to kiss him. All unsuccessful.

DJ shows her the figure eight and in the process moves further away from SZ. He encourages her to come to him alone.

“I’ll protect you, come toward me,” he opens his arms wide waiting.

SZ cautiously gets up and starts making her way toward her boyfriend. As she approaches, she loses control of her momentum and careens straight into his chest. Smiling at her success, she throws a cursory look around before planting a brief kiss on his lips.

She did warn him about the kiss today. DJ responds with that it was too quick, he wasn’t ready yet. With this invitation, SZ goes in for a second one that’s more lingering.

This wasn’t as bad as she thought, SZ can get used to it.