When I Decided to Love Him

For the fourth time, I invited Caleb to join me at the hot springs. He asked, “How many people?” "Just you and me," I replied. There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. For a moment, I thought he was going to decline again, and I was already preparing my next words. But to my surprise, he responded with a simple, "Okay." I believed I had made my intentions clear enough for any adult to grasp. But when we got to the hot spring, Caleb was more than three feet away from me, so far away that I couldn't even reach him. And he kept answering his phone, engaged in endless work-related conversations. I slid closer to his side and deliberately brushed my toes against his calf. He gave me a look. No surprise, no annoyance. I figured this guy was better at this game of flirting than I was, but it was a challenge I was willing to take on. My toes grew bolder, slowly moving up his calf. As they crossed his knee, he leaned down slightly, grasped the back of my leg, and pulled my entire body toward him. The hot water swirled around us as I threw myself into his arms. "Don't touch," he whispered a warning in my ear. Playing hard to get, eh? I kissed him straight away. The kiss confirmed to me that Caleb was indeed on a different level. His kissing skills were exceptional, leaving me intoxicated and craving more. But at that moment, my phone rang. I pretended not to hear it. Instead, Caleb took my shoulder and gently pushed me away, lifting his chin to my phone. "You have a call." "I'm not answering," I said. He glanced at the screen. "Your mom's calling." I had been silently cursing whoever had the audacity to interrupt us at such an inopportune time. It turned out to be my own mother! I reluctantly released Caleb and turned to grab my cell phone, my voice tinged with a whine, "Mom, what's the matter?" "Sarah, you need to come back right away. Your dad's in the hospital!" "What happened?" "He fell off the balcony trying to catch a thief!" My mind reeled as if a bomb had gone off. Had it not been for Caleb's swift reflexes, my phone would have slipped from my grasp and plunged into the water. He gathered me into his arms and we left the hot spring together. His voice was a steady anchor in the chaos, "Don't panic, I'm taking you to the hospital now." - Upon reaching the locker room, my hands were shaking so badly that I could barely hold on to my underwear. I'd initially booked the couples' locker room with other intentions in mind. Caleb was in the next room. Sensing my distress, he finished changing and knocked on the partition, inquiring, "Are you able to dress yourself?" I couldn't. My limbs felt like jelly. But he wasn't going to come over and help me, was he? To my surprise, he did. Caleb was always the calm gentleman, even in the most embarrassing situations. He regarded me with an intense look of desire as he took in my disheveled state. He scrutinized me from head to toe, his gaze so piercing that time seemed to stand still. Yet, his hands moved with swift precision, and in no time, he had me dressed and ready to face the emergency that awaited us. It took him only fifteen minutes to make the twenty-minute trip from the hot spring to the hospital. After pulling up, we both got out of the car. With his height and long strides, Caleb quickly outpaced me. To an outsider, it might have seemed that it was his father who had been injured, not mine. I was about to hurry to catch up when he paused, turned, and extended his hand to me. If he'd shown this much thoughtfulness and initiative just half an hour earlier, I would have been overjoyed. Now, it felt more like he was just feeling sorry for me. Perhaps he even thought I was someone who only panics in the face of trouble. But that was okay, wasn't it? Love often started with compassion. Hand in hand, we walked towards the hospital room. Maybe it wasn't the right moment to indulge in romantic musings, but I felt certain that my father would understand. Five minutes later, I realized I didn't need his understanding at all！ I thought it might be a serious fall from a balcony, maybe even requiring intensive care. It turned out the 'balcony' was on the first floor! My dad was playing hero for a neighbor, trying to look cool. But he slipped and fell on the lawn. His head injury was a mere scratch from a small stone—one that would have likely healed by itself had he arrived at the hospital any later. My mom was pretty embarrassed. She was rubbing her hands and trying to smile as she explained, "The property manager didn't explain the situation clearly over the phone, and with all the neighbors there, I thought it was urgent and called you." "..." After four attempts to ask Caleb out and finally getting such a great opportunity today, my own parents had to go and spoil it! Speechless was indeed the word of the night.

Perhaps it was the embarrassment, or maybe it was the chagrin that left me feeling so deflated. On the way home from the hospital, I rested my head against the car window, giving off the vibe of a "bitter heroine". Zoe sent me messages on WhatsApp asking how things were going. I had nothing to offer in response except a string of ellipses. After Caleb dropped me off at home, he reminded me to take a shower. In the rush of the moment, I had only rinsed off and hurried on. I looked at him with a tinge of despondency, caught between wanting to say something and knowing it was better to remain silent. Some moments, once broken, lose their charm when you try to rekindle them. I nodded, got out of his car, and melted into the night without a backward glance. - Two days later, Zoe was discharged from the hospital and called me for a pick-up. I asked, "Where's Caleb? Why not have him pick you up?" "He's on a business trip." "Oh..." Zoe picked up on my dejection and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Did Caleb turn you down?" "No... but it's almost the same." If he had been interested, he would have messaged after I'd made my move the other day. I had to admit that Caleb was proving to be more of a challenge than I had expected. "Your brother is such a tough nut to crack, I'm throwing in the towel." "That's not an option. I've even practiced washing my hair upside down in anticipation. You can't give up now," she retorted. "..." I had never seen anyone so eager to perform a handstand hair wash. Then Zoe added, "Just wait, I'll do some snooping for you." Before I could respond, she hung up. I couldn't help but think that the situation wasn't going to improve. The reason Caleb joined me at the hot spring and shared that kiss with me may have been because he had a "why not take what is readily offered" attitude. However, two minutes later, Zoe sent me a screenshot of her conversation with Caleb. Zoe: [What the hell do you think about my friend?] Caleb: [?] Zoe: [If you don't like her, just say no, don't leave her hanging.] Caleb: [Am I that kind of person to you?] Zoe: [You're not exactly known for being nice.] Caleb: [I'm not leaving her hanging.] Zoe: [Then what the hell do you mean?] Caleb didn't respond. Zoe took his silence as a clear sign that Caleb was interested in me as well. I scoffed. His method of showing interest was certainly unique, to say the least. I decided to give it one more try with him. If things didn't work out this time, I resolved to walk away on my own terms. - The day Caleb returned from his business trip, Zoe informed me right away. Without delay, I sent Caleb a message on WhatsApp: [I haven't thanked you yet for taking me to the hospital to see my dad last time. Let me buy you dinner as a thank you]. Caleb: [Okay.] I was about to send him the location of a restaurant when he sent another message: [How about coming to my house for a meal?] [?] I can't cook! Caleb: [I'm exhausted from the trip and need to catch up on some sleep. You go to the supermarket to get the ingredients, and when I wake up from my nap, I'll cook.] I truly wanted to remind him that it seemed odd for me to treat him and thank him by going to his house and having him do the cooking. But the lure of spending time with him was too strong, and despite the impropriety, I decided to play along. Soon, I received a location from Caleb, different from the place I'd visited to pick up Zoe's clothes last time. I forwarded it to Zoe and asked about the house. Zoe: [It's the house Caleb lives in alone. How do you know that?] It didn't matter how I knew. All that mattered was that I was eager to head to the grocery store, grab the ingredients, and rush over to his place!

While I was shopping, Caleb sent me a message with the code to his house. He mentioned that he was afraid he would sleep like a log and not hear me ring the doorbell later. What did that imply? It was as clear as day! I made a hasty purchase and rushed over to his place. True to his word, he was fast asleep, and my arrival didn't stir him in the slightest. I put the groceries down quietly and tiptoed into his bedroom. Inside, a wall sconce was on, casting a dim, moody light that made the atmosphere feel incredibly intimate. Caleb was sound asleep in his bed, topless, with his strong arms exposed and a hint of his chest visible. It was quite a tantalizing sight, and I had to swallow hard, admittedly captivated. It seemed a bit unfair to take advantage of someone while they were asleep, didn't it? Moreover, as a girl, my sense of propriety is quite strong. After wavering for a few moments, I was about to retreat, but at that very moment, Caleb suddenly opened his eyes. His piercing gaze locked onto me, immobilizing me on the spot. "Um, I bought the ingredients..." I felt like I had to say something. He nodded, glanced at the little penguin alarm clock on the nightstand, and then said, "It's still early, first come keep me company in sleep." Keep him company in sleep? Did he really say that? After he spoke those words, he rose and grasped my wrist, and with a single motion, he pulled me onto the bed. I became a cuddler, entirely encircled by Caleb's arms. He was fully clothed in nothing but a pair of boxers, just as he had been during our first encounter. I was surrounded by the scent of testosterone and, drowsily, I pondered, "This has to be considered hooliganism, doesn't it?" Not wanting to be at a disadvantage, I decided to take matters into my own hands. After a bit of fumbling and a couple of brushes against him where I shouldn't have, Caleb let out a soft chuckle in my ear. I immediately blushed and tilted my head back to give him a stern look. "What are you laughing at?" "Your impatience." "You're the one who pulled me into bed in the first place!" I retorted. "Then you'll have to give me some time to catch some sleep first," he said, pausing for a moment before deliberately rubbing the corner of my forehead with his scruff, "I'll take care of you after dinner, I promise you'll be pleased." "..." He truly knew what I was attempting to do! But what made him think that after being teased over and over again, I would just lie down and take it?

I pushed him away, "Sorry, I'm not interested anymore." Caleb froze and then sat up after I did. Ignoring him, I got out of bed and rushed out the door. But with his long legs, he had the advantage and chased me to the door, stopping me. I stared at him warily, "What, are you trying to use force on me?" He was at a loss for words. He looked a little annoyed, glanced around, and then said, "The ingredients are here, let's eat before you leave." "No." "Then let's go out and eat." After he finished speaking, he went back inside to get dressed, leaving me alone with a messy mind. In truth, I just wanted him to experience the feeling of being hot and cold as well. After all, he was the one who enjoyed playing tricks on others. When he came out dressed, I said, "I'm tired of eating out. I don't want to go." Without even a moment's hesitation, he turned his head and made his way into the kitchen. I followed, leaning against the kitchen doorframe to watch him wash and cook. No matter what, a handsome man was always a sight to behold, no matter the task at hand. By the time the three dishes and the soup were ready, I had completely forgotten the times he had been a pain in my neck. Halfway through the meal, I even asked him, "Can I still come over for dinner?" "I rarely cook," Caleb replied. The light in my eyes dimmed. He added meaningfully, "I suppose I could reluctantly cook a few more times if that's what you want." Reluctantly, really? Why did I get the sense of a boyfriend pampering his girlfriend? I didn't overthink it, did I?

After we finished our meal, Caleb mentioned he was going to take out the trash and asked if I'd like to join him for an after-dinner stroll. My head was a mess of X-rated daydreams that really that really needed some clearing out. But as soon as we started our walk—before we could even think about holding hands—his parents, Daniel and Jean, showed up out of the blue. "Sarah, what are you doing with Kale?" Kale...what a fun nickname. Confronted with Daniel and Jean's confused expressions, I suppressed a laugh and quickly racked my brain for an excuse. After pondering for some time without coming up with a suitable explanation, I simply turned to Caleb and passed the buck to him. "Your lovely daughter was worried I'd spend the rest of my life alone, so she tried setting me up with her charming friend, Zoe," Caleb said calmly. Daniel and Jean were taken aback. They hadn't seen their son in a while and had come to visit. To their surprise, their son got a girlfriend, and she was someone they knew! They exchanged glances and quickly disappeared from the scene. I was left speechless. - Caleb offered me a lift home, but I turned him down. I questioned him, "What was that all about, what you told your parents?" "Didn't you say something about making this desert bloom with roses?" he asked. "..." I really shouldn't trust Zoe! She showed me the chat logs between her and Caleb and then leaked my words to Caleb, playing the nice guy on both sides! I threw caution to the wind and admitted, "I did, what's the problem?" "Nothing," Caleb said, sounding indifferent.

I was getting irritated. He seemed to know what was going on in my head, but I was in the dark about his thoughts. I felt defeated in this round as well. Damn it! I should just say goodbye to him. Maybe the next one would behave better! But Caleb pulled me back, and to my great surprise, he picked a wildflower and put it in his hair. He asked me, "Does this count as blossoming?" I was stunned. Before I came to my senses, we were under the same blanket, entwined with each other. He did look after me well, and I was pleased. Just a bit exhausted, the kind of tired where you're pleasantly sore and basking in it. "Caleb." "Hmm?" "Do you know that I started with just physical attraction?" The guy had a body that made me want to get close to him the first time I saw him—in a very intimate way. Caleb took a moment before he whispered back to me, "I know." I was so tired and sleepy that my words were slurred, "I fished with a bare hook and you still bite?" He seemed to respond, but I didn't catch it all. Anyway, the desert bloomed with roses for me, and that was enough. - When I showed up in front of Zoe holding Caleb's hand, Zoe just called me Mrs. Wright. I was in such a blissful state that I didn't even tease her about doing a handstand and washing her hair. His parents had always adored me and wanted me to join their family. But my parents didn't like Caleb. I was shocked! I was shocked that they didn't like such a wealthy and handsome man! On top of the fact that I was the one chasing after Caleb from the start, which led them to think he wasn't as into me as I was him, my mom also said, "He's too handsome and too wealthy. We're afraid you won't be able to hold on to him, and the odds of a future change in marital status are high." I felt speechless. I told Caleb what my parents had said, and he shared his predicament. "The business is booming, no bankruptcy on the horizon. As for my face, I can't very well rearrange it to look uglier, can I?" I nearly died laughing, then threw my arms around him and planted a kiss. "What do you propose, then?" "Let me meet with your parents first. Even if I'm facing a death sentence, I deserve a chance to plead my case, don't you think?" "How about today?" "You've already talked to your parents?" Caleb asked. "Nope, I'm going for a surprise attack. We're going in blind." Caleb was at a loss. He let out a sigh at his future wife's knack for creating challenges for him.

Caleb wasn't playing around when it came to meeting my parents. He set a date, gave them a heads-up, and then arrived with an armful of gifts, making a grand entrance. Zoe called me in the midst of the serious conversation they were having. I felt uneasy about leaving Caleb alone with my parents, but he seemed to have a strategy, so I retreated to my room to take the call. When I emerged, the sternness on my parents' faces had vanished, replaced by such wide grins it seemed their mouths could stretch from ear to ear. I was so confused. Could Caleb have magical powers? I just took a phone call, and he somehow won over my parents? After dinner, I hastily pulled Caleb out the door and interrogated him, "What did you do to my parents?" Caleb chuckled, "What could I possibly do to your parents? Just winning them over, naturally." "Like what?" "Demonstrating my commitment to you." "How?" No matter how much I flirted or feigned anger, Caleb kept the details to himself. It was only later, by accident, that I came across a screenshot of a chat between siblings in Zoe's phone gallery. Caleb: [I have my eye on your friend.] Zoe: [You know what to do.] Below that was a notice of a transfer of 100 thousand dollars and a confirmation of the collection. Zoe: [Sarah's into a sexy physique. I'll find a chance for you two to meet alone. Just remember, no shirt.] Caleb: [Will I be treated like a scoundrel?] Zoe: [I'll just create the opportunity. You handle the rest.] So it turned out that the siblings had dug the trap. I jumped right in and felt happy. I created a group chat for the three of us. I sent the screenshot and then went silent. Zoe: [...] Caleb: [...] You see, the siblings were really in sync. I didn't block them or anything. They were free to explain on WhatsApp, but I chose not to respond. Meanwhile, a colleague at the company was pursuing me with great fervor.

The day Caleb showed up at the office happened to coincide with the day this colleague sent me ninety-nine roses. Abandoning his usual demeanor, Caleb strode over to me, wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and staked his claim in front of my colleague, "I am Sarah's boyfriend." My colleague was left embarrassed. When he first confessed his feelings to me, I told him I had a boyfriend. He didn't take it seriously and thought I was testing him. Today, with Caleb's appearance and his undeniable advantages in every aspect, the colleague's hopes were completely dashed. ... Seated in the Mercedes, I confronted Caleb with a stern expression. "What brings you here?" Caleb replied simply, "I was looking for you." I scoffed, "You must feel quite the accomplished hunter now that you've successfully trapped your prey." "Sarah Young," he suddenly addressed me by my full name, his tone serious, "I have never considered you as prey. You are the one I truly love." "Really? That's not what it seemed to me," I retorted, rolling my eyes. "You're hot and cold, close and distant. Is that your idea of loving someone?" "When have I been hot and cold?" "You kept turning down dinner invitations, yet you agreed to go to the hot springs. If that's not hot and cold, then you're a pure pervert!" Caleb's lips twitched, as if he wanted to explain but was at a loss for words. Zoe had warned him before he came that arguing with an angry woman was futile. If you tried to reason with her, you were finished. Caleb was not willing to face the dangerous end. So instead of arguing, he chose a more charming approach with me.

If I was guilty, let the law take its course, not this man who had seduced me physically over and over again. And then I just couldn't resist. "Don't you forget, I was only interested in your body at the beginning," I said sternly with my kissed and swollen lips to save face. "Well, I'm honored," Caleb said. "..." To vent my frustration, I gave Caleb a hard time for days. He was probably irritated by my colleague and had ordered me flowers every day. The woman at the next desk could not help but say, "Sarah, your boyfriend is handsome, rich, and treats you so well, I am so jealous." My boyfriend was also very good at setting traps! However, I would only spit these words in my heart. On the surface, of course, I happily accepted their envy. - Two weeks on, Caleb asked me, "Still can't forgive me?" I guessed he was tired of the situation. After all, with his busy schedule, he had been picking me up from work every day, yet I hadn't been treating him very nicely. It's tough to maintain a warm attitude when faced with a cold response. No one could endure such a situation for long. Upon reflection, he hadn't really done anything wrong. The fault lay with my inability to resist the temptation, and I had been playing into his hands from the very start. Regardless, now that I felt I had the upper hand, I thought it was time to show him some kindness. Before I could even open my mouth, he let out a sigh and said, “I’ll try harder, and when you’re ready to forgive me, just let me know.” I couldn't suppress a laugh. Caleb looked at me and cautiously reached out his hand. Seeing that I didn't dodge, he exhaled in relief and embraced me tightly. I laughed at him and said, "In the beginning, you weren't afraid at all that I might run away." "I was," he said, pulling out his phone and showing the full chat history between him and Zoe. Every time I was on the verge of giving up, he would send money to Zoe, telling her to keep me motivated. "Oh, for God's sake! If you had told me earlier that you liked me, we might have been discussing baby names by now." Caleb was at a loss for words. He later confided in me that he had actually seen me once when he went to pick up Zoe a long time ago, back when we first became friends. The way I carried myself and the expression on my face when I spoke was radiant and captivating. Later, through Zoe, he heard many things about me and became intrigued. Upon discovering I was unattached, he decided to make a move and win me over. I was swelling with pride. If I had a tail, it would have been wagging joyfully by now. I asked him, "Is it true that I don't have to do anything, just stand here, crook my finger, and you'll bring yourself to my knees?" "Uh-huh." Damn! Who could resist a man who's so genuine and straightforward? I didn't hesitate. I was about to give him a passionate kiss right then!