Chapter 4: The Morning After

The sunlight streaming through my window was like a warm caress, gently rousing me from my slumber. I stretched, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me. The events of the previous night replayed in my mind, and I couldn't help but smile. Hange's words, his touch, and his gaze all lingered in my mind, leaving me feeling breathless and excited. As I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I picked it up, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw a text from Hange: "Good morning, my little lotus flower. Did you sleep well?" I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest as I read his words. I typed out a response, my fingers moving quickly over the keyboard. "I slept great, thanks for asking. How about you?" I hesitated for a moment before hitting send. The response was almost immediate. "I slept okay, but I couldn't stop thinking about you," Hange wrote. "I want to see you today. Can I come over?" I felt a rush of excitement at the prospect of seeing him again. I quickly typed out a response. "I'd like that," I wrote, trying to play it cool. As I waited for Hange to arrive, I couldn't help but think about the previous night. Our conversation, our laughter, and our gazes all lingered in my mind, making me feel like I was walking on air. The doorbell rang, and I got up to answer it. When I opened the door, Hange was standing there with a bouquet of flowers in his hand and a smile on his face. "Good morning," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. I felt my cheeks flush as I took in the sight of him. He was wearing a simple white shirt and jeans, but he looked like a million bucks to me. "Come on in," I said, stepping aside to let him in. As we walked into the living room, Hange set the flowers down on the coffee table and pulled me into his arms. "I missed you," he whispered, his lips brushing against mine. I felt a rush of happiness at being in his arms again. We spent the morning chatting and laughing, enjoying each other's company. Hange told me about his plans for the day, and I shared mine with him. After a while, he suggested that we grab some lunch together. I agreed, and we headed out to his car. As we drove through the city, I felt a sense of freedom wash over me. Being with Hange felt like the most natural thing in the world. We stopped at a small café near my apartment, and Hange ordered for us. As we sat down at a table, he took my hand in his, his fingers intertwining with mine. "I have something to tell you," he said, his eyes locked onto mine. "Something that I think you should know." My heart skipped a beat as I wondered what he was going to say. Was it something important? Something that would change our relationship? I leaned in, my ears perked up, ready to listen. "What is it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Hange's face turned serious, and he took a deep breath before speaking. "I've been thinking about us," he said, his eyes searching mine. "And I want you to know that I'm all in. I want to be with you, to explore this relationship with you, and to see where it takes us." I felt a rush of excitement at his words. He was all in, and that realization made me feel like I was walking on air. "I'm all in too," I replied, my voice firm. Hange's face lit up with a smile, and he pulled me into his arms. "I'm glad to hear that," he whispered, his lips brushing against mine. As we sat there, holding each other, I knew that our relationship was about to take a dramatic turn. And I couldn't wait to see what the future held for us.