Chapter 68: A Question After Midnight

Warm yellow light spilled across the apartment, softening the edges of everything it touched. The dining table, the half-empty plates, and the two wineglasses all seemed wrapped in the same quiet glow.

Sabrina sat across from Jason, slowly turning her glass between her fingers.

A faint smile rested on her lips.

Her makeup was light, barely noticeable, but it suited her perfectly. Combined with the warmth in her cheeks from the wine, it gave her an unusually soft appearance.

She looked at Jason through slightly hazy eyes.

"Stinky Bro..."

Her voice had become quieter than before.

"Thank you for coming to my class today. And for letting me drive you home afterward."

She lifted her glass.

"This one’s for you."

Jason immediately straightened and raised his own glass.

"You don’t have to thank me, Sabrina. I’m the one who should be thanking you. You invited me over, cooked for me, and even put up with me all evening."

Their glasses met with a gentle clink.

They smiled at each other before taking another sip.

Sabrina lowered her glass and stared at the wine for a moment.

When Jason had first walked into her class, she hadn’t expected anything from him.

She’d only been teasing him.

She hadn’t even planned on accepting a male client.

But Jason had surprised her again and again.

His confidence.

His kindness.

The way he’d stood up for her when things became difficult.

Somehow, without her realizing it, the young man she’d originally thought of as an amusing little brother had become someone she genuinely looked forward to seeing.

She took another sip.

The warmth of the wine spread through her chest.

A few more drinks followed.

Sabrina’s cheeks gradually became rosier.

The tips of her ears were warm too.

She normally wasn’t good with alcohol. Even a small amount was enough to make her feel it.

Tonight, however, she hadn’t stopped herself.

Maybe because she wanted courage.

Maybe because she didn’t want the evening to end.

Or maybe because she was tired of hiding what she was feeling.

She rested one hand against the table as the room seemed to sway ever so slightly.

Jason noticed.

"Sabrina, are you okay?"

"I’m fine."

She gave him a smile, though it was softer than before.

Then she lowered her eyes.

"Stinky Little Brother..."

"Yeah?"

"Do you know something?"

"What?"

"I’ve been really happy today."

Jason looked at her quietly.

There was no teasing in her voice anymore.

Just honesty.

Sabrina lightly rubbed her thumb against the edge of her wineglass.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this happy."

She looked around the apartment.

The quiet dinner.

The laughter.

The company.

Everything felt strangely precious.

For a woman who had spent so much time dealing with responsibilities on her own, having someone beside her could feel like an unexpected gift.

She looked back at Jason.

Her eyes were warm.

"I think it’s because I met you."

Jason’s expression softened.

He knew she was tipsy, but he could also tell there was truth behind her words.

"Is that really why?"

Sabrina shook her head.

"No."

She paused.

Then she smiled faintly.

"It’s because you’re you."

Her voice became quieter.

"Would you ever dislike me?"

Jason reached across the table.

His hand gently covered hers.

Sabrina’s fingers went still.

"How could I dislike you?"

He smiled.

"I’d be crazy to."

She looked up at him.

"Really?"

"Really."

Jason gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before letting go.

"You don’t have to worry about that."

Sabrina stared at him for several seconds.

Then a shy smile appeared.

"You say things like that so easily."

"Because I mean them."

She looked down again, clearly trying to hide how happy his answer had made her.

Then, after a moment, she lifted her eyes with a playful spark.

"If you really like me..."

She paused.

"Prove it."

Jason raised an eyebrow.

"Prove it?"

Sabrina nodded.

Her courage almost disappeared immediately after she said it.

But she’d already opened the door.

She couldn’t take the words back now.

Jason smiled.

"Tell me what you want me to do."

Sabrina’s heart began pounding.

She looked away.

Then back at him.

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Kiss me."

Silence settled over the room.

For a moment, Jason simply looked at her.

Sabrina’s cheeks burned.

She suddenly felt embarrassed by her own boldness.

Maybe she’d said too much.

Maybe she’d misunderstood everything.

But Jason didn’t laugh.

He didn’t tease her.

Instead, he slowly stood.

Sabrina’s heart beat faster.

Jason walked around the table and stopped beside her.

He gently lifted her chin, giving her plenty of time to pull away if she wanted.

She didn’t.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Jason leaned closer.

Their lips met in a gentle kiss.

The moment was surprisingly quiet.

No dramatic rush.

No playful teasing.

Just warmth.

Sabrina’s eyes slowly closed.

The faint taste of red wine lingered between them, mixing with the warmth of the moment.

Her nervousness gradually faded.

She rested a hand against his shoulder, holding onto him as if afraid the moment might disappear too quickly.

Jason’s arm settled gently around her waist, steadying her.

Sabrina’s heart raced.

She had imagined this moment more times than she wanted to admit.

Yet reality felt completely different.

There was something frightening about allowing herself to care again.

But there was also something comforting about it.

For once, she wasn’t thinking about her failed marriage.

She wasn’t thinking about loneliness.

She wasn’t thinking about tomorrow.

She was simply there.

With him.

After a while, they slowly separated.

Sabrina remained close for another moment, her face warm and her breathing uneven.

She blinked several times as though trying to collect her thoughts.

"Wow..."

The word escaped before she could stop it.

Jason smiled.

"You okay?"

She nodded quickly.

"I’m fine."

Then she covered her face with one hand.

"Don’t look at me."

Jason laughed softly.

"You’re the one who asked me to kiss you."

"I know!"

Her voice came out muffled behind her hand.

"That doesn’t mean you get to stare afterward."

Jason smiled.

Sabrina finally lowered her hand.

Her expression had changed.

The playful confidence was gone.

In its place was something softer.

More vulnerable.

Outside, rain began hammering against the windows.

The sound filled the quiet apartment, turning the world beyond the glass into a blur of silver and darkness.

Sabrina listened for a moment.

Then she looked back at Jason.

There was a question in her eyes.

One she had been afraid to ask all night.

"Stinky Little Brother..."

Jason looked at her.

She swallowed.

"Do you really like me?"

Her voice was quiet.

There was no teasing this time.

She genuinely wanted to know.

Because somewhere between dinner, laughter, and that first kiss, her feelings had stopped being something she could easily dismiss.

She wanted to hear the answer from him.

And, for the first time that night, she was almost afraid of what it might be.