Chapter 70: The Confession

Time slipped quietly by.

By the time the apartment had finally settled into silence, nearly an hour had passed. The morning light had grown brighter, spilling through the curtains and warming the room.

Jason eventually made his way back to the dining table.

He rolled his shoulders, then rubbed his thighs with a quiet groan.

When he saw the breakfast waiting for him, his expression immediately brightened.

"Sabrina, this looks amazing."

He pulled out a chair and sat down.

"You’re seriously good at this. I don’t think most restaurants could compete with you."

Across from him, Sabrina was practically melted over the table.

Her head rested against her folded arms, and she looked completely exhausted.

Her cheeks were still flushed, and a few strands of damp hair clung to her forehead.

She slowly lifted her head and gave Jason an exhausted glare.

"You’re unbelievable."

Her voice was weak.

"I can barely move, and you’re sitting there acting like nothing happened."

Jason couldn’t help laughing.

Sabrina sighed dramatically.

"I can’t even stand properly. How am I supposed to work at the gym today?"

She glanced toward the clock.

"I guess I’m taking the day off."

She wasn’t actually angry.

Mostly, she was embarrassed.

She had spent years training her body and prided herself on her endurance. She had walked into last night with complete confidence.

She had expected to be the one setting the pace.

Instead, she had discovered that Jason’s energy was on an entirely different level.

The realization still bothered her pride.

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"I’ve been training for years, you know."

Jason raised an eyebrow.

"And?"

"And I thought I could handle anything."

She pointed accusingly at him.

"Apparently, I was wrong."

Jason grinned.

"Don’t blame me."

Sabrina stared at him.

Jason leaned back in his chair with an innocent expression.

"You were the one who challenged me."

Her cheeks immediately turned red.

"Don’t remind me."

Jason laughed.

"You were pretty confident last night."

"Jason!"

Sabrina grabbed a cushion from the couch and threw it at him.

He caught it easily.

"You’re terrible."

She covered her face with one hand.

"Absolutely terrible."

Jason smiled.

"You’re still smiling."

"I’m not!"

"You are."

Sabrina peeked through her fingers.

Then she looked away.

A tiny smile betrayed her.

---

The teasing continued for another minute before Jason finally let her off the hook.

He sat down properly and reached for one of the sandwiches.

Sabrina watched him take a bite.

"Well?"

Jason chewed thoughtfully.

Then he nodded.

"Excellent."

That answer seemed to make her feel better.

"Good."

She leaned back in her chair.

"At least my cooking wasn’t a failure."

Jason smiled.

"Your cooking could never be a failure."

Sabrina gave him a suspicious look.

"Are you trying to flatter me again?"

"Maybe."

She shook her head, but she was clearly pleased.

The apartment felt unusually peaceful.

The awkwardness that might have existed between them after the previous night had somehow disappeared.

There was still embarrassment.

Plenty of it.

But beneath that embarrassment was something warmer.

Something neither of them wanted to name too quickly.

Jason took another bite.

Then he glanced at Sabrina.

"You know..."

"What?"

"You still haven’t answered my question."

Sabrina blinked.

"What question?"

Jason smiled.

"You said you didn’t like me."

Her expression froze.

Then she immediately realized what he meant.

Her face turned bright red.

"Jason!"

He laughed.

"You said you didn’t like it."

"I was embarrassed!"

"Sounds like an excuse."

Sabrina crossed her arms.

"I said what I said."

Jason stood.

Sabrina immediately became nervous.

"Where are you going?"

Jason walked toward her with a playful smile.

"I’m just trying to understand."

She watched him approach.

"Understand what?"

"You keep denying everything."

He stopped beside her.

"Maybe I should give you a chance to explain yourself."

Sabrina’s eyes widened.

"No."

Jason raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

She immediately shook her head.

"Absolutely not."

He laughed.

Sabrina quickly covered her face.

"You’re such a bully."

Jason’s expression softened.

He wasn’t actually trying to pressure her.

He was simply enjoying how easily she became flustered.

"Fine."

He stepped back.

"But you still owe me an answer."

Sabrina lowered her hands.

She looked at him for several seconds.

Then she sighed.

"You really won’t let this go, will you?"

"Nope."

"You’re impossible."

"I’ve been told."

Sabrina looked away.

Her fingers nervously played with the edge of her sleeve.

She knew what he wanted to hear.

And saying it out loud felt much harder than admitting it to herself.

She took a slow breath.

"I..."

Jason waited.

Sabrina’s heart began pounding.

"I like..."

Her voice became so quiet that he couldn’t hear the rest.

Jason leaned closer.

"What was that?"

Sabrina’s face burned.

She glared at him.

"You heard me."

"I didn’t."

"You did."

"I honestly didn’t."

Sabrina knew he was teasing her.

She gave him an annoyed look.

"You’re doing this on purpose."

"Maybe."

She sighed.

Then, gathering every bit of courage she had, she looked directly into his eyes.

"I like you."

Jason’s smile widened.

But Sabrina wasn’t finished.

Her cheeks were crimson now, and even her ears had turned red.

She clenched her fists in embarrassment.

"I really like you, okay?"

She looked away.

"You’re happy now?"

Jason’s teasing expression faded.

For a moment, he simply looked at her.

Then he smiled.

"Yeah."

Sabrina glanced back at him.

"Really?"

"Really."

The answer was simple.

But something about the sincerity in his voice made her heart soften.

She lowered her gaze, unable to hide her smile.

For the first time, she had said it out loud.

She liked him.

And somehow, admitting it didn’t feel as frightening as she had expected.

Instead, it felt like taking a weight off her shoulders.

Jason returned to the table and picked up his sandwich.

Sabrina watched him.

Then she quietly laughed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She shook her head.

"I just can’t believe I actually said it."

Jason smiled.

"Get used to it."

Sabrina raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Because I’m going to make you say it again someday."

Her face immediately turned red.

"Dream on, Stinky Little Brother."

But the smile on her lips made it clear she didn’t really mean it.