Jin's face was buried deep in his palms the next day. The intoxication had finally worn off and everything was crystal clear in front of him.
Ugh, what was I doing getting drunk during the trip?
The mories from last night opened the doors one by one and there were so many things that tickled his stomach with butterflies that it was hard for the smile on his lips to retract. But out of everything, a certain piece of conversation was stuck in his mind like a broken recording.
Alix said yes…She said yes for the kiss…!
Suddenly, a wave of embarrassnt flushed his face but the fact that she wanted him to kiss her was enough to make him float in the clouds.
"Oh, you are awake?" Alix asked, stepping out of the bathroom while clasping a towel around her wet hair.
Rembering her all snuggled up in his embrace last night made his heart skip several beats. He got out of the bed and stood beside her.
"That…" he cleared his throat, "I-I'm sorry for last night. I shouldn't have gotten so drunk."
Alix raised her brow. "I was happy to et the helpless princess again. He is quite adorable."
His brow twitched.
When will she drop that nickna?
"And also quite bold and honest. I wouldn't have known you were thinking about so many things if not for your drunken courage."
He coughed.
"Though I would like it more if you could say the things bothering you while being sober too. I won't eat you like so real wolf."
"...I wouldn't mind though," he muttered to himself.
"Sorry?"
"Nothing," he coughed again.
He paused for a beat and held her hands. "I promise I will share my troubles with you while being sober from now on."
"Thank you."
His gaze, which he was trying very hard not to linger on, finally fell on her lips, making him swallow a gulp. The conversation about the kiss replayed in his mind and he found his breaths lodged at his throat.
"I'll head for a shower."
He zapped inside with lightning speed and closed the door.
Alix snorted.
"Very cute of him to think that I didn't catch him staring at my lips. Hmm…" she then rubbed her chin, "Maybe I should refrain from eating too oniony and garlicy foods today."
—
Montepulciano is a hilltop town in Tuscany known for its rich Vino Nobile wine and rolling vineyards. The late afternoon sun bathed the landscape in a golden hue and the scent of grapes filled the warm air. The vines stretched far and wide, heavy with ripening grapes that shimred under the sun like crimson pearls.
The gravel crunched beneath their steps as Jin and Alix were led through the vineyard by a cheerful old man nad Marco, who owned the estate with his wife, Rosa. They were actually Jin's grandfather, Liang Zou's acquaintances, who lived in Paris with his wife.
"Your grandfather is a regular custor. Still says my wine beats all the competition," Marco said with pride.
He handed them two hats and grinned. "You ca at the right ti. Sun's kind, the grapes are gossiping and my wife's lasagna is not far behind."
"Aiyaaaa my Jin is here," Rosa ca out with a sunny smile on her lips. Though in her forties, her beauty was unmatched.
"I cannot believe you are married. Your wife is so pretty."
"She is," Jin grinned.
Alix coughed.
"You two look perfect. Oh, I know! How about you two help us with so grape-stomping? Couples that grape stomp together live together forever."
Marco nodded with all seriousness. "That's how I t my wife."
"Yeah, you have always said that," he chuckled. It's fun so yes we'll do it."
Alix still wasn't really sure when she saw the shallow barrels filled with plump red grapes. Before she could protest, he pulled her inside and jumped all around with the childish glee of a five-year old.
"It's squishy," Alix said as the grapes burst beneath her feet.
"That's why it's fun," he glead. "For the six years I lived in Paris, I frequently used to visit Grandpa Marco and Grandma Rosa here. Grape stomping was my favorite part. Their wine is delicious. You will get to know today. Have you ever done grape stomping like this?"
"I have only stomped upon people's feelings."
"..."
"I love your dark sense of humor."
"Hey, I had their consent, okay?"
"To stomp on feelings?" He couldn't believe it.
"Back in college. Apparently, a few of the guys liked it when I sneered at them, or used sarcasm and taunts. They used to ask to insult them. Willingly. They were weird."
She had a fan following of masochists in college? The corner of his mouth twitched.
"Now co on, stomp harder."
She frowned. "Do you want to fall?"
"Will you when I'm here?" He chuckled.
Holding her hands firmly, he helped her stand steady on her feet. "Go harder. I'm right here. Imagine you are stomping on the annoying twins and venting out all your frustration."
"They are not so bad," she said while exerting more pressure, feeling indeed a little amused performing this activity.
"You have to promise to take my side in front of them! 'Not so bad' will only fuel their already ssed up personality," he mumbled.
As a gust of wind blew, the locks of hair fluttered in front of her eyes, darkening her view but she couldn't swipe them away, her hands being in Jin's grip. Yet her vision cleared when she felt those locks of hair slowly lift away. She peered into his eyes and felt his soft fingers grazing past her cheek like a little flutter as he tugged her hair. She caught his face steadily inching closer bit by bit and she held in her breath.
"Hey how about we all enjoy so delicious wine!" Marco's cheerful voice bood.
They froze and both heard a distinct sound of sothing akin like an imaginary glass shattering sowhere. They remained standing oddly and awkwardly.
"Marco!!"
His wife thumped a loud smack on top of his head. "This is exactly why you are so impossible! You cannot take the hint at all!"
"What hint?" He asked, aggrieved by the unjust smack.
Rosa forcibly pulled him back and laughed rrily. "Hoho, don't mind him, okay? We won't disturb you anymore."
She silently dragged him back while also throwing a deadly glare.
The couple in question was extrely silent. The atmosphere wasn't going to return just because they were left alone again.
"You want to have so wine?" Alix finally asked, not able to handle the awkwardness anymore.
"No wine! Not at all! I won't drink a single drop of alcohol today!"
"You'll get drunk with just wine too?" She was dumbfounded.
"Drunk or not, I won't have any form of alcohol! That's my oath and I'll live upto it!" His nostrils flared.
"..."
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