Bedmates Soulmates

His eyes were locked on a figure lurking behind a column.

Kira tugged on his sleeve. 'I'll take care of it." Austyn stood back and watched her walk off.

He wanted to see how she would handle it.

Kira squared her shoulders and marched up to the person hiding behind the column, holding up a phone.

The girl was taking pictures of Kira and Austyn

"Hey!" Kira stepped up to her. 'What do you think you are doing?"

The girl was backed into a corner between the column and Kira. 'I, uh, I wasn't..."

'Do you know taking photos of someone without their consent is a crime? It's an invasion of privacy and I can sue you!' Kira stretched out her hand 'Give me your phone." The girl, who looked to be about the same age as Kira, handed over her phone sheepishly.

She tried to explain. 'I wasn't spying on you. I just thought the two of you kissing looked so sweet. It's like a scene straight out of a K-drama. So I just... Please don't get mad ' Kira swiped through the photos.

The girl had a good camera, and she knew how to pick the right angles.

Kira and Austyn were standing in profile, hugging.

Light streamed through the gap between them and lit up both their faces. Austyn was photogenic, and Kira thought she looked not bad, either.

Perfect Mementos

Her eyes lingered over one photo.

In it, she had just pulled back from the kiss.

Austyn's head was lowered.

He was looking at her w

with a smile that was so gentle and so loving

It made Kira's heart melt.

Kira hadn't noticed the look back then.

She didn't know Austyn's usually stern face was capable of making such a tender expression

She looked at the shutterbug. "What are you going to do with these photos?"

The girl was shamefaced. 'I'm a student majoring in photography. I came here looking for inspiration for a portrait assignment. I thought you and your boyfriend looked so good for the camera, so1...I was going; to ask for your permission to use the photos. But if you don't like it, I'll delete them."

Kira pointed to three of the shots. "Delete those with our faces in them. But you can keep these two.

The last two were wide shots that didn't capture their faces.

The girl perked up. 'Really? Oh, thank you, thank you so much!'

Kira returned the phone to her. 'Can you send these to me?'

'Sure.'

The girl used Bluetooth to transfer the photos to Kira's phone. Kira set up an album

She admired the photos again.

Austyn was about to come and find her when Kira finally returned

She was beaming. I took care of it. I asked her to delete all the pictures,"

She sounded proud of herself

Austyn patted her head. "Good job,'

Kira was so happy that she didn't mind getting petted like a dog. 'Let's go. '

She planned to print out the photos later and make an actual album.

Her first photos with Austyn, on their first date.

They would make a perfect memento.

The mall had seven floors and a myriad of activities for couples.

Kira brought Austyn straight to the top floor, where the cinema was located.

They'd never watched a movie together.

'Do you w

want to see a movie?!

Austyn looked at her. "Do you?"

'Sure."

"Then let's go. You're in charge."

Kira bought two tickets to an action movie.

She would have preferred romance, but this one would start in fifteen

fifteen minutes.

Then she bought the obligatory popcorn and, despite Austyn's objection, fizzy soft drinks.

They went into the dark theatre and found their seats in the fourth-to-last row.

It was mid afternoon on a weekday.

The theatre was only about one-third filled.

Kira glanced at the man next to her.

Austyn was sitting to her left, his back ramrod straight and hands placed on his lap, so unlike everyone else who either slouched or had their feet up on the seat. Kira

a leaned back in the big comfy seat and stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth,

She leaned to her left.

Austyn didn't move.

She leaned further, her left shoulder moving over the armrest into his personal space. Austyn didn't move.

She scooted more to the left, her heart beating fast.

Their shoulders were now less than a hand's width apart.

Kira stuffed more popcorn into her mouth.

She wasn't hungry, she was nervous.

And when she got nervous,

she snacked

Finally, Austyn stirred.

He turned to look at her. "Are you trying to put your head on my shoulder?"

Kira blushed

Luckily, it was too dark for him to see that.

She swallowed the popcorn. 'What? No! I was just trying to find the best angle to watch the screen."

"You are sitting in the middle of the row, Austyn pointed out. That is the best angle.

Kira righted herself and wanted to move back, embarrassed

Austyn caught her wrist.

He pulled her closer and pressed her head onto his shoulder. "But if you like this angle so much, I'll oblige.'

Kira wriggled and found a nice spot on his shoulder to rest!

ther face. "It's an okay angle, I guess."

Austyn flicked her forehead with a finger. 'I would appreciate it if you don't get food all over my clothes, or I'll have to send you the dry-cleaning bill.'

Kira pushed him away and glared at the man, who n

needed to be taught how to go on dates but required no lessons on how to ruin the mood.

She stuffed another handful of popcorn into her mouth defiantly and chewed on it, making as much noise as she could.

Other boyfriends would offer their shoulders without being asked and would know better than to call their girlfriend a pig. Sure, Austyn had not used that specific word, but he implied it. Kira furned silently.

Austyn watched her shove popcorn into her mouth till her cheeks looked like a chipmunk's.

A smile spread across his face.

He saw all her little moves just now.

She was inching closer to him, bit by bit, like a mouse stealing towards a block of cheese.

It was funny, and she was adorable.

Austyn pretended d not to notice, just to watch how long she could play at this game.

He was also a little nervous.

There was just something about sitting in the dark with the girl he loved, feeling like they were the only two people in the world, which set his pulse racing

No wonder couples liked to go on movie dates.

He wanted to hold her hand but didn't, because his palms were sweaty.

He cracked the joke about dry-cleaning because he had to say something, otherwise she was going to hear his heartbeat, so loud in his chest.

But apparently, she did not appreciate the attempt at humour..

"What are you smirking about? Kira caught Austyn's smile. 'You're laughing at me again, aren't you?"

'No.'Austyn shook his head.

He gazed into her eyes, communicating feelings he couldn't put into words.

Kira squirmed.

Why was he suddenly so serious?

She sat up straight and looked away, 'It's hot in here. Did they forget to turn on the aircon?'

A girl seated one row in front said to the boy next to her, 'Honey, can I borrow your jacket? It's freezing.'

Kira facepalmed,

The girl must be doing it on purpose!

Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Dur

Claim

His Past With Deborah

Austyn's lips were curved upwards.

Kira didn't have to turn her head to know he must be laughing at her now,

The screen came to life, but the movie didn't start.

It was playing a trailer for another movie, something to do with zombies and the apocalypse.

Kira didn't want to look at the disgusting faces of the zombies whose makeup was just too realistic.

Bored, she started counting the number of popcorn kernels left in the bucket.

A thought suddenly occurred to her. 'I almost forgot."

She turned to look at Austyn. 'We didn't finish our conversation just now. You haven't given me an answer.

'Answer to what?"

'You said you don't know what it's like to go on dates. That was a lie, right? Go ahead, you can tell the truth. I promise I won't get mad." Austyn rubbed his forehead. 'This again. Why would I lie to you?"

'But what you said sounds so bizarre, it's impossible. How could you not have gone on dates before? You dated Deborah, right?"

Austyn lowered his eyes.

Kira saw the erasive move. "You don't want to tell me."

She returned to stare at the bucket of popcorn, disappointed.

'He's always like this whenever I bring up Deborah,' she thought bitterly. 'He put her on a pedestal and no one else is allowed to talk about her, even when she's been dead for so long."

Just the mention of her name was enough to send him into a foul mood.

Kira shrank back in her seat and hugged the bucket to her chest.

Maybe Austyn needed more time.

Time to forget about the trauma of his past and move on.

Kira told herself to be patient.

There was nothing else she could do.

She could only wait.

She felt a warm hand on her forearm.

Austyn gently pulled her back to him.

'Do you want to know what happened between me and Deborah?

He wasn't smiling anymore.

His face was sombre

Kira was baffled.

What did he mean?

Was he willing to finally open up about his past?

She nodded, dazed. 'Yes.'

Austyn stroked her hair.

It was long and soft and smooth, like the finest silk.

'Deborah's father worked as a chauffeur for my family. He passed away when Deborah was eighteen years old. Then she and her

mother moved in to stay with us. I got to know her then.'

Austyn's voice came amidst the inhuman growl of zombies onscreen

Kira had to strain her ears to catch what he said.

And then?' She wished the zombies would shut up.

It sounded like Deborah's father was an employee of the McCarthy family.

Why would his widow and his daughter live with the McCarthys?

Austyn sensed the question in her eyes.