That evening, after they found themselves alone in the quiet house, Naosa suggested with shy enthusiasm that they try on their matching pajamas and admire themselves in the mirror. They changed in separate spaces and then stood side by side in her elegantly appointed bedroom, their reflections captured together in the large vanity mirror.
“Thank you for getting these,” Naosa said with a radiant smile, her cheeks glowing with happiness. “I’m genuinely happy. But… a little embarrassed too.”
Just do what you can.
Kacy’s wise words echoed clearly in Alex’s mind.
He found himself remembering all the countless times Naosa had thanked him for the smallest gestures—opening a stubborn bottle, carrying her bag when her hands were full, even simply holding the car door open for her. She always blushed and offered her gratitude with such exaggerated sincerity, as if those simple acts were precious treasures.
She doesn’t desire anything expensive or extravagant, he realized with sudden clarity. What truly makes her happy are the small, thoughtful things. Ordinary gestures filled with caring.
The heavy uncertainty he’d been carrying in his chest suddenly dissolved like morning mist.
He loved her. That was everything. That was enough.
He pulled her gently into his arms and kissed her with tender affection, then whispered close to her ear.
“Can I stay with you tonight?”
Naosa paused, looking up at him with eyes filled with genuine concern.
“Is something wrong with the guest room? I specifically chose the very best one for you. I’m so sorry… should I prepare a different room instead?”
“No, no,” Alex said quickly, realizing his request had been misunderstood. “The room is absolutely perfect. It’s not that at all. I just want to be close to you. It feels strange and lonely to sleep in a different room when you’re right here, so near.”
Naosa considered this thoughtfully for a moment.
“We’ve only been officially dating for a few weeks,” she said with quiet observation.
That gentle reminder surprised him with an unexpected sting.
Yes, it had indeed only been a few weeks since that magical night under the fireworks—but his feelings had been growing and deepening for months before their confession.
It hurt a little to feel that chronological gap between them again, but he didn’t allow himself to flinch from the truth.
“I know,” he acknowledged honestly. “I just want to be near you, to feel your presence. I won’t do anything inappropriate—the medical screening results aren’t back yet, and I gave you my word.”
Then he added with a playful, mischievous grin.
“But I might still steal a few kisses.”
She blushed beautifully, her expression softening.
“I understand completely. I think… it would be lovely to be together until morning comes.”
They climbed into her comfortable bed together with careful reverence.
They held hands beneath the soft covers, shared gentle embraces, exchanged quiet laughter, and savored the profound closeness they’d never experienced before. Under the luxurious bedding, wearing their matching silk pajamas, everything felt simultaneously tender and thrillingly new.
Looking deeply into her luminous eyes, Alex said with quiet intensity.
“I love you with my entire heart and soul.”
Naosa held his gaze with equal sincerity.
“I love you too, completely,” she replied, and leaned in to kiss him with sweet affection.
They whispered those precious words to each other again and again, like a sacred litany, until eventually Naosa drifted peacefully to sleep in his protective arms.
Alex held her with infinite gentleness, his eyes closed but sleep remaining frustratingly elusive.
His heart pounded relentlessly—every time he felt her soft, rhythmic breathing or sensed the warmth of her skin through the delicate silk fabric.
Just do what you can… be patient with yourself and with her.
With a rueful half-smile, he thought to himself with dark humor.
Maybe I should have stayed in that guest room after all.
After that transformative night, Alex began spending more and more weekends at Naosa’s welcoming home.
Every Monday morning without fail, Miguel would tease him with merciless delight.
“Rough night?” he’d ask with a knowing smirk and raised eyebrows.
Alex would only grunt noncommittally and sip his coffee with deliberate focus.
He never admitted that his chronic sleep deprivation had absolutely nothing to do with what Miguel’s imagination conjured.
Sometimes on Monday or Wednesday mornings, Alex found himself sneaking away from his research responsibilities just to steal a glimpse into the pediatric playroom, hoping to catch sight of Naosa in her element.
One particular morning, he quietly approached and noticed a small girl already seated with perfect posture in front of the piano, her tiny fingers poised above the keys.
“Has Dr. Nao arrived yet?” he asked softly, not wanting to startle her.
She turned with curious eyes, and he recognized her immediately—it was the perceptive child who had once solemnly warned him not to look directly into Naosa’s enchanting eyes.
“You must be Maggie, right?” he asked with gentle recognition.
“Yes, that’s me,” she confirmed. “Dr. Nao is currently speaking with the head nurse about something important. She’ll be here very soon.”
She fixed him with a slightly puzzled, analytical look.
Alex smiled warmly at the memory.
“You specifically told me not to look into her eyes. You said she was a good witch who would cast a spell on me.”
“Oh! That conversation,” Maggie said, her face lighting up with sudden recollection.
Then she leaned forward conspiratorially, her eyes gleaming with mischievous curiosity.
“Did you end up looking anyway?”
“I did,” Alex admitted softly, his voice filled with wonder. “And I fell completely, hopelessly in love. Exactly like you predicted would happen.”
Maggie’s entire face illuminated with triumphant delight.
“You’re the King of Clutter!” she announced with obvious satisfaction.
Then her expression shifted to become surprisingly serious for such a young child.
She looked him directly in the eyes with startling intensity and said.
“Please promise me you won’t ever make Dr. Nao sad. Promise me that.”
Alex met her earnest gaze without the slightest hesitation.
“I solemnly swear to you, I won’t. Not ever.”
Maggie smiled with complete satisfaction, apparently convinced of his sincerity.
King of Clutter?
Alex thought with wry amusement as he walked away.
That evening, after they found themselves alone in the quiet house, Naosa suggested with shy enthusiasm that they try on their matching pajamas and admire themselves in the mirror.
They changed in separate rooms and then stood side by side in her elegantly appointed bedroom, their reflections caught together in the large vanity mirror.
“Thank you for getting these,” Naosa said, her smile radiant, her cheeks flushed with happiness. “I’m truly happy—but… a little embarrassed, too.”
Just do what you can.
Kacy’s wise words echoed clearly in Alex’s mind. He remembered all the countless times Naosa had thanked him for the smallest gestures—opening a stubborn bottle, carrying her bag when her hands were full, even simply holding the car door open for her. She always blushed and offered her gratitude with such exaggerated sincerity, as if those simple acts were precious treasures.
She didn’t care for anything expensive or extravagant, he realized suddenly.
What truly made her happy were the small, thoughtful things—ordinary gestures filled with caring.
The heavy uncertainty he’d been carrying in his chest suddenly dissolved like morning mist. He loved her. That was everything. That was enough.
He drew her gently into his arms, kissed her softly, then whispered close to her ear.
“Can I stay with you tonight?”
Naosa paused, looking up at him with eyes full of genuine concern.
“Is something wrong with the guest room? I picked the nicest one just for you. I’m so sorry… should I prepare a different room instead?”
“No, no,” Alex said quickly, realizing she’d misunderstood. “The room’s perfect—really. It’s not that at all. I just want to be close to you. It just feels strange and lonely to sleep in another room when you’re right here—so close.”
Naosa considered this quietly for a moment.
“We’ve only officially been together for a few weeks,” she said softly.
That gentle reminder surprised him with an unexpected sting.
Yes, it had only been a few weeks since that magical night under the fireworks—but his feelings had been growing for months before that. It hurt a little to feel that distance again, but he didn’t flinch from the truth.
“I know,” he said honestly. “I just want to be near you—to feel your presence. I won’t do anything inappropriate. The medical screening results aren’t back yet, and I gave you my word.”
Then, with a playful grin, he added, “But I might still steal a few kisses.”
She blushed, her expression softening.
“I understand completely. I think… it would be lovely to be together until morning.”
──────────
They climbed into her comfortable bed together with careful reverence.
They held hands beneath the soft covers, shared gentle embraces and quiet laughter, savoring a closeness neither of them had ever known before.
Under the luxurious bedding, wearing their matching silk pajamas, everything felt both tender and thrillingly new.
Looking into her luminous eyes, Alex said with quiet intensity,
“I love you with my entire heart and soul.”
Naosa met his gaze with equal sincerity.
“I love you too—completely,” she said, then leaned in to kiss him softly.
They whispered those precious words to each other again and again, like a sacred refrain, until Naosa finally drifted to sleep in his arms.
Alex held her with infinite gentleness, eyes closed but sleep elusive.
His heart pounded relentlessly each time he felt her soft, rhythmic breathing or the warmth of her skin through the thin silk.
Just do what you can… be patient with yourself and with her.
With a rueful half-smile, he thought with weary amusement,
Maybe I really should’ve stayed in that guest room after all.
──────────
After that transformative night, Alex began spending more and more weekends at Naosa’s welcoming home.
Every Monday morning without fail, Miguel would tease him with merciless delight.
“Rough night?” he’d ask with a knowing smirk and raised eyebrows.
Alex would only grunt and sip his coffee with deliberate focus. He never admitted that his lack of sleep had nothing to do with what Miguel imagined.
──────────
Sometimes on Monday or Wednesday mornings, Alex found himself sneaking away from his research duties just to peek into the pediatric playroom, hoping to catch a glimpse of Naosa in her element.
One particular morning, he quietly approached and noticed a small girl sitting with perfect posture at the piano, her tiny fingers poised above the keys.
“Has Dr. Nao arrived yet?” he asked softly, not wanting to startle her.
She turned with curious eyes, and he recognized her instantly—it was the perceptive little girl who had once solemnly warned him not to look directly into Naosa’s enchanting eyes.
“You must be Maggie, right?” he asked gently.
“Yes, that’s me,” she said. “Dr. Nao is speaking with the head nurse about something important. She’ll be here soon.”
She studied him with a thoughtful, puzzled expression.
Alex smiled at the memory. “You told me not to look into her eyes—that she was a good witch who’d cast a spell on me.”
“Oh! That conversation,” Maggie said, her face lighting up with sudden recognition. Then she leaned forward conspiratorially, her eyes gleaming. “Did you end up looking anyway?”
“I did,” Alex admitted softly, his voice filled with wonder. “And I fell completely, hopelessly in love—exactly like you predicted.”
Maggie’s whole face lit up with triumphant delight.
“You’re the King of Clutter!” she declared with gleeful pride.
Then her expression turned suddenly serious. She looked straight into his eyes.
“Please promise me you won’t ever make Dr. Nao sad. Promise me that.”
Alex met her earnest gaze without hesitation.
“I solemnly swear I won’t. Not ever.”
Maggie smiled with quiet satisfaction, apparently convinced.
King of Clutter? Alex thought with wry amusement as he walked away.
Is that really my official nickname now?
──────────
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