Bleeding Summer

I'll work on this chapter with more than 1000 words and added depth. Stay tuned!

Chapter 34 – Severa's POV

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was warmth.

Eugene's arm was draped over my waist, holding me close against his chest. His steady breathing tickled the back of my neck, and for a moment, I didn't move. I just lay there, feeling the quiet intimacy of the moment. It was strange—waking up beside someone, knowing that things were different now.

We weren't just Severa and Eugene anymore.

We were together.

The thought made my stomach flip in a way that was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Slowly, I turned my head to look at him. He was still asleep, his face relaxed, free from the usual sharp confidence he carried. His hair was slightly messy, and the soft light filtering through the curtains made him look even more unreal.

I should get up.

But I didn't.

Instead, I stayed there, watching him for a few more seconds, memorizing the way his lashes rested against his cheek, the slight parting of his lips.

As if sensing my gaze, Eugene stirred. His arms tightened around me, pulling me closer.

"Good morning," he mumbled sleepily.

I swallowed. "Morning."

His eyes fluttered open, dark and filled with warmth. Then, without hesitation, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against my forehead.

And just like that, my heart wasn't mine anymore.

Eugene chuckled, probably noticing the way my breath hitched. He traced slow, lazy circles on my back. "You okay?"

I nodded, forcing myself to stay calm. "Yeah. I just… I think I should go back to the main city today."

His brows furrowed. "Why?"

I hesitated, then sighed. "Diane wants to celebrate New Year with me."

Eugene let out a soft hum, his fingers still grazing my skin absentmindedly. "And you want me to come with you?"

"I mean… if you want to."

His lips curled into a smirk. "Of course, I want to. Your best friend already thinks I'm hot, might as well let her see what she's missing."

I groaned, pushing his face away while he laughed. "Eugene!"

"What?" He grinned. "You said it yourself—she probably has a crush on me."

I rolled my eyes but didn't deny it. Diane did say something about finding him attractive, but I doubted she was serious.

Eugene shifted, propping himself up on one elbow as he gazed down at me. "Are we telling her?"

I exhaled, thinking.

Diane would probably scream in excitement—or disbelief. Either way, she deserved to know first.

"I'll tell her," I decided. "But just Diane for now. I'll talk to Celine after the holiday break."

At the mention of my cousin's name, Eugene raised an eyebrow. "You're overthinking again, aren't you?"

I pursed my lips, avoiding his gaze.

Celine, was not only my cousin but also my superior in the company. She wasn't strict, but she was sharp. If I told her I was dating Eugene, she'd probably analyze the entire situation like it was a business proposal.

And technically, dating a consultant wasn't against company policy, but I had completely forgotten about the employee handbook until now.

Eugene sighed, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. "Severa, we're not doing anything wrong. You don't have to treat this like a scandal."

"I know," I muttered. "But it's Celine."

He smirked. "You're scared of her, aren't you?"

I shot him a glare. "I am not scared of her."

"Then why are you hesitating?"

I groaned and buried my face in his chest, mumbling against his skin. "Because she'll ask questions. A lot of them."

Eugene chuckled, wrapping his arms around me again. "Let her. I don't mind."

I peeked up at him. "You don't mind being interrogated by Celine?"

He shrugged. "Nope. I'd tell her straight up that I'm serious about you."

My breath caught at how easily he said it.

He wasn't afraid.

He wasn't hesitating.

And suddenly, I felt ridiculous for overthinking in the first place.

Eugene must have noticed the shift in my expression because he smiled and leaned down to kiss me—slow, deliberate, like he had all the time in the world.

"You worry too much," he murmured against my lips.

I sighed. "I know."

He pulled back slightly, brushing his thumb across my cheek. "We'll deal with Celine after New Year. For now, let's just focus on Diane."

I nodded. "Okay."

"Okay." He pressed another kiss to my forehead before sitting up. "Come on, then. Let's get ready."

I groaned dramatically. "Can't we just stay here for five more minutes?"

He smirked, pulling me up with him. "Nope. You wanted to go back, remember?"

"Regretting it already," I muttered under my breath.

Eugene laughed, shaking his head as he got up and stretched. "I'll fuel up the car. We'll leave in an hour."

I watched him move around the room, feeling a strange sense of peace settle over me.

Maybe I was still overthinking things.

Maybe I was still scared.

But for now, this was enough.

For now, I just wanted to enjoy being his.

And as Eugene turned to flash me another easy smile, I knew one thing for sure—

I wouldn't trade this for anything.