“Are you ogling my chest?
You pervert…”
Oh, come on… The bathroom was tiny—where else was I supposed to look, the sky?
“What?
I’m starving.
If you’ve got something to say, spit it out already.
My leg’s killing me, you know.”
I asked, not understanding why we had to talk in the bathroom.
“You put my department uniform in the washer, didn’t you?” he pointed at the washing machine that had stopped working.
“Yeah… so what?”
“Haven’t I already told you?” He jabbed a finger at my forehead with enough force to knock my head back, sighing dramatically.
“What…” I mumbled, suddenly fixated on his chest.
Wah…
now I was officially a hopeless creep.
“The way you mixed your bra and underwear with everything else.
I told you to wash those separately with sleepwear and use a mesh bag so they wouldn’t lose shape!”
He pulled my pastel undergarments from the washer as he scolded me.
I was scared when he washed my underwear the first time, but he had been the one to insist on taking over the laundry.
I swear I did not want it to turn out like this.
It was all Ziff’s fault.
He did everything himself despite my objection.
It was not like I had anywhere hide my laundry either.
This was my room, where else was I supposed to put my laundry, right…
And the thing about mixing everything up was not my intention.
I was dazed at that time and had just realized what I did when he actually scolded me.
I was so embarrassed that my face felt numb, I hated myself.
“Are you really a woman!” he huffed and suddenly fell silent as the doorbell rang.
“Room service, I guess.
I’ll get it.
Sort those clothes out, I’m washing them again,” he ordered, storming out of the bathroom grumpily.
I grimaced but reluctantly started sorting as he had told me.
That was when I realized… we had not ordered room service.
Plus, my dad had already cooked for me.
And, ahh!
Ziff was out there with just a towel holding my underwear.
“Ziff, wait.
You can’t just walk out there like that…”
Oh, God, help me…
Right now, Ziff was facing my father, wearing nothing but a white towel around his waist and holding my underwear in his hand!
.
“Oh!
Looks like we’re in the wrong room…” my dad muttered, his face a sheer confusion.
Beside him, my mom had her eyes wide open and her hand over her mouth, totally stunned.
Thankfully, neither of them had spotted me yet as I peeked out from behind Ziff, who was now frozen solid in shock.
“Honey, you’re just a little forgetful these days,”
my sweet mom, Yaya, chimed in smoothly, quickly tugging my dad in the opposite direction before shutting the door with a resounding thud.
As soon as they were gone, I yanked a dazed Ziff back into the apartment.
“What on earth were you doing?” I snapped in hushed tone, slapping his body in both frustration and terror.
“That was your parents just now, wasn’t it!?”
he stammered, seemingly only just realizing.
“You’re a complete idiot!” I growled, giving him another slap as heat rose up my face.
“Oh, now you’re brave enough to start hitting me?” Ziff scoffed, pressing a hand to his forehead and fixing me with a sharp glare.
“Just you wait…”
But before he could finish, the door swung open again.
Yes, my dad was back, looking decidedly unimpressed as his gaze zeroed in on us, his expression so intimidating that I felt an immediate chill.
With no words coming to me, I looked over at my mom, silently begging for her intervention.
“So, Panya, this isn’t the wrong room, is it?
Mind explaining who is this half-naked guy in your room?”
Papa Joshua’s voice was stern, I was so scared that tears fell, unsure who I could rely on.
Trembling, I instinctively clung to Ziff’s arm for support.
“Honey, why don’t we close the door before anyone passing by gets a good look?”
Mom suggested sweetly, working to keep dad’s mood from worsening.
She calmly guided him into the room, shutting the door behind her.
Then she broke into a chuckle, spotting something in Ziff’s hand.
Ziff followed her gaze, and only then seemed to realize he was still holding my underwear.
He tried to quickly hide it behind his back, but it was too late— Ziff…
my dad had definitely already seen it.
How had Ziff managed to get so scatterbrained that he did not notice?
“Mind if I have a word with you, young man?” Dad said, eyebrow raised, his tone flat.
Gulp…
I felt panic rise in my chest.
I did the only thing that came to mind, pulling out my rusty acting skills from elementary school.
“Oh, Dad, he’s just my friend but he’s gay!”
Boom…
boom…
boom…
I could practically hear a gong crashing inside my head as I spoke.
Ziff went silent for a moment, then he turned and shot me a murderous glare.
“What did you just say…”
In a flash, I jumped up and clamped my hand over his mouth, despite our height differences.
In the chaos that ensued, we somehow tripped and fell, and soon enough, his towel was on the floor.
My face landed right on his exposed abs, drawn to them like a magnet, as he yelled,
“You maniac!
You made me lose my towel.”
“No, Ziff, you’re gay.
Just play along!”
“Oh my goodness, honey!
Has our little girl really grown up this fast?”
“Where are you even putting your face at, you dummy?
Stop yanking on my boxers!”
The sound of my dad’s voice was strangely absent through the whole fracas, and finally, after a moment, the mayhem settled.
“Panya, care to tell me what on earth is going on here!”
“What on earth is going on here, Panya?
Explain to me; why is there a man in your room, why is he naked, and why is he holding your underwear!”
My dad was shaking with restrained rage on the couch, radiating an almost divine authority.
Beside him, my mom, Yaya, was scribbling furiously in her notebook, likely plotting her next novel, all while calmly eating an orange.
Why did my family have to be like this, sob… Find the original chapter at g.com.
Meanwhile, Gecko-Man Ziff was kneeling humbly on the floor beside me, wearing nothing but a white towel wrapped around his waist.
He looked like a servant from some ancient royal court, as I knelt beside him in silent shame.
And not far away, a very incriminating piece of my underwear lay on the floor like some kind of sacrificial relic.
“Panya…”
“Papa…”
I replied, my voice trembling as I tried to put on my most pleading face.
“Don’t give me that look.
You better tell me exactly what’s going on here before I lose it and pound that guy until he’s laid flat!”
“Papa, don’t.
Your back will give out again.”
“Pfft~” my mom let out a chuckle.
“Panya you…”
“My dear, you’re really going to let our son-in-law sit here without a stitch on?”
“Let him get pneumonia for all I care.” Dad snapped, clearly reaching his limit.
Out of sheer panic, I found myself edging closer to Ziff.
Dad was not usually this terrifying.
“But I must say, Panya’s boyfriend sure has an impressive physique.
Maybe it’s best if he doesn’t wear anything, don’t you think, dear?”
“Panya, take that man to get dressed.
Now!” Dad barked, his stance changing instantly under Mom’s admiring comments.
Hehe…
Everyone knew dad was fiercely protective and famously possessive when it came to my mom.
His jealousy over her had not faded a bit, even after all these years.
Seizing the chance, I grabbed Ziff’s arm and helped him up, practically dragging him away from the scene.
“And take your underwear with you, don’t just leave it around.” Dad added.
Ziff reached down, picking it up.
Then he led us both toward my room, his face dark with menace.
“You’re dead…
Panya.”
Once we had both changed into proper clothes, dad called Ziff to the kitchen for a one-on-one chat.
Meanwhile, I sat in the living room, anxiously waiting for their talk to end.
My mom, Yaya, sat nearby, blissfully jotting down notes in her plot notebook, seeming unfazed.
Sigh…
I could only hope things would turn out not too bad.
In all the chaos, I had not realized I had been walking around with my full weight on my injured foot, and now it throbbed painfully.
Dad or Ziff would kill me for sure if they noticed the way my ankle had swelled up from my carelessness.
“So, how did you meet Ziff, dear…”
my mom asked casually, peeling yet another orange.
“Why, are you planning to put in a book, mom?” I replied, feeling a little sulky.
Mom just laughed.
“I’m just curious, sweetie.
He’s quite handsome, after all; I imagine there must be plenty of minxes out there swooning over him.”
“Mom, really.
Did you just say minxes?
Why are you talking like this?”
I groaned hopelessly, burying my face in my hands.
Mom let out another laugh, covering her mouth.
“Oh, I got a little carried away, darling—I guess it’s just from getting too into my writing.”
“This always happens.
Last time, you smacked dad on the head just because you got too into your novel,” I said, unable to keep myself from smiling a little.
“That was deliberate.
Can’t help it…
he was stingy with my spending money.
Besides, he only cleans up when he’s here to see you, but wouldn’t even touch it at home.”
“Maybe he just wants to spend time with you, mom?” I suggested with a smile.
“And you, Panya?
Do you fuss over him, making him do this and that for you?” Mom asked, handing me a slice of orange.
“Nope.
He actually does everything himself,”
I replied with a small laugh.
Just then, dad came back into the room—without Ziff.
Apparently, dad wanted to get to know us better by having one-on-one chats with us both.
Naturally, Ziff could not lie, and I had never get away with a lie even if I tried; dad would see right through it in an instant.
“So, you really weren’t going to tell me, that you’ve been living with this guy for almost a year now.”
Boom… boom… boom…
I swore, I could practically hear the drumbeats pounding in my head.
Ah!
What had that fool Ziff gone and said to my dad?
“I’m disappointed, but it’s too late to change anything now, hmp!”
“It’s kind of like when you lived at my place with me and pretended my room was yours back in the day!” Mom chimed in, drawing my attention as well as dad’s.
“And I had thought, where had MY room gone to…” she said with a teasing pout, which immediately made Dad wrap his arms around her.
“See, this is why.
It’s our fault you’ve felt so lonely that you had to get yourself a handsome boyfriend, right?
Your father and I were too wrapped up in each other.
I’m so sorry, dear, if we made you feel neglected”
Mom said while I knitted my brows in confusion.
Was I lonely?
That was, until mom winked at me, and I had to hold back a giggle.
Once again, dad was falling behind on Mom’s quick-thinking act.
“Lunch is served…”
Ziff’s voice drifted in from the kitchen, snapping me out of my thoughts.
For a moment, I had almost forgotten he was there, likely hiding out of fear of my father.
Mom immediately took dad’s hand and led him to the kitchen, where Ziff was doing his best impression of a diligent chef.
His demeanor made me stifle a laugh.
“So Ziff usually does the cooking himself, son…”
Both Dad and I whipped around to stare at her in shock.
Son?
Um…!
Mom, don’t you think it’s a bit early for that?
“Yes, Panya’s not much help, so I had to do everything myself” Ziff replied humbly.
Standing straight with his hands clasped in front, he looked remarkably well-behaved, but I could not help finding another thing on him funny…
I had tossed out all his clothes just the other day, so he had nothing left to wear in my apartment.
So, now he was stuck wearing mine.
While the pants managed to fit somewhat, the shirt was…
well, let’s just say pink made him look silly.
This was because he did not do my laundry and went off with that university belle, Susie.
So, I only had a few fresh clothes left, with those fitted him being pink.
Imagine a tall, serious-looking guy with sharp features and that intense look in his eyes, all decked out in pastel pink.
You would laugh too…
I secretly snapped a photo and played innocent, ignoring his bloodthirsty glare.
“Anyway, please look after her, Ziff.
Panya’s truly hopeless; ever since she moved out, all she’s done is injure herself.
Her father and I constantly had to take her to the hospital.
Lately, though, we haven’t heard a peep—guess that’s thanks to Ziff taking care of things,”
mom said nonchalantly as I glanced over at Ziff.
Whoa.
He was telling my parents we had been together for over a year?
If my dad found out we had only known each other for a month, I would be toast.
“Yes, she looks after me, too.
Like when she throws clothes into the washing machine without checking for loose change in the pockets or tosses delicate wool sweaters in with heavy fabrics.
All while dumping colored clothes in with whites.
Worst yet, she threw her undergarments, student uniform, and socks all into one wash.
That’s why I can’t leave her side.”
“Ziff…”
I whispered menacingly, but he only raised an eyebrow mockingly.
Mr.
Ziff!
“Oh my.
Panya, I told you not to do things like that.”
“Oh, and last time she was frying gyoza while drinking an iced Coke.
Somehow, she tripped, and the ice flew straight into the hot oil—I thought the whole apartment would go up in flames…”
“Zip it, Ziff!”
I did not know how Ziff managed to trick my dad into backing down, but surprisingly, he kept his own emotions well in check.
His unusually smiley face may have twitched now and then, but he escorted my parents out of my apartment politely.
The moment the door clicked shut, Ziff’s fake smile vanished, replaced with a stormy scowl.
He yanked me back into the apartment, slamming the door behind him.
“That’s it, I’m done!” he roared, tearing off the shirt like it was a straitjacket holding him back.
“I’m done!”
he shouted again, pulling his pants off.
My eyes widened in shock—he was down to nothing but a tiny pair of boxer briefs.
God!
If he kept this up, I was going to pass out.
“And where do you think you’re going?
Come here, you!”
he snatched my wrist and tugging me right up against him as I was trying to escape.
Pressed against his bare chest, I could hear his heartbeat, strong and steady.
Mine, on the other hand, was a chaotic mess.
“What are you doing?” I stammered, wary, and gasped as he bent down and scooped me into his arms, quickly grabbing onto his neck.
“Doing what I told your dad—what we really are to each other,” he murmured, a sly smile at the corner of his mouth.
“What do you mean by that…”
I asked, genuinely clueless as to whether he was serious or just trying to rattle me.
Without another word, he carried me toward the bedroom and skillfully opened the door with his foot.
“Making it real—so I wouldn’t have been lying to your father.”
“And what…”
Before I could ask further, he silenced me with his mouth on mine, carrying me effortlessly into the bedroom and closed it with his foot.
The entire time, his lips did not leave mine for even a moment.
“Sorry for misunderstanding you.
Still mad?”
he murmured softly, his tone somehow gentler than his usual self after breaking the kiss.
Wait a minute should I not be the one asking that?
He was the one who had been fuming for no reason…
When my back hit the softness of the bed, I snapped out of it, my eyes flying open.
I tried to push him away, but it was harder than I thought.
In truth, I was terrified—but Ziff seemed like he had something to say rather than acting on my worst fears.
Gradually, my alarm subsided as I prepared to listen.
I did not want to act foolish by avoiding him and giving in to pointless sulking.
Whatever he had to say, I was ready to hear it.
Whatever it was, it could not hurt more than the last time…
“I really must’ve been impossible…,” he murmured something I could not quite understand.
“All that blind jealousy, making you feel so miserable.”
Stunned, I forgot to pull away.
Even if I did not quite believe it, there was no denying the implication of what he had just said.
Jealous?
Then that would mean…
Could we both feel the same way?
I had been hurt because of how heartlessly he had acted and made me cry.
And Ziff—he had been foolish and impulsive, jumping to conclusions without asking a thing.
I wanted to be angrier, but I could not ignore that I had been just as stubborn and clueless, saying things that had not made sense.
It was no wonder he had gotten the wrong idea.
“So, am I right to think that you like me?” I asked, barely breathing as I spoke.
My heart pounded hard.
My temperature grew warmer uncontrollably as odd sensation spread to my fingertips.
I could not put it into words.
But one thing was clear: I was filled with hope, waiting to hear the answer I had always wanted.
“You’re slow,” Ziff smiled.
It was the same cheeky grin that had always made me want to roll my eyes but now made my heart soar with comfort and happiness.
“If I didn’t like you, why would I get so jealous?”
Ugh…
Suddenly, his smile grew more intense.
I realized I was not even scared by Ziff’s demeanor anymore, not of his gaze or his smile.
It hit me—we were lying together, his entire frame surrounding me.
“I’ll stop being so unreasonable, okay?
Let’s make peace…”
He grinned again, and I was so flustered I did not know how to act.
The emotions ran from thrill to a racing heartbeat; was he doing this just to drive me crazy?
“I’ll take care of you from now on, never hurt you.
Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it…”
As he spoke, his fingertips glided slowly down my arm until our hands met, fingers entwining tightly.
“…”
My voice caught in my throat, surprised by this brute—but I could not object, not a word.
Because the truth was…
I had been in love with him for ages now…
After a confession like that, how was I supposed to respond…
“I love you, and you—do you feel the same?” Ziff whispered by my ear, his words and breath sending a warm wave through me.
“I, I do, I—love…”
I could not finish the sentence; he held me tightly, speaking up, silencing any objections before I could utter them.
“Time’s up, love.
Be mine, Panya…”
(Ending!!)