CHAPTER 96: I’LL MAKE SURE THERE’S NOTHING TO SHARE

The sheer excitement in her face, the way her composure broke into something almost like she was a child again, made Mika’s heart beat faster. She wanted this. She wanted him there, beside her, close.

And Mika...Mika was already excited himself.

Not for the movie, no, that didn’t matter.

What he wanted was to be in her arms again, to be pulled against her, to feel her warmth, her softness. To let her smother him the way she always did, chest pressed against him until all thoughts of sleep disappeared.

Yes. That was what he wanted more than anything right now.

Of course, he couldn’t just say that outright. Admitting it would raise questions, make her suspicious. And Mika knew better than to risk that, so he had to go about the roundabout way.

Yelena’s face lit up as she looked at Mika, her hand still clasping his tightly, her entire posture expectant. She was certain, after everything she had said, that he would agree. There was no way he wouldn’t.

But then Mika’s expression shifted, his smile dimmed, his brows furrowed, and when he spoke, his words struck her like a slap.

"I’m sorry, Yelena." His voice was soft, almost somber, as though he regretted every syllable. "I understand how excited you are. Truly, I do. And honestly...I want to watch the movie with you too. I really do."

He shook his head slowly.

"But right now...I’m just too sleepy. That walk earlier wore me out more than I realized. If this were before, I would’ve gladly sat beside you. But right now...I just want to lie down in bed. I need the rest."

For a heartbeat, Yelena simply stared at him, stunned, as if the words hadn’t registered. Then her eyes widened, her lips parting in disbelief.

"You’re...rejecting me?" She whispered.

When he nodded faintly, trying to step back, she suddenly tightened her grip, refusing to let him go. Her eyes shone with something between desperation and pleading.

"No, Mika...you don’t need to leave." Her voice was soft, almost fragile, but urgent. "Please, don’t...And sleep? Sleep is no fun at all. Only losers sleep." She let out a small, almost disdainful scoff. "What’s so great about lying in a bed alone when you could be here? With me?"

She leaned closer, her eyes wide, hopeful.

"It’s so much better to be with me right here on the sofa. Sleep is overrated anyway. You can do that anytime...But this, this moment, it’s now."

Her hand tightened over his, her tone slipping into almost pitiful pleading.

"And if you really want to sleep, then...then just sleep here. By my side. In my arms. You’ll sleep better with me holding you, I promise. You don’t need your bed. You don’t need anything but me."

She looked up at him with eyes shimmering, like a puppy begging not to be left behind, her grace and composure melting into pure longing.

And seeing this, Mika’s chest ached with the desire to say yes. He wanted nothing more than to dive into her embrace, to let her hold him as he drifted off.

But he forced himself to resist. He couldn’t give in so easily and there was also the he wanted to tease her even more since she looked so cute right now.

"No. I really can’t." He shook his head firmly.

Her lips parted in shock, her whole body tensing.

"I can’t sleep on uncomfortable places like sofas." Mika said, forcing a calm, reasonable tone. "I need my bed. That’s just how I am." He gently slipped his hand free of hers, even as she tried to hold on. "So I’ll head off now. To bed. To sleep."

He turned away, beginning to walk slowly, his back to her.

"Maybe tomorrow, if I’m free...and if I’m not so sleepy...we can watch a movie together. How about that?" He glanced back at her with a small smile. "Maybe even Charlotte can join us."

The reaction was instant and explosive.

"No!" Yelena shot up from the sofa, her eyes blazing. "Not at all! There’s no way I’ll let Charlotte join!"

Mika blinked, startled by the sheer vehemence in her voice. "Eh?"

"This is our moment." Yelena said, almost growling. "Between you and me. If that little devil comes, she’ll ruin everything! She’ll sit right between us, and then, then I won’t be able to cuddle you at all!"

Her face twisted with indignation, cheeks flushed, her whole body tense like a child throwing a tantrum.

"There’s no way I’ll let that happen!"

Mika couldn’t help it. He chuckled softly at the sight, shaking his head.

"You really are something else, Yelena." He waved his hand casually as he stepped further away. "Fine, fine. Charlotte doesn’t have to come. Tomorrow, it can be just the two of us."

But Yelena shook her head violently, her hair swaying with the motion.

"No. Not tomorrow!"Her voice rose, trembling with desperation. "It has to be today! Right now!"

She then scrambled onto the back of the sofa, crawling forward like a cat ready to pounce. Her eyes locked onto him with a mixture of determination and raw emotion.

"Don’t you see? This isn’t just coincidence. Both of us couldn’t sleep. Both of us came here. We met at the same time, in the same place."

"...That’s fate, Mika. Fate!"

Her voice wavered, almost breaking.

"Fate is telling us to stay together tonight. To cuddle. To watch this movie. You can’t reject me after everything I’ve said." She leaned forward, her hands gripping the sofa cushions. "And it’s not far at all. Just a few steps."

"...So you better come back here. Right now."

Her eyes hardened, her voice low and warning.

"...Or else."

Mika stopped mid-step, glancing back at her with a small smirk tugging at his lips.

"Or else...what?" He teased. "What are you going to do, Yelena?"

She didn’t answer with words.

Instead, she moved.

Before Mika could even process what was happening, Yelena launched herself off the sofa.

Jump!

For a brief, surreal moment, she was airborne, flying straight toward him.

His eyes widened in horror. "Wait, what—!?"

Then she collided with him, knocking him forward.

Bang!

He staggered, barely keeping his balance, as her arms wrapped tightly around his neck and her legs locked firmly around his waist.

"I got you now!" She cried triumphantly, clinging to him like a koala refusing to let go.

Mika groaned, his hands instinctively grabbing at her arms. "Yelena—! What are you doing?!"

"I-I told you, didn’t I? You’re not getting away from me tonight!" Her voice was breathless, almost laughing, but desperate underneath.

Mika twisted, trying to shake her off, his face contorting with disbelief.

"Yeah, but that doesn’t mean you have to grab onto me like a damn monkey and hang off my back like this!" He yanked his hands free and tried to pry her legs off, reaching behind him awkwardly.

But every time he moved, Yelena shifted with uncanny speed, dodging his hands like she had trained for this exact situation her entire life. And instead of loosening, she only tightened her grip, her arms pressing more firmly around his neck until he felt her breath warm against his ear.

"I’ll do whatever it takes." She whispered fiercely, her voice low and smug. "Whether I look like a monkey or not. If clinging like this is what it takes to be with you, then that’s what I’ll do."

Mika froze as her lips curved into a sly smile, her breath ghosting his skin.

"And you’d better stop trying to pull me off." She added, her tone dropping into a playful, menacing lilt. "Because before I was some ’old lady’ who sits around drinking wine and watching movies all day, I was a warrior. A fighter on the frontlines."

"...So, there’s no way you can make me get off that easily. Not to mention that I’ve actually choked out actual demonic beasts before. And you?..." She let out a soft, mocking chuckle. "...Wouldn’t be too hard"

Her arms tightened again, squeezing his neck until he coughed.

"This, this is absolutely childish, Yelena!" Mika frowned deeply, gritting his teeth as he tried to shake her off. "You’re behaving like a kid! A full-grown adult, with a child of your own, and here you are clinging to my back in the middle of the night like some lunatic!"

He stumbled forward, tugging at her arms.

"You know, your daughter is upstairs, asleep right now. So, maybe try acting your age for once!"

But to his exasperation, she only giggled softly, her voice rich with defiance.

"I don’t care about my age. I don’t care about what’s proper, or what’s expected. All I care about..." She pressed her cheek against his, her smile curling wider. "...is you. You, coming back to me."

"...You, letting me hug you, cuddle you, kiss you all over your face until you’re red. That’s what matters."

She nuzzled her head against his neck, her legs tightening around him with surprising strength.

"When fate hands me a chance like this, I’m not letting it go. I’ll do anything to hold onto you."

Hearing this, despite himself, Mika couldn’t help but smile faintly, though his voice was still sharp.

"You’re insane. Completely insane." He tilted his head back to glance at her with a crooked grin. "Maybe you were a leech in your past life. That’s probably why I can’t pull you off."

"I am not a leech, Mika!" Her lips parted in offense, her eyes narrowing. "I’m just someone who loves you too much to let go."

"Uh-huh. Whatever." He smirked, his tone playful now. "But tell me this, what if I shout right now, huh? If I yell loud enough, Charlotte’s going to wake up. She’ll come down here to check, and then, poof!"

"...Every single one of your plans will be ruined. Even if we do watch the movie, she’ll sit right between us, hogging me all to herself, and you won’t even get to touch me."

That finally made Yelena falter. Her smile slipped, and she frowned deeply, muttering under her breath.

"No...no, that can’t happen."

Her tone was panicked, her eyes darting as though she were calculating.

"If that damn daughter of mine comes down here, everything will be ruined. She’ll cling to you like glue, greedy little thing that she is. She won’t let me have even a single piece of you."

Yelena’s muttering grew darker, her tone dropping.

"She’ll become the leech instead. And she’ll pluck me away like I’m nothing."

Mika’s grin spread smugly, satisfied at her visible defeat.

"Exactly. Now what are you going to do, huh?" His voice dripped with triumph as he tilted his head at her. "You can’t do anything. You’re cornered."

For the first time that night, he looked victorious, a cocky smirk spreading across his face.

But that smugness vanished in an instant.

Because suddenly, a faint shadow shimmered at Yelena’s side, splitting like smoke. And in her hand appeared a gleaming dagger, its blade glinting wickedly in the dim light.

"Wait...WHAT?!" Mika’s face drained of color.

Before he could move, the dagger was pressed flat against his neck, the cold steel biting his skin. Yelena leaned closer, her smile curling into something mischievous, almost unhinged.

"I’ll do this." She whispered in his ear, her voice sickly sweet. "I’ll place a knife right here, against your throat. And now you won’t dare shout, will you, my darling boy?"

Mika stiffened, swallowing hard as he felt the point shift lightly against his skin.

"Y-Yelena...you wouldn’t. You wouldn’t dare. You don’t have the guts."

Her eyes gleamed with a blend of madness and playfulness, the corners of her mouth twitching upward.

"Oh, I wouldn’t?" Her laugh was quiet, low, like a spark catching flame. "Go on then. Shout. Scream your lungs out. But just know, when Charlotte comes running down here, the only thing she’ll see is you...lying in a pool of your own blood."

Her grip tightened around his neck, her lips brushing his ear as she hissed.

"There won’t be a Mika left for either of us to share. Not me, not her. Nothing. And isn’t that so much better than letting Charlotte hog you all to herself?"

Mika’s face went pale as a ghost, his heart thundering in his chest.

In that moment, he honestly wasn’t sure anymore, was it Charlotte who was the crazy one in this family?

Or was Yelena the true psychopath, willing to slit his throat just to force him back on the sofa for a cuddle session?

All Mika knew for certain was one thing: both mother and daughter were utterly insane when it came to him...