~Time-Traveler's Dilemma~ ~~Chiyeon~~ ~Book 6~

Hidden Passages and Handmade gifts.

"Come in," Ahyeon called softly, sitting down at her desk.

The door creaked open, and Chiquita stepped inside, a bright grin on her face despite her messy appearance. She held the crown of flowers and the bowl behind her back, her excitement barely contained.

"Ahyeon," Chiquita began, her voice gentle, "I made something for you. I thought you might like it."

Ahyeon raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "For me? What is it?"

Chiquita stepped closer, her messy hair falling into her eyes, the dirt on her tunic and pants giving her an unkempt but undeniably attractive look. Without another word, she revealed the crown of flowers and the heart-shaped bowl, her hands outstretched.

"I made these for you," she said, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I thought it might bring you a little joy, considering how hard you’ve been working."

For a moment, Ahyeon was speechless. She stared at the gifts in Chiquita’s hands, her heart swelling with emotion. No one had ever given her something so personal, so filled with care. The crown of flowers was stunning, and the bowl, though simple, was made with such thoughtfulness that it touched Ahyeon in a way she hadn’t expected.

"Chiquita..." Ahyeon whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "You made these... for me?"

Chiquita nodded, a sheepish grin spreading across her face. "Yeah. I know it’s not much, but I wanted to show you how much you mean to me."

Ahyeon took the crown from Chiquita’s hands, her fingers brushing against Chiquita’s in the process. She held the flowers gently, as if they were the most precious thing in the world. Her chest tightened as she fought back tears, overwhelmed by Chiquita’s gesture.

"No one has ever done something like this for me," Ahyeon said, her voice trembling slightly. "No one has ever loved me the way you do."

Chiquita smiled, her eyes soft as she gazed at Ahyeon. "You deserve it, Ahyeon. More than anyone."

Ahyeon set the crown down carefully on her desk, then took the heart-shaped bowl in her hands, examining it closely. "Did you make this yourself?"

"Yeah," Chiquita replied, rubbing the back of her neck. "I used to dabble in pottery, back in my time. I figured a little handmade gift might be more special than anything I could buy."

Ahyeon’s eyes glistened as she placed the bowl next to the crown, then turned her full attention to Chiquita. Without warning, she stepped forward, pulling Chiquita into a tight embrace.

"Thank you," Ahyeon whispered into Chiquita’s ear, her voice filled with gratitude. "I don’t deserve you."

Chiquita’s heart raced as she wrapped her arms around Ahyeon, holding her close. "Of course, you do. You deserve the world."

Ahyeon pulled back slightly, her eyes scanning Chiquita’s face. The flickering candlelight illuminated Chiquita’s messy appearance—the dirt on her cheeks, the tousled hair, the soil-stained clothes. Ahyeon’s breath hitched as she realized just how incredibly attractive Chiquita looked like this—rugged, raw, and utterly handsome.