SPELLBOUND

"Because I can no longer let go of you, Vera." His voice was filled with nothing but deep emotions as he said that. And Vera was paralyzed hearing those words coming from his mouth. 

Her eyes just stared at him. These were words she had been wishing for with her whole heart. However, she could not quite believe what she had just heard. Did she hear that correctly? Or could it be that she had been wanting to hear this for so long that her ears are playing tricks on her? She shook her head a little dazedly and looked at Gideon to see if he was serious. Seeing him staring intently at her and waiting for her response, Vera felt that what she heard must have been real.

The emotions inside her chest felt as though they were in a frenzy right now. She felt like she wanted to burst into tears due to too much happiness that she could barely contain within her heart. But she somehow held all those powerful emotions back, afraid that her ears might have tricked her or something. Just in case. She better double check and be a hundred percent sure before rejoicing.

"W-what…" her voice was so weak, "what did you… just say? Can you say that again, please?" She choked out slightly as she uttered that last line, hoping and praying that she was not dreaming.

And Gideon pulled away. A defeated smile gracing his handsome face as he brushed her face with the back of his fingers tenderly. His eyes were the same as that night when he had dedicated himself to her wholeheartedly. Soft, warm, and so full of love. Vera tried to hold herself as still as she could while waiting for his reply, but she could not help the little trembling of her knees and hands as she strained to hear his reply.

"You're doomed, Vera…" he said apologetically, "because I can no longer let you go. You're now stuck with me – the f*cked up living curse – for the rest of your life." A slanted and somewhat sad smile spread across his lips. But to Vera, that was the most beautiful and precious smile in the whole wide world right now.

Vera blinked, her lips parting open, but no words came forth. And then she cried all the while smiling so wide. There was just no need for words between them right now. The look on her face that very moment made Gideon unable to continue talking and he just kept his eyes glued on her. 

"Oh my god… I'm… I'm so happy!" She finally burst out and sobbed right before him, covering her mouth with her hands, trying to slightly mute the loud cries coming from herself. "I'm so happy, so… happy… Gideon… you don't know how happy I am right now!" tears were streaming down her cheeks that were lifted in a wide smile.

Then she hugged him and planted kisses on his face while whispering heartfelt 'thank yous'. 

"I just said you're doomed," he breathed out in disbelief as he shook his head wryly. And following his statement, Vera's breathtaking smile became even wider as she cupped Gideon's face. 

"If being doomed feels like this… if being doomed means being with you for the rest of my life, then so be it… I would love to be doomed forever, Gideon. That would be the aim of my life – to remain being doomed with you forever." She said staunchly with shining eyes and Gideon caught his lips that had started trembling between his teeth. 

"F*ck…" he cursed under his breath, "why are you… I'm not worthy…" he bit his lower lip again and as his tears fell, he buried his face into the crook of her shoulder. "I don't deserve your love…" his body shook as he said that, and Vera hugged him tight. 

"You're wrong. I believe we deserve each other… I believe I was born for you and only you, Gideon. I believe this is fate. Didn't you notice it yet? No matter how you tried to push me away, no matter what you do, no matter what happens, in the end, I always end up right in your arms like this." Vera was smiling so widely as she whispered that to him, kissing his head so lovingly as she tried to soothe him at the same time. 

She made him looked at her next and she gently brushed a finger over his wet dark lashes. "I still don't understand everything, but please believe me when I say I don't desire anything else in this life but you. I won't mind jumping into the pits of hell as long as I'm doing that with you. I won't fear even the darkest darkness as long as you're holding onto me like this. You already know that, right? About how stubborn I am when it comes to you?" then an impish and mischievous grin spread on her face.

There was a short silence as Gideon stayed looking at her in an utter daze, until an adorable curse suddenly came out from Vera's lips. "F*ck." she said, causing Gideon to blink in surprise, never expecting this angel to curse at all. 

Then she grinned awkwardly. "I just thought you're about to say that again. So I said it first…" Vera then laughed a little sheepishly when she saw his shocked face.

A smile finally bloomed across Gideon's face before a pleasing chuckle echoed inside the house. And Vera revelled at the sight of his face that had transformed due to his laughter. His laughter… it sounded so good, so blissful… and he just looks as handsome as hell when he laughed like this. 

"F*ck." Vera said again when Gideon's chuckle faded, causing the man to chuckle again but this time only a short one. And he covered her mouth with his when Vera was about to curse again. 

"Stop it." he breathed against her lips. 

"F –"

"I said stop it." His voice sounded a little more stern.

"Fu –"

"Vera. If you keep saying that –"

"But I want to hear your laughter again." She turned her large and sky blue eyes on him, pretending to blink innocently.

Gideon stared at her. And the look in his eyes made them both stilled. "The first and second were adorable, yes. That's why I couldn't help but laugh. But… the third and beyond… they sounded so mischievous and naughty it's making me want to…" his voice came out in a low growl and Vera shivered in anticipation.

"… to?" she asked, tilting her head a little, causing Gideon to swallow hard.