324 Okay...

Damien's perseverance was very admirable. Katherine had no words for him and all that she could really do was stare. She was trying to figure out why he was doing this. He didn't have to. She basically just admitted all her demons and he's still right there with her. 

"Why?" she wondered aloud, her eyes never leaving his as she tried to study him.

"What 'why'?"

"Why would you do that? This isn't your battle… This isn't your war."

"It may not be directly mine but it's yours. And your problems are mine."

"You can't just say that…" She frowned. "Your mother is involved in it, and I am too… but you…"

"Have you already forgotten what I told you before?"

When she raised her brows in question, he continued, "That night when I confessed to you… I told you that I won't allow you to take back your words once you've decided. And you've decided. And this is me upholding my end of the deal. There's nothing you can do except to accept the fact that I'm here with you."

The memory from that night months ago when he told her he liked her and that he wanted to be with her flashed in her mind. It was one sweet memory of him being so clear and straightforward—like he always was. She hadn't been the best person for him and yet he was still there. Constantly. How was she deserving of him? It's too good to be true. How can he be so real?

Her heart gradually raced until it was slamming against her chest. How could she still hold on to her reservations when the man in front of her just wouldn't give up? So how could she give up? The guilt was eating her inside, forcing her to pull away but there was a voice in her head telling her to hold on tight. To just be brave and see the good things. 

But what about Mom and Dad? How could she betray them when all she could see when she closes her eyes was a picture of them smiling down at her?

What was wrong? What was right?

Katherine didn't realize that the tear that she was trying so hard not to shed just rolled out of her eye, landing on Damien's index finger and he wiped it away. "Talk to me," he breathed.

Releasing the air that she had been holding in, her chin wobbled as she confessed, "I missed you… terribly, I do… and I want to be with you so badly. So bad that it hurts. So I don't know how I can do it. I feel that if I do… I'd be letting them down."

She felt his knuckle softly brush the side of her cheek again and she just let him. She leaned her cheek against his palm, wanting to feel the warmth of his skin. "I want to try… I really really want to try…"

"Baby…" he whispered, feeling hurt for her. "I wish I knew how… you're the only one who can do that. But if you do… if you do take that step with me, I swear to god, I will walk the rest of the steps for you."

She wasn't afraid that Damien would hurt her, rather—she was afraid that in the process of letting herself love again, she would be the one to break her heart. All because she wanted to love the person she knew she shouldn't.

Damien softly smiled, and responded, "Silly. Of course. I will walk with you—heck, I will crawl with you if that's what it takes."

Katherine sniffed, a small smile started to form on her lips as she nodded. "Then okay…"

"Okay?"

"Okay…"

Squeezing her waist, he nodded in agreement. "Okay…"

He tugged her closer, pressing his lips onto her forehead and ever so sweetly, his kiss lingered before he pulled back just slightly and did the same to her nose.

When he pulled back and was about to kiss her on the lips, she stopped him with her hand, his lips pressing on her delicate fingers. "Can't. I'm sick."

He groaned. He had endured enough and now that she was 'okay' with them, he couldn't kiss her. Despite the risk of getting sick, he kissed her fingers a few times — the only separation they had between their lips.

A huge smile broke his face, evidence of his joy. They agreed to take it slow but it doesn't matter. As long as she was 'okay'... he was 'okay'...

"I should ask… why did you have a change of clothes in my closet? When have you decided to sleep here?" she questioned him with a very serious face.

Damien only snorted, hugged her and tucked her head under his chin, closing his eyes before mumbling, "A magician never reveals his secrets."

Katherine frowned. What magician? Since when did he become a magician? Despite her questions, she didn't ask any further and just settled in his embrace. She liked the warmth that's radiating from his body. 

The room was just at the right temperature yet her feet were icy cold like always. And just like she usually did, Katherine pressed her feetsicles onto his feet and legs. She trapped them under, entangled them in such an abstract form just so she would feel warm — and he let her, just like he usually did. 

They were quiet again, and there was only the sound of soft breathing. She noticed him relax and the pace of his breathing changed. "Damien?" she whispered very softly.

The room was still and he didn't answer. The next thing she heard was his very soft snore, making her chuckle. Poor Damien, he endured a lot today. He must really be exhausted.

Slightly pulling back, she looked at him and saw his sleeping face. She missed looking at him like this. Katherine ran her fingers softly through his hair and he shifted a little, "Sleep," he mumbled through his drunken state.

"Okay…" She pulled the blanket up, covering both of them properly and tucking them both. "Goodnight, Damien…"