24 Chapter 23: Thank you, necklace

"Aren't you supposed to be back after a week?" Star asked after sitting down.

"It went better than I expected," Axel said with a satisfied smile on his face. "And also because I missed you" he looked at Star's eyes as he said those words.

Star felt her heart skip a beat. As she looks into his eyes, her heart started to pound really loudly, it was as if the only thing she hears is her heart beating really loud and fast. She felt conscious all of a sudden so she looked away from him.

"Aren't you tired? You just came back from a business trip after all"

Axel smiled before answering, "I am, but I feel better after seeing you"

Star's face flushed from embarrassment. 'This guy is really something. Since when did he learn how to talk so smoothly?' Star thought.

Axel suddenly remembers that he has something to give to Star so he took the paper bag where the necklace is and handed it to her. "This is for you"

Star took the paper bag and peeks inside, seeing a small navy blue box. "What is this?"

She took the box from the paper bag and opened it. What's inside was the crescent moon necklace with two stars nestled in it. Her eyes widened at how beautiful the necklace is. The blue diamond on one of the stars was shining as she looks at it.

"This....." she didn't find the right words to describe how beautiful the necklace was.

"Do you like it?" Axel asked, scared that Star might not like the necklace.

"Are you kidding? This is absolutely beautiful. But..." Star looks down.

"But what?"

She handed the necklace to Axel before saying, "But I can't accept this. This is too much"

Axel smiled assuringly and refused to touch the necklace. He then started to act like he's troubled. "What do I do? I can't return the necklace the necklace and I already paid for it"

Star knew that Axel didn't want her to return the necklace to him. She sighs and placed the necklace on the table in front of them. "Fine. I'll accept it"

Axel took the necklace before saying, "I'll put it on you. Turn back" He walked towards her. She turns her back from and him and swept her hair away from her nape.

Axel stared at her thin nape. As he put the necklace on her neck, he felt the smoothness of her skin. He smells the lavender scent coming from her nape and slowly, he motioned his head towards her nape and sniffed it. Star felt his nose touch his skin and jolted. She turned to him, her face red from embarrassment.

"What are you doing?"

Axel chuckled at Star's reaction. 'How cute' he said in his mind.

"Your nape smelled like lavender so I unconsciously...sorry"

Star's face flushed even more. Star noticed the time and decided to use it as an excuse. "It's getting late. You should go home"

"Are you kicking me out?" Axel asked and pretended to cry. Star wanted to answer yes but she didn't.

"N-no. It's just, It's really late" Star says while silently praying that he would go away. She already felt embarrassed enough. What more does he want?

Axel sighs. He was already satisfied and it looks like Star was already at her limit. "Fine"

Star's eyes lit up and slightly pushes him towards the door. When Axel was outside the door Star said a quick goodbye. "Goodbye, be careful on your way home," she said and shut the door.

Axel was dumbfounded at first but his senses came back. He laughs slightly and had a huge grin on his face. 'I might not be able to restrain myself anymore' he said in his mind while walking away from her apartment. "So cute" he muttered. He went inside his car and started it. 'Thank you, necklace' he thought.

After shutting the door, Star leaned her back to the door. Her legs felt like it was about to give up anytime. She slightly touches her nape, still feeling how his nose touched her skin. Her face flushed again. 'What is happening to me?'