Roman and Julienne's heart desire
Chapter 52: Yes. I do

Chapter 52: Yes. I do

Simon, who had also been caught off guard by Julie’s unexpected gesture earlier, slowly let a smile creep across his face.

It wasn’t immediate or exaggerated—it was the kind of smile that bloomed gently, like the soft unfolding of a rosebud touched by the warmth of morning sunlight.

A rare and tender moment on Simon’s usually playful face.

"Than—" he began, wanting to say something, maybe a compliment, or simply express his gratitude.

But it wasn’t anyone’s words that stopped him. No one told him to be quiet.

It was their eyes.

Not one of the men said a thing. Yet somehow, the weight of their combined stares descended upon Simon like a thousand daggers.

The room didn’t fall silent—he did, under the silent pressure of unblinking judgment.

If looks could kill, Simon would’ve been lying flat on the floor.

Realizing the dangerous terrain he was treading, he immediately zipped his lips and pressed them into thin, tight lines, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

His gaze darted to the left, then to the right, searching for an escape or at least a distraction, but found none.

He made a mental note not to speak until someone gave him express permission.

Just a few feet away, seated at a cozy table tucked against the plush wall of the lounge, the women were having a much lighter, friendlier moment.

The soft clinking of glasses and the occasional burst of laughter floated between them as colored lights from the karaoke display danced gently over their table.

Samantha, Julie, and Max’s girlfriend—Sonia—had been sipping their wine and enjoying a quieter, more intimate vibe, contrasting the wild energy of the men’s side of the room.

"I didn’t introduce myself earlier," Sonia said with a bright, elegant smile, gently swirling the wine in her glass. "I’m Sonia."

Julie smiled back warmly, reaching out slightly as she returned the greeting. "I’m Julie. It’s so nice to meet you."

Sonia gave a small nod, her posture refined, her tone kind. "Likewise. I’ve been hoping to meet you. I’m looking forward to seeing you again sometime soon, so we can talk more and actually get to know each other."

"Same here," Julie replied with genuine warmth, her voice soft and melodic.

Samantha, who had been listening quietly until now, suddenly leaned in with an eager sparkle in her eyes.

Her red lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Now that you two have officially introduced yourselves, let’s really get into it. You know... girls talk."

Julie laughed lightly, and Sonia chuckled

"Well, let me start. Should I?" Sonia asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity as she set her wine glass down with a soft clink.

Both Samantha and Julie nodded eagerly, leaning in slightly, their interest clearly piqued by her teasing tone.

Sonia leaned forward, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "It’s a question," she began slowly, drawing out the suspense. "And it’s directed at you, Julie."

Julie’s brows lifted in mild surprise, her curiosity catching fire. She straightened in her seat and leaned in with a smile. "I’m all ears. Ask away."

Sonia, satisfied with the invitation, grinned wider. "Okay... please tell me—how exactly are you coping with Roman?"

At that, both Julie and Samantha tilted their heads at the same exact angle, confusion flickering in their matching expressions.

"You mean...?" they asked in perfect unison, turning to look at each other in surprise.

A beat passed.

Then all three of them burst out laughing.

Their laughter was loud, unfiltered, and infectious—the kind of sound that could soften even the coldest room.

Julie clutched her stomach, shaking her head as she tried to regain composure, while Samantha wiped away an imaginary tear, still chuckling.

Across the room, the sound didn’t go unnoticed.

"Hm... now what are they laughing about?" Max asked, trying to squint through the dim lights and across the distance.

"I feel like joining them," Simon chimed in with a grin, already starting to rise from his seat.

But before he could even straighten up, three pairs of eyes shot toward him with a silent, synchronized warning. The unspoken message was loud and clear: Sit back down.

Simon froze, then slowly sank back into his seat with a sheepish smile, raising both hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I was just kidding..."

"They seem happy," Lazarus observed, watching the women with a soft smile.

Roman, seated beside him, gave a small nod, a low hum of agreement escaping him.

But his gaze—his deep, unwavering gaze—was locked onto Julie, who was still laughing, her smile so radiant it could outshine the lights in the room.

"Can we at least have your attention here, Roman?" Simon asked, waving a hand in front of him.

Roman slowly turned to face him—but only halfway—and the look he gave Simon was half-annoyed, half-threatening.

The rest of the men chuckled.

It was obvious: Roman’s heart was already at that other table.

Roman hummed, a deep, thoughtful sound that vibrated from his chest like a quiet storm.

His lips twitched ever so slightly, betraying the smile he was trying to hold back.

"That humming... it’s because Julie is there," Max teased, nudging Simon with his elbow.

The rest of the guys burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the cozy karaoke room. Lazarus laughed the loudest, his head falling back.

"Alright, alright," Lazarus said, grinning as he leaned in toward Roman, eyes filled with mischief. "How did you two even meet? And more importantly... how the hell did she manage you?"

"Yeah, spill the beans," they all echoed in chorus, eyes gleaming with curiosity and amusement.

------

Across the room, at the ladies’ table, Sonia tilted her head slightly and looked at Julie with a glint of mischief.

"I mean, Roman’s known for being ice cold. Does he even smile around you? Is he ever... you know, easygoing?" she asked, swirling her wine and lifting an eyebrow.

Julie giggled, a soft, airy sound that carried warmth. "Yes, of course. At first, he did give off that chilling, intimidating vibe. It was like sitting next to a snowstorm. But not anymore."

Samantha and Sonia leaned in, their glasses forgotten, their expressions eager and hungry for more.

"I’ve gotten used to him now," Julie said softly, her voice carrying that unmistakable dreamy lilt.

Her fingers idly traced the edge of her glass as she leaned back on the velvety couch, a wistful smile playing on her lips.

"He’s always been this caring—from the very beginning. You may not have known, but Roman..."

She paused, eyes glazing over like she was watching a memory only she could see.

"Roman is everything sweet. And I..." she trailed off, her voice dissolving into a breathy whisper, her smile deepening with fondness.

Samantha and Sonia, who had been mid-laughter just moments ago, now leaned in slowly, drawn into Julie’s words like moths to a flickering candle.

The playfulness in their eyes was replaced by a kind of wonder, and they looked at her like her story was oxygen—necessary, rare, and beautiful.

"I love everything he does," Julie finally said, her voice small but sincere, as if saying it aloud was a precious thing.

Then came her smile. It was not shy nor loud, but soft—radiant in a way that illuminated the whole room. It wasn’t just a smile; it was a quiet declaration.

"Awwww~~~!" Sonia and Samantha squealed at the same time, clasping their hands together dramatically like teenagers who had just heard the best gossip of the year.

Sonia shook her head, eyes twinkling. "This is serious. I mean, look at your smile—so beautiful, just from talking about Roman? I swear, I’m seeing him in a totally different light now."

"Same," Samantha added, grinning from ear to ear. "I’m telling every guy I know to take lessons from him. Seriously."

Julie laughed, a little flustered, reaching out as if to stop her friend from escalating it any further. "Don’t—"

But it was too late. Samantha had already turned toward the other side of the room and raised her voice loud enough to cut across the chatter.

"Hey, you all! You should be asking Thompson for some lessons. He’s got the affection game locked down better than any of you!"

The boys all turned, eyes narrowing playfully. Roman, sitting on the opposite couch beside Lazarus with a drink in his hand, cocked an eyebrow.

The corners of his lips twitched in amusement, but he said nothing.

Lazarus leaned forward, a mischievous grin on his face. "Is that so, bro?" he teased, giving Roman an exaggerated wink.

Roman shot him a slow, silent glare—but his smile couldn’t hide. It broke through, crooked and cool, as if he’d been caught red-handed in something rare and human.

That smile alone was enough.

Simon raised his glass dramatically. "This right here," he declared to the room, "this is love!"

The men erupted in laughter, shaking their heads knowingly, their expressions melting from teasing to affectionate.

Roman chuckled under his breath, then tilted his head and said calmly, but with a certain lethal charm, "Yes. I do."