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In a completely endless, pure white space, two men stood right beside each other.
There was no floor, no ceiling, and no walls. Just empty, bright white.
They were watching a space in front of them like a screen, looking down at the mortal world.
"Hey," the first man said, crossing his arms. "Isn't this going a little too fast? He is succeeding at a crazy speed, and now the romance is moving just as fast."
The second man, the one who had given Michael his powers before sending him to this world, kept his face completely stoic.
"Nah. I am just compensating him for the lack of a love life in his previous life."
The first man turned his head and looked at him sarcastically. "Yeah, yeah. You are so benevolent. Look at you, the god of mercy. Please. You are known as the most ruthless of us all! You just watch K-dramas a lot and have become a total fanatic of romance."
The man who gave Michael his powers did not change his expression. "I do not know what you are talking about."
"Just admit it," the first man poked his shoulder. "You wanted a cheesy romance story."
The stoic man let out a long sigh, dropping his tough act.
He tried to justify himself. "Fine! Whatever! Yes, I do watch K-dramas a lot. They are very entertaining. But it is not about that."
The first man stopped smiling. "Then what is it?"
The man who gave Michael his powers closed his eyes slowly. The air around him turned serious. "I gave him everything I could, but... he doesn't have a lot of time in his hands."
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The winter air was freezing outside Terry and Janet's house.
Emma stood on the sidewalk, wrapping her arms around herself to stay warm.
The front door opened, and Michael hurried out.
He was still wearing a kitchen apron over his clothes, and on his wrist, he was proudly wearing the new watch Emma had just given him.
Looking at Emma standing out in the cold, he was deeply confused.
He ran down the pathway toward her.
"Emma?" Michael asked, reaching out to her. "Why are you standing out here? Why don't you come inside? It is way too cold for you to be out here without a proper coat."
Emma didn't move.
She just looked at him straight in the eyes, analyzing his face very carefully. She was looking for a specific reaction.
Michael immediately felt that something was not right. The warm, happy energy from earlier was gone.
"What happened?" Michael asked, his voice dropping in concern.
Emma took a deep breath.
She looked at him bluntly, but her voice was very soft and fragile. "Why did you give me that contract, Michael? Is it because you think I need your help to succeed?"
Michael felt a sharp pang of pain in his heart.
He stepped forward, his eyes wide. "No, Emma, no. That is not it at all. I thought—"
"Is it because I am not worthy?" Emma interrupted softly, looking down at her shoes. "Is it because I am not on your level, and you are trying to pull me up the ladder so I can stand next to you?"
Michael's chest hurt seeing her sad expression. He didn't say another word. He just stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight, warm hug.
He held her there in the cold for five long seconds.
Then, he gently separated himself from her. He looked down at her with a deeply pained expression.
"Emma, never say that," Michael said, his voice thick with emotion. "If anything, I am not worthy of you."
"Then why did you give me such a big contract?" Emma asked, a tear forming in her eye. "I may be your girlfriend, but..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Michael reached up and put his warm hands softly on both of her cheeks.
"Because I love you," Michael said firmly.
Emma's breath hitched.
She froze.
"In these few months we have been together, I have fallen in love with you so hard that I can't even think properly anymore," Michael confessed, his thumbs gently wiping her cheek.
"I have written two whole books just for you, which I had absolutely no intentions of writing. I have fallen in love with you so deeply that whatever I do in this life, I want you to be a part of it. I... love you, Emma."
Michael stepped away just a little bit, giving her space. He looked at her face with pure, undeniable love.
Emma looked completely surprised.
Her eyes were wide.
But slowly, a beautiful, radiant smile came onto her face. It was a smile dripping in love and affection for the man standing in front of her.
She took deliberate, slow steps forward, closing the gap between them until there was no space left at all. She looked up into his eyes.
"I am very clingy," Emma whispered.
"I will still love you," Michael whispered back without hesitation.
"I am a klutz," Emma said softly.
"I still love you," Michael promised.
"I am possessive."
"I am too."
"I am too nerdy."
"I am a nerd too," Michael smiled.
Emma smiled her brightest smile.
She reached out and took his hand, holding it tightly against her chest.
"I am in love with you too, Michael Owen," Emma said, her voice full of absolute certainty. "You better take responsibility."
Michael smiled a breathtaking smile. "Of course."
He leaned down, and she leaned up.
They closed their eyes and gently kissed each other. They stood there in the cold winter air, holding each other and kissing tenderly for several seconds, completely lost in their own world.
Inside the warm house, right behind the living room window, Terry was holding his cell phone to his ear.
Janet was standing right next to him, her hands pressed to her cheeks, smiling brightly at her son outside.
"Yes, yes," Terry whispered excitedly into the phone. " Yes. Yes, they look very happy. It was very nice to talk to you, Mr. Myers. Merry Christmas."
Terry cut the call and slipped the phone into his pocket. He turned and looked fondly at his wife.
Janet turned to him, tears of joy in her eyes.
Terry wrapped his arms around her in a big hug. They held each other tightly, looking out the glass window, watching their son Michael smiling to his absolute fullest.