Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday - Chapter 158

Chapter 158: Late Night with the Doctor (II)

Minutes turned into hour as Grace and Dr. Kian studied the recent report 2025 provided them of its ongoing study on the plants affected by the Shadow Rain.

While they were sitting opposite one another when they began, now they had shifted on the same couch and were sitting side by side.

Every now and then, their shoulders would brush against each other’s in the slightest, their thighs would graze a little before they would pull away as unexplainable feelings started blooming deep within their bodies. And despite all this, both of them kept a calm expression on their faces as they discussed their future plans.

It was completely beyond Grace’s understanding on how the serious atmosphere ended up turning into its current tensed one.

“Let’s head out tomorrow night. We will begin our search from the mountains of Country S. Other than volcanic winter, that place is safe from other dangers for the time being.” Grace said once they were done studying the last report file.

Dr. Kian nodded his head in understanding before he thought of something and asked to confirm. “Am I going to fight the zombies tomorrow?”

The expression on his face made Grace smile. It was easy to tell that he wasn’t looking forward to that experience after going through it once.

“Don’t give me that look. I’m just not too good with fighting.” Dr. Kian tried to defend himself. As a doctor, killing was his least favorite, even when it came to zombies.

Grace could understand his situation, but she also knew what the situation needed. She turned to face him fully as she spoke, “Trust me, Doc, if I could keep you away from killing, I would have done my absolute best to do it. But keeping you hidden in my bases isn’t what I want. I need you to learn how to survive in the current world, and for that… you need to start killing too before thinking about saving a life. I hope that one day you will be able to protect yourself out there even if you won’t have me by your side.”

“Are you planning to abandon me?” Dr. Kian asked as soon as he heard the last sentence.

“What? No! That’s not what I mean. Is that all you focused on?” She asked, not expecting him to completely miss the point she was trying to make him understand.

“Well… you surprised me with that…” he mumbled, his gaze lowering as he felt slightly embarrassed.

The smile returned to Grace’s lips as she watched another new side of the handsome, confident, and calm Dr. Kian whom she met over four months ago. Before even realizing that she was doing it, her hand reached out to ruffle his hair.

However, before her fingers could have met those silky strands, his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, stopping her mid-way.

Everything happened too suddenly, and the two of them sat frozen while their eyes were fixed on each other. Neither of them said a word, but their eyes seemed to be saying a lot.

Grace’s initial shock melted into something deeper as her gaze flickered to his lips and back to his eyes. She knew she should pull away, but the magnetic pull between them was undeniable.

And she wasn’t the only one feeling that pull. Dr. Kian was equally captivated. The hesitation in his expression betrayed his internal conflict, but his hand never let go of her wrist. Instead, his fingers tightened slightly, as if anchoring her in place, preventing her from retreating.

“I wasn’t going to hurt you,” Grace said softly in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

“I know,” he replied. His deep voice came low too, almost husky. His thumb unconsciously brushed against the delicate skin of her inner wrist, sending a shiver up her spine.

The tension between them thickened like the oppressive air before a storm. Grace felt her heartbeat quickening, and she was certain Dr. Kian could hear it in the silence of the room. The logical part of her mind screamed at her to put distance between them, to focus on the mission ahead, but every other part of her wanted to close the gap.

“Grace…” Dr. Kian began, but his voice trailed off.

“Yes?” she asked. Her tone was soft now, vulnerable in a way she rarely allowed herself to be.

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his free hand moved as though guided by instinct, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. His fingers lingered near her cheek. The touch was light but electrifying.

Without even thinking about it, Grace found herself leaning into the touch. Her breath got caught as the distance between them seemed to shrink.

“Tell me to stop,” he said. His voice was strained while his eyes searched hers for a sign.

She could have told him to stop. She could have turned her head, broken the moment, and returned to their usual dynamic. But she didn’t.

Instead, she whispered, “Don’t.”

That single word was all it took. Dr. Kian closed the remaining distance between them, and his lips brushed against hers in a tentative kiss. It was soft at first, as if testing the waters, but the moment their lips met, the tension that had been simmering finally exploded.

Grace tilted her head slightly, and let her free hand slide up to his shoulder as she deepened the kiss. Dr. Kian released her wrist, and his now-free hand moved to cup her cheek as he pulled her closer. The tentative kiss quickly turned into something far more intense, fueled by weeks of unspoken feelings and the constant danger they faced.

Her fingers threaded through his hair, tugging gently as his lips moved against hers with increasing fervor. Dr. Kian’s other arm moved to wrap around her waist before he pulled her flush against him. The world outside ceased to exist. There was no Shadow or Blood Rain, no zombies, no mission – only the two of them, caught in a whirlwind of passion.