Chapter 13: I Love You Madly, Shamefully, and Beautifully. The Romance Thriller Web Novel ("웹소설/websoseol) "I Love You Even More / 나는 너를 더 사랑해 (Naneun Neoreul Deo Saranghae)" by Abrar Nayeem Chowdhury

Chapter 13: I Love You Madly, Shamefully, and Beautifully

It was ten o'clock in the evening. Akib had just finished his supper — a modest meal of rice and lentils, followed by a bowl of mango slices, for summer had begun to cast its warm breath upon the city. With a slight yawn and stretch, he wandered toward the master bedroom, prepared to sink into the tranquility of night.

But alas, fate had other plans. 

The doorbell rang, crisp and sudden — its sound almost curious at such an hour. He halted, half-suspicious, half-intrigued. "Who could it be?" he murmured to himself as he stepped quietly across the floor and opened the door.

And there she was.

The most beautiful woman in the world — perhaps lovelier than even Cinderella on the night of her grand ball — stood under the dim golden porch light. Samantha. Her smile held a gentle warmth; her eyes sparkled like starlight in the clear summer sky.

"Hi!" she said, with a calm, elegant confidence.

Akib felt his heartbeat stumble. "S-Samantha... you're here?"

"Indeed, I am," she replied with a soft smile.

"Please come inside," he said, stepping aside, still in awe. Her presence transformed the quiet night into a dreamscape.

She entered the drawing room. The space was a harmony of minimal elegance: a beige L-shaped sofa adorned with navy blue cushions, a glass coffee table stacked with classic novels, a low wooden shelf with a framed photo of his late grandparents, and a delicate scent of sandalwood lingering from the diffuser in the corner.

"You live alone?" Samantha asked, settling onto the sofa as though she belonged there.

Akib nodded, still flustered. "Yeah... actually, this was my grandparents' home. They passed away. Later, my dad got a job in Busan, and he moved there and bought a new house. I stayed behind... I cook for myself, which they knew I could manage. So, Mom decided to go with Dad."

"Oh, that's admirable," Samantha said gently. "And your father — what does he do?"

"He's a software engineer."

"Ah," she smiled. "And his son is to become one too, I suppose? Perhaps an even greater one?"

Akib chuckled shyly. "Hopefully, yes."

"When are your semester finals?" she asked.

"June 21st."

She offered a nod and whispered sincerely, "Wish you all the best."

He smiled. "Thank you. And... you are looking beautiful tonight."

She wore a flowing indigo dress with silver embroidery stitched like constellations across the fabric. Her hair was open, soft waves cascading over her shoulder, and a delicate perfume whispered from her skin like jasmine in the wind.

"Thank you," she replied, brushing a lock of hair from her cheek. "But I didn't come here to distract your studies."

"I can't believe you came," Akib said, his voice hushed, filled with a sweet disbelief.

"Well," she said playfully, "Would this stunning woman, Samantha, like to take a cup of coffee and join me on the rooftop?"

"Such a proposal — how could she possibly refuse this handsome man?" she teased, rising from the sofa.

With a grin, Akib led the way to the kitchen — a modest space, lined with white and teal cabinets, a marbled grey countertop, and hanging steel utensils that softly clinked when the window brought in the breeze. A small spice rack stood beside the stove, and a kettle rested patiently, ready to serve.

"You've created a cozy world in here," Samantha observed.

"I try," Akib smiled. "Watch closely, for this is my specialty."

He lit the stove, poured water into the kettle, and added fresh ground coffee from a glass jar.

"Sugar or no sugar?" he asked.

"A little," she replied.

He measured it with care, stirred with a wooden spoon, and poured the hot brew into two white porcelain mugs. The smell filled the kitchen like an embrace.

"Not bad," Samantha said after her first sip. "I might just fall in love with your coffee."

"And not the barista himself?" Akib asked, raising an eyebrow.

She laughed. "Let's not flatter ourselves so soon, sir."

He handed her the second mug, and they climbed the stairs to the rooftop.

The sky was vast and dark above, peppered with stars. The moon watched over them silently, casting silver shadows. The rooftop had two plastic chairs, a small potted palm, and the open world around them. In the distance, the city buzzed gently — never asleep, yet not quite awake either.

Samantha sat down with a sigh of contentment. "This is... peaceful."

"Perfect, isn't it?" Akib said, taking his seat beside her. "Thank you for coming."

She looked at him, her eyes soft and sincere. "Thank you for making me feel special."

They sat in silence for a moment, sipping coffee, watching the stars, hearts full of quiet wonder.

The rooftop was bathed in the soft silver glow of the moon, casting quiet shadows that danced gently with the breeze. Akib and Samantha sat beside one another on a wooden bench, their hands resting lightly on the shared armrest between them, steaming cups of coffee warming their palms.

As they sipped in silence, their fingers accidentally brushed. The contact was light—feather-like, but it sent a shiver through Akib's entire being. Samantha didn't move her hand away. Instead, she glanced sideways at him and offered a small, knowing smile.

For a moment, neither spoke. The world, in that fleeting heartbeat, seemed to slow.

Akib took a deep breath, setting his coffee cup down on the bench. "You know, Samantha," he began, his voice gentle yet deliberate, "sometimes I wonder if you're the reason I wake up eager to come to the university. It isn't the assignments or the rush between lectures. It's... you."

She said nothing, only listened, her eyes steady upon his.

Akib gave a half-smile. "I still remember the first time I saw you—in the library, standing by the shelves like a queen among books. You had this calm confidence that struck me. I thought... maybe you belonged to another world. A better one. But then you spoke to me, and I realized your world had room for a fool like me, too."

Samantha chuckled softly but remained quiet.

"When William insulted me that day at the restaurant," Akib continued, leaning slightly closer, "you didn't have to stand up for me, but you did. And in that moment, I knew I was in trouble. The kind of trouble that doesn't go away with time or distance."

Samantha turned slightly, her profile delicate in the moonlight. "Akib," she murmured, but he gently held up a hand.

"Let me say it," he whispered. "I love you, Samantha. Not in passing or poetry. I love you in the way that coffee needs warmth, in the way that words need silence to breathe. I love you madly, terribly, fully—more than sense would allow."

Her eyes softened, and for a long, sacred second, she said nothing. Then, slowly, she reached over and took his hand in hers.

"I came here tonight," she said, her voice barely louder than the rustling leaves, "because I was hoping you'd say that."

Akib's heart raced, the world blooming anew in his chest.

Samantha continued, her eyes fixed on his. "When I first saw you in the library, I sensed something... different. You weren't loud or boastful like the others. You were lost in the books, and yet, strangely, I felt found."

She looked down at their joined hands. "Then that day, when William spoke down to you... I could see how wrong it was. How unjust. I hated it. And I hated him more for thinking he could belittle someone so quietly brilliant."

Akib raised her hand to his lips, brushing her knuckles with a soft kiss.

"I didn't know it then," Samantha whispered, "but I think I started falling for you that day. It wasn't sudden—it was like ink spreading in water. Slow, but sure. I tried to fight it. I told myself you were younger, that it was just admiration. But here I am, on your rooftop, holding your hand under the stars."

She smiled, her voice now playful yet sincere. "I love you, Akib. Madly, shamefully, beautifully so."

And then they embraced—a soft, heartfelt hug, delicate yet deeply rooted. The moon above them glowed like a silent witness, the sky their only cathedral.

In that night wind, their love didn't need declarations. It lived in the closeness of breath, the brush of hands, the soft echo of two hearts choosing each other.

The world remained the same, but they had changed. They had found something that couldn't be spoken in syllables or written in rhyme. Something that lived only between them, like a secret melody sung under a moonlit sky.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 12: https://webnovelbyabrar.blogspot.com/2025/04/chapter-12-shadows-before-spotlight.html

📜 Copyright Notice & Caution to Readers 📜

© 2025 Abrar Nayeem Chowdhury. All Rights Reserved.

This Web Novel, "I Love You Even More", including its title, storyline, characters, settings, dialogues, and original content, is protected under the United States Copyright Act (Title 17, U.S. Code) and international copyright laws.

⚠️ Unauthorized Use is Strictly Prohibited

Any unauthorized copying, reproduction, distribution, adaptation, or resale of this work, whether in print, digital, audio, or film format, without written permission from the author/publisher is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action under U.S. copyright law and DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) provisions.

⚠️ No AI, Fanfiction, or Commercial Use Without Permission

• This work may not be used for AI training, machine learning datasets, or automated text generation without express written consent from the copyright holder.
• Creating derivative works, including fanfiction, adaptations, scripts, or spin-offs, requires legal authorization.
• Commercial use, including paid promotions, film rights, merchandising, or translations, is strictly prohibited without a licensing agreement.

📩 For Permissions & Licensing

For inquiries regarding film rights, adaptations, audiobook production, or other permissions, contact:

📧 motivationbeast74@gmail.com

⚠️ Plagiarism is a Crime. Respect Intellectual Property.

Thank you for supporting original storytelling. 🙌📖🔥