Loving You Too Long

Gilbert rolled his eyes excessively. Then he snorted and looked at Dean with a sharp gaze. ‘Yes, I’ll take care of her. If needed, I’ll cage Haisley. Are you satisfied?’

‘You can’t just cage her, what do you think she is? A cat?’ Dean retorted, displeased.

‘Yes, she’s a naughty cat that can’t be managed,’ Gilbert said, looking at Haisley with a raised eyebrow. ‘Her hair,’ he said mockingly, ‘is messy like it hasn’t been combed for years, her fangs haven’t been trimmed for a long time, not to mention her claws, they haven’t been polished.’

Dean hit Gilbert with the fork in his hand. ‘Do you think Haisley is what? A cat, a human, or a shoe?’ Dean asked sarcastically. Gilbert shrugged indifferently.

‘Don’t worry. She’ll be fine here. We’ll meet directly in America. Just a few more weeks, right? The semester is almost over,’ Gilbert said, intending to reassure his cousin.

‘Haisley, you behave well with G here, okay? If he’s naughty to you, report it to me. I’ll report it to Aunt so his pocket money will be cut,’ Dean threatened at the end of his sentence.

Gilbert kicked the guy with his bare foot. ‘Damn you! Always competing!’ he said in annoyance. Dean, who was kicked, just laughed in response.

And then, the time for Dean’s departure arrived.”

For some time, Dean stayed in the same country and city, yet he never set foot in Gilbert and Nathan’s residence. Dean openly displayed his dislike for his cousin. Ever since the tragedy that landed Haisley in the hospital, Dean’s distaste for Nathan seemed to have turned into hatred.

Dean said he’d rather roam the streets than ask Nathan for a living. Haisley felt guilty; without words, she felt she was the cause of this cold war.

Dean and Gilbert picked her up at her apartment. Dean pleaded, almost childishly, for Haisley to accompany him to the airport, where he would depart for the country where he still had to continue his studies. Haisley agreed, not out of pity for Dean but because she genuinely felt comfortable with him, and it seemed like the right thing to do.

International flights were notoriously crowded. Gilbert parked his car and the three of them walked to the terminal where Dean’s flight would depart. In the waiting area, they spent time chatting once more. Until Dean’s boarding call was announced, and he had to check his documents and wait inside.

Dean took a deep breath, looking deeply at Haisley. She didn’t know when Gilbert had left them alone, but it was evident that his presence was now gone.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“I know my words might never have seemed serious to you,” Dean began, his gaze tender and his tone soft but audible to Haisley due to their face-to-face position.

Haisley, with her height only reaching Dean’s neck, had to tilt her head to clearly see Dean’s facial expression. No, she thought. She had never regarded Dean’s words as mere jests. She just didn’t want to give him hope and didn’t want to treat those words as reality because she didn’t want to hurt Dean, who had been so kind to her.

“I also know that you might perceive what I did in front of Nathan all this time as revenge, to annoy him,” he continued, still in his soft tone.

Then, Dean reached out, taking both of Haisley’s hands, smaller and paler than his own. His thumbs gently stroked the back of her hands.

“But, Haisley, from the depths of my heart, I really like you, I truly love you,” he said sincerely. “I’m just asking, give me a chance,” he pleaded again with a pleading tone.

Haisley never diverted her gaze from Dean. She knew he was sincere. And actually, if Haisley thought about it more deeply, being with Dean might be better than being with Nathan, who could never open his heart to her.

Dean’s gentleness, his attention, and his affection were every woman’s dream.

But…

If Haisley immediately accepted his feelings, wouldn’t she appear terribly cruel? Making Dean a temporary escape while her own heart’s wounds weren’t fully healed yet. In front of her might be Dean, but in her heart, there was still Nathan’s name reigning.

Even though she didn’t know how long it would take to forget her love for Nathan. But Haisley was also reluctant to make Dean a temporary escape. She cared for Dean, as a friend, as a companion. She didn’t want to hurt him and end up not speaking to each other one day if she disappointed him.

“Haisley…” Dean tightened his grip on her hands. It brought Haisley back to her senses, and she looked at the handsome man’s face again, intently.

“I love you, Haisley. I don’t expect you to answer that now, but I hope you’ll consider my feelings,” he said earnestly.

“Dean…” Haisley called his name, intending to express what was in her mind. But instead of letting Haisley speak, Dean pulled her hands and enveloped her petite body in his embrace.

“I know you still have Nathan in your heart,” he said softly. “I realize that love isn’t easily replaced, just like how I’ve tried hundreds and even thousands of times to replace Haisley with other women over the years. But as I’ve tried to find a replacement for Haisley, I hope you will also try to find a replacement for Nathan. And I don’t mind if I’m that replacement or backup.”

“I can’t promise that I’ll make you happy forever; those words are just empty talk. But I can promise you that I’ll do my best to make you happy. To make you comfortable with me, Haisley,” he emphasized, accompanied by a hug that tightened with each word he spoke.

“Dean…” Haisley called his name again. The words and promises that came out of his mouth somehow made her entire body tingle. Not out of anticipation and fear but out of emotion.

Unintentionally, her eyes welled up, releasing the tears she had been trying to hold back. Haisley returned the embrace with equal intensity, burying her head in his shoulder to ward off the pain and sorrow she knew Dean felt for her.

Was this how she appeared in Nathan’s eyes? Pathetic? Even though she knew Nathan would never be as sensitive as Dean to even feel that.