STAY HERE WITH ME

Seconds and minutes passed as Elena kept staring at Kyle. She knew she couldn't reject him in front of everyone, as he'd be thoroughly embarrassed.

In the past, she would not have cared about the effect her rejection would have on him. But after what Kyle had done for her in the past few days, she couldn't bring herself to humiliate him.

In the end, she placed her head on his chest and hugged him. Everyone began to cheer for them and soon turned their attention back to what they were doing.

Kyle stared at Elena's head and circled his arms around her neck. For a moment, he had been afraid that Elena would reject him. Although she did not accept him, the fact that she did not chase him away rudely, as she usually did, showed that he was making progress, and he was content with this for a while.

He cupped her cheeks and kissed her. Afterward, he smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Elena."

"Thanks for what?" She asked. "I didn't even reply to your proposal."

"I know," he replied. "Bu