"Oh, please, Nathan. This is not the time for you to joke with me!" she snapped annoyed. Nathan shrugged. "Who's joking with you? I'm serious. If you want a kiss, I'll tell you everything," he said again. Haisley looked at him. Her curiosity was truly unbearable. She stared at Nathan, and it seemed like he could read her inner turmoil. Nathan then patted his thigh, asking Haisley to come closer. "I won't lie. One kiss, and I'll answer all your questions," he said in a tempting, soft tone. Somehow, Haisley rose from her seat and walked towards Nathan. She stood in front of him and looked at Nathan hesitantly. Nathan then extended his right hand, took Haisley's left wrist to bring her closer, and placed his left hand behind her thigh. He pulled her, so Haisley sat on his lap, leaning on both folds of her knees. "Will you answer all my questions after one kiss?" she asked hesitantly, answered by a serious nod from Nathan. Haisley still looked at him nervously. Her gaze was directed
"Don't lie to me, Nath," Desis Haisley said as she lifted her head and roughly wiped away her tears. She adjusted her clothes with trembling hands and stepped back away from Nathan. "Just because of what I did a moment ago doesn't mean I believe your sweet words," she accused harshly. Nathan was surprised and looked at the confused girl. "Haisley." Haisley raised her hand, pointing her index finger at Nathan. "Don't you dare say anything to me." The girl commanded loudly. "I don't understand why you're doing all this to me, Nath. I can still remember your rude attitude towards me when I followed you months ago," she said with a wounded tone. "Yes, you surely know why I was so eager to study in the same country as you. It's because I love you! You know that all these years I've only admired you! I just love you! Even though I know you love my sister, Crystal. But still, in every prayer, I hope you open your eyes and then look at me. "I'm not ashamed to say this because you already k
"Because the doctor said she could recover with my care. She had to find a replacement for her fiancé. And indirectly, I was the one who caused her depression. I was the one who made that woman lose the man she loved." Nathan said sadly. "I refused their request to replace her deceased fiancé, Haisley." He continued with a distant gaze. "But then they showed me a report. About me driving under the influence of alcohol and causing an accident that led to death. They threatened to sue me and put me in jail, Haisley." The man said with a trembling tone. "I was truly scared. I didn't want to go to jail." He said, shaking his head. "The thought of being stuck in a cell for a while made me always have nightmares. I know I'm a coward, but I'm really scared. Crimes often happen in prison. Violence, abuse." The man shook his head again. "Imagining staying in a cell with a man who might have a mental disorder or is thirsty for sex makes me feel nauseous and want to vomit every time. "I hear
After Nathan's confession of love and Haisley's acknowledgment of what Nathan did to her on Gilbert's birthday, both chose to remain silent. It was only a few moments later that they stared at each other and burst into laughter simultaneously. "You pervert!" Haisley exclaimed. "Sly girl," Nathan replied. "I'm sly because I learned from you," Haisley retorted, unwilling to be outdone. "And I love you," Nathan declared firmly. Haisley fell silent, gazing at him and observing his expression for a few moments. Not to question whether Nathan's declaration of love for Haisley was true or not, but to understand how he felt in the current situation they were facing. "What are you going to do after this?" Haisley asked again, curious. Clearly, Nathan's issues were not resolved until his situation with Loretta was clarified. Nathan shrugged with an indifferent expression. "Dad has hired someone to investigate Loretta's situation," he answered matter-of-factly. "I don't want to avoid it a
Nathan shook his head. "No. I took the initiative to come here on my own. I tried to reach you because I couldn't contact you directly." Nathan said, and Haisley nodded. "I changed my phone number and deleted all contacts because I didn't want to suddenly have the urge to contact you." Haisley's response made sense. Nathan nodded. "I then tried to find out about you from Crystal, and you know, she absolutely refused to help." Nathan said frustratedly. "She even cursed me and said I'm the source of all your sadness. "Fortunately, Juan is more communicative. He told me that you're now working, mentioned where you live, and the hotel where you work. Then, I prepared a flight ticket to Miami. Somehow, he knew everything," Nathan complained again. "He then discussed vacations to Miami and more. I told him to restrain himself, and he threatened again to send me to jail. "I'm not afraid of his threat, but I'm afraid that my issues with you aren't resolved, and you might leave with someon
"Not yet, but that doesn't mean I won't," Haisley gently rejected. "He has fought for me until now; I think, as a sincere response to his efforts, I can give him a chance. I just have to think about all the goodness he has, and I know that love will come because of familiarity. That has been a common saying we've heard for a long time, hasn't it? "Even though for some people, love comes after quite a while, I'm sure I can bring that feeling for Dean because he's not a difficult person to love." "But with him, your life will feel bland, flat," Nathan commented again. Haisley shrugged. "For someone like me, comfort is paramount. You know I'm not one to speculate. So, Dean has already made me calm with everything. "I don't need to worry that he will take impulsive actions like Gilbert. I also don't need to puzzle over what's in his head like I do with you. And Dean is also a person who expresses what he feels right away, so I won't misunderstand because he keeps everything to himself
Haisley rests her forehead on Nathan's shoulder again. She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, never letting go of her embrace around his neck. "I'm sorry," she whispers softly. Nathan also falls silent and chooses to listen. His hands are clasped at Haisley's waist, and he places his chin on top of her head. He, too, takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. "No need to apologize. I'm the one who should apologize here," he responds softly. And those words make Haisley feel breathless for a moment. "I asked too much from you, yet I've never given you anything. No kindness, no hope. I haven't planted a single goodness all this time, but suddenly I'm asking for all that goodness from you. I have no shame," Nathan says with a sad smile on his face. "But I want you to know, I've fallen in love with you. And perhaps you can say this is some kind of punishment that God gives me because I've wasted you all this time. So now, He wants me to know that this has been your feeling toward me.
Now, only Haisley and Nathan remained. Haisley chose to sit in a chair by the pool, feeling the breeze in silence. Nathan placed a thin blanket over his shoulders before sitting beside her and hugging her. He wrapped his arms around Haisley's stomach and rested his chin on her shoulder. "What are you thinking?" Nathan asked curiously. Haisley remained silent for quite some time before answering. "A lot," she whispered. She then lowered her head, covering her face with both hands, and soon Nathan felt the girl's body shaking, her soft sobs heard between her fingers. Haisley was crying. Nathan reached for her shoulder and shifted his position so that Haisley now sat sideways on his lap. One of his hands lifted, pushing Haisley's head to lean on his shoulder before gently stroking her head. Meanwhile, his right hand caressed Haisley's arm slowly. "Shhhhh," he whispered, trying to comfort her. "Everything will be okay," he assured in a soft tone. Now his hand moved up and down her ba