Loving You Too Long

“If not what?” This question came from Gilbert, who had returned from upstairs. All four pairs of eyes looked at him simultaneously. Gilbert looked at Dean with a questioning expression. “What are you guys talking about?” he asked, curious. His large hands now gently pushed Haisley and Dean, who was still faithfully holding her, to step out of the lobby.

“It’s not important, G,” Haisley replied softly as Gilbert matched his steps with hers.

However, Loretta reacted differently. In her steps, she turned her head back with an accusing gaze at Gilbert. “Why are you pretending to be Haisley’s boyfriend when she already has Dean?” she pouted playfully. Gilbert looked back at Dean and Haisley.

Dean murmured something to him, prompting Gilbert to respond. “You never asked,” he said flatly. “And Haisley isn’t someone who likes to show off.” That was his brief answer.

Loretta looked back again. “Since when?” she asked, more directed at Haisley and Dean. “Have you two been together for a long time before Haisley came here?” she continued, still curious.

“We’ll discuss that later,” Gilbert replied when they were in the parking area. “So, whose car are we taking?” he asked, looking at his brother and cousin alternately.

Honestly, Haisley really wanted them to use separate cars, but it seemed that the three men there didn’t think the same way. Neither Gilbert nor Dean seemed to have any intention of taking out the keys to their usual cars. So, in the end, Nathan activated the remote for his SUV.

Loretta immediately got into the driver’s seat without hesitation. Gilbert opened the back door, entering first, while Dean held the door open, allowing Haisley to enter and sit in the middle before he himself sat next to her.

Haisley’s petite body was now sandwiched between two tall and big men. She felt like a little child guarded by two bodyguards.

“Is your seat comfortable?” Dean asked gently. He intentionally raised his right hand and leaned it on the back of the seat Haisley was sitting in, giving her more space.

Haisley nodded her head in response to his question. Loretta, who had initially observed their interaction through the front mirror, now turned halfway, facing backward. She seemed unfazed, even though her seatbelt was constricting her body.

“So sweet,” she exclaimed with sparkling eyes. Meanwhile, Nathan, hearing her comment, just scoffed.

“Where are we going?” he asked, his tone curt.

Gilbert mentioned one of the Chinese restaurants they were heading to. Nathan frowned but then drove his car in silence.

“So, how long have you two been together?” Loretta’s curiosity seemed far from over. Although her body was now facing forward again, her eyes were back on the rearview mirror, alternating between Haisley and Dean.

“Quite a while,” Dean answered on behalf of them. His left hand reached for Haisley’s left hand, deliberately intertwining their fingers and lifting her hand, giving it a gentle peck on the back. Meanwhile, his right hand, placed behind Haisley’s head, started to caress her hair slowly. “I’ve known her since she was a kid,” he continued, pinching Haisley’s cheek affectionately. “She always looked beautiful and cute in my eyes. And since then, I’ve liked her,” Dean confessed. Haisley looked up at him, and Dean just gave her his soft smile. His eyes met hers, equally tender.

“Wow…” Loretta exclaimed with admiration. “You two are really amazing,” she said enthusiastically. “How long has it been? Five years? Six years?” she asked again.

“Six years, give or take,” Dean replied.

“So, when exactly will your relationship be official?” Loretta inquired again.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

A smile spread across Dean’s face, especially when he noticed Nathan watching him from the side mirror. “As soon as possible,” Dean answered ambiguously.

“Will your return to America be to formalize your relationship, Haisley?” Loretta now looked at Haisley eagerly.

“Formalize?” Dean furrowed his brow. He looked at Haisley, then at Gilbert, and finally at Nathan. “Why is there an ‘also’ in that question? Who else would formalize the relationship other than us?” he wondered. But it seemed no one wanted to answer his question. Loretta fell silent, blushing. Nathan remained silent with his expression unchanged. Gilbert fell silent, containing his anger.

And Haisley? The girl fell silent with a pensive expression.

Not wanting the silence to linger, Dean finally answered after processing everything. “Yes, during this vacation when she returns to America, we will be engaged,” he said with a flat tone, as if it were not a lie.

Haisley looked up at Dean again, and Loretta looked at Dean with enthusiastic eyes. Meanwhile, Nathan stared at his cousin sharply from his car’s rearview mirror. Dean raised the corner of his mouth, openly looking at Nathan from the same mirror.

“We have to move fast because when the next semester starts, I will be staying here, and we will live together. Isn’t that right, dear?” he asked, gently stroking Haisley’s hair.

Haisley looked at Dean for a moment before shifting her gaze to the rearview mirror where Nathan and Loretta were now looking at her with curiosity.

Haisley smiled, more at Loretta, and nodded. She did it not because she felt challenged or wanted to challenge Nathan. But because she knew her hope to win Nathan’s heart and make him fall in love with her was already gone.

The cheers accompanied by Loretta’s applause almost made Haisley jump out of her seat in surprise. She saw the girl in front of her again turning her body backward, trying to reach out for Haisley’s hand. Haisley willingly extended her hand, free from Dean’s grip.

“Congratulations to both of you,” Loretta said sincerely. “Why are you so heartless to me, Haisley?” she complained, lightly clapping Haisley’s hand. “If Dean hadn’t spilled the beans, I might have been confused in America. What about your engagement theme? Are you going to have a dress code?” she asked eagerly.

Both Dean and Haisley shook their heads for different reasons.

“Haisley is very simple. We will have a simple engagement too. Just close family and friends,” Dean replied again.

Loretta squeezed Haisley’s hand gently, looking at Haisley and Dean alternately. “You two are so sweet,” she praised. The girl then released her grip on Haisley’s hand and used it to pat Nathan’s upper arm. “Nath, should we also change our engagement party to a simple theme? Just close family and friends?” she asked hopefully.