Loving You Too Long

Dean’s boarding call echoed once more. He reluctantly released his embrace on Haisley. His beautiful eyes mirrored Haisley’s reddened ones; he didn’t need a mirror to know.

They locked eyes for a few moments before they both smiled. “Call me if you consider my request,” he said, gently stroking Haisley’s head. “And remember, we still have to be ‘engaged’ when we get back to America,” he chuckled, a teasing tone in his voice.

Haisley chuckled along. She felt Dean drawing his head closer, his thin lips pressing a heartfelt kiss on the top of her head.

“Take care,” he said after the warm kiss. “I’m leaving,” he said, stepping back. He waved to Gilbert, who somehow had returned to stand beside him, before turning around and walking away, putting more distance between them.

During his journey back to his apartment, Haisley became quieter. Gilbert noticed, but his friend didn’t want to disturb Haisley either. Gilbert knew what had happened in the last moments before Dean boarded his flight. On the way to pick up Haisley, Dean had asked him to give them some time alone to express his feelings and hopes to her.

Flashback.

“Give me some time to talk to Haisley about my feelings,” mumbled Dean, his words audible to Gilbert.

“Why are you so dramatic? Why didn’t you talk to her about your feelings earlier?” Gilbert replied impatiently.

“It’s not that I didn’t want to, G. I’m still hesitant to confess my feelings to her. I don’t want to pressure her too much. She still needs to sort out her feelings for Nathan. I don’t want to reopen her wounds by expressing my feelings,” Dean explained.

“So what’s different now? Haisley still hasn’t healed her feelings from Nathan,” Gilbert retorted.

Dean shrugged. “Before, I felt like I wasn’t ready for my own idea. But now, I’m determined.”

Gilbert frowned. He glanced at his cousin from behind his dark sunglasses. “What do you mean?”

Dean shrugged again, indifferent. “Now I’m sure that even if Haisley sees me as a rebound, a backup plan, I don’t mind. I’ll accept it. As long as she is willing to try.”

“What the heck!” Gilbert instantly slammed his hands on the steering wheel, not slowing down his car. “Are you crazy, or just plain stupid?” he asked, frustrated. He looked at Dean with a sharp gaze, which Dean couldn’t see behind his dark sunglasses. “The two of you, are you both masochists?” Gilbert muttered incredulously.

“At least I love Haisley, and I’ll try to give her everything I have. Love, affection, and time. Unlike your brother, who only hurts Haisley. If only he had been honest with himself, he should have expressed his feelings to Haisley first. But sadly, he’s too selfish to accept the fact that Haisley has replaced Crystal in his heart and mind,” Dean sneered in disgust.

Gilbert couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, the three of you are equally foolish,” he said sharply. “Luckily, I’m not in love. If I were, I’d be suffering just like the three of you, equally foolish.”

“Someday, you’ll have feelings that you mock right now, G. Feelings of love and affection for someone who often makes you feel helpless, even though you’ve tried your best for everything,” Dean replied, his tone soft. Yes, just like what he felt for Haisley now. When he had tried his best to give her everything he could, but Haisley still made him feel helpless.

Gilbert shrugged, ignoring his cousin’s melancholic words. Instead, he asked again. “How prepared are you to be hurt by Haisley and Nathan, Dean?” he asked. Though spoken with indifference, it carried a deep meaning.

Dean turned his face away, choosing to look at the city’s traffic jam. “I don’t know. I say I’m prepared, but in reality, I don’t know, G. But I’ve prepared myself in case I get hurt in the future,” he answered, his voice low but confident.

Gilbert looked at his cousin more freely because the traffic light in front of them was red.

“Suppose, tomorrow or the day after, Nathan realizes his feelings for Haisley. If he eventually wants Haisley back, and Haisley still has feelings for him. What will you do? What will you do?” Gilbert wanted to know.

Dean straightened his back, looked at Gilbert with a sharp and confident gaze. “If Haisley asks for it, even if it means she wants to go back to Nathan, and as long as Nathan promises that he will love and protect Haisley, I will give Haisley back to him.”

“But as long as Nathan’s arrogant and rough attitude still exists, no matter how much Haisley cries, begs, and asks me to let her go. I won’t give her to Nathan,” Dean said earnestly.

Gilbert raised the corner of his mouth. His right hand patted Dean’s shoulder firmly before he continued driving his car.

“I’ll support you wholeheartedly. Even though Nathan is my brother, I love Haisley as if she were my own sister,” Gilbert said passionately. “Nathan is such a fool,” he muttered.

End of Flashback.

“And now, here he is. Although he didn’t know what sentences Dean had said to Haisley, he knew the general idea.

“Something bothering you, Haisley?” Gilbert finally asked, choosing to break the silence even if it was just small talk.

Haisley straightened her back, turning to Dean. “I don’t know, this and that,” Haisley replied in her soft tone. “Where did you go earlier, G?” Haisley asked suspiciously, squinting her eyes.

Gilbert shrugged. “I thought you two needed to talk like adults, I just gave Dean a chance to talk to you. Why? Did he say something that makes you look so miserable right now?” He teased.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Haisley sighed, pushing the man’s arm with her left hand before resting her chin on her right hand and staring out the deliberately open window. “Do you know what he said to me?” she asked accusingly.

Gilbert shook his head. “I don’t know, really,” he replied flatly. “He just asked for some alone time with you, Haisley. And I granted him what he wanted. That’s it.” He replied, still in his casual tone. “What did he say?” Gilbert asked curiously.

Haisley turned her attention back to Gilbert. The girl then leaned her back against the chair with her head down, staring at her intertwined hands. Haisley took a deep breath before exhaling sharply.

“Dean said he doesn’t mind being a substitute,” Haisley said softly.