Loving You Too Long

Haisley stretched, moving her head from side to side to relieve the stiffness. Studying was not something she enjoyed, but what could she do? After all, she was a student, right?

Her business professor had already left the class, leaving them with a pile of assignments to be submitted in the next two meetings. Haisley could only sigh in resignation. Well, at least tomorrow was the weekend, so she could forget about her college tasks for a while.

“Hey, H,” greeted a tall, slender guy with a friendly smile on his face.

“Hi, Dem. What’s up?” Haisley asked politely.

“Do you still have classes?” Haisley shook her head. This was her last class. “Want to go out with me?”

“Where to?”

“Anywhere, a movie, food, maybe? Or just hanging out is fine too,” he replied enthusiastically.

“With who?”

“Just the two of us.”

“Alright. But you have to drop me home later.”

“Sure!”

Haisley put all her books into her backpack. They walked side by side toward the corridor where Haisley’s locker was located. She put away some books that she wouldn’t need and then walked back towards the parking area.

Gilbert didn’t have classes today. And like days when his classes were empty, he would spend his day at the office, taking care of their family business. This would leave Haisley bored because there would be no one to hang out with. Fortunately, Demian invited her out. Demian knew, as Haisley had told him earlier, that she already liked someone else. So, she asked Demian not to get his hopes up too much. Although Demian thought the person Haisley liked was Gilbert, Haisley didn’t feel the need to explain further.

Sore turned into evening as Haisley spent her time with Demian. He was a kind and polite guy, friendly too. Like Steven, Demian was someone easily likable.

At ten o’clock, after having dinner at an Italian restaurant, Demian dropped Haisley off at Nathan’s house. They chatted for a moment outside the car before Haisley bid him goodbye and entered the house.

“Dating, huh?” a sardonic remark greeted her from the other side of the door. Haisley turned to see Nathan sitting casually with a remote control in his hand.

“Who, H?” Gilbert called from the kitchen, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

“Demian,” Haisley answered, walking closer. She grabbed the glass from Gilbert’s hand and drank from it eagerly.

“Nice catch! He’s a good kid,” Gilbert replied, offering Haisley a peeled and sliced apple.

“Besides studying, are you also working as a census worker, G? Or are you trying your hand at psychology games?” Nathan sneered.

Gilbert winked at Haisley. “Something like that, bro!” he replied casually. “Who doesn’t know Gilbert on campus, right? Just ask around, and you can find out anything about anyone. I heard he’s been aggressively trying to get close to you too, H.” Haisley nodded.

“He’s nice. Handsome too. And most importantly, he’s friendly, gentle, and always takes care of me,” she continued with praises that were indeed true. She winked at Gilbert in response. “He proposed to me again earlier, G,” she said in her usual flat tone, but it was surely audible to Nathan.

“Come on, princess. You need to choose. Don’t play with people’s feelings. You know Steven is a good guy, and he’s still trying to get closer to you. Yeah, I can’t give you a comment about Demian. I don’t know him like I know Steven. He’s also a new kid, so there isn’t much information yet. But at least you should have a choice,” Gilbert advised.

Haisley just made a small grimace. “Okay, okay, I’ll think about it. I need to know and weigh the pros and cons between them. At least, let me try first, then I’ll decide.”

“Try what, H?” Gilbert looked at her curiously.

Haisley smiled meaningfully. “At least I need to know which one of them can kiss better,” she replied lightly, putting the last piece of the apple into her mouth. “Dating isn’t just about walking, talking, and eating, right, G?” she said meaningfully.

“What? Are you out of your mind?!” a shout came from Nathan. “Are you trying to be slut, H?”

“What do you mean by slut?”

“Trying to kiss every guy and then deciding to be in a relationship with one after finding someone suitable? Are you crazy? And you!” She pointed at Gilbert. “You’re probably polluting her mind with such ideas.”

Gilbert raised both his hands up to his head. “Slow down, bro!” he replied casually. “You heard her, she makes the decisions, right?”

“What’s wrong if I do that? It’s my right, isn’t it? Besides, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying youth, right, G?” She turned to Gilbert and received a nod in response. “You’re supposed to enjoy your youth. One thing’s for sure, I have to experience kissing and touching other men before I decide to spend my life with one man. In case you forgot, Nath. I’m a faithful woman once I’m bound by a vow. But until I utter that vow, I’m a free woman.”

“I love you, princess. You’re so cute. Whatever you want, I’ll support you.”

“G!” Nathan snapped angrily.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Thank you, G!” Haisley replied simultaneously. “Don’t try to win this alone, Mr. Nathaniel Chayton. I don’t need your permission to do what I want. Even if I want to kiss every guy on campus, it’s none of your business.” Haisley pecked Gilbert’s cheek briefly. “Goodnight, G!” she said and went upstairs to her room.

“I told you, don’t teach her all these things. She’s still impressionable, G!” Nathan fumed once Haisley’s bedroom door was closed.

“As you see, she’s not affected at all. It’s her own decision, Nath. You just have to respect it. Besides, what she said is true. There’s nothing wrong with trying a few men before she decides to be faithful to her husband. You’ve been with several women until now too, haven’t you? Why shouldn’t Haisley? After all, she said it’s just kissing.”

“Right now, he’s saying he wants to try kissing. Tomorrow or the day after, he plans to sleep with those guys,” Haisley said.

Gilbert shrugged. “Give me the details about ‘sleeping with,’ will you? In case you’ve forgotten, he and I often ‘sleep together,’ and you’ve seen it plenty of times.”

“Don’t play dumb, G! You know exactly what I mean.”

“Well, who knows, maybe your version of ‘sleeping together’ and mine are different. Next time, just use the word ‘making love,'” Gilbert replied casually. “And even if she decides to do it, it’s her choice. I can only hope whoever she chooses to do it with is gentle. Considering Haisley’s delicate frame…” Gilbert shrugged again. He turned his back on Nathan, a smile on his face. He wanted to laugh seeing his brother’s shocked face, as if he had just been slapped.

Whether Nathan was truly clueless, pretending to be, or unwilling to admit, one thing was certain: Nathan cared about that girl. He was genuinely bothered by Haisley’s presence. Haisley needed to act faster if she wanted Nathan’s full attention.