Encouragement 2
“You bastard, Garrett.”
Garrett’s jaw tightened. “Aren’t you the bastard?” he retorted. “You should be grateful to Elice for not reporting you to the police. I wonder how Aunt Farrah would react if she saw your misdeeds.”
Ariel growled. He stood up, wiping the blood from his nose with his hand.
Garrett held his breath, knowing he would get a third punch and a second kick if he decided to stay. He had to leave immediately. Before he lost control completely.
“We’re leaving, Elice.”
Garrett grabbed Elice’s hand and wanted to take her away right away. But Ariel’s voice made him stop.
“You know, Garrett? Elice is my ex-girlfriend. She’s my past.”
Even Elice could feel the emotions that had enveloped Garrett. Through Garrett’s grip, which tightened, causing Elice to stifle her chuckle.
Where he stood, Ariel chuckled.
“In the end, Elice will come back to me. Because from the beginning she loved only me. And only I will be the one she kisses with those sexy lips.”
Elice really did not want to see the reality at that moment. When she thought that the night would be pleasant, she got the opposite. Humiliated again. And this time it was not a minor humiliation. Ariel embarrassed her in front of Garrett.
“If that’s the case…”
Garrett’s voice in her ears made Elice hold her breath. But she still kept her eyes shut.
“… then you shouldn’t do such shameful and low actions, Ariel.” Saying that, Garrett looked back at Ariel over his shoulder. “If you are sure that Elice will come back to you, then sit down quietly. And wait for the time. When that happens…” Garrett continued. “… she will ask you to kiss her herself.”
Elice opened her eyes. She looked at Garrett, who seemed to be holding back his anger.
“But you must remember. Touching Elice without her permission is a mistake whose consequences you cannot imagine.”
It was a clear threat.
“I’m sure you know very well who you are dealing with right now, Ariel.”
Perhaps for the first time in his life, after receiving the inheritance and all its trappings, Garrett felt gratitude of that magnitude.
*
It was not a party that ended well for Elice and Garrett. They returned home early, claiming to be tired from work. The host understood and was sympathetic.
There was no conversation during the entire trip. Both Elice and Garrett remained silent in the silence. When the car was not far from Elice’s house, Garrett was torn between two options. Go home right away or the opposite. If he wanted to follow his feelings, he wanted to leave as soon as he dropped Elice off. But there was another side that wanted him to know that she was okay. In the end, the second choice won out.
Elice knew what Garrett was thinking when they both arrived at her unit. Garrett did not say anything. He just looked at her from head to toe. And Elice let him. Without saying or doing anything. It was as if she was giving Garrett a chance to find the answers on his own.
“I shouldn’t have let you go alone.”
For some reason, it seemed that Elice had just realized this side of Garrett. That Garrett was the kind of guy who tended to apologize. Where if something unpleasant happened, he felt guilty.
“Nobody expected Ariel to do this, Garrett. It’s not your fault. And you don’t have to be around me all the time.”
The problem, however, was that the incident happened while they were together. Literally, of course.
“Besides…” Elice took a deep breath. “… I’m sure I can still take care of myself.”NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
Three times the incident had been more than enough to prove to Garrett the truth of Elice’s words. But Garrett wasn’t willing to take that risk. The longer it took, the more Ariel’s actions might become uncontrollable. He couldn’t wait for something bad to happen.
“Of course. I don’t doubt you at all, Elice. It’s just that…”
Garrett closed his eyes. Leaning back on the sofa, he felt that the warmth in his chest had not subsided. And if the image from earlier came to mind, even for a moment, the fire would burn even brighter.
Garrett took off his jacket. Undid his tie and immediately unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. But that wasn’t enough to calm his feelings.
It worried Garrett. Afraid that he might break down in front of Elice.
“I think I should go now.”
Elice stared at Garrett who stood up. He grabbed the jacket that had just left his body five minutes ago.
“You’re leaving?” Elice asked worriedly. “In this condition? I thought you could wait a while, Garrett. You don’t seem well enough to drive.”
Garrett knew that for sure. But he knew even more that he could not stay there any longer. He was afraid of exploding in front of Elice.
So, Garrett ignored Elice’s request. He stood up. But when he had taken just one step, Elice grabbed his hand.
“Garrett.”
Elice could feel the tension in Garrett. He was obviously still angry about what Ariel had done. And Elice did not want anything bad to happen to Garrett. An accident was a distinct possibility if he drove in an unstable state.
“Please, just stay a moment.”
Garrett sighed deeply. He shook his head without turning around. “I-I have to go, Elice. Please, let me go.”
The longer it took, the more Elice felt Garrett’s tension escalate. He became more and more uncontrollable.
“No,” Elice refused. “I won’t let you go in this condition.”
Elice would do anything to keep Garrett from leaving. She had to make sure that he did not become more inflamed in his emotions. But Garrett pulled his hand away.
Elice’s hand on Garrett’s shirt sleeve became a firm grip. Garrett lowered his head. Seeing those slender fingers, he was determined not to let go.
“Elice, I-”
“Kiss me, Garrett.”
Garrett was stunned. It seemed he had misheard.
In reality, no. Because Elice had really said it. And if Garrett doubted, she would repeat it.
“I want,” Elice said, trembling. “You to kiss me.”
*