Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

"Alright, Mr. Gilbert."

It wasn’t until Gilbert was almost at the dance studio that he finally picked up his phone to reply.

[I’m almost at the dance studio. Whatever it is, we can talk in person.]

Upon receiving the message, Sherilyn couldn't help but wonder, was he just passing by the dance studio?

She didn’t dwell on it much and, together with Rebecca, left the studio.

"I've been imposing on you these past few days. I can head back home tonight."

"Imposing? Don't be silly. You're welcome at my place anytime you need."

As they stepped out, they saw Gilbert leaning casually against his car, waiting for her.

"Sherilyn, I'll head off first."

"Sure."

Sherilyn jogged up to Gilbert, slightly out of breath, and went straight to the point after pulling out her phone. Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"How much do I owe you?"

"Sherilyn..."

Gilbert frowned, a hint of seriousness in his tone. "I didn’t come here to collect money from you."

Sherilyn was surprised. Then why was he here?

"Oh..."

After a moment, she got it.

"I know, you just picked it up casually. To you, this hairband might be as trivial as a dollar or two, but for me, it's not—it's too precious..."

"Hold on..." Gilbert's gaze darkened. "You think I just picked it out casually?"

Sherilyn was stunned. Wasn’t it?

Gilbert couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh, his teeth clenched. "Yes, just picked it out casually!"

But his heart felt an intense pinch of sourness. What was he even thinking?

When Sherilyn mentioned paying him, he thought she was rejecting his gesture!

But then, she said—it was picked out casually!

Thinking of himself comparing similar hairbands to her cheap one... He must have looked so foolish!

What's more pathetic than being rejected? It's her not realizing his intentions at all! She never thought that he had picked it out especially for her!

Watching Gilbert’s mood swing, Sherilyn was utterly confused. "Gilbert?"

"What?"

Gilbert suddenly snapped back to reality, a flash of pain visible in his eyes.

"That..." Sherilyn reminded him. "You haven’t told me how much?"

"Sherilyn..."

Gilbert didn’t answer; he wanted to ask her, "Haven’t you ever thought..."

...that he had specifically looked for a hairband like hers?

But the words just wouldn’t come out.

"Thought about what?" Sherilyn asked innocently, genuinely curious.

"Nothing."

Gilbert shook his head, swallowing hard, and then blurted out a number. "200 bucks!"

"Huh... Huh?" Sherilyn nodded subconsciously, then was suddenly taken aback. "What? You said what?"

Did he misspeak?

Rebecca had said it should at least start with a thousand.

"Didn’t catch that?"

"No, it's just... that cheap?"

"What are you on about?"

Gilbert frowned, visibly irritated. "I bought it, don’t I know the price? If you’re paying, pay. If not, forget it. I don’t have the time to haggle over 200 bucks with you!"

"Oh, okay."

What else could she do?

Sherilyn reluctantly transferred 200 bucks to him.

Gilbert’s phone pinged in his pocket.

"Alright..."

Sherilyn was about to remind him that the transfer was complete.

But Gilbert had already turned around. "We good here? I’m leaving!"

"Take care..."

As she spoke, Gilbert left her with nothing but his retreating figure, a shadow cast in gloom.

Buy a hairband, huh?

If he ever does something as pointless as this again, he'd consider himself a fool!

Gilbert felt a tightness in his chest, struggling to breathe, when his phone rang.

It was Sylvia. She hardly ever sounded so panicked. "Gilbert, it's a disaster! Francis and Caroline had a huge fight!"