Novel Reader
Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Chapter 99 – Waving the White Flag (Anj‘s POV)
“On business...”
My eyes flickered on the TV when it flashed a familiar face that even my children stopped playing with Nitro on the floor. Our old television did not do justice to giving my children a clear picture of their father, whom we had not seen for almost two weeks. Yet, their faces lit with joy upon seeing his face, and they all focused on the screen. He called once, but I let Leyanne answer the phone, and with three girls to talk to before I had my chance to hold my cellphone, he had to say goodbye because his meeting was about to
start. He promised to call again, but he never did.
When the screen flashed a video of Sky, catching him walking and talking sweetly with Lalaine, although it was a few seconds video, three pairs of eyes widened and looked at me. Dylan rose to his feet; not bothering to take the remote control on the center table, he pressed the power button and turned off the TV.
“Daddy‘s busy,” Dylan hissed as he walked back to the single sofa.
I gave him a sullen look. “Girls, time for homework,” I said, pretending to look at the wall clock. “Kiss Uncle Dylan good night, girls.” I stood up. “Mommy will follow you in a bit.” Leyanne and Lyra Helene stood up, kissing Dylan on his cheek, while Selene picked up Nitro before going to him. Like the two, she kissed him and left the puppy on his lap. The three girls wrapped their arms around me as I kissed each on the forehead. I glanced at Dylan walking to the kitchen.
We had to talk. We need to clear things out because I hated seeing him and Anya repelling each
other whenever the two of them were in the same room.
“Mommy, can we just live in Daddy‘s house?” Leyanne asked. “Our bed‘s so small; Nitro can‘t sleep with us,” she complained.
“Uh–huh! I liked Daddy‘s bed,” Lyra Helene twitched her lips. I smiled at them, wishing I could voice it too. I also love to be in Daddy‘s bed. “And how about you?” I tapped Selene‘s nose.
She giggled. “I don‘t mind where Nitro sleeps. As long as I‘m with Mommy, I’m okay.”
Lyra Helene gasped. “Don‘t you miss Daddy?” She pouted. “I do. I just want to be with Mommy, that‘s all.” “Enough, girls,” I said, kissing them again, in their cheeks this time. “Mommy will just have tea with Uncle Dylan, okay?” Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
They nodded and walked toward the bedroom quietly. When I entered the kitchen, my tea was already prepared on the countertop as if it was just waiting for me to pick it up and enjoy it, but I hesitated since Dylan was standing and leaning on the edge of the countertop panel. With a beer can in his hand, my heart was pounding, worried that he was gathering his courage to
talk to me.
“Want a beer?” He asked but looked at the tea he had prepared.
I nodded. Perhaps I needed the spirit of alcohol to help me sort things out between us. When he turned to get another can of beer from the refrigerator, my eyes flickered at his bedroom door. It would be easy for him to drag me there if things got out of control. He had already opened it before giving it to me. “Garden?” He asked again.
I nodded, following him to the small garden at the back. As he sat on the wooden bench, I felt my heart in my throat, hating my heart for thumping inside my chest. I sat on the opposite
edge of the bench and sipped my beer. “What‘s with you and Anya?” I asked when he didn‘t speak. “Make me understand, Dylan. We‘ve all been together since I was twelve, and I knew you and Anya better than anyone else.” “Nothing,” He heaved a deep sigh, then looked at me and smiled sadly. “I brought you here because I wanted us to talk.”
“Talking is saying more than three words, Dylan. All you did was answer me or ask me,” I smirked, sipping my beer but careful not to be intoxicated with it.
His tongue touched the inside of his cheek, and he smiled at me. “Did you know what I said to myself when I first saw you, Anj?” He lowered his gaze to his beer. “I found the girl I wanted
to be with for the rest of my life. All I needed to do was wait for you to grow up.” I nodded and half–smiled at him. “Yeah, you‘ve told me that.”
“I love you, Anj,” It came out as a whisper because Dylan suddenly burst into tears. “I love
you.”
My heart stopped beating, not wanting him to cry, and hating myself now for feeling his pain. I put down my can and moved closer to him. “Hey,” I said, leaning his head to my shoulder.
Since we all became friends, Anya and I relied on him. For a very long time, he has been there for Anya and me. He was like our pillar of strength, a big brother for me who had taken care of us, not minding if my cousin and I would bully him. If I did not meet Sky, my mind would choose Dylan because he was a good man, the ideal one. As Anya would always describe to me, Dylan was perfect, and only an idiot woman would not choose him to be that someone to be with for the rest of her life.
“What‘s wrong?” I asked, tilting my head to see his face.
“I‘m scared, Anj,” he whispered, raising his head. “I‘m scared to lose you.”
I pursed my lips, wishing Sky would say the same words to me. I closed my eyes, fighting tears as I thought of him and Lalaine. I wanted to say the same thing. I‘m scared to lose Sky, but I already raised and waved the white flag, surrendering and admitting I lost to her.
When I felt Dylan‘s hand trailing my neck and pulling my head to him, I did not resist. I parted my lips, accepting the challenge of his tongue as if opening the door of my heart for him. My
– Wount Wite Flag
tears rolled down my cheeks, feeling the pain of finally saying goodbye to Sky.