Chapter 13

He shrugged. "Nothing. You, why are you here? ”

It imitated his position — leaning against the baluster and looking up at the sky. "I was worried when you suddenly disappeared."

"I'm okay now."

He frowned when he felt his finger under his eyes. When she looked at him, she could read nothing on his eyes aside from concern and worry.

“Your eyes…”

"My eyes are what?"

“They’re sad. What’s the problem? ”

She averted her face from the man. He still could not believe that someone could read how he felt by looking into his eyes.

“Nothing. I’m okay. ”

“Tell me, Karen. I’ll listen. ”

He rested deeply. He never really could lie to Nile. "I'm jealous of Delah because she already has Drake." It was about to open its mouth so he continued. “I am happy for Delah because she already has Drake. But I was jealous because I also wanted to have something like Drake. Not the serious type. Just that someone who seems like he’s afraid to lose me. ”

He averted his eyes from Nile because he did not want to see how it would react. Maybe it thinks he's superficial.

He felt both hands resting on his shoulders. He turned her until she’s facing him. He placed both hands on her cheeks. The soft expression on her face almost made her cry.

“There will always be that someone who’s afraid to lose you, Karen. There will always be that someone who will love you the way you deserves to be love. There will always be that someone who will be there for you, who will stand by you until the end. You just have to open your eyes and your heart. He’s there, Karen. He’s there waiting for you to notice him. ”

His voice full of conviction made her think that what he was saying is true, that there really is someone out there for her.

He placed both hands on her hand resting on her cheek. He closed his eyes and savored the heat coming from his hand. When she opened her eyes and was greeted by his eyes, she knew that she will okay from now on.

“Until then, will you be that guy for me, Nile? While we pretend? ”

Something crossed his eyes that she could not put a name. “Anything for you, Karen. Anything. ”

He smiled at it. He wrapped his arm around the man's waist and rested his head on his chest. Only now did he realize how wide its chest was. It feels good to lean there for a long time.

"Thank you for being my best friend, Nile."

His answer was to tighten his embrace with her.

/

FROM writing in the sand of her pen name Karen turned to her right with a shadow covering her face. Nile looked at him with a frown. To his great surprise, his forehead was furrowed.

“Oh, why? Did you fall asleep? ” he asked in astonishment.