"Thank you, Pea. I won't forget all you've done for me." Pearl gave her a reassuring hug and a gentle pat on the back. "Don't mention it. I'm here for you." Once their talk was over, Pearl and Gigi returned to Damian.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Look after her properly, or you'll answer to me," Pearl warned.
Damian just raised his eyebrows in response. "Of course, she's like a sister to me." Hearing him refer to her as family made Gigi feel a pang of sadness.
"Make sure you go hsoon. And don't let her cpick you up if you've been drinking, especially not from a place like this," Pearl advised, showing her concern for Gigi's safety. She wouldn't let her mother down.
Damian seemed uninterested in her nagging, simply agreeing to appease Pearl before taking Gigi away.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmOnce outside, Damian's expression changed, and Gigi, perceptive as always, picked up on it. "What's wrong? You seem upset." "What do you think of me, Gigi?" he asked, stopping to lean against a car and lighting a cigarette.
Despite disliking the stench of cigarettes, Gigi found herself not minding when Damian smoked. "You should smoke less. It's bad for your health," she said, avoiding his question.
Instead of putting out the cigarette as he usually might, Damian leaned in and blew a smoke ring in her direction. "Why? Do you care about me?" Św"Yes..." QUMS "Then answer me. What do you think about me?" "I think you're a really great person. To me, you're like the moon," she said, implying he was beautiful yet unreachable.
Damian scoffed. "You think too highly of me. I'm not the person you think I am. In fact, I have my own reasons for keeping you around." He moved closer, and Gigi felt intimidated, wanting to escape.
"I don't believe you're bad," she insisted.
"Why not? never said I'm a good person." Damian finished the cigarette and tossed it into the trash can. "Alright, I'll stop scaring you." He felt disinterested after noticing her discomfort. Yet, he showed his care by gently tugging at her shirt. "Con, I'll take you home." As they walked, Gigi, gathering her courage, shouted, "I believe you wouldn't do anything to hurt me." Even though Gigi had suspected as much, hearing it confirmed cut deep, like her heart was being torn apart. "I know."