NovelEnglishAfter delivering his awkward attempt at humor, Abner was at a loss for words. In Shirley's presence, he always seemed to lose his
knack for conversation.
Shirley had intended to pass him sfood, as she had in the past, but a sudden realization stopped her cold; things between
them had changed too much to go back to the way they once were.
Silence descended upon the room.
Maja felt that lan's kindness wouldn't take long to repay. She touched her belly subconsciously, drawing lan's attention away from
Abner's failed joke. His concern was immediate.
"You okay?"
"Just a bit off. | need sfresh air," she said.
"Lethelp you."
Together, they stood and left the private dining room.
Their departure only heightened the awkwardness between Shirley and Abner.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHe poured her another cup of tea, while she observed the long fingers that gracefully handled the teacup.
The first tShirley had seen Abner, he was lanky and pale, clearly malnourished. It had taken a year of care to nurse him back to
health.
"Abner, why did you take off without a word after final exams? Did my parents give you a hard time?" she asked.
"No."
His reply cquicker this time, his fingers slowly gripping the cup.
The n"Shirley" beca lump in his throat he couldn't swallow.
Her lips twitched into a reluctant smile as she reached out to ruffle his hair. Only after the gesture did she realize she was tousling
the hair of a 24-year-old man. Embarrassed, she quickly withdrew her hand.
"Sorry about that. Old habits, | guess. My parents were harsh back then, said spretty mean stuff before | could apologize
properly. It took ages to get your contact, and you always seemed so busy. Whenever | called, it was your assistant who answered.
And behind a screen, | can't read your expressions. You were always hard to read, and | worried that I'd upset you."
As a teenager, Abner had been fiercely independent. Shirley had practically had to teach him everything by hand when he first
arrived from his rural home.
She glanced at his face, concerned she'd upset him by messing up his hair. Just as she was about to apologize, he lowered his
shoulders and leaned his head in closer. He had a stubborn streak, but his hair was soft.
Confused, Shirley was about to ask what he was doing when the door swung open.
lan stood there, spotting Abner leaning in, head close to Shirley's.
"What, you got lice or something?" lan's brow furrowed in irritation.
Abner's hand, previously dangling at his side, clenched into a fist, his teeth almost grinding.
lan strode over to his seat, grabbed his forgotten phone, and headed out with a parting shot.
"lI haven't settled the bill. Maja's feeling a bit off, so I'm taking her home."
If Shirley wasn't there, Abner would've hurled a bowl at him.
Wasn't it lan who insisted on treating them? What kind of nonsense was leaving without paying the bill?
lan didn't want to waste tcalling over a waiter. He had the eerie feeling that every second counted, as if ghosts were chasing
him.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmMaja, standing outside for air, watched him hurry down.
"Why the rush? How did things go with Abner and Shirley?"
"Fine. Are you really okay?"
"Yeah, can't you tell | just wanted to give them sspace?"
"How could | have known that?"
No wonder he'd lost his wife in the past. When it cto emotions, the guy was clueless.
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