Love, Simply - Chapter 21：Silly little thing? It's okay if it's you!

“Best relationship: talk like best friends, play like children, argue like husband and wife, protect each other like brother and sister.”

***

Cyrus couldn’t hate Mina, even after she hurt him so much, he loved so—He thought, perhaps they could have gone back to being friends. But he didn’t know that Mina would suddenly reappear in his life and audaciously asked him to get back.

If she loved him, why didn’t she stay by his side and endure all the hardships together?

Even so, Cyrus didn’t want to see Mina like this.

He wanted her to save the last bit of dignity she had left. He hadn’t and wasn’t going to blame her for leaving him.

But, Cyrus respected himself, the love he had for Mina.

He’d never tell people that his exes were horrible people. He didn’t only want to blame the other party. What about him? Was he not at fault too that their relationship didn’t work?

Each one of his exes came into his life for a change.

There was a time, he was happy with them too, but those chapters ended—yet, it didn’t mean that he couldn’t save those happy moments, because—they were beautiful—memories.

They changed him, and he was thankful for that.

~~~

Louise did not like talking about her ex-boyfriends. Cyrus never asked.

The past did not matter to him.

If she wanted to talk about it, then he’d listen.

~~~

“Loulou, wake up!” Cyrus whispered into Louise’s ear, she groaned, pulling the sheet above her head. “Cahir!”

“Do you have a conscience?” Louise asked, mumbling her words under the cover. “How can you be so damn energetic?”

“How am I supposed to serve my queen if I lack energy?” Cyrus smirked.

“I hate you!” Louise groaned.

“Take it back!” Cyrus pulled the sheet away, staring at her, “Take it back, even if it’s a joke!” He said in a displeased and angry voice. “It’s a strong word!”

Cyrus never got angry at Louise during the time they were dating—so, she was glad that she got to see this side of him.

“What then?” He asked, his voice neutral.

Louise bit her lips, “I am sorry! Don’t people usually say when a woman says they hate a guy, it means that—”

“What?” Cyrus turned his body to face Louise. “I am not into that bull—” he sighed, narrowing his eyes at her. “I don’t like it. So…”

“I am sorry. I love you.”

“Mmh!”

“I take it back,” Louise said, “Don’t be angry anymore.”

“Are you tired, you’ve been sleeping a lot lately,” Cyrus asked, brushing her hair out of her face.

“I don’t know either,” Louise yawned, laying down.

“Take fewer projects. I know you’re tired, but you haven’t eaten yet.”

“I am still sleepy,” she said.

“You eat first, then sleep,” Cyrus said, pulling Louise in a sitting position. “I am sorry.”

“Can you scrub me?”

“Sure!” Cyrus agreed.

‘Oh, I’d have taken more projects if I knew he was going to take care of me like this,’ Louise thought.

~~~

“How do you feel?” Cyrus asked Louise after taking good care of her.

“I am good.”

“Do you want me to stay with you?” He asked, pulling the cover on her.

‘Eh, why is he like this today?’

“I am not sleepy anymore,” Louise said, “Come here,” she said, patting the spot next to her.

“Hug you?” Cyrus asked, laying down. She nodded, snuggling closer to him. “Well, you’re not sleepy. What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know—”

“So Aunt Diane is your dad, only sibling?” He asked, wanting to know more about her, realizing that Louise rarely talked about her family or herself.

“There’s—” Louise paused, “Six of them, aunt Diane and uncle Ben are the youngest.”

“You have a younger uncle too?”

“No, he’s a year older.”

“Your grandfather—he’s something.”

“I know,” Louise laughed, “Uncle Ben—he’s a rebellious kid. He doesn’t get along well with his dad. He and my father work together.”

“He’s a fashion designer too?”

“Yeah, BDJ!”

“What is that? Sorry, I don’t know anything about fashion—clothes,” he grimaced.

“Ben Dhan Jones.”

“Your father’s brand—is that what you always wear?”

“Not always, but mostly.”

“You don’t talk much about yourself,” Cyrus said, in a low voice. “I have to hear things about you from other people—”

“Well, talking about me sounds like I am boasting about myself to others,” Louise shrugged.

“I wouldn’t think that.”

“I know, but it became a habit.”

“Those people are jealous. I get it. You’ re—gorgeous. Talented. Amazing. Independent. Honest. Caring—”

“You’re complimenting me too much,” Louise smiled.

“No,” Cyrus smiled, his teeth bright in the dark. “You’re not funny, but you can make people laugh on your good days.”

Louise hit his chest and laughed, “You’re extremely honest today.”

“It’s beautiful!”

“What is?”

“Your laugh,” he said, breathing in the scent at her hair.

“You’re making me shy,” Louise said.

“I don’t think that word applies to you,” Cyrus said, a smile on his faint rosy lips. “But, I love that about you.”

Louise’s heart was crashing in her chest that she didn’t know what to answer.

~~~

During the time they dated, it wasn’t always happy. There were times they argued and disagreed on things. Sometimes Louise and Cyrus would go on without talking to each other over some trivial topics.

No relationships exist without arguments. Nevertheless, Louise and Cyrus knew when they were at fault and apologized to their significant other, and admitted their mistake.

“I deserved to know.”

“Listen—”

“We don’t keep secrets from each other, Loulou. Why didn’t you tell me?” Cyrus demanded.

“I was going to tell you—”

“When?”

“Why are you angry? Are you offended that I bought the shares for you? Or I didn’t tell you that I bought it? Which one?” Louise asked, feeling extremely irritated. “I am sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“Loulou!”

“Stop! It’s my fault. I know that you don’t want me to spend money on you, and I respect that. The shares belonged to your father, so I wanted to gift it to you on your birthday but—”

“Let’s talk later,” Louise said, forcing a smile.

“Wait, I am sorry,” Cyrus said, holding her hand. “I am sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?” She asked him with an indifferent voice. Cyrus stared at her, puzzled. It was the first time that she had spoken to him like that. He didn’t like it. “You don’t even know. I am leaving,” Louise said, taking his hand off of her.

~~~

“Don’t look at me like that!” Cyrus sighed. “I feel horrible. Did I overreact?” He asked his family.

“Beyond!”

“Extreme!”

“Too much!”

“Dramatic!”

“I’d block you for a week if I were Louise,” Tara chimed. “It’s a birthday present, why would she tell you? You always reject her when she tries to do something for you. Brother, you said you didn’t care about her having more money than you—you went back on your words.”

“Why did you apologize?” Kate asked. Cyrus shrugged. “That’s why she’s mad.”

“Let them take care of their problem,” Mrs.Smith said.

~~~

Two days later Louise went to visit Peter. She knew that her boyfriend didn’t like her spending money on him, but he didn’t know why Cyrus was so angry this time around—

“Louise! Peter smiled expectingly

“Hi!”

“Come in!” His parents’ house was well kept and cleaned. Louise carefully looked around before she sat on the sofa. “You want something to drink?”

“Water, please. Nice home,” Louise commented.

“Here, thanks,” Peter handed her a bottle of water after a few seconds.

“Was I wrong?” Louise asked, having already explained things to Peter. “I overreacted, didn’t I?”

“No. Just this once you wanted to give him something, I understand you, especially when he’s been rejecting you.”

Louise stared at Peter for a moment then said, “I am planning on sleeping here. Are you going to stand there for the whole night?”

“Who?” Pete asked, acting dull.

“Cyrus!” Louise walked around to where Cyrus was, finding him standing next to a bookshelf his back facing her.

“Are you not going to talk to me?” We shouldn’t be avoiding each other over this,” she whispered to him.

Cyrus turned to her, startlingly.

“I don’t know how to face you,” He bit his lips nervously.

“Were you mad because I didn’t tell you or—?” Louise asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I felt bad—having you spending all that money on me. And you know your other uncles and aunts are not very fond of me. I don’t want them…” explained Cyrus.

“You only wanted to give it to me because you knew it belonged to my father. And I shouldn’t have gotten angry and reacted that way—I am sorry.”

“I understand you, but sometimes I want to help you, I want to do things for you. And this was the one thing I wanted to give you.”

“I know! I can take everything that you give to me, but not this. What about me? What can I give to you?” asked Cyrus, keeping his head down.

“I respect that! But this one you have to accept. I don’t need anything in return.”

“I…”

“Alright! Let’s stop, okay? I won’t force you, but remember what you said,” said Louise, a smile spreading tightly across her face.

“Mischievious!” Cyrus poked her nose, then kissed her gently on the mouth, he pressed his body against Louise and pushed her against the wall, staring at her. He leaned down again to capture her lips in another kiss.

“We’re at your best friend’s house, behave yourself,” Louise reminded him. He mouthed Oh, smoothed out Louise’s clothes, and walked in the living room together. “Where did he go? Peter!”

“What’s up? You guys are good, right?” Peter asked a laptop in his hand.

“Thanks, bro,” said Louise, smiling friendly at Peter.

“It’s okay.”

“Since when did you guys get so close?” Cyrus asked, looking back and forth at them.

Peter scratched his head, “Well, Today!”

“Ah! Friday’s your birthday. What do you want?”

“Anything!” He answered, busying himself with his work.

“Friday’s your birthday too, Loulou,” Cyrus pointed out.

“We’re soulmates,” Peter joked.

“We might just be,” Louise grinned. “We’re leaving. We took too much of your time, finish your work. Talk later, okay.No need to walk us out.”

“Goodnight, guys.”

~~~

“Help me pick out a gift for him. I don’t know what to get him.”

“Get him a car,” Louise said. “Can you?”

“I can afford it, but he won’t take it.”

“Ask Kate, she’s good at picking out gifts for people,” she said, rolling on the bed. “I come over too often those past few days. I am leaving.”

“Wait!” Cyrus took Louise’s hand, clasping a piece of jewelry around her wrist. “I didn’t know what to get you.”

“It’s pretty. I love it,” Louise lifted her arm to appreciate it. “Thank you!”

“Happy birthday,” he kissed her hand. “I wish you’d let me take you out or something—”

“You being here and remembering are already enough. I don’t need anything else,” Louise said, patting his cheek.

“Where’s the other?”

“What other.”

“You didn’t buy this, did you?” She smiled.

“Well, I had mom ordered it,” Cyrus admitted.

“Let me see it!” Cyrus passed her the box. “There’s another. Give me your hand.”

“Why?”

“Aww, it’s a couple’s set. I don’t want to wear them both.”

“That’s not what I ordered.”

“Certainly! Come, give me your hand.”

“It’s nice,” Cyrus commented. “This is your gift,” he said, taking out a large box from his closet. “But I want you to open it when you get home.”

“Why are you giving me so many things today?”

“They can’t even compare to what you have given me,” he smiled. “I’ll drive you home.”

“I drove. It’s okay, but you can carry the box down.”

~~~

Louise was eager to unwrap the box Cyrus had given to her. Once she got home, she threw her keys somewhere and put the box on the table, doing her operation.

“Let’s see what’s in there,” she mumbled as she pulled out a blanket with a picture of Cyrus. “Aww, he’s so cute.”

She noticed a tiny box; she took it out and opened it. It was a ring—a promise ring. “Oh! why didn’t he give it to me himself?”

Louise was about to rummage through the rest of the things when her cellphone rang.

“Miss, your aunt, she’s been taking to the hospital,” the man cried on the phone.

“What? Was she sick? I am coming,” she quickly grabbed her keys. “Send me the address.”

“No, someone found her—her face—I don’t know if she’s going to make it.”

Louise stopped, feeling her head spinning.

“She’s in surgery. Quickly come!”