Chapter 560 What If I Like You
"What if I like you?" Elara's eyes sparkled with a playful glint, her voice light and teasing. "Would you think about being my husband?"
Jesse froze, caught off guard.
Seeing his reaction, Elara quickly added, "Just kidding."
"Elara," Jesse called out.
Elara, fiddling with her phone in the passenger seat, looked up. "What's up?"
"Even though a lot of people get married because their families push them due to their age," Jesse said, choosing his words carefully as he drove, "I hope you do it because you genuinely like the person."
"Why?" Elara asked, curious.
"You deserve to be happy," Jesse replied. He didn't ask for much in life. He just wanted Daphne and her family to be safe, healthy, and happy, and for Elara to find true love and be happy forever.
"Before we talk about me, let's talk about you," Elara said casually. "You're in your early thirties and haven't even dated. If people knew, they'd think something's wrong with you."
Jesse's tone stayed calm. "I don't care."
"Well, I care," Elara blurted out.
Jesse paused.
Elara continued, speaking naturally, "You're my favorite desk mate and such a good person. If anyone talks bad about you, it would upset me."
Jesse didn't respond. He wasn't sure how to keep the conversation going. Silently, he decided to help Elara find a reliable partner.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Elara asked when he stayed quiet.
"I'm thinking about who in Gedser is worthy of you," Jesse answered seriously.
Elara thought to herself, 'He's such a fool.'
Jesse thought for a moment and then asked, "What do you think of Gavin and Evan? Both have good character and backgrounds."
"No," Elara shot down the idea immediately.
"Why not?" Jesse asked.
"I don't like them," Elara quickly found an excuse and used his own words against him, "Didn't you tell me not to get married just because of pressure or age? I'm not in a hurry."
"You can just get to know them," Jesse suggested, "You can be friends; it's not a blind date."
"No need," Elara refused.
Jesse nodded.
"I already have my eye on someone else," Elara said bluntly.
Jesse was a bit surprised but then thought there are many great people in the world and felt relieved. "Who?"
"Mark," Elara lied with a straight face.
Jesse was stunned.
He stopped at a red light and looked at her in surprise. "Mark?"
"Yeah," Elara said deliberately. Jesse was so dense. "I was planning to confess to him when I came back, but he suddenly went on a blind date and got married. It just wasn't meant to be."
Jesse pressed his lips together, not sure how to feel. "Why didn't you tell him before?"
"He didn't have romantic feelings for me. If I had told him, he would have run away, and we might not even be friends anymore," Elara replied naturally, without a hint of doubt.
Jesse rubbed the steering wheel.
If Mark hadn't gotten married, he could have helped Elara pursue him, but Mark was already taken.
Seeing Jesse stay quiet, Elara kept going, "You know how Mark is. We're close, but if he knew I had feelings for him, he'd definitely avoid me."
"Yeah." Jesse nodded, agreeing that Mark was indeed like that.
"So that's why I didn't tell him," Elara said.
"What are your plans now?" Jesse hadn't expected Elara to like Mark. They'd always been just friends.
"It depends," Elara answered casually, then turned the tables on him, "What about you?"
"Me?" Jesse asked.
"If someone liked you and confessed, but you didn't feel the same, what would you do?" Elara asked, testing the waters.
"Thank her for her feelings and politely decline," Jesse answered quickly, his tone as cold as ever.
"Then avoid her?" Elara pressed.
"Why avoid?" Jesse looked puzzled.
"Aren't you afraid she'll keep chasing you and intrude into your life?" Elara was a bit surprised.
"Why should I?" Jesse responded directly but somewhat harshly, "I've already declined and won't give her any response. If she keeps pursuing me, she'll only hurt herself."
"Can't you just get along with her?" Elara rubbed her phone, trying to sound casual but clearly concerned. "What if you discover her good qualities and fall for her during the interaction?"
"I won't let someone I don't like into my life," Jesse blurted out.
To him, those who could enter his life were people he cared about; other strangers or acquaintances were just nodding acquaintances.
Elara raised her eyes slightly and asked, "What about me? Am I in your life now?"
"You're an exception," Jesse said softly.
Hearing this, Elara's heart skipped a beat.
She smiled slightly and teased him, "Do you know that telling a girl she's an exception is like confessing?"
"I..." Jesse suddenly didn't know how to explain.
"How many exceptions do you have?" Elara asked.
"Two," Jesse answered honestly and seriously, "You and Ms. Murphy."
"That's it?" Elara asked.
"That's it," Jesse nodded.
"What about girls who can enter your life?" Elara pressed.
"You and Ms. Murphy," Jesse replied.
"I see. So, in this life, you can only choose between being alone forever or marrying me," Elara constantly tested Jesse.
Jesse didn't catch her implication. "I don't plan to get married."
Elara sighed for the umpteenth time, thinking Jesse was really dense.
The rest of the way, they didn't talk much. Jesse focused on driving, and Elara played with her phone in the passenger seat.
When they got home, Jesse helped Elara carry her things upstairs.
Seeing him heading to the study, Elara called him, "Wait."
"Anything else?" Jesse stopped and asked.
"These are the clothes I bought for you. Try them on for me," Elara handed two clothing bags to Jesse, smiling lightly, "It's my first time buying clothes for a guy. See if they fit."
Jesse refused, "I don't need them."
Elara insisted, "Change."
Jesse compromised. "Okay."
He obediently took the clothes and went in.
Elara took her clothes to her bedroom and then waited on the sofa to see Jesse.
Jesse always wore suits and had no casual clothes for daily wear.
In two or three minutes, Jesse came out after changing.
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