Chapter 562 Why Don't You Like Me
Daphne: [The thing is, he's a total workaholic. Even if I tell him to chill, he'll sneak back to work. But now, he's actually putting work aside to hang out with you.]
Daphne had a hunch that Jesse was into Elara. He just hadn't figured it out yet.
Elara felt a sudden urge to spill her feelings. She replied: [Should I just tell him how I feel?]
Daphne: [Why not give it a shot?]
Elara's eyes darted around, her heart racing. She replied: [I'll think about it.]
After their chat, Jesse's meal was almost ready. He called Elara over to eat.
In ten minutes flat, Elara finished her meal, ready to have a serious talk with Jesse.
"Didn't you like the food today?" Jesse asked, noticing how quickly she ate, a bit of confusion in his usually calm eyes.
"Yeah, it was good," Elara said, her mind elsewhere. "You finish up. We need to talk after."
Seeing she was serious, Jesse kept eating.
Once he was done, Elara pulled him into the study. The air was thick with tension, making Jesse uneasy. "What do you want to talk about?"
"What do you think of me?" Elara blurted out, wanting to be straight with him.
"You're great," Jesse replied.
Elara pushed, "In what way?"
Jesse said, "In every way."
"How about I be your girlfriend?" Elara looked him in the eyes, her heart pounding. "Not just pretend, but for real."
Jesse was taken aback, emotions flickering in his eyes.
Elara asked, "Would you be up for that?"
"You," Jesse hesitated, then finally said, "A real relationship needs mutual feelings, which we don't have."
"I like you," Elara said bluntly. "Do you like me?"
Jesse looked confused.
He frowned, met her gaze, and spoke slower than usual, "Don't you like Mark?"
"That was a lie. I don't have feelings for him," Elara confessed. "The person I like is you. It's always been you."
As she spoke, Elara moved a bit closer to Jesse.
Elara asked him, "What about you? Do you like me?"
"I," Jesse tried to speak, but their close proximity made his heart race.
Elara stood on her tiptoes and leaned closer, whispering in his ear, "Do you like me?"
"I don't know," Jesse replied.
"Then you do," Elara finished for him and even planned the next steps. "Come home with me this weekend to meet my parents and officially announce we're together."
"And one more thing," Elara added.
Jesse's mind was blank, following Elara's lead. "What?"
"When do you want to get married?" Elara made a big leap, already thinking ahead. "I'm not getting any younger. How about we have the wedding this year or next year?"
"I won't marry you," Jesse said firmly.
Elara asked, "Why?"
"I don't like you," Jesse seemed to have made up his mind. "And I won't marry you."
Elara started to get angry. "Say that again."
"I don't..." Jesse repeated.
"Are you sure?" Elara cut him off.
"I have something to take care of," Jesse said, trying to dodge her angry glare.
"Hold up!" Elara blocked his path, staring him down. "You're not going anywhere until we sort this out."
Elara felt a sting of rejection, but she wasn't one to back down easily. She had one more card to play.
"Why don't you like me?" Elara pressed.
Jesse replied, "I just don't have feelings for you."
"Are you sure?" Elara asked again.
Jesse nodded. "Yeah."
Truth be told, Jesse wasn't entirely sure, but he did know one thing: Elara deserved better.
Elara's heart ached. She cornered him against the wall, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him, catching him off guard.
At that moment, Jesse's whole body tensed, and his heart raced.
"Still no feelings?" Elara asked, her lips barely an inch from his, her voice shaky.
Jesse pursed his lips, staying silent.
They stood there, locked in a stalemate.
After a while, Elara stepped back, her eyes downcast in disappointment. "Did you find my kiss repulsive?"
Jesse didn't speak, still reeling from the kiss.
"Sorry," Elara's voice cracked with sadness. "I must have disgusted you."
"No!" Jesse quickly replied, his voice louder than usual.
Elara looked up at him, her usual spark dimmed. "How could you not be disgusted by a kiss from someone you don't like?"
"Really, I'm not disgusted," Jesse said, trying to be honest. "I was just... a bit nervous."
The kiss had caught him off guard; he hadn't had time to process it.
Though he didn't want to admit it, he wasn't repulsed at all. In fact, he wished the kiss had lasted longer.
"You're not lying to me?" Elara asked, setting the stage perfectly.
Jesse, being straightforward, didn't catch on. "No."
"Then let me kiss you again," Elara said, "This time, I'll make it last."
Before Jesse could react, Elara kissed him again.
This kiss was deeper, filled with genuine affection.
After a few seconds, Elara pulled back, both of them breathing heavily, hearts pounding.
"This time..." Elara began, but she paused as she saw Jesse's face.
His cheeks and ears were flushed, and his usually calm eyes were a bit wild.
Seeing her pause, Jesse spoke, his voice lower, "What?"
"Why is your face so red?" Elara teased, poking his cheek, then moved her hand to his chest. "Is your heart racing too?"
"No," Jesse lied, for once.
Elara didn't buy it. Taking advantage of his distraction, she pressed her ear to his chest and heard his heart pounding like crazy.
Jesse quickly stepped back, more nervous than before.
But even as he moved away, he reached out to steady Elara, who almost lost her balance from his sudden movement.
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