Chapter 80: What is Persistence?

< Dylan >
"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked after Shirley said I was too nice to her when I never did anything spectacular for her.
Shirley pushed me away and stood up before running to her bedroom.
"What's with this girl? She will drive me crazy. Instead of saying 'it's okay', she says something weird. Geez," I muttered.
What could she possibly mean by that?
Don't tell me she really thinks I am too good for her. Now that is just ridiculous.
Who am I kidding? She just said it herself. Does she really think that she doesn't deserve me? I thought she was over that phase already and it was only the grief of loss. Crap!
I still had a long way to go to be able to decipher her emotions that easily, but I would try my best for the time I have left with her.
I found Shirley on the balcony, gazing at the cloudy sky with her hands resting on the railings. I went ahead and hugged her from behind, making her gasp.
"What are you doing?" she asked in a shocked tone.
"Just hugging my girlfriend," I replied bluntly.
She looked down and asked again, "What do you want?"
"I want you—"
"That's just cringy, Dylan."
I rolled my eyes and continued, "—To answer my questions."
She bit her tongue, getting embarrassed.
How adorable!
"D—depends on the question," she shuttered.
Finally, I could interrogate her. "What are you hiding from me? Why did you say that I am too nice to you and bullshit stuff like that? For all I know, I am never nice to anyone. Therefore, why did you say it? Is there something more than the race that is bothering you?" If I knew her enough, she was still upset about that kidnapping incident with her stalker.
"I can't answer that."
We shall see, I thought and smirked.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Two hundred percent," she said, and my smirk got wider. "You can do whatever you want. You can ask your informants, hire detect—" she was cut off by my sudden, unexpected action.
I unbuttoned the first two buttons of her shirt. Placing her chocolate brown hair at her left shoulder, I placed a soft, lingering kiss on the back of her neck.
'Wh— what are y—"
"I am sure you understand that much, my love," I told her in a low, husky voice.
I slid down her shirt a little bit from her right shoulder and kissed her collarbone. She whimpered and grabbed my hands which were resting on top of her stomach.
I trailed wet kisses from her shoulder to her neck. Meanwhile, she was biting her lips and digging her nails on my forearms to not moan.
"How about you answer me now, love?" I asked her seductively while nibbling on her soft spot.
"N— no."
"Stubborn, aren't you? Good for me. I didn't want to stop, anyway."
I bit her on her sensitive spot, forcing her to moan my name. After sucking that spot, I immediately soothed it by placing kisses all over it.
I was going to unbutton another of her shirt buttons to tease her, but she stopped me from doing so.
"D— Dylan, please." Although I know she wanted me to stop, it was her punishment for hiding something from me and being too stubborn about it. Not to mention, she was enjoying herself as well.
"How about we take this to your bedroom?" Before she could react, I picked her up in my arms.
That was when I noticed how red her face was. I dropped her on the bed. Before I could continue what I was doing, a lone tear slipped from her left eye.
I was shocked when I noticed her breathtaking, oceanic eyes were filled with tears.
I was panicked. "Hey, hey, you don't need to cry. I'm sorry. I—"
"Don't be. I am not crying for what you were doing. I was rather enjoying it. It's just—" Shirley started crying loudly and clung to my arm.
"Shh. It's okay." I made her sit on my lap and wrapped my arms around her petite waist. "You can cry as much as you want. You don't have to answer my questions, either. Just let me be with you." She shook her head. "Please."
I stroked her hair lightly as I let her cry on my chest. Eventually, I lulled her to sleep. I made her lay down on her bed and covered her with the comforter. I buttoned her shirt back and removed her shoes before leaving her room.
When I checked the time, it was 8 o'clock. Time sure flew by when I was on the terrace.
Maybe I should make Shirley's favorite dish for dinner.
After I was done cooking, I left it in the microwave to stay heated. I stretched my arms and yawned. I was getting very sleepy.
But I had important work at the headquarters. Well, who cares? I needed some sleep as well.
I texted Riley about it, who was sure to get mad about it later, but I shrugged that off to the back of my head and laid down beside Shirley. I glanced at her relaxed face and wondered what was going on in her thick-head. I didn't know when I drifted into a deep slumber while staring at her.
___
"Please..."
Sienna, can you stop talking in front of my room? It's revolting.
"Don't..."
Ugh! Sienna, for God's sake, shut up!
"Dylan..."
Wait, that's not Sienna's voice.
I jolted up and looked around myself to find Shirley whimpering and mumbling something in her sleep. She was sweating badly.
"...W— where are you?"
"Who is where, love?" I asked softly and tried shaking her to wake her up.
"Dylan..."
"I am right here, Shirley. Wake up." She suddenly jumped up from her sleep, slightly bumping her head with me.
Both of us hissed, "Oww!"
While I was rubbing my forehead, I glanced at her pale, teary face. Shirley quickly wiped her tears and said, "We need to bump our head again."
I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Otherwise, horns will grow out of our bumps." Before I could react, she again bumped her head with mine.
Where did she even learn such ridiculous superstitions?
"Silly girl."
I again got reminded of what she said to me before the kitchen. "Shirley, why did you say that?"
"Not again, Dylan." She huffed.
"Yes, again." I thought I wouldn't bother her about it, but apparently, she wouldn't get over it if she didn't share her insecurities with me.
Shirley dramatically clasped her hands and prayed, "Oh, my merciful boyfriend, show me some mercy."
"You know, I am not that well-known for being merciful." I put on a sinister smirk.
If the earlier one didn't work, I was positive this one will do the trick.
"I don't feel so good." She backed away a little and I smiled widely.
I grabbed both of her arms and pinned her on the bed. Understanding my intentions, she begged, "Have some mercy on me."
"Nope." I grinned and started tickling her. At first, she tried to contain her laughter. Eventually, she burst into fits of laughter.
"P— please, st— stop. I can— can't any— anymore."
I continued torturing her. "Not until you agree to tell me everything."
"You— you are a ti— tickling monster."
I laughed at her words. "You bet I am. Now, tell me."
I stopped the torment, letting her catch some breaths. "Y—you are so persistent."
"What is persistence? I know nothing of that sort."
She stopped laughing and mumbled quietly, "Dylan, don't you ever feel that you deserve someone better than me?"
"For starters, I feel like I don't deserve anyone. But then again, I only want you to be with me," I started casually and got off her.
"You are such a liar."
I chuckled. My condition was like that liar Shepherd. When I lie, everyone believes me as if I was a saint. And when I speak the truth, no one believes me.
"Don't you want someone capable of standing by your side, someone useful to you, someone who knows how to use a gun or fight, someone who can help in your mafia or official work—"
"You can be my PA. Then we can romance all day long." I winked at her. "You could also be my stylist for choosing my outfits every day."
Her cheeks flushed pink as she shyly told me, "Be serious."
"How can I be serious? I'm Dylan—"
"No sarcasm." I pouted.
Before she could speak up, I started, "Let me ask you a question; something that might want to make you rethink our relationship."