Crush(2)

3

That night, I had a dream that I had gone back to the old days when Rowan was still young. I tried my best to be nice to him just so that he could be my little boyfriend when he grew up.

When I woke up, I felt the dried saliva at the corners of my mouth.

I turned on my phone and noticed that I'd received a message from Savannah.

Savannah: [I treated you as my best friend, but you want to be my sister-in-law? It's not that you can't, but my brother is very insensitive. He has never shown interest in women, and he hasn't dated anyone yet. Besides, have you forgotten what you used to look like in front of him at my house?]

I tried to recall. It seemed that when I was at their house, I was either crying while watching dramas or scrambling around for snacks as well as teasing Rowan from time to time.

I always wore a loose T-shirt and pajamas, which seemed to be a little sloppy.

I got nervous, worrying that Rowan didn't have a good impression of me.

I was upset and kicked the quilt with my feet.

A sharp pain came from my ankle. I forgot that I sprained my ankle yesterday!

"What's wrong?"

Outside the door came Rowan's concerned voice, which was probably because he heard my screaming.

"My foot hurts!"

Rowan opened the door and walked in. He likely just woke up as he had messy hair and his pajamas on.

"Let me see."

Rowan sat by the bed, picked up my foot, and said in a hoarse voice, "It's very swollen. Let's go to the hospital."

Rowan looked up at me with sleepy eyes and swollen face, making the chubbiness of his cheeks more obvious.

"Well, I see."

I suppressed the urge to pinch his face.

I got out of bed with difficulty and changed my clothes.

When I came out, Rowan was already packed up with a hat in his hand.

"Put it on. It's sunny outside."

He helped me put on the hat and patted it down quite naturally. If his sister hadn't proved to me that he had never dated anyone, I would have doubted his actions and wondered if he had practiced this on some other young lady.

"Thank you."

I touched my slightly warm cheek and felt a little embarrassed.

"Let me get us a taxi."

I was stopped by Rowan as soon as I took out my phone. "I'm driving."

"You can drive?"

I was a little surprised.

"Yeah, I got a driver's license after being discharged from the army."

Rowan pursed his lips and pressed the elevator button.

I quietly stuck my tongue out. I had graduated, but I didn't even get a driver's license.

Rowan helped me get into the car and suddenly leaned over to help me fasten the seat belt. His face was so close that I could count his eyelashes. The smell of yesterday's shower gel seemed to remain on him.

"T-Thank you."

I suppressed the throbbing in my heart and straightened my hat.

I couldn't help but inwardly praise Rowan for being so considerate.

He started the car, and I secretly looked at him from the corner of my eye.

Rowan's hands were big, his fingers were slender, and his fingernails were well-trimmed. There was a bracelet on his wrist. When he turned the steering wheel with one hand, he exuded an indescribably charming air.

He wore a black short-sleeved shirt and jeans today, looking casual yet dependable. Although his face was young, his temperament was much more mature than that of ordinary university students.

On the contrary, I dressed casually and didn't put on makeup even though I was going out. I didn't look like an employed person at all. I figured I had to buy some clothes some other day.

After parking the car, Rowan helped me register at the counter.

There were a lot of people in the hospital. After a while, I suddenly wanted to go to the restroom.

"Rowan, I want to go to the restroom."

I tugged at the corner of his clothes embarrassingly.

"Let me help you over."

Rowan stood up and was ready to help me without thinking.

"Isn't it a little inappropriate for you to go to the women's restroom?"

It was a little awkward to let a young man stand at the door of the women's restroom.

Rowan was stunned and blushed. "It doesn't matter if I'm at the door, but it's inconvenient for you to go in."

Then he walked to a woman sitting across from us. I heard him say in a clear voice, "Miss, my girlfriend's ankle is sprained. It's inconvenient for her to go to the restroom. Can you take her in? I'd appreciate that, thanks."

The woman was about his mother's age. Before I could react, I saw her walking toward me with a smile.

"Young lady, I'll help you there."

"Thank you, Miss."

Rowan was not very insensitive after all. He was quite a smooth-talker.

Just then, he said I was his girlfriend. Although I knew it was just an excuse, I was still happy.

The woman helped me to the restroom cubicle. I sat down hard and heard her gush over him outside.

"Young lady, you have a good boyfriend. He's handsome, tall, and a sweet-talker to boot!"

I inwardly agreed and thought that he could be my boyfriend soon.

"If only he could be my daughter's boyfriend."

My face froze while I was smiling.

In addition to being cautious about girls of the same age, I also had to be careful about their mothers.

The woman helped me to the door and found Rowan standing at the door waiting.

"Thank you, Miss. I'll take it from here."

Rowan put his big arm around my waist and helped me slowly to my seat.

Looking at his handsome profile, I decided to win him over as soon as possible. Otherwise, I could lose him if other women or girls took him away.

Fortunately, I was in a favored position since I was closer to him.

"Priscilla Yates!" A nurse called out my name.

"Here!"

I raised my hand, and Rowan hurriedly helped me up to go into the consulting room.

"Are you Priscilla Yates?" The old doctor asked me slowly with his glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"Yes, I am."

I nodded.

The old doctor rolled up my trousers, checked my ankle carefully, and pinched it.

I felt pain.

I grabbed Rowan's hand.

"How did you get your foot injured like this? Where did you hurt it?"

The old doctor tutted.

"In the bedroom."

"You even managed to twist your ankle at home. You're quite careless, aren't you?"

I couldn't help but think of the pink lingerie hanging from Rowan's ring finger. My face turned red. I suddenly realized that I was still holding Rowan's hand at this time, so I quickly withdrew my hand.

"Young man, are you her boyfriend? Take good care of her."

The old doctor stared at Rowan and pushed his glasses.

"But..." I was interrupted by the old doctor before I could deny it.

"You can't do anything strenuous at home. You look like a young energetic couple. A woman then shows up with a twisted ankle. Tell me. What should I make of it then?" asked the doctor.

My hand trembled, and I pursed my lips. I didn't dare to breathe. I glanced at Rowan secretly and found that his eyelashes trembled slightly and his ears were red. He was not annoyed, though. He sat upright and listened to the old doctor's lecture while nodding.

"All right, it's not a big problem. I'll prescribe some medicine, and it will be better in two weeks."

The old doctor waved a hand and prescribed medicine for me.

Rowan and I nodded, thanked him, and hurriedly left the clinic which seemed to have a strange and ambiguous atmosphere.

4

Just as the elevator door was about to close, a hand was inserted into the seam.

"I'm sorry." A man came in while supporting the woman beside him. "Come on inside. Slow down."

I couldn't help but get shocked. I couldn't believe that I would meet my ex-boyfriend when I came to the hospital.

"Pris."

Henry Dawson looked up at me and was a little surprised. The gentle look on his face, which was for another woman, had not yet disappeared.

I nodded casually and glanced at the woman beside him. Henry had put his hand on her waist carefully.

I met Henry's avoidant gaze and suddenly understood.

He was still pestering me a few days ago, but today, he had gotten another woman pregnant.

"Pris, is this your boyfriend?"

Henry looked at Rowan, who was supporting me, and his tone sounded a little incredulous.

I was about to answer no, but Rowan said suddenly, "Yes."

Rowan's tone was indifferent and polite. Rowan's aura was even stronger than that of Henry, who had been in the workforce for several years.

"Pris, why did you get a younger man to be your boyfriend?"

Henry felt a little embarrassed.

I pinched Rowan's hand and looked at Henry smugly. "He's handsome, young, healthy, and responsible."

Before Henry could argue, the elevator doors opened.

Rowan helped me out and glanced at me. "Ex-boyfriend?"

I couldn't detect his emotions, so I was a little nervous. "Yeah, I met him at university."

After getting in the car, Rowan had a long face and was silent all the way, and the atmosphere in the car was obviously a little depressed.

"Rowan, do you have any girls you like in university?"

I tried to start a casual conversation.

"No..."

"I'm glad."

I blurted this out subconsciously, and Rowan turned his head and met my joyful eyes.

"You're happy about it?"

"No, no, I'm just showing concern for my best friend's brother."

My heart almost skipped a beat.

It was already noon when we got home.

As soon as I touched my hungry belly, Rowan thoughtfully opened the refrigerator door.

"What do you want to eat?"

Rowan glanced at the ingredients inside.

"Can you cook?"

I was surprised.

"Yes, a little."

"I'll eat whatever you cook."

I had to eat dishes made by a handsome guy even if they didn't taste good. I couldn't be picky.

"You can sit down in the living room and wait for a while."

Rowan brought a lot of ingredients into the kitchen.

The television was noisy, but I didn't pay attention to it. All my attention was on the person in the kitchen.

Rowan was wearing a pink apron that was tied around his waist, which gave off an indescribable feeling. Just looking at his back made me feel like I wanted to marry him so that he would cook for me every day.

As if sensing my gaze, Rowan suddenly turned around with a spatula in his hand and asked me naturally, "Can you eat spicy food?"

"Yes, I can!"

After the dishes were served, I counted them. There were five dishes and even some salad.

"So much food!"

"I'm worried you'll be hungry. Eat more."

Rowan took off his apron and sat opposite me.

Actually, I wanted to say that I was surprised he could cook so many dishes.

I picked up the fork and took a piece of honey-glazed ribs, which tasted sour and sweet. They were much better than those made by Savannah.

When I looked up, I found Rowan staring at me expectantly. "How does it taste?"

"It's delicious. Why haven't I heard your sister praise your cooking skills before?"

My mouth was stuffed with meat and my words were slurred.

"I never cook for her," replied Rowan.

"So I'm the first one to eat the food you've cooked?"

"Yeah."

Rowan pursed his lips and his ears turned red.

I couldn't help but be smug. I decided to finish all these dishes today.

After eating the food he cooked, I had to do something for him.

"Do you have any lessons to make up for after you've been discharged from the army?"

I sat on the couch and moved myself toward him.

"No."

Rowan gave me a strange look.

I recalled the times when I was with Rowan in the past. Every time I said I was helping him with homework, I actually gave him the answers instead. I wondered if it had left a poor impression.

"Did you pass the French Proficiency Test?"

"I haven't taken the test yet."

"Okay, I'll teach you French."

I clapped my hands and went to the study to print several test papers.

"Do these first. I'll explain if you've made mistakes."

I sat aside, pretending to be looking at my phone. However, I was actually stealing glances at Rowan.

Rowan's eyelashes were long. They cast a beautiful shadow under his eyes. He had a tall nose and a sharp chin.

Sure enough, tutoring him was a perfect way to steal glances, but I regretted that I had missed so many opportunities before.

"Have you finished the objective questions?"

Rowan put down his pen and I hurriedly leaned over.

"Yeah."

"Let me check the answers."

I took the pen and checked each question one by one. I even tilted my head to his side, seemingly unintentionally flicking my hair. Fortunately, I applied some perfume in the morning.

"Achoo!"

Rowan suddenly sneezed.

"What's wrong?"

I looked panicked.

"The smell of your hair is too strong."

Rowan rubbed his nose with a look of slight grievance in his eyes.

I bit my lip and moved awkwardly to the other side. "Haha, this shampoo smells too strong."

"Look at the question. I'll explain the ones you got wrong."

I quickly changed the subject.

After five minutes of explanation, Rowan interrupted me, "Isn't the answer wrong?"

"How can that be? Don't you believe me? I got a high score on my French Proficiency Test!"

I quickly looked at the answer again and explained it to him for another five minutes.

"Look."

Rowan handed his phone to me, and the answer displayed on it was not the same as what I had been describing.

I said, "How could it be?"

I was a little nervous. I couldn't accept the fact that I got the wrong answer when I wanted to create the impression of a smart and gentle "teacher" in front of Rowan.

It turned out that I had been talking about a wrong answer for such a long time.

"Oh, I see. The answer is really wrong."

I pinched my legs and tried my best to save my dignity. "Do the test first. I'll go in my room and look at these questions again."

I closed the door and seemed to hear the muffled voice of Rowan laughing.

I took out my phone and sent a message to Savannah.

Me: [My dear friend, can I still be saved? What kind of woman does your brother like? I'm so tired of pretending! I haven't spoken loudly all day!]

Savannah: [I don't know what kind of woman he likes, but he definitely doesn't like pretentious women.]

Me: [Boo-hoo. Can I still be your sister-in-law?]

Savannah: [I don't know anything else, but I know that my brother seemed to have been seeing a woman before he went to the army. I even suspected that he only decided to join the army after a heartbreak.]

I was shocked.

I couldn't believe he had a girl who was in close contact with him.

I was stunned.

Suddenly, I felt like a clown. It turned out that he had already had someone he liked, but I was still trying to put on a show for him.

I sat on the bed, buried my face in the pillow, and howled sadly.

Suddenly, a hand was placed on my shoulder. "What's wrong?"

I was stunned and was too embarrassed to raise my head. I waved my hands in the air. "I'm okay. I'm just a little sad that I couldn't explain the questions correctly."

It was so embarrassing.