Love is the Sunshine

Chapter 31 Girl, Don't Chicken Out.

'What is she doing over there?' Terence wondered. Carla was acting a little weird, so Terence went

straight up to her and found a gift box hidden in the grass. Confused, he decided to ask her, "Why did

you hide it?" "Carla, is this what you've got for Sean's birthday? Why don't you give it to him then?

Sean would be sad if he received this as a belated present."

Terrence ripped the wrapping paper carelessly as he spoke.

'What did she get for Sean? Why was she hiding it?' Terence's curiosity was piqued.

But when he saw what was inside, he was a bit surprised. Well, it turned out to be another drone. That

was typical of her.

Terence was amused, "Correct me if I am wrong, Carla. You little fool. You thought that I've already

given Sean a drone in front of everyone, a better drone, in fact, so you decided that you couldn't show

him this one. Is that right?" Terence asked as he opened the packaging. A faint smile could be seen

from his lips as he was handling the drone like a curious boy.

Carla rolled her eyes at him and snatched the drone out of his hands. After she shoved the gift back to

where it belonged, she turned to him and started to play dumb after pausing for a moment, "You fool.

But you know what? I am not gonna give this to him. I'm gonna return it and get a refund! I'm not made

of money. A penny saved is a penny earned!"

Carla kept blabbering on and on and on, but she stopped all of a sudden, blushing because Terence

had grasped her delicate hand with his sturdy one.

But the pink aura around her vanished quicker than expected because that dumb Terence reached out

his arm and put his hands on the drone again. "Carla, how about giving it to me?" Terence focused on

the drone and asked, "You don't have to return it. You can just give it to me."

Carla opened her mouth, but she was at a loss for words. Looking right at him, she thought, "Are you

really an idiot? You could afford a much better and much more expensive drone. Why would you ask

for this cheap one I bought at a discount?"

"So what do you think? If you don't say anything, I'll take it as a yes. You know, you've never bought me

any gift yet," he tried putting on a pitiful look, "so I won't decline this silly little gift of yours." Terence

tried to act as if he didn't value this children's toy that much, but he could barely fake a careless

attitude, because he even started to wipe the dust off the packaging with his sleeves.

Carla was relieved, watching him put away his new toy. As a matter of fact, she didn't really know what

to do with this big drone anyway.

It would be bad to just put it away and let it go unused, but she couldn't return it either. The store had

emphasized to her that discounted drones were non-refundable when she bought it.

Carla just didn't want to lose face in front of Terence, so she tricked him.

On their way back home, little Sean was over the moon! He kept telling Carla and Terence that this was

the coolest and the most memorable birthday he had ever had!

When they got back together, Sean dashed into his room and threw himself onto the bed. Tomorrow

was Monday, and a good schoolboy like him had classes to attend to.

Carla also wanted to go back to her room to get some rest, but Terence stood right in front of her, not

intending to move an inch.

"It's only 10 o'clock. How about you and I go out and have a date?" Terence blocked her way back to

the room, smiling as if he was teasing a small cat.

Carla yawned, "I don't want to go out with you now. I still have work tomorrow, and besides, I'm tired."

She didn't lie about being tired, but she got a bit annoyed because he stood in her way, so she just

answered him in a flat and unemotional tone.

But Terence didn't give up so easily, "Carla, don't be boring. Come on. Now that Sean had his dream

birthday, it's time for you to take care of yourself." Terence refused to take no for an answer, suddenly

hugging her around her waist without giving her any chance to say no. The couple went out the front

door.

They didn't go anywhere fancy or romantic, or any place that would serve a candlelight dinner.

Instead, Terence and Carla went up to the rooftop.

On that moonlit night, they both sat on the roof. Raising her head, Carla gazed upon the beautiful night

sky in silence. There were hundreds, possibly thousands, of bright stars there. She enjoyed the cool

breeze. It felt so natural and refreshing.

"Carla, what do you think of my proposal?" Terence sat next to her, but he wasn't looking at the All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

beautiful night sky. He was looking at her affectionately.

Carla was sitting with arms wrapped around her knees. Knowing he had something to tell her, she

asked before he could say anything she didn't want to hear, "Terence An, why would you want to bring

me home?"

Without answering right away, Terence opened a can of beer and drank some. This time he avoided

any eye contact and looked right into the sky, though the smile on his face didn't fade. "You asked me

why. Well, when a man wants to bring a woman home. What do you think this man is up to?" asked

Terence.

It was clear that Terence was talking about himself. If he said he was only grateful to the woman, and

the only thing he wanted to do was take good care of her, Carla would tell him that he was a hypocrite.

"But... I'm at a point in my life right now where I'm happy and very content. This is my way of life. I know

this place, and I know the people here. And my friends, I'm not willing to leave them and elope with

you."

Carla also picked up a can of ice cold beer they brought. The taste of it made her frown.

She wouldn't drink beer, not alone nor with friends. But now, she felt like she could use a drink.

Carla continued, "And there is more. Have you ever thought that I might always be an outsider in your

world, and I might never become close with your friends?" And there is your family to consider. Will

they be able to accept me? I doubt it."

Terence turned to look at her. With the light in his eyes extinguished, he said with an unwavering tone,

"Carla, please stop worrying about all these trivial things. The only thing that matters is, you should ask

yourself, do you really like me?"

he paused, "Carla, answer my question. If you do like me, please stop torturing yourself. Everything

you said just now, consider it done. I'll take care of it for you."

Terence paused again, "Please say yes. I swear, I, Terence An, will cherish you for the rest of my life!"

Listening in silence, motionless, she somehow felt disturbed, so she drank some more out of that can.

'Do I like him?' she questioned herself.

Of course, she did! She couldn't lie about her true feelings, but...

"Carla, are you still listening? I know you've planned to get married someday in your life. But getting

married means you'll have to adapt to a new environment. I know you're scared. It must be hard for

you, but you have to face it. And I'll always be here to fight your battles for you. Do you understand?"

Terence said in a deep voice, knowing her struggles, and believing she had to step out of her comfort

zone and grow up.

But Carla didn't think so. She even felt unsettled, so she started to chug her can of beer. After finishing

it, Carla wiped off the foam on the corners of her mouth with the back of her hand and inhaled deeply.

This time, she was ready to reveal her innermost thoughts.

"Yes, I'll marry someone someday. But that someone is not necessarily you."

She had felt a little offended when he subconsciously thought that he was her only option. "Terence An,

I have to admit that after all the days we spent together, I do have feelings for you. But just so you

know, I'm a very realistic person. You and me, we are from two different worlds. I don't think we make a

good match. Maybe we're just wasting our time."

She looked at him, "I've made up my mind, and I wanna break up with you."

Taking a deep breath, Carla rose up. She patted down the dust on her back and headed back home.

She said it. She has finally said it. It was such a relief! But Terence was enraged by her irresponsible

remarks. He held her hand in a firm grip and pulled her back. Even though he tried his best not to hurt

her, she still swayed and almost fell.

"Don't even think about it. Carla, I know you. You're not chickening out again, are you? If you won't

marry me, then who? Can you find a better guy who is richer and more powerful than me? If you can't,

why do you keep shutting me out like this? Do you really want me out of your life?"

Furious and anxious at the same time, Terence grabbed both of her delicate hands. His eyes were

pleading her to keep quiet and just listen.

But she refused to do so, "Rich and powerful? You can't even protect yourself! Don't forget your life is

still under threat, or else, why would you hide in my lowly and humble home?" Carla sneered back at

him, desperately wanting to wound his pride just like he did to her.

"If I say if I choose to go with you, I'll risk living in constant fear, so tell me why on earth would I choose

such dangerous a life?"

Terence frowned and looked straight in her eyes. Carla thought he would say something much worse,

but he didn't lose control. Instead, she heard his gentle voice, "Is that what you're worried about? You

shouldn't worry about it. Just leave it to me. You are my girl and I'll protect you. Carla, I won't let you get

hurt."

She was still fuming with anger, "You can't promise that. You can't even protect yourself. And you know

what? I'm safe as long as you stay away from me!" Carla knew she didn't mean it, but she said that on

purpose.

"I know, but can you please trust me? I won't let it happen again. Won't you trust me? Please trust me."

Terence was almost begging and pleading.

But Carla wouldn't budge on this. "Mr. An, I've already broken up with you. I think you'd better take care

of yourself for now,"

she paused, "I'm not saying that it's impossible between us. But either way, it takes time, so how about

we separate for now and let time do its job. Maybe, just maybe, one day I'd find myself still in love with

you and start chasing you around. Isn't that what you want?"

Terence gazed at her, "So, you won't stick your neck out for us? And you're not going to go back with

me, right?"

Carla didn't respond, but her reaction told him it was a relief for her.

Terence knew that all he needed was a little more patience, so he replied by reaching out his hand and

caressing her cheek. Her delicate face was even more charming under the moonlight.

"Carla, darling. Just remember, no matter what, you belong to me..."