World After Worlds
Chapter 353 - 353: § READY §

Lyndon bid farewell to his mother, he said he would visit the town hall when he had a chance. He continued to drink his cup of tea. Despite the disturbance, his mind nevertheless did not forget Yanarym. He was still waiting for her to make a call or send some messages. He was usually a patient man, yet, he could not stand by. Especially, the last time they saw each other… she did not kiss him goodbye.

Nor did she tease him to bed, she was distant and very well-mannered. That was not her whenever they were together, alone. He noticed changes in her two months ago but it was only worsening, she won't even kiss him when she leaves.

It was a week ago when she came to see him.

There was someone knocking on his door and calling for his name. He knew who that was just by hearing her voice, it was Yanarym. Lyndon looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was already ten o'clock in the evening. He could not say he was not expecting her because he had been waiting for the past few days.

He stood up from his couch, he was in the living room, reading some medical books and drinking his tea. He lifted his leg and ambled towards his door.

"It's late." He said to her with a cold face. She smiled as a response and waved her hand awkwardly.

"Hi, Lyndon." The last time they saw each other, he noticed her setting distance from him, he ignored those gestures. However, he was too observant to her today. She did not leap to him, nor acted shamelessly, she kept her cool and treated him normally.

It was so normal that it was not normal at all!

"Aren't you coming in?" He said. Trying to hide his frown.

"You know, I keep on thinking... what should I say to you once I see you. There's nothing about Kraig. He won't say a thing to me---"

"Get in, Yanarym. Am I supposed to talk standing?"

"No, it's just that, I have to leave right after saying hello."

"Get in." He took her arm and dragged her inside.

"I don't have a reason to stay."

"Since when did you become thin-skinned?" He uttered without changing his tone. "You are shameless. Why do you look so shy?"

"I've been thinking of a way to help you, Lyndon." She muttered, "I can't think of anything. But I really want to see you."

"You missed me?" He laughed tonelessly, "You won't even see me."

"Because you will just drive me away if I go here without validated reason." Lyndon could not say anything to renounce her. It was the truth, he would always throw her away from his sight whenever he saw her. Though it was like that, he did not like it when she was not presenting herself as usual.

"So, you came now, because you've got something to say?"

"No, I just… miss you."

"I haven't heard anything from you for almost a week and there's nothing with Kraig?"

"I tried to dig up but there's nothing I could find."

"He's been out of the town often, how could you not know anything?"

"He did not really say much." Lyndon did not speak for a while. Yanarym was loyal to him, she was not lying to him regarding this. So far, he had managed to stop all of Kraig's attacks on him and his family thanks to Yanarym's information. However, that did not give him enough evidence to overthrow Kraig either.

That night she did not beg him to stay, like what she would usually do whenever they met. What got him was when she did not kiss him.

She always kisses him. Why not that day?

Lyndon heard the faint tapping of raindrops to his roof and it began to drizzle with heavy fine line drops. Seeing the rain, his eyes unconsciously wandered to the lake. He would always see a woman dressed in yellow in that specific area, regardless of when it was raining. She liked the rain the most, he presumed.

Whenever the rain showers were enveloping the backyard she would play with the glass and the lake. She would always wait for him at that place, even if it would take her hours. She would wait and bid her farewell and confess her unyielding love.

Today it rained, yet it was empty and dull, no woman in a yellow dress would play around or wait for him. He frowned at the uncomfortable and dreary emotion that was seething on his skin, spreading all over him.

His communicator blinked again. It was a white light this time. It was Tiana.

Lyndon looked the other way, unconsciously ignoring the notification. That was when he realized his actions, he was slightly stunned.

What am I doing? He thought to himself. This is not what is supposed to happen to me. I should stop thinking about that woman. Tiana is the girl I want to be with. What's wrong with my fucking brain and body? My heart belongs to Tiana, why are they leaning towards that woman and repelling Tiana's presence?

He took the communicator, "Tia," he answered.

"Lyndon," she greeted him with a shy demeanor. He didn't smile and slightly nodded his head to acknowledge her. Lyndon was in a conflict, he felt so disappointed hearing the voice of someone he was not expecting. "Are you busy?" Tiana asked and brought him back to the present.

Lyndon hesitated to respond for a second. Hearing Tiana's question, Tiana must be thinking of coming here. Why does she have to? She's been with him the entire day, can't she rest for the day? We've always been together. For a second, Lyndon was annoyed with Tiana.

Then, he realized his thoughts again and promptly directed his sour mood to Yanarym. Most importantly, that might come today. That woman showed up in the middle of the night or past midnight, she did whenever she wanted.

"No." Lyndon with a firm tone answered Tiana. She did not seem to see the conflict he was undergoing and smiled.

"I'm on the way to your house, I figured it would be good to spend time together," She uttered, "Also I… have something to tell you too." Since she was pretty caught up in her daydreaming she had not noticed Lyndon's expression.

"It's raining, can't that wait for tomorrow?" He replied with reluctance. Lyndon was not dumb, he could see what was going on in Tiana's head. As he mentioned, he had a grasp on how her mind was functioning. She was not predictable and exciting. She was so easy to read and it was annoying that he could see through her.

The thing he wanted the most, she would say it tonight. He might be wrong but there was a big possibility that she would accept him today as her… lover. Lyndon could not understand himself.

Why was his chest feeling so suffocated as he concluded that Tiana and he would become official? He should be beaming with excitement and exhilaration yet here he was, despondent, and the notion of prolonging the time so he could not experience it was wild surging to his head.

He … didn't want this to happen tonight.

There would still be a month and a half before their vacation. Why was Tiana doing this all of sudden?

"I'm fine, don't worry, I can dry myself there if I ever get soaked in the rain," Tiana said that woke him up from being in trance again.

"...Yeah." It was a dire and reluctant reply. Since Lyndon could not process the situation his mind blanked out.

"See you!" Tiana exclaimed excitedly and dropped the call. Lyndon stared at the cup of tea for a while, he was processing what would happen and how would he react to it. This was what he wanted as well, naturally, he should be as happy as he could be.

It did not take long, Lyndon opened the door to welcome Tiana. She was slightly damped by the rain. She was catching her breath as if she ran to get here. She put down her umbrella and bit her lips, he could see how nervous she was. She was about to open her mouth to say something, he was ready to accept the sequence of events but his lips moved on their own.

"Do you want to change clothes first?" She paused and nodded. She was nervous and shy, yet the delightness could not be contained. As soon as she stepped on his door frame, three steps away from him.

She took another halt and looked straight into his eyes.

"I think I have to tell you now or else I won't have the confidence later."

That would be better. Lyndon's subconsciousness replied to her.

She took a heavy breath and momentarily closed her eyes. "Lyndon, I'm ready, let's be together. Officially. I think I'm in love with you."