Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Hank’s apologies kept coming and coming, yet they couldn’t call Yelena’s rationality back.

Suddenly, she seemed to have thought of the most heartbreaking part of her story, and she couldn’t help but curl into herself. “I was truly in pain at that time. I hated myself for not protecting the child. It was also then that I knew that there was no possibility left between us.”

She would never be able to accept him as a potential partner if she couldn’t get over her baby’s death.

He caressed her head and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “That’s not true. You just need to turn around. I’m always right here waiting for you.”

She raised her head and looked at his chiseled jaw and tender gaze with tearful eyes. Just then, her lips trembled in a miserable attempt at a smile. “I can’t. It’s too late now.”

“Then, let me ask you this. Do you still love him?”

She blinked. “Of course, I love him. I’ve always rejected his advances, but I’ve never denied loving him.”

When he heard that, he finally felt relieved. “Since you love him, he will surely protect you. He won’t let you be hurt anymore.”

Yelena rubbed her eyes, and her head felt heavy. “But… you’re not him. How could you possibly know that? Anyway, it doesn’t matter. My relationship with him is already over.”

Hank remained silent, his fingers slightly curling, seemingly discouraged.

After that, she suddenly lifted her head and asked, “Since it’s impossible between him and me now… It doesn’t really matter who I marry now, does it? So, would you like to marry me?”

Her words shocked him once again.

“I’ve thought about it. Since this is my emotional baggage, I know I’d feel guilty if I held him back. That’s why I’ve decided to find a random person to marry. This way, he can finally move on.”

this?” His

never be able to forgive myself for the rest of my life.” As Yelena spoke, there

this for him

she was acting somewhat irrationally today. There wasn’t even a single shred of rationality in her words. I really shouldn’t let her drink this much from now on. Luckily, I’m the one here tonight. If it were someone else…

about anything else. Just

I weren’t here today… If it were someone else, would you still ask the same question?” he needed to ask this right now for his peace of mind. It was because he knew that

that, she stood up abruptly and looked at the time, feeling slightly dizzy. “Luckily, there’s

being pulled along before he could even

returned home and retrieved her birth certificate from some random

“Where’s your birth certificate?”

many of

certificate from his car’s compartment and waved it in front

when she saw that. “Since we both have the necessary documents, let’s

me for my name, and you’re ready to marry

are. You’re Hank.” She rubbed

rising in his heart. “What do

heartily. “I was just kidding earlier. I

him speechless. Alright, you

to marry you. I really, really, really want to marry you.” As she spoke, her head was throbbing intensely. Right now,

to gently caress her head upon hearing her

influence of alcohol. Once she sobered up, it would be too late for all of this. I have to take her to get the marriage certificate before she sobers up. I

gas pedal forcefully,