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.”

learning about all this?”

to forgive myself for the rest of my life.” As Yelena spoke, there was a hint of

doing this for

even a single shred of rationality in her words. I really shouldn’t let her drink

waved her hand. “Alright, let’s not talk about anything else. Just tell me,

needed to ask this right now for his peace of mind. It was because he knew that she couldn’t recognize

I said I was going to find someone.” With that, she stood up abruptly and looked at the time, feeling slightly dizzy. “Luckily,

already being pulled

was quite efficient; she quickly returned home and retrieved her birth certificate from some random

“Where’s your birth certificate?”

Hank’s father passed away, many of the family’s documents were in

car’s compartment and waved it in front of

grinned when she saw that. “Since we both

drove, he asked, “You didn’t even ask me for my name,

are. You’re Hank.” She

eyebrows slightly, a hint of happiness rising in his heart. “What do

anyone?” She laughed heartily. “I was just kidding earlier. I can recognize

speechless. Alright,

a long time ago. I’ve always wanted to marry you. I really, really, really want to marry you.” As she spoke, her head was throbbing intensely. Right now, she could barely

one hand to gently caress her head upon hearing her words. “Alright, don’t overthink things now. We’ll

was speaking her heartfelt words under the 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

on the gas pedal forcefully, accelerating as he quickly drove them toward