True Love Waits

Sheffield grabbed Evelyn's hand and tried to get her into the car. "Evelina, we can't stand up the driver. He really could use the money. He told me that his son has brain cancer. He counts on this job to pay the medical expenses. He has been waiting for us for so long; if we cancel on him, all his time would have been wasted and he will be so disappointed."

Evelyn remained nonchalant. "Then, just pay him thrice the fare."

"Despite being poor, he is a proud man. He won't take the money for nothing." Without giving her time to reply, he started to push her into the car.

Evelyn was too weak to resist. Sheffield made her sit in the back seat and closed the door. Then he said to the driver, "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. Let's go."

"That's okay. Sit tight." The driver started the car.

Evelyn was about to ask the driver to pull over. But Sheffield cut her off and apologized, "Evelina, I was too impulsive back there. Just give me a second chance. I promise that I'll behave for the rest of the day. If you still can't forgive me by the time we get back, I won't bother you again. Deal?"

The sincerity in his eyes calmed her down. "All right."

Sheffield was relieved. He murmured with a smile, "You obviously loved the kiss. Don't know why you are so angry about it now."

"Stop the car!"

"No, no! Don't stop. Sorry, I'll be quiet." He shut up.

Evelyn rolled her eyes at him. "One more word and I am out of here."

"Okay okay, my lips are zipped." He sat up and looked straight ahead.

The driver saw what was happening through the rearview mirror. He chuckled. "Girl, don't be so mad at your boyfriend. Couples fight all the time. Your boyfriend has already apologized to you. Give him anothe chance."

'Couple? Boyfriend?' Evelyn tried to explain, but Sheffield beat her to it. "I made a mistake and I should apologize. If I were her, I would be mad at me too."

a keeper," the driver

him to drag Sheffield as far away from her as

this time Sheffield really

his phone in front of Evelyn's face. On the screen, it said, "We applied the mosquito repellent too early. It might have evaporated by now. We should buy some

'Couldn't he wait till we got there to tell me? Not talking must be

turned away to

in the car with Sheffield, the situation would have been in reverse. It would have

in love with Evelyn. He wanted to talk to her. He couldn't help it. This had never happened to him before. He

He had the short distance to thank for;

the mosquito repellent. When he was back, Evelyn was standing under a sacred fig

rich family. What has she experienced in her life to make her

"Evelina," he called.

Evelyn didn't respond.

was confused and

sleeve. She snapped out of her

repellent for you." Sheffield borrowed a chair from the stall near them and asked her to sit on

from his hand and

nodded without any

During that time, Evelyn's phone rang. She checked the caller ID and cut the

way to distract her. Pointing to a big tree root, he said,

foot of the root

Her tone

up again. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. I'll get rid of it. It won't come anywhere near you."

said, "If you go any further than this,

It's a many-banded krait. That snake's gall bladder is very useful and incredibly expensive." Hearing that, she let go of