He says in a deep voice, "I don't want money. I want you."
I'm stunned for a second, but then I bend over with laughter.
Isn't it funny? The man who said he never wanted to see me again suddenly said he wanted me.
"Are you pitying me?" I ask him, "You feel sorry for me because I'm pathetic, don't you?"
Harrison closes his thin lips tightly and doesn't answer me.
I don't mind his silence. I stretch out my index finger and gently touch his lips, "A book says thin- lipped men are fickle. What do you think?"
"It's nonsense."
I knew he would deny it. Men don't believe in physiognomy any more than they believe in astrology.
But I do, because Harrison is just too fickle.
I put the card in front of him. "It's yours."
"Don't you understand what I mean?" He frowns at me.
He looks at me helplessly as if I were a cranky child. The uninformed who see this scene may think that we are in love or he has a crush on me.
But this is not true.
I put the card in his pocket and clap my hands. "Well, I don't owe you anymore!"
"Are you happy? I'm a troublemaker and you don't have to clean up my mess anymore."
He looks awful, as if he would explode at any moment.
But I don't think I was wrong, so I continue, "Actually, we all got what we deserved. You banged me, and I got the help I needed."
"Do you really think so?" He asks.
My heart aches, but I still pretend to be calm. "Yeah. It's the best result for both of us. We can live our lives without each other."
Although I said so, it's the most agonizing decision of my life. I don't know why, but leaving him is a terrible wrench for me.
But I know I'm doing the right thing. I want to live in peace, so I have to stay goodbye to him.
Sooner or later, everything I went through with him will be forgotten...
Suddenly, he takes me into his arms. I raise my head and see his dark face. I give a relieved smile and ask, "The last hug?"
"Chelsea, you always push my buttons," he says in a low voice.
He's obviously pissed off, but I don't care. "I was just telling the truth."
"You're not allowed to leave me," he says firmly.
I bite my lip. Why does he get to decide everything? Why can't I do what I want?
Placing both hands on his chest, I speak angrily, "Harrison, I don't need you anymore, so I don't have to listen to you. I can do whatever I want!"
"Well see."
"She said nothing, but she looked very sad. I haven't asked her about this again since then."
Harrison hugs me. "You need to stop thinking about it. I'll take care of you in her place."
"Why?"
I'm not an idiot. I find it odd that he keeps repeating that he's gonna be there for me.
And how did he know my mom's accident? I didn't call him when I was in the hospital. This is just too weird.
He falls silent again, so I continue. "We're from different worlds. You know this better than me. Just because my mother's gone doesn't mean my sanity's gone."
That's all I have to say. I feel like he's different, but I can't tell what's different. He lets go of me and looks into my eyes.
"You're right for me," he says.
I lower my head and smile bitterly. His answer doesn't surprise me. "But you're not right for me."
"Don't be so..."
The sound of knocking startles me. Before he finishes, I quickly got out of bed and opened the door.
I should thank the person outside. If it hadn't been for the knock, I might have been persuaded by Harrison.
It's my neighbor. I invite her to come in, but she refuses.
"Chelsea, there's something I've been thinking about for days. I think I need to tell you." She looks hesitant.
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