There was silence on the other end of the line for a while.
“Lola.”
-What did you just say, dear?
“I don’t repeat myself. If you didn’t hear it, that’s your problem for not listening.”
-Oh, no. I heard it. I just thought I misheard it.
“…….”
-You said you miss me.
‘Thank goodness she heard me.’
Thinking that, Dylan cleared his throat quickly and changed the subject.
“Let’s have lunch together later.”
As he hung up the phone, Dylan frowned.
Ah, that wasn’t the intention of my call in the first place.
I wanted to tell you that I wanted to hear your voice and that I was sorry for not being able to acknowledge you when I saw you earlier because of the atmosphere.
“Sigh!”
Suppressing the words he hadn’t been able to say with a sigh, Dylan returned to the hospital room.
*****
At the same time.
A long time had passed since the call ended, but Lola stood quietly in the hospital corridor, the aftertaste of the conversation lingering.
“I miss you.”
I miss you.
His words echoed in her ears.
Earlier, she had felt very disappointed that he hadn’t acknowledged her even when he saw her in the hospital room.
After coming out of the hospital room, she walked slowly, glancing back several times, wondering if he would follow her.
Just like I wanted to see your face one more time, just like I wanted to hear your voice, didn’t he feel the same way?
I wondered if he had sent me a text, checking my phone several times.
But looking at her silent phone, which had neither a text nor a call, she couldn’t help but smile wryly.
Feeling unnecessarily disappointed, she felt frustrated with his cold demeanor.
Even after receiving an emergency call from a junior resident who needed her briefly in the ward, she hesitated to move, lingering as if she were reluctant to leave Xavier’s patient room.
But…….
With his one phone call, the words “I miss you” made her disappointment vanish in an instant.
I miss you.
What could those five short words mean!
Was that such a significant thing to say?
“I miss you too, dear.”
I wanted to hear your voice, too.
Though there was still some time until lunch, Lola’s heart was already swelling with excitement.
It was hot, so for lunch, Dylan decided to have cool Soy milk on top of the noodles at a restaurant near the hospital.
After ordering food while sitting across from Lola at the table, Dylan quietly opened his mouth.
“Were you really upset earlier?”
Blink, blink.
Seeing her tilt her head while blinking her eyes, it was clear that she didn’t understand his words right away.
Dylan opened his mouth again to add something briefly.
“Earlier, you pretended not to see me in the hospital room…”
“Oh, that.”
Although Dylan’s words hadn’t finished, it seemed Lola already understood what he meant.
“It’s okay. I thought you had your reasons for that.”
At first, she felt a bit hurt.
But your one phone call made my momentarily twisted heart loosen up.
“And I’m Professor Xavier’s attending physician. For better treatment, I think it’s good that Professor Xavier doesn’t know about our relationship. I was worried he might feel burdened.”
Just hearing those words had the power to make one’s heart feel warm and fuzzy.
Dylan stared at Lola intently.
His gaze seemed hot and deep.
“Why? Why are you looking at me like that?” Lola was puzzled as to why he was looking at her with such eyes.
It didn’t seem like she had made a mistake.
“Because you’re pretty.”
It was a casually thrown remark, like a breeze passing by, that could easily be overlooked.
Wondering if she had heard it correctly, Lola closed and opened her eyes.
“You didn’t hear what I said, did you?”
“I understood, but I couldn’t believe it…”
Lola awkwardly laughed and trailed off.
“Can’t believe it? Why?”
“Because I think it’s the first time I’ve heard you say I’m pretty.”
“Have I never said that before?”
Dylan murmured as if to himself, furrowing his thick eyebrows in reflection.
“Then I’ll say it more often from now on.”
Say what?
While she was puzzled,
“You’re pretty.”
The sweet whisper tickled her heart.
“I’m saying you’re pretty.”
This time, it was a clearer and more distinct voice.
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
Earlier, she was excited to see him, and now, because Dylan was telling her she was pretty, her heart was pumping excessively, leaving her completely dazed.
Hearing those words from no one else, Dylan Eve made it hard to believe, yet she felt happy.
She couldn’t tell if it was sincere or just a casual remark, but the corners of her mouth, which had risen, wouldn’t come down.
Just then, the ordered Soy milk with noodles arrived, and if it hadn’t, she might have foolishly asked, “Am I really pretty?”
How could she explain that feeling?
A vague sense of happiness washed over her, and if this were a dream, she never wanted to wake up.
