Moreover, Nia felt like she was about to explode when she saw Andy calling Lola “sister-in-law” politely at the end of every sentence.
“Hey, Dylan is getting married soon. Did you know?”
Nia even felt a strong urge to kill Andy, who was deliberately trying to rub salt in her wounds.
Swallowing the anger that was rising to her throat, Nia retorted sarcastically.
“Do I have to know?”
“Well, you don’t have to know. Dylan isn’t close to you.”
Nia wanted to scratch Andy’s face, who was speaking spitefully.
“Still, he’s a classmate, so you should congratulate him, shouldn’t you?”
She tried to hold back, but when Andy kept saying things she didn’t want to hear, Nia’s patience finally reached its limit.
“Well. I’m wondering whether to congratulate him or curse him.”
In the end, Nia couldn’t hold back and revealed her uncomfortable feelings far too explicitly. As a result, the already tense atmosphere instantly turned cold.
“Sister-in-law, she can be a bit sarcastic sometimes. So, don’t pay too much attention to her.”
Andy, who was quite embarrassed, tried to make up for the subdued atmosphere a little late, but it seemed to be too late.
That’s because Dylan got up from his seat with Lola.
“We should get going first.”
Andy didn’t bother to stop them.
“Okay. See you later. Sister-in-law, see you again.”
“Yes.”
Dylan left the place with Lola without looking back.
Nia’s eyes, watching the backs of the two, seemed full of a sharp venom.
‘I should hurry things up.’
Because she wanted to see Dylan collapse as soon as possible.
****
“Earlier…”
Lola started hesitantly after getting into the car, but she seemed cautious as if she was choosing her words. Dylan, who was sitting next to her, looked back at Lola with a puzzled expression.
“Earlier what?”
“I didn’t think Dylan would do such a thing in front of other people, but earlier you fed me food…”
Having said that far, Lola didn’t know how to continue.
Should she express that she was surprised that he fed her food earlier?
Or should she say thank you?
She didn’t know which word was more appropriate.
“Ah, that!”
Dylan nodded and explained briefly.
“I fed you because you couldn’t eat at all. Why? Were you uncomfortable?”
“Ah, no.”
“We were going to see the autumn foliage in the afternoon. But I thought it would be a problem if you couldn’t eat at all and didn’t have any energy.”
“Ah, yes. I thought Dylan was deliberately trying to show it to Nia.”
“Well, there was that meaning too.”
Lola couldn’t help but smile when Dylan didn’t deny it.
In an instant, Dylan’s expression suddenly changed to a serious one.
“But you! You acted like you knew Andy very well, even though you don’t see his face often.”
“Dear, were you upset?”
Lola asked cautiously.
Of course, I’m upset.
I don’t like seeing you being friendly with another guy.
It makes me feel petty for no reason.
But Dylan said something different from what he was thinking.
“Do you see me as a narrow-minded man who gets upset at the drop of a hat? If I were petty, I wouldn’t have sent you to the seminar.”
“That’s right. Dear is definitely not a narrow-minded person.”
Lola strongly waved her hands and explained.
“I didn’t like hearing Nia badmouthing Dylan’s friend. And I thought that if he was a friend who was close to you, he would be a good person. Because he’s your friend, and I trust your judgment. So, I defended Andy earlier. But I’m a little worried that I might have made a mistake.”
Dylan gave Lola confidence, who didn’t seem very confident even after speaking.
“No, you did very well. Should I give you a reward?”
“A reward?”
Before Lola could even react, his face came close, and soon, his lips landed on hers.
Originally, Dylan was going to end the kiss quickly, but when Lola hugged his neck and responded actively, he couldn’t take his lips off.
Then, a suffocating kiss continued long and long.
After a long time, Dylan, who had barely taken his lips off, said, breathing roughly.
“I want to go to bed right now, but…”
His voice, which paused for a moment, was full of regret.
“Let’s go see the autumn foliage first.”
A place that truly makes you feel it’s autumn.
Lola, entering the forest painted with vibrant autumn foliage, couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
“Wow!”
Blue skies and warm sunlight, a path winding through colorful maple trees, the sound of crunching leaves underfoot.
Exclamations of awe poured out from tourists here and there.
If she had known she was coming to such a beautiful place, she would have brought her camera.
Dylan, too, had been in such a hurry that he hadn’t thought of it.
Lola briefly let go of Dylan’s hand and took her phone out of her bag. She moved around, snapping photos with her phone’s camera.
She captured the dazzling blue sky and the colorful autumn foliage.
The red, yellow, orange, and green hues of the leaves were so beautiful.
Click, click!
A happy smile bloomed on her face as she diligently pressed the camera shutter. Dylan, quietly following behind her, seemed to be in a good mood as well, his lips curving into a smooth arc.
He also took his phone out of his pocket. But instead of taking pictures of the beautiful scenery, he captured her with his camera.
The smile and laughter on her face, and her various expressions.
‘Lola is really charming when she smiles.’
As if infected by her healthy smile and laughter, Dylan’s usually cold eyes softened.
Lola, who had been running around taking pictures of the autumn leaves, scurried over to Dylan.
“How is it here? Do you like it?”
“Yes, dear. I never had time to come before, even when I wanted to.”
She added quietly with a smile.
“And I didn’t have anyone to come with.”
“Let’s come often from now on.”
