In mid-August, even with thick clouds, the heat didn’t retreat; instead, the air was humid. After lunch, two women sat leisurely on a shaded bench, sipping coffee.
Gia suddenly turned to Lola and suggested.
“Lola, how about we go on a trip together this weekend?”
“A trip? Where?”
“I’m thinking of going to the Mappe Villa. I’ve just been working non-stop, so I want to heal a bit. I checked our schedules, and we’re both off.”
Lola hesitated, unable to respond immediately. Gia gently persuaded her.
“It wouldn’t be fun if it’s just me and Hamza. So let’s go together. Honestly, we’ve never gone out to have fun together.”
“I want to go with you too. But I’m not sure if Dylan will agree.”
“Talk to him properly. Let’s go together. Okay?”
Gia grabbed Lola’s arm and pleaded. Lola, who was smiling awkwardly, turned her head and shook Gia’s arm gently.
“Dylan is coming over here.”
“They say when you mention a tiger, it comes. This is perfect. I’ll talk to him.”
Gia stood up from the bench, holding a shopping bag in one hand, and approached Dylan, who was walking toward her.
“Big Brother, do you have time this weekend?”
“Why?”
“Because Lola and I are both off this weekend.”
“And?”
“If you’re free this weekend, let’s go to the Mappe Villa together.”
Looking at Gia with an expectant expression, Dylan answered without hesitation.
“Why would I? I’m not going with you guys, so wake up from your dream.”
“Big Brother, there’s no fine dust there, and the atmosphere and scenery are really nice. So let’s go and have fun. It wouldn’t be fun if it’s just me and Hamza.”
“Why? You two can quietly go and do whatever childish affection expressions you want.”
Gia smiled brightly.
“Big Brother, I’ll hold back in front of you from now on. So let’s go together.”
Gia clung to Dylan’s arm, acting cute. Yet, Dylan remained unyielding and cold.
“Shut up. Don’t annoy people here, and just go!”
“Geez! This is why people say you have no compassion.”
Gia grumbled with a pout. However, before leaving, she leaned close to Lola and whispered in her ear.
“Try to charm our Big Brother a bit.”
After repeating the same words with her lips several times, Gia hurriedly walked away.
Only after Gia’s figure completely disappeared did Dylan sit next to Lola and hand her the shopping bag.
“Dear, what is this?”
Lola peered into the shopping bag, curious, and Dylan quietly replied.
“It’s the latest tablet PC. I thought it would help you with your exam preparations, so I bought one on the way.”
“Oh, Dear.”
Lola couldn’t continue her words after calling out to him. She hadn’t expected him to care about such things.
“Dear, thank you so much. I always just receive from you…”
Lola couldn’t finish her sentence. She remembered his words that she shouldn’t refuse when he offered to buy her something.
“Lola, if you’re grateful to me, come sit here.”
Dylan pointed to his knee with his finger. Lola’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What? How can I? I might be heavy, and it could hurt your knee.”
“It’s fine; you’re not heavy enough to hurt my knee. So come sit here.”
“B-but… Dear.”
As Lola hesitated to refuse, Dylan casually threw out a line that left her with no way to argue.
“Didn’t you say you’d do anything I wanted? But why does it seem different from the first promise? Has your mind changed?”
This was why one shouldn’t speak carelessly.
She had dug her own grave. With no proper rebuttal, Lola had no choice but to give in. Slowly rising, she timidly approached and sat on Dylan’s lap, positioning herself to embrace him.
Bang! Bang!!
Being so close to him made her heart react first, pounding wildly.
As Lola lowered her gaze, Dylan grabbed her chin with his hand, forcing her to look at him.
His penetrating gaze was both burdensome, and the silence felt awkward, prompting Lola to quietly speak up.
“Um… Dylan Dear.”
“Why?”
To break the awkward atmosphere, she needed to find a topic.
Recalling something Gia had said, Lola gently asked.
“Dear, are you really not going to the Mappe Villa with us?”
Releasing his grip on her chin, Dylan frowned slightly, trying to hide it.
“Why? Do you want to go?”
“Yes.”
Lola answered softly. Dylan sighed lightly and, with a gesture, firmly stated.
“To be honest, I have no desire to go with them at all.”
“Oh, okay.”
Lola nodded weakly. Dylan continued.
“You saw it clearly yesterday, right? What were they doing sitting right in front of me? Watching their childish affection expressions makes it hard for me to eat.”
Dylan shook his arms as if he was still disgusted by the thought. At his exaggerated expression, a faint smile escaped from Lola’s lips.
