Female Novel
Chapter 1757
Abner hadn't actually forgotten his phone; it was just an excuse.
At the moment, his mind was a jumble, and he wasn't ready to head down just yet.
Going down meant they would have to part ways.
He looked down, thinking about lighting up a cigarette, but as he glanced at his reflection on theglass wall beside him, he put the cigarette back in the pack. He didn't want the scarf to catch thescent of smoke.
He lingered upstairs for seven or eight minutes before slowly making his way down.
Shirley had been working overtime recently, preparing for a course out of town. After pulling two all-nighters, she had dosed off, her head resting on the steering wheel.
When Abner opened the car door, she didn't wake up.novelbin
He slid back into the passenger seat and quietly shut the door.
Only then did he lean in for a closer look at her.
Shirley's skin was flawless, and with her eyes closed, her eyelashes cast soft shadows on hercheeks.
Abner's gaze settled on her lips, naturally upturned at the corners, giving her a look ofapproachability, even in her sleep.
He hesitated for a few seconds, wanting to get closer, but then a tapping sound from outside thewindow startled him. Another car was trying to get out, blocked by Shirley's parked vehicle.
Perhaps out of guilt, Abner sat up straight in an instant.
Shirley woke up, glanced at the time, and brushed a few strands of hair from her face.
"Why didn't you wake me? Did you forget something?"
"No, nothing."
She pressed the gas pedal, and the car moved forward.
They stopped again at the hotel entrance, and Abner asked, "How long will you be away for thetraining?"
"About three days or so."
Abner wanted to say more, but Shirley's phone rang. It was the man she was supposed to meet ona blind date.
Her voice remained gentle as she apologized for being stuck in traffic, then gestured for Abner toget out.
But Abner didn't move.
After ending the call, Shirley was puzzled, "Abner?"
"Shirley, how long have you known this blind date guy?"
A laugh escaped her, "Well, if I knew him well, would he still be a blind date? This is the first time I'mmeeting him, but his parents and mine were college friends."
"You're willing to marry someone you hardly know? If you're going to marry, shouldn't it be someoneyou really know, like someone you've been acquainted with for years?"
"If there was someone like that around me, I probably would have been married by now, and mymom wouldn't have to keep nagging."
"There is someone."
His response was too definitive.
Shirley laughed again, raising her hand as if to ruffle his hair, but then hesitated, her hand hangingin the air.
Abner grabbed her hand and firmly placed it on his head.
Shirley felt her hand burn as if on fire. She wanted to pull away, but the thought was fleeting.
Her palm felt the softness of his hair, while her hand's back felt the heat of his palm.
The atmosphere turned delicate in an instant.
What seemed like an eternity was only a few seconds of pause. She curled her fingersuncomfortably, and Abner quickly let go.
They both turned their heads towards the nearest windows, left and right, creating a suddendistance between them.
No words were exchanged.
Shirley felt warm and rolled down the window a bit.
The car's air conditioning was on, and the chill from outside made the temperature drop a fewnotches.
Abner got out, closed the door, and walked around to her side.
As Shirley was about to say goodbye, he took off his scarf and wrapped it around her neck.
His fingertips accidentally brushed her earlobe, causing her skin to tingle uncomfortably.
Abner didn't say anything, but stepped back and watched her, waiting for her to drive away.
Shirley smiled and said, "Then, see you next time."
With that, she hit the gas.
As the car drove away, she couldn't resist glancing in the rearview mirror.
Abner was still standing there.
Her heart twinged for a moment; it seemed that in all their partings since they had met, she wasalways the one to leave first, while Abner stood and watched.
She stopped the car and massaged her temples.
Then she quickly comforted herself with the thought that back then, he had just come from thecountryside and lacked a sense of security, which made him cling to her.
Now, five years had passed since their separation, and any deep dependency should have faded.
This time, it seemed only she was still stuck in place, always seeing him as a child.