bChapter /bb441 /b

    The cool mountain breeze swept through their hair, but it couldn’t blow away the heat burning in Sana’s cheeks. She turned her head baway /bbin /bembarrassment. “Don’t think I’ll believe you just because you say things like that. Stop trying to sweet–talk me. I’m not buying bit/bb!/bb” /b

    Wesley sighed. “I’m not sweet–talking you. Everything I said is true.

    “I only realized it recently, but all those little messages you used to send me were like rays of sunshine that kept me warm inside. I never replied, bbut /bb! /bread every single one. I’ll admit it–they always made me feel better and took away my stress.

    “So Sana, I want to date you because I’ve thought this through carefully, not because I feel responsible for what happened.”

    His gentle voice hit Sana like a sudden cool breeze on a hot summer day, seeping straight into her heart and bringing unexpectedfort.

    ‘Did I really help him that much?‘ Sana wondered. ‘Was all that time I spent chasing after him not just one–sided harassment after allb?/bb‘ /b

    If what Wesley said was true, then it made perfect sense that he’d fallen for her.

    “But was it really true?‘ Sana thought. She couldn’t help but take a step back.

    “Sana?” Wesley looked at her with confusion..

    She shook her head. “No, you’re probably just confused. There’s no way I had that kind of impact on you. Wesley, stop lying to yourself.”

    Maybe all of this was just Wesley’s way of convincing himself he liked her–some kind of psychological suggestion he’d nted in his own mind. If Sana bought into it, she’d already lost.

    Wesley rubbed his forehead and couldn’t help but challenge her. “You think I can’t figure out my own feelings? I’m a psychologist, for crying out loud.b” /b

    Sana turned her head away, stubbornly refusing to look at him. “Who knows? They always say doctors can’t heal themselves. Either way, you need to stop obsessing over what happened before. I really don’t need you to take responsibility for anything.”

    “You’re the one who’s obsessing, and you’re the one lying to yourself.” Wesley stepped forward and grabbed her chin, forcing her to turn back and meet his eyes. “Look at me. Tell me you honestly don’t feel anything for me anymore. I dare you.”

    Sana immediately squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to meet his gaze no matter what. She was terrified that iif /ishe looked at him, Wesley would see how her heart was racing. ‘But why is this happening to me?‘ she thought.

    “You won’t look at me because you’re scared. You haven’t gotten over this bat /ball.” Wesley pressed his advantage.

    He was done ying games with her–there was absolutely no point anymore. ‘We obviously have feelings for each other, so why can’t we just be honest and start dating like normal people?‘ he thought. ‘Why do we have to keep torturing each other like this?‘

    Wesley’s warm breath brushed against her eyshes, making her heart skip a beat.

    For a moment, Sana felt like a rabbit cornered at the edge of a cliff–one more step back and she’d fall into the abyss.

    ‘But why should I? I had a crush on him. That’s my own business. Why can’t I decide when to get over it?‘ Sana thought.

    With that thought, Sana clenched her fists and suddenly opened her eyes to stare directly at Wesley.

    “Yes, bI /badmit I haven’t gotten over you yet. So what? Who says I have to agree to be with you just because I’m not over you?

    “I just don’t want to date anyone right now. Deal with it!” Sana shoved Wesley away and tried to leaveb, /bbbut /bhe pulled her bright /bbback/b.

    “Let go. Will you just stop already!” Sana struggled desperately as Wesley scooped her up in his arms.

    “Stop fighting me. Whether you agree to date me or not is your choice, but I’m deciding how we get down this bmountain/b.

    b08:43 /bbTue/bb, /bb19 /bbAug /bO

    “I’m the one who brought you up here, and I’m not about to let you walk down alone in the middle of the night.” Wesley had no bintention /bof ending up in jail tonight.

    Sana finally realized she had misunderstood him. Her face flushed red, but she stubbornly argued back. “Who said I was going to walk down alone? bI /bbcan /bjust call ba /bcar to pick me up.”

    #