Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 56: Changing Hearts

Chapter 56: Changing Hearts

"Whatever! I believe you!" she said sarcastically and got up. "I’ll go and change. Choose a movie... Scaredy cat..."

Before he smacked her butt, she ran inside and locked her room.

Sitting on the couch as the movie started playing, Talia could see the perfect face of Arthur sitting by her side.

"What are you mumbling about?" she asked wrapping her hands around his arms and all he did was sigh deeply looking at her.

"What?" she asked laughing. It was so amusing for her to tease him.

"Your... things might pop out you know... Can’t you wear a sweater above your..."

"What things?" she asked resting her hands on her cheeks and bent as she placed her elbows on her knees.

All Arthur could see was her twin girls and he closed his face with his palms.

"I know you are doing this on purpose Iris, why can’t you... Ugh! Forget it! I will endure!" he sat with his back straight.

The movie that was set in the nineteenth century with big ballroom dances and nobility starred off with the lead female misunderstanding the male lead as a pompous person who does not value people.

" Hey, Iris... Remember the dance you made me learn, shall we try out if we still remember it.? That waltz... " Arthur asked and Talia pursed her lips contemplating.

"Okay!" she agreed.

This dumbass back then thought of rebelling against his family decided to not learn dance and she painstakingly taught him some waltz.

And so they danced. His his hand was on her waist and her hand was in his shoulder while they were holding their other hands and the gentle music she loved, naturally lifted her spirit.

And around and around they spun.

That little living room that used to make her feel alone and suffocated, now felt like a big decorated ballroom with no one but them.

The man she thought that she hated deeply and had no means of redemption in her heart and was just wearing a tank top, looked like Prince Charming.

Herself, whom she thought was unworthy to be happy was joyfully smiling in his embrace as he lead her for a dance.

The place looked magical and she could feel small fairies throwing fairy dust at them. The dancing couple wearing the best ballroom attires floated as they were dancing and reached the sky and danced in the clouds.

The soft, misty clouds by their feet, the fairy’s singing songs of joy to the tune and the man of her hearts, leading her in the dance.

Mystical!

Looking at the man who was looking back at her with joy, passion and love in his eyes as the moved round and round to the music, she wondered how much her decisions changed in the past few days.

She, till last week thought that when she meets him again, she’d ignore him without even saying a word and make him go back.

She knew she loved him but she knew she won’t engage in small talks with him, wish him well or open up her heart to him.

But... The moment she laid her eyes in him, the anger she thought she overcame, burst open from the shallow grave of her heart and surfaced making her behave in a way she won’t normally will.

She thought she cannot trust him but she ended up spilling her heart to him. At least most of her heart!

And she let him stay, ate his cooking and here she is... Dancing with him.

Can these days continue? Can I let my happiness multiply exponentially like this?

She saw him look to the side and he stopped moving.

"Ah! The music ended," he said and walked to his phone.

That’s right, Talia! The music will end and the magic will wear off and Cinderella must return to her home. Her lonely, desolate home!

She looked at the floor in deep thoughts when that voice spoke again.

" One more? "

She turned to look at him and he was holding out his hand.

She thought for a moment. She should be refusing him. She should not be wishing for more. She shouldn’t be greedy and let him go.

But...

"Yes!"

She placed her slender hand in his big hand. If one music ends, we can play another one...

Why not, right? Why can’t I be happy?

They danced, they laughed, they ate...

They watched that movie that was supposed to be two hours long for five hours.

After dancing and laughing both felt tired and he leaned leisurely on the couch while she shamelessly laid on his lap.

Arthur looked at her, flushed with all the jumping around she did and she has already slept. Her hair was messy and was sticking on her forehead wet with perspiration. And even the tired her had that exclusive charm.

He saw her laugh and enjoy herself in his company and he could still see the slight reluctance she hid in her eyes.

’She really doesn’t have much stamina’ he thought as he gently traced his finger over her forehead fixing her hair. ’Such a petite and fragile woman!’

She is someone who has everything and yet she is the one who suffered the most and most of it isn’t her fault.

’How much did my family take from you, my dear?’ he asked in his heart, ’Your health, your mother, your sanity... Almost everything. I can see why you don’t want to commit to me for the rest of your life. It will not be fair between us, right? I’ll be the one who gains a lot while you’ll be the one getting bound with the man who took everything from you. Are you forcing yourself to be with me? Should I leave you like you ask me to? ’

He gulped as his throat felt heavy with all the thoughts.

Should I leave her, this time breaking up this relationship that is dangerous like an unexplored land with potential landmines?

No! I really cannot! Even if it is selfish of me, I will hold onto her!