Chapter 541 If You Don't Like It, Why Not Refuse?
Chapter 541 If You Don't Like It, Why Not Refuse?
In her sophomore year, an unexpected change happened in Hope's 19 years of admiring Ryan.
Someone had asked her out.
The person who was interested in her was actually Ryan's classmate and roommate, Jonas.
Hope turned him down immediately. She only had eyes for Ryan.
However, Jonas was persistent.
After he confessed, Jonas started waiting downstairs the dormitory with breakfast in hand the very next day.
Hope would hide in her room and refuse to go out.
She simply refused to meet him.
Mia, on the other hand, was very excited. She kept going out to check on the situation and reported back diligently.
Someone downstairs exclaimed, "Oh my gosh! It's Ryan! He came to the girl's dormitory!"
Hope ran down the stairs.
Ryan and Jonas stood together. Ryan looked up and waved when he saw Hope.
Hope came down without hesitation.
Jonas gave Ryan the breakfast. "Hey, Ryan. Thanks to you, I just won a bet. And they said you're not interested in girls. Look at you come running."
Ryan flashed him a dirty look. "Pathetic."
"I was trying to score a date. Why are you here anyway?" Jonas nudged Ryan. "Bro, you're not gonna get any girls acting like that."
Ryan looked at Jonas. "Get lost!"
Jonas whistled. "She's cute! Act fast, bro! My plan sure worked out pretty well, don't you think?"
Hope ran toward Ryan. Ryan grabbed her arm and pulled her away.
"Ryan..."
"I have something to tell you."
"Okay..."
Hope was overjoyed seeing their interlocking hands.
Ryan only stopped when they arrived somewhere quiet. Ryan questioned, "Hope, do you like Jonas?"
Hope shook her head. "No, I only..."
She only had feelings for him, the person in front of her.
"If you don't like him, why didn't you turn him down? Are you dumb?"
"I..."
Hope had never seen Ryan acting like that.
They used to barely speak.
They also stayed out of each other's business.
Ryan looked at Hope stammering. "Do you not know how to say no?" Hope felt wronged.
She thought it over and became delighted.
She mustered up all her courage and asked, "If I turn Jonas down, will you go out with me?"
...
Ryan looked at Hope as he held her hands.
Hope bit her lip nervously and could feel the sweat on her palms.
For 19 years, she had been planning how she would confess to Ryan.
The location, the dialog, her attire, she would have all of them planned.
But now, she confessed out of reflex. Hope regretted nothing.
She knew that it was a chance of a lifetime and would not let it go to waste.
The pause before Ryan replied felt like an eternity to Hope.
"Hope," Ryan called her name.
"Yeah," she replied.
Ryan pulled her toward him and whispered, "I will. I will go out with you." Hope was overjoyed.
Her 19 years of waiting had not been in vain.
"Ryan, Tagore once said, 'The furthest distance in the world is the distance between fish and bird.
One is in the sky, another is in the sea.' You are the bird and I am the fish."
"Hope, there is another verse in ."
"What is it?"
"My heart, the bird of the wilderness, has found its sky in your eyes. Hope, my sky is in your eyes."
"You read Tagore too?"
Ryan pulled her into an embrace and rested his chin on her hair. "Because you like it, so do I."
Hope was in love.
Sometimes she would daydream and giggle to herself when she thought about Ryan.
She could not believe that they were actually dating now.
Ryan would hold her hand as they walk around the school.
He would kiss her forehead and her lips while proclaiming his love for her.
Nothing could stop the seeds of love blossoming.
Love is in the air, circling them wherever they went.
However, someone just burst Hope's bubble, pulling her back to reality. Olivia stood before her. "Hope, you are not worthy of Ryan." Hope looked at her blankly.
She was unfazed by Olivia's presence and insults.
Hope was actually the heiress to a rich family, but she never told anyone about her family as she was trying to lay low.
"Whether I am worthy or not, it's none of your business," Hope said as she crossed her arms.
...
"Anyone can tell that you're just gonna get dumped."
"You've already lost when you came and said something pathetic like this," retorted Hope.
Hope refused to engage with Olivia any further. Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned.
"I lost? Hope, don't be so full of yourself!" Olivia screamed.
Ryan hurried over when he heard the commotion.
He looked worried but Hope reassured him with a smile. "Let's just go, Ryan. I want omelet rice for today."
"Okay."
She stopped for a moment when she heard Olivia crying.
However, she was not kind enough to comfort someone who had just tried to hurt her.
For the first time, Hope did not take the initiative to hold Ryan's hand.
Olivia's words still had an effect on her.
Ryan put his arms around her and asked, "Hope, what happened to that Tagore book I borrowed for you?"
"I... I put it under my pillow."
Ryan raised his brows and questioned, "Hope, what do you like about Tagore anyway? And what do you like about me?"
Hope got flustered.
Ryan looked at her and sighed. "Silly girl."
Hope grabbed onto Ryan's collar. "Ryan..."
She remembered one of Rabindranath Tagore's quotes. "If love does not allow differences, why are there differences everywhere in the world?"
"Love is confusing and illogical," Ryan replied. "Just like how I fell for you. Love is not based on how excellent you are."
Hope could still remember what Ryan said to her in her old age.
He loved Hope for who she was - she was unique.
Even the best relationships come to an end.
Ryan planned to study abroad. Being one of the top students, he easily secured a slot for the student exchange program.
He actually hesitated when he secured the slot.
One evening, Hope invited Ryan out for a chat.
The weather was gloomy; it was drizzling.
Hope was wearing a denim dress and canvas shoes. She had pulled her hair back, holding an umbrella.
Ryan looked on silently as Hope walked up to him.
Hope stood in front of him and said nothing.
Ryan took over the umbrella and they were sheltered together.