Chapter 133: That's True

Gaara hadn’t even noticed him move until Nara’s hand clamped onto his arm and pulled him back, forcing him to release Nelsy instantly.

“She needs those hands to make flowers. I hope you’re not planning to ruin them.”

Gaara spun around, fury blazing. He didn’t care for wise words from some stranger who had barged into his business. He was ready to erupt, ready to shove back, maybe even strike, when Nelsy looked up through her tears and recognized the man.

“Nara? What are you doing here?”

That name stopped Gaara cold. He’d heard it before from Vinson. Heard it again when that same name had surfaced, defending Nelsy from Elise’s cruelty. His gaze flicked from Nelsy to Nara, and understanding dawned.

“I wasn’t trying to hurt her. I just want the truth.” Gaara’s voice steadied, though his eyes stayed sharp. “Do you mind stepping aside? This isn’t finished.” He turned back to Nelsy, cornering her again with the same question. “Yes or no?”

“She said she doesn’t know,” Nara cut in.

Gaara snapped his head toward him, voice spiked with heat. “You know nothing, so shut your mouth.”

“I know more than you do, Maxwell. Far more.”

Their argument drew attention from passersby, faces lingering in curiosity at the doorway. Nelsy, suddenly aware of the spectacle, wiped her cheeks and hurried to take control. She herded both men inside and locked the shop. Her hands trembled a little as she led them to the small office behind the counter.

She sat them down across from each other, the air thick with leftover anger. Then she placed cold cola cans in front of them like peace offerings and took her seat right in the middle.

“What do you mean you know more?” Gaara asked, his voice low and tainted with distrust.

“You should try listening. Pay attention. There’s more around you than your own reflection.”

Gaara lurched forward, ready to grab him by the collar, but Nelsy slammed her palm down. “Stop provoking him, Nara Dragnells!”

“I’m sorry, Nelsy. But he started it with… your arm,” Nara muttered, lowering his voice on the last part. He knew he probably looked annoying wedged between the two of them, suddenly poking his nose into someone else’s problems.

Nelsy shot him a glare before turning back to Gaara. The young man sank into his chair again. This time, Nelsy moved to sit beside him, ready to steady him if he lost control.

“Nelsy, one more time. Yes or no?” Gaara asked, his tone calmer than before.

“I…” Nelsy stared at the tip of her shoe as if it was more important than Gaara’s face. “…it isn’t my place to answer.”

A vein twitched at Gaara’s temple. “Then what about you, Mr. Know-It-All?”

Nara cracked open the cola Nelsy had given him and took a slow drink. A faint smirk curved on his lips.

“Why don’t you tell Nelsy why you assumed something like that about Esther and Vinson in the first place?”

Gaara let out a long breath, then began explaining Elise Northway barging into his house acting like she’d lost her mind, and how afterward he’d tried to find Vinson. But Vinson had basically vanished, impossible to reach.

“I need the truth. Why am I always the last to know?”

Nelsy leaned in closer, settling herself on the armrest of Gaara’s chair. She cupped his face in her hands and sighed.

“You need to ask Esther directly.”

“I already did,” Gaara muttered, pulling her hands away.

From his expression and from the simple fact that he was here today, Nelsy knew Esther’s answer. And no genius was needed to guess Gaara’s feelings for her. None of this would matter if Esther wasn’t important to him.

Nelsy bit her lip. She knew the truth better than anyone. But she didn’t have the courage to speak it, because saying it out loud would change everything and it wasn’t her story to tell. Only Esther or Vinson had the right to explain.

“I won’t get mad. Just answer me.” Gaara closed his eyes and drew in a shaky breath. The hurt on his face alone was enough to break Nelsy’s heart. It made her start crying again. She couldn’t bear to watch him fall apart when he learned the truth.

“I don’t know, Gaara…”

“Just answer me!” Gaara snapped again, making Nelsy hide her face in her hands. Nara stood up and guided her to sit on the sofa.

“Don’t be childish, Maxwell. Deep down, you already know.” Nara wasn’t yelling, but his steady tone hit Gaara like his father’s voice. “Northway wouldn’t show up at your place twice without proof. Vinson wouldn’t suddenly disappear like that. And Nelsy wouldn’t be crying if it wasn’t true. Stop hunting for validation and start accepting reality.”

Nara felt Nelsy’s sharp nails dig into his arm. Yeah, he probably sounded awful. Maybe he’d just said something stupid even if it was true. But honestly, he was done with this dragged-out drama. He was tired of Gaara’s temper and the way he kept acting helpless instead of facing the facts.

“Nelsy?”

Nelsy took a deep breath, then lifted her head to look at Gaara. Her face flushed, eyes swollen from tears. She forced herself to meet his gaze. In her mind, she cursed both Vinson and Esther for putting her in this unbearable spot.

She knew how Esther felt about Gaara. And even though Gaara never said it, she knew he felt the same way. She also knew what happened between Gaara and Grace in the past. If this was happening to him a second time, how could he handle it? Maybe Nelsy was the only friend who truly wished he would find a decent girl who wouldn’t break his heart.

But when the words reached her lips, she couldn’t keep looking at him.

“Yes, Gaara. It’s true.”

Her voice broke. Then her tears followed, spilling over as she watched Gaara’s heart shatter all over again, in exactly the same way as before.