Chapter 72 Her Expensive Dreams
The drive was silent, Arabella could feel her cheeks heating, her eyes twinkling. Normal gestures from him were delighting her.
And to her utter glee, he sparked a conversation, “So how’s your studies going?”
“Good. Amazing, in fact,”
Since Arabella had embedded all his features into her core, the little change in his countenance was noticed by her.
“Are you okay, William? You don’t look good.”
He was taken aback how she noticed when he was smiling and acting professionally.
“Huh? Yeah, yeah, I am okay,”
“You can tell me, if you want, I will listen to ‘anything’ you will say,” She whispered sincerely.
William’s smile vanished, he hesitated and after contemplating, he decided to share his sting with her.
“Arabella, I just broke up with my girlfriend.”
“Julie?”
“Yeah. We were dating for a year, I thought she was the one but she got frustrated with me and for what? Because I was worried for my sibling’s future,” He growled, the hidden frustration being evoked and to find him hurt, her gaze softened.
“Really?”
“Yeah, she said I have to choose between her and them. Obviously, I will choose them, what else is important before them?”
She didn’t want to talk about his girlfriend, nothing good or bad, not even mentioning her.
It pierced her heart so she attempted to shift the topic.
“Luke and Helena are so lucky, you love them so much.”
His eyes twinkled when he heard it, “Really?”
“Mhm,”
“Helena and Luke will forever be my world. Does she think I will give up on them for a woman of yesterday? Hmph, like hell I will,” He spoke to himself, relieved to hear those words.
That was all he aimed to be after all- the best brother.
“That’s it, I have decided now, Bella,”
Taking a deep breath, he enunciated sternly.
“I won’t go into a relationship anymore until both of them are married, settled and happy in their lives. Until I am assured they don’t need me anymore,”
“And you? What about you? Your life? Your dreams and wishes? Don’t you want to fall in love?”
“It can wait, I am in no rush.”
‘I can wait for you if you want-’ She almost blurted it but changed it.
“I think you care about them more than your father could have. You are such an amazing brother,”
He hummed but since they were stuck in traffic, he groaned.
“Argh, this damn traffic,”
Not preferring a slightest discontent on his face from her side, she immediately reacted, waving her hand at him.
“It’s alright, I can go from here. It’s just fifteen minutes from here. Thank you so much for dropping me off, William,”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, you must be busy, I don’t want to bother you anymore. Take care.” She grinned.
“Thanks for listening, Bella, I just needed to get it out, I feel better now,”
His words, the melodious chuckle made her halt for a moment and stare at him with mesmerization.
“I am always here to listen, for you, William,” She whispered wholeheartedly.
“Thanks. Take care, Bye,”
“You too. Bye,”
Her emotions caged in a corner, failing to find liberation and even if she did- would he accept them? Of course not!... At that time, at least.
‘Are you ever going to notice my love for you? I won’t interfere, I won’t displease you, I will take your sorrow on my account, just look at me,’
She thought before leaving with a hefty heart and since the news of his breakup hit her, she created one aim.
‘If you won’t see me, I WILL make you.’
And then she started her quest of attaining his attention.
“William, look! Look! Look at my earring. How does it look?”
“Pretty. Congratulations on your first piercing,” He smiled, typing on his phone. Talking to Julie again, they patched up.
“Thank you,” She replied sheepishly, taking a step closer, showing him her ears which he ignored.
“What type of earrings do you think I should try after it heals?”
“Umm, I don’t know. You know those circle ones? Hoops?”
Replying nonchalantly, he was using his phone and walked away, waving his hand. Certainly not interested but she bore with it.
‘Why would you see me, right? I can never be beyond your sister’s best friend, right?’ She thought sourly.
And yet, bargaining her self-respect, after being ignored, she still went after him and showed him her first official earring.
The wide grin showing excitement, “These?”
William was about to walk away but stopped and saw them twinkle. Shifting his attention to her, he held her earring and checked them.
“Ah, aren’t these pretty? Where did you get them? I will get these for my date too,” He beamed.
‘But you said you won’t date anymore… I would have waited for you whenever you are ready, leave them, think about me,’
Her felicity vanished, “Are you going on a date?”
“Yes, tonight, let’s see how it goes. Wish me luck,”
Winking, he flicked her earring before pulling away, “Again, beautiful earrings.”
“....Good luck,”
‘Why can’t you see how desperate I am for your little attention? You see those girls that never text back after one date but not me,’
Still after times after times, she crazily went after him but each time they interacted, her emotions grew.
His attention was bubbling up more endearment, it was pure bliss. She cherished each second spent in his presence.
“William, look, I made these cookies,”
“William, how does this dress look on me?”
“William, which field do you think I should choose?”
William, William, William, that was all those lips chanted.
How exactly did he know about her things from times he felt nothing?
Because she showed them over and over again until he couldn’t forget about them, about her.
She slowly engraved her memories, her talks, her things in his mind until he was unable to eradicate them and they intoxicated him.
She engraved her name on his mind.
Arabella was the one who made sure all that could exist on his mind will be- HER, HER, AND ONLY HER.
Arabella was extremely blind to him to the point of discarding activities of her age. When she was seventeen, all on her mind was-
“What should I wear for prom? What do you think will look good on me?”
William chuckled anxiously, “Why are you asking me? Ask Helena, what do I know about girl’s fashion?”
“Still I want you to tell me, William,” She whined.
“I think… um… black, it would compliment your beautiful eyes,”
Her eyes shone, “You think my eyes are beautiful?”
“They are literally the prettiest ones I have ever seen. I bet you don’t even need eyeliner with them,”
He grinned, poking her forehead playfully to move her out of the way.
“Okay then, I have to go, go luck at your day,”
It made her heart pound madly against her chest, leading her to stare at him keenly.
She decided to do cut bangs, change her look.
Did prominent eye makeup and came with expectations of receiving compliments.
‘Ah, me and my expensive dreams,’