Chapter 151 Why?
Chapter 151: Why?
Xander couldn't believe his ears. Did Golden just ask him out? He was the one always thinking of ways to get her to go out with him.
He was still lost in thought and didn't realize that he had kept Golden hanging.
“Look I understand if you are tired and can't come. I just thought it would be fun to go together.” Golden said when Xander still didn't answer.
What was she thinking asking him to accompany her? He was just on a long flight and hadn't even rested and here she was asking him to go out with her.
Golden felt stupid for asking. Xander just probably saw her as a friend, someone he could hangout with once in a while.
It wasn't like she was expecting to be more to him. She just felt they had good intellectual chemistry and he was generally fun to be around.
“Ermm Xander? Say something, you know it's a yes or no answer right?”
Xander immediately snapped out of his day dream and looked Golden in the eyes, “of course I would love to go on a night drive with you”, he said with a smile.
“Since we are going on a drive, do you mind waiting a while for me? I need to go change into comfortable clothes” Xander said.
“Ermm okay that's fine. I'll just wait for you in the car then.” Golden said.
The city was different at night. It wasn't the fast buzzing city that characterized the day. It softened, slowed, and breathed.
Golden leaned back in the drivers seat as the car glided through quiet streets, streetlights sliding across the windshield in warm golden streaks.
She was enjoying the performance of the car. The car was like a ghost on the road, gliding without touching the ground.
“Where are we going?” Xander asked as he watched Golden from the corner of his eyes.
She didn’t look at him, she just smiled faintly. “You’ll see.”
The road began to climb. Trees thickened on either side, their branches forming a dark canopy overhead. Then she pulled over near the top.
It didn't look like they were anywhere special. It just looked like plain land.
Xander looked around and arched his eyebrow. “Are we… here?”
“Not yet,” she said, stepping out of the car.
Cool night air rushed in as she opened her door.
They walked a short distance uphill. Grass damp beneath their shoes, until suddenly the world opened.
Golden stopped. Below them, the entire city stretched out like a sea of stars.
Skyscrapers glittered in the distance.
Roads traced glowing ribbons through the darkness. The faint hum of London drifted upward, softened by distance. It was breathtaking.
“This is Primrose Hill,” Golden said quietly. “Best view in the city.”
Xander didn’t answer immediately. His eyes moved slowly across the skyline, searching, absorbing, memorizing.
“It looks… endless,” he finally said.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The wind lifted a strand of Golden's hair, brushing it across her cheek. Without thinking, Xander reached out and tucked it behind her ear.
Golden glanced at him, surprised, vulnerable, suddenly very aware of how close he was.
“I have always wanted to come up here, but have not had the chance to since I moved to England.” she said.
She looked down at the city. “This view gives the feeling that anything is possible, if only you believe.”
Xander studied her face instead of the view. “Yeah I think I know what you mean.”
Silence settled again, not awkward, just full. Golden wrapped her arms around herself against the chill.
Without a word, Xander slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. He had changed into a joggers and sweater and had carried a jacket just in case.
Golden didn’t protest. If anything, she was grateful for the jacket. She felt like she was being wrapped in a warm hug, and she could perceive Xander's perfume on it.
Far below, headlights moved like fireflies along the roads.
For the first time in months, Golden felt something loosen in her chest. Not pressure. Not fear. Just quiet.
“Thanks for coming on this drive with me,” she said softly.
Xander smiled. “Thanks for inviting me,” he said.
They sat down on the hill, looking over the city, each silently in his/her own world as they observed and watched the world below.
“Gigi?” Xander called softly.
“Huh?”
“Do you have space in your heart? The last time we spoke during Chen and Rosa's wedding, you said you had a boyfriend and no space in your heart for anyone else.”
Golden didn't say anything. Since her breakup with Allan, she had tried closing the chapter with him.
She refused to think about it because she truly wanted to let go and didn't want to dwell on it.
Golden was lost on what to say. She wondered why Xander was asking such a personal question. Although hesitant, she decided to answer honestly. After all, she had nothing to hide.
“Actually Xander, I broke up with my boyfriend a few months ago, so I don't have a boyfriend anymore.” she said.
Xander hadn't really expected her to answer and was relieved when she did. He decided to push his luck.
“Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. Can I ask what happened?”
Golden paused for a while. She looked down at the city. She hadn't spoken to anyone about the breakup and still didn't feel ready to talk about it.
“I don't want to talk about it Xander, but let's just say that our ideals weren't evenly matched.”
Xander moved closer to Golden, he carefully turned her to face him. “I'm sorry your relationship ended Gigi and I know it's only been a few months.
It would be unfair to rush you. But please if and when you are ready to open your heart up again, can you please consider me?”
Golden looked into Xander's eyes. Why did he just say what he said? Was he trying to ask her out?
Why was he asking her out? Did he have feelings for her? Consider him for what?
Golden was confused. There were so many whys so she decided to ask him.
“Why Xander?” That was the whole question.