Chapter 24%
Shawn stood on the second floor of the orphanage. After just one night, his face was covered in stubble. I ran straight into his arms, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist. Tears streamed down my face, unchecked and unstoppable.
Shawn reached out to wipe them away, his smile as gentle as ever. “Why are you crying? Don’t cry. Seeing you cry makes my heart ache.”
I lifted my tear–filled eyes to look at him. “I’m sorry, Shawn. Why didn’t you answer my calls? You scared me to death! Listen to me, about Joshua…“}
Shawn pressed a finger against my lips, silencing me. He spoke softly, “No need to say anything. I heard everything you said to Joshua downstairs.”
“Ah?” My face instantly flushed red. “But I still want to say it. I love you, Shawn. I love you so much and I want to make it clear that my love for you is pure, without any hesitation, without any ulterior motives. I love you, not out of revenge, not as an impulse after being hurt and not as a way to heal.”
“I made this decision after careful thought. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Shawn, I love you. So, from now on, don’t ever let me down, okay?” I looked down, a little embarrassed. Then I noticed Joshua below. He hadn’t left. On impulse, I stood on my toes and kissed Shawn.
Maybe I caught him off guard because he froze for a few seconds, but the moment he snapped out of it, he cupped the back of my head and deepened the kiss. I didn’t know how to put my feelings for Shawn into words, so I chose to prove them through my actions, like this kiss.
Meanwhile, Joshua was watching us downstairs. His expression slowly shattered, his once–proud features breaking apart piece by piece. He clenched his fists, his blood running hot and then cold. Finally, he turned and walked away with unwillingness and despair written all over his face.
2:06 PM