Davin looked at her, feigning shock. “Surely he isn’t a coward?”
“Well, he’s unwilling to give someone else a chance, plus he’s afraid of opening up his heart to another person… He’s definitely a coward to me,” said Sheila cheekily.
“Is that so?” Wondered Davin out loud, and gave Levant the once-over.
“Oh, yes.” Sheila turned to look at Levant as well.
Levant felt as if his head could explode. So the two of them are ganging up on me now?
“Are you done causing a ruckus?”
“No! If you won’t give Tiffany a chance, then you’re a coward unworthy of respect!”
Levant smiled disapprovingly. “And why should that matter to me?”
Sheila and Davin shared a look. Levant wasn’t even taking them seriously, and they were at wit’s end.
“Alright then, Levant. Let’s make a bet.” Tiffany’s voice broke the silence as she looked Levant in the eye. “Half a year. Give me half a year, and if you still have no feelings for me, I’ll make myself scarce. I’ll even avoid all the places you’re at. Do we have a deal?”
She looked at him impassively, refusing to back down.
This was something important to her. If Levant developed feelings for her during this six-month period, then she’d be able to have the romance she had been dreaming of. But if he didn’t, she would be able to leave with no regrets, having tried her hand at trying to claim his heart. She tried, and that was all that mattered.
Levant met Tiffany’s gaze, realizing he too, experienced the same infatuation before. He mulled over her offer and felt that perhaps six months was enough to make her give up on him. Even he could start anew.
“Half a year it is.” Levant nodded in agreement. “I hope that you’ll find your own happiness after this.”
“Thank you for giving me this opportunity!”
Everyone could see that Tiffany was ecstatic.
After the matter was finalized, Davin found himself feeling happy for both Levant and Tiffany. He genuinely believed that the two would make a good match.
Sheila was happy as well, but mostly at the prospect of getting information from Avril. She had completed their end of the bargain, after all.
I wonder if Nicole is doing okay.
After the pair left the Levant Winery, she immediately asked Davin to call Avril.
“I called her before we entered the winery, but she had no news then. She’ll notify us when she has something.”
“Well, you should push for more urgency. The sooner we have some news, the sooner we can resurrect your brother.”
Resurrect? The word left a bitter taste in Davin’s mouth.
Glaring at Sheila, Davin said, “Sheep, mind your tongue. My brother is still alive and well!”
Sheila was startled at his tone of voice, thinking she hadn’t expressed herself clearly enough. “Well, your brother is behaving like the living dead. He may be alive, but with Nicole gone, his heart is no longer beating as it should. Don’t you agree? Love is bittersweet that way. It invigorates, but it also hurts.”
Davin was startled. He hadn’t expected someone as cold as Sheila to express that sentiment with such tenderness.
He looked at her and asked, “Then, do you want this kind of love?”
Sheila turned to meet his gaze. “If I didn’t, would I have been able to keep my distance since I fell for you when we were children? Do you think all these years have been easy on me?”
“No, of course not. Most people wouldn’t have your perseverance. But maybe I’m just that charming! How else would you still like me after so many years?” Joked Davin.
Sheila had initially wanted to comfort Davin with her words, but she wasn’t expecting that narcissistic response.
“Davin Seet, I think you have something special that has not changed all these years.”
“Really? What would that be?” asked Davin.
“You’re so f*cking thick-skinned! I’m not sure where you found that audacity, but please put it back!” said Sheila exasperatedly.
