C7 Negotiation

Helen's POV

When the voice in my head eventually dies down, I retrieve the ability to think.

"Is this a, a kind of joke?"

"Does it look like a joke to you? I am serious."

"Oh come on, I am not stupid." I carefully examine his expressions, "You declared a war yesterday and 24 hour later you come here, seeking peace and love. Is this another piece of advice coming from Zander?"

He blinks at me and eventually nods, like a child stealing snacks from the jar and is caught red-handed.

"I, I don't get it." I've asked a silly question and I didn't expect that Dylan would actually answer me. Moreover, it is strange that he admits that all of his actions are under someone's instruction.

"To be honest, neither do I." Dylan gives me a nervous smile, "but I am good at listening to the wise. So, here I am, reaching out to you."

"How do you know Zander is wise? No offense, I am just curious." I can't help but ask Dylan.

"He can solve all the mathematic problems and he often gets full score in examination, which discourages Nancy a lot." Dylan laughs when he mentions Nancy. He looks genuinely happy and my confusion grows.

The more Dylan speaks, the more I am intrigued. Based on what I've observed, Dylan and Nancy should be the love birds and if that's the case, why would he ask me out instead? Is it possible that the intimate relationship between Zander and Nancy makes Dylan jealousy so Dylan decides to ask me out to take revenge? I am amazed at my deduction. Now, this invitation looks more reasonable to me, and the only thing I need to do is to testify if my assumption is correct.

"Are you suspecting that there is something happening between Zander and Nancy?"

Dylan gives a strange half laugh and leans back in his chair. "You have too many questions. I won't answer your question before you answer mine."

"Sorry, what's your question again?"

Dylan rolls his eyes and reaches out his hand to me and says, "Have a date with me and I will answer one question."

"Only one? That's unfair." I am not quite satisfied with this deal.

"One date for a piece of information and I will decide whether to answer the question or not judged by your performance during our date, so you'd better behave yourself and choose a wise question to ask." he neglects my glare and whispers, "Are you in?"

He asks me in such a low voice, as if he were inviting me to rob a bank.

"This is ridiculous." I stare at his hand hung in the air and reluctantly shake his hand, "Deal, but I have one request."

"And the request is?" Dylan raises one of his eyebrows.

"You can decide where to go and what to do, but I will bring my pet with me."

"Your pet." Dylan is too shocked to utter other words and he can only echo what I've said.

"Exactly." I nod.

"Why would you bring a pet with you when we are dating?" Dylan blurts out and he gives me a knowingly look before I can answer the question.

"You are afraid that the date will be very boring so you need to prepare something to kill the time." Dylan makes a tentative guess and is not offended at all, which is beyond my expectations. On the contrary, he smiles at me, "I've used this trick many times. You are as far-sighted as I am."

"As far-sighted as you? I won't take that as a compliment." This time I can't hold back my smile as I see the smile on his face fades.

"I will give you a 'F' if you behave like this when we are dating." He snarls, "and you shall never get the answer you are seeking from me."

"Don't worry. I am good at pretending to be someone's lover. I've done it when I was a child."

"What did you mean?" Dylan furrows his eyebrows and his face becomes unreadable. The way he gazes into my eyes makes me feel nervous and the anxiety devours me like a hungry beast.

"I don't want to talk about this. Not now." I look down so that I can avoid the eye contact.

"You are trembling."

"I am cold."

"The sun is burning outside." Dylan retorts and leans closer.

Now his expressions look really concerned. When he looks at me with those grey eyes I feel that I could tell him things that I would never breathe to another human being.

Yet the only thing I can do is to keep my head lower and lower until the tip of my nose touches the desk. I bury my face in my arms so that he cannot read my mind.

"Hey, are you alright? We can terminate the deal if it makes you feel so sick."

"No!" I nearly yell at him, "I will keep my promise. Text me when you've made the plan."

The only promise I failed to keep has been haunting me for so many years and I dare not break anyone anymore. My heart sinks as I recall what I dreamt last night.

I don't know how my fiancé will react if he figures out that I agree to date someone else. Will he blame me for betraying him? Or perhaps he had already forgotten this stupid childish romance a long time ago, and he will congratulate me on getting myself a silly date. No, he probably wouldn't be that generous. Child as he was, he was noticeably possessive when we played house.

In the pause that follows, thousands of thoughts cross my mind and Dylan remains silent. The only thing I can hear is a rustling sound. Curiosity drives away my frustration in time, and I steal a glimpse to see what is happening and find Dylan is writing a note. His writing is tidy and elegant, and I find it hard to take my eyes off the manuscripts. The moment he finishes the writing, I lower my head again and luck is on my side— he didn't notice that I've been watching him.

"Don't forget to float to the surface and breathe air." Dylan drawls as he places a note at my palm.

"I am not a whale." I grasp the note tightly and raise my head to send him a glare.

"I will keep that in mind." Dylan laughs and the burden on my mind is lifted by his laughter.

I manage to suppress the urge to express my gratitude to Dylan and simply ask him, "What did you write?"

"Check it by yourself."

I am about to unfold the note when he swiftly covers his hand on mine and says, "Don't unfold it until Saturday."

"Then why do you give it to me right now? Today is Thursday." I try to hand the note to him but he withdraws his hands and refuses to take it.

"I know." Dylan rests his chin on his hand and smiles, "That's what makes it fun."

"I don't find it fun at all." My patience is running out and I am dying to peek at what is written in that note.

"Invalid objection."

"See if I care!" I huff and try to open the folded note but Dylan's following words let me realize I did care.

That prat warns me in a severe tone, "Don't break the rule or we shall not have a date."

"I didn't even want a date with you."

"I am fully aware of that." Dylan smirks, "But you need one. Alas, you might be insatiable after our first date. You will probably beg me for a second one, and a third one, and a fourth one."

"I will NEVER beg you. Besides, I will NEVER expect another date with you."

Dylan's mouth turns up in a smile, "Are you hungry now?"

"What? No." I am perplexed by this question.

"What a pity. Or you can start to eat your words right now."

"Like hell I will!"

"Let's wait and see, shall we?" Dylan winks at me and asks, "forget to ask, what is your pet? I am not particularly fond of cat."

Never had I ever respected Snowball's identity so much.

"What a pity." I give Dylan a sympathetic look and announce triumphantly, "Cat is exactly what I will bring with me."

Dylan ponders for a while and nods, "As you wish."