7 Intuition (2/2)

Lyra's eyes grow big and tried to scan for any hints of how she should answer, but she was in a pretty tight spot.

”Angela said that you two fought and she decided it was best to stop seeing each other. She isn't the type to break up over the phone, but she was scared she wouldn't have the courage after looking at you, so she…wanted me to break up with you as her.”

From his expectant reaction, Kurtis didn't seem to care what answer Lyra gave. He just wanted to confirm that his intuition was correct. Lyra was simply too kind, not knowing when to say no.

It was then that Kurtis was reminded that he hated girls like that. They were too breakable, completely incompatible with his aggressive and competitive character. That's why he was always cautious not to ever get romantically involved with one.

”But you found out the real reason?” he asked, placing his hand on his right leg as if hiding it in slight embarrassment.

”Right after I found out about the accident, I went to look for you to tell you the truth. But when I finally found you…you were in the water and…”

”You saved me from drowning. Immediately after I fell asleep on the couch, you went to call Angela, but I walked in on your conversation and heard the whole thing. Is that right?” Kurtis already pieced everything together.

Lyra nodded. ”I should've said something sooner. I'm extremely sorry.”

Kurtis noted this too. Lyra apologized too easily and frequently. He hated girls who apologized for everything when it wasn't entirely their fault. To succeed in life, one had to be confident in their decisions and actions and defend their reasoning whether the outcome is right or wrong.

”You don't have to apologize for not knowing. Just make sure to correct that terrible habit of yours.” Kurtis already knew Lyra was oblivious and though he made it his policy to mind his own business when it came to worrisome girls like her, he couldn't help but spare a few words. ”You're kind to a fault.”

”What's that supposed to mean?”

”Whether you intend it or not, your kindness does more harm than good. In a sense, you're an extremely selfish person to be too kind.”

”You're criticizing my character now, huh?” Lyra asked, crossing her arms with some sass. ”You, Mr. Wellington, may be a little too generous with your concerns.”

Kurtis didn't respond with anything more than a grin. As troublesome as was, she was definitely fun to tease, he'd admit that.

So for awhile longer, they sat side by side, silently enjoying each other's company. It was so peaceful and so natural that Lyra found it hard to believe that she felt her entire world was falling apart just yesterday.

They sat until the sun finally started to set, when the scene in front of them was a gorgeous orange-pink blended with a sentimental purplish blue.

”Lyra.”

The way Kurtis called her name was definitely special. It was as if she heard it many times before, though this was strangely one of the very few times he actually called her name in front of her.

”Despite everything, I owe you a thanks,” he said, getting up and offering a hand.

Lyra took it. ”You don't owe me anything.”

”I don't offer my gratitude easily so just accept it,” the young Wellington said before waving to Maggie who came out onto the deck waiting for the best time to announce dinner.

He was already heading towards the house and missed Lyra's reply.

[Precisely because you don't, I'm worried about what I could have done to deserve it.]