The Black Swan Behind (Beauty of Fire)

310 Don’t Fall For Him

“Levi doesn’t know that,” Emma answered Calvin’s question with an innocent face.

“Oh... that’s a relief...” Calvin muttered. Then he cleared his throat and his cheeks slowly blushed, “If I may ask; are you two that close?”

Emma swallowed, “Well... we are quite close – as best friends.”

“Um, how about me? Am I your best friend or your just friend?” Calvin asked, throwing away his pride. He knew that his question was awkward and embarrassing.

“Y-you? Well...” Emma thought as she cleared her throat, “You... can be called my best friend too,” she smiled stiffly.

But Emma’s doubtful answer made Calvin’s heart ache even more. Even though he kept on denying it, even though he tried to be confident, he wasn’t that stupid to realize that Emma was closer to Levi. Even, with just that hour-long meeting, Calvin could see it clearly.

“Emma, ??are you very busy?” Calvin asked suddenly.

Emma then wrinkled her forehead in confusion although she still had a smile on her lips. “I can say Yes. You can see for yourself what we are planning. Why do you suddenly ask?”

“If I say that I’m in love with you, will it bother you?” Calvin asked with a serious look.

.....

The question was like a large stone ball smashed into Emma’s chest. She was stunned. She wasn’t prepared to hear such a question in the middle of their casual conversation. She didn’t know that Calvin could be this random.

“Wh-what do you mean?” That was the only question Emma could think of even though she already knew clearly what Calvin’s sentence meant.

“I like you, Emma. I have had feelings for you for a long time. However, I am afraid that if I express it, you’d feel uncomfortable. I see you are very busy pursuing your dreams. You said that you were bothered by men who kept getting in your way because of your look. I don’t want you to feel burdened by me and think of me just like any other man. I don’t want our relationship to become awkward just because I confessed my feelings to you,” Calvin explained.

Emma was silent. Calvin’s face looked weak. His two jet-black irises were like a mirror that reflected the thin dots of light that surrounded them.

Emma should be happy because Calvin finally confessed his feelings. It was not that she didn’t know that all this time, Calvin had liked her. Emma also never avoided him because she knew that he was a good man.

Logically, Emma assumed that Calvin would be the right boyfriend for her. However, why was her heart now doubtful?

“Calvin,” Emma muttered.

“Yes?” Calvin answered while straightening his back in a ready gesture.

“Thank you for liking me. I really appreciate it. However, if you want me to return your feelings, I think I need a little time. And I don’t even dare to promise,”

“It doesn’t matter, Emma. But now, can you tell me what I am in your eyes?” Calvin asked quietly.

Emma sighed softly. It took a while for her to answer his question. “You are a special person to me, Calvin.”

Calvin chuckled as he lowered his head. “I think you have a lot of special people in your life, Emma. Am I right?”

That statement asking for justification made Emma freeze. It sucks when someone knew what your subconscious was thinking, even though you were trying not to notice it yourself.

What Calvin said was true. She had many special people in her life. Roger, Poppy, Rachel, Jonas, and others. Everyone who made a difference and played an important role in Emma’s life would be considered a special person. Then if she said that Calvin was special, she was implying that Calvin was just like the others.

“I guess I was right,” Calvin muttered, without preventing Emma from hearing it.

“Calvin, looks like it’s already late. We’re both tired after the fight. We’d better talk about this next time when our minds are fresher,” Emma said slowly as she stood up from her seat. “I’ll take you to the back door,” she continued, about to leave.

However, Calvin suddenly pulled her wrist so that she hit his chest, into the arms of the desperate man.

“Was I too soft on you all this time? Am I too slow on you?” Calvin asked right beside Emma’s ear while hugging her tightly.

Emma couldn’t believe what was happening. She had to gather her sanity back to realize that her body was in Calvin’s surprisingly warm arms. She blinked several times. She knew Calvin had asked her something, but her brain was too shocked to hear what he was saying.

“Wh-what?” She asked.

“I was too soft on you. I thought, by trying to keep your feelings and comfort, I could win your heart. But it turns out my thinking was wrong. Instead of getting closer, you’re even further away from me. This is all my fault, Emma. I’ve never liked a woman. It makes me clueless about how to make the right way to make the woman I like grow the same feelings as mine. I admit I’m too slow in moving. I’m too careful and don’t dare to take risks,” Calvin explained with a trembling voice.

When he met Emma, ??who was alone with a man named Levi at that time, he realized something that shook and changed his mind.

Calvin witnessed with his eyes how Levi treated Emma. That guy, who looked like a delinquent had a coercive nature. Calvin was annoyed when he had to witness Levi being rude to Emma. However, what confused him was Emma’s response.

Emma seemed to understand Levi’s character. She seemed to have gotten used to that pushy attitude. Somehow, it actually made the two of them seem very close because Emma also became casual and arbitrary towards Levi. They looked like siblings or... a couple.

Unlike Calvin, Levi didn’t look like he was trying to be polite and maintain an attitude towards Emma. He didn’t hesitate to show that he was angry, he didn’t hesitate to tell Emma what he wanted, and he didn’t hesitate to hold her hand without asking her. That man had high confidence in women.

Calvin admitted that he had been too careful about Emma. That was not the only mistake he made. He admitted, he had been too careless and underestimated his relationship with Emma.

Stupid. Yes, that was the word Calvin pinned to himself.

What a fool he had been, to think that Emma would not go out with another man. In fact, Emma was like a goddess of many men’s dreams. And again, the two of them were not even bound by any relationship other than friendship. Now, after everything seemed too late, Calvin realized that he was an idiot.

“After this, I promise to fight for you. You will see my true struggle, Emma.” Calvin uttered without loosening his grip.

Emma could even feel Calvin’s hammering heartbeat as if it fighting with her own heartbeat. Emma pushed Calvin’s chest slowly until she released enough strength to make him let go of his hug. But her efforts were in vain. Calvin didn’t intend to let her go.

“Let me go, Calvin,” Emma said.

Calvin shook his head. “I’m not letting you go. Give me a second chance, Emma,”

“What do you mean by second chance? Are you drunk?” She frowned.

“Don’t fall for that pale guy. Give me a chance to make you like me more than him.” Calvin said as tightened his hug.