, Listening to this explanation left me with a bitter taste in my mouth., Poor Fanny had been harboring a secret crush, and she wouldn't have approached Yates if it hadn't been for my nudging. And then for Yates to bluntly dismiss her like that, Fanny's heart must have been shattered., It was one thing not to return her feelings, but to hurt her so carelessly, without sparing her dignity, was another level of cruelty., I was about to speak up when Yates interrupted Fanny,

"I don't mind the trouble, and you're the only trouble I'm willing to deal with.

", What?, What did that mean?, I was confused, and by the looks of it, Fanny was too,

"Yates...

",

"You said you liked me, right?

" Yates cut her off again., Fanny was speechless.,

"If you like me, why entertain other guys, accepting their affections?

" As soon as Yates said this, everything clicked for me., He was jealous., And so openly at that., But he and Fanny hadn't even confessed to each other, had they?, Was this his way of confessing?, I suddenly felt a rush of excitement, watching Fanny who was completely flustered by Yates' words,

"Yates, are you saying you mind? Are you jealous?

", It was so obvious.,

"Yes, if you like me, you can only like me. You can't be wishy-washy,

" Yates was straightforward, even more so than Ernest., I saw Fanny swallow nervously,

"Yates, I do like you, but you never said you liked me, it seemed like I, I...

", Fanny struggled to find the words.,

"I never said I didn't like you,

" Yates' response was a game-changer., That meant he liked Fanny too., My judgment was spot on., Although Fanny was bewildered, Yates' confession seemed to confuse her even more,

"Yates...

",

"Fanny, I like you too, even more than you know,

" Yates' confession was straightforward, each statement more direct than the last., I was clenching my fists, excitedly, watching Fanny, expecting her to leap into the arms of the man she'd beer pining for. But she didn't. Fanny just stood there, motionless. , Was she stunned by happiness?, The silence hung in the air for what felt like ages. I was about to break it, when Yates couldn't hold back, longer,

"Fanny, why aren't you saying anything?

" ,

"Oh, I see,

" Fanny responded coolly., I was floored. This was not the Fanny I knew., Had Ernest's spirit taken over her?, Her response was so Ernest-like., She must've been too happy to speak, right?!, As I was internally complaining about Fanny's reaction and worrying that Yates would be upset, I heard him say,

"You're my girlfriend now. You can only accept flowers from me, and eat the takeout I buy you.

" , Fanny obediently nodded,

"Got it.

", I was thoroughly impressed and for the first time witnessed a love confession between two highly intelligent individuals that seemed so adorably clueless., Wondering if my presence was holding them back, I quietly turned to leave., But the moment I stepped out, I walked straight into a firm embrace., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.