Nick was too shocked that he couldn't find the words. Never did he imagine Lydia would understand what he was saying and heard all the conversations he had with the person on the other side.
"You… you can understand what I was saying earlier?"
"My grandmother ca from the south, so sotis we speak the language. So why Mr. Larson wants you guys ho? Isn't Mr. Larson lives in LA? He doesn't need to kidnap your sister, right."
"..." Nick didn't answer and went back to chewing his food deliciously as if Lydia hadn't asked him.
"Nicholas, I'm asking you."
Nick gave a full of mystery smile before turning to ask. "Will you marry ?"
Lydia's pair of brown eyes widened when she heard the young man's question. Aren't they discussing Wendy's leaving? Why did the young man suddenly propose to her?
She hadn't even reciprocated the young man's feelings yet!
"Wh… What does that have to do with your sister? Why did you suddenly propose to ?" Lydia lowered her gaze and pretended to look at her cooking with great interest, as if her cooking was sothing more interesting to look at.
Nick smirked mischievously and went back to his activities and finished his food. After racing here and there and haven't eaten lunch, his stomach has been rumbling for food.
He wasn't the kind of person who shut himself up too much to compose songs in his studio room without eating. Nick always eats regularly and on ti because he won't be able to think on empty stomach.
That's why, skipping lunch to take Tye ho from the hospital because his friend's mother couldn't pick him up because of work, then continued to escape from his father's henchn, making him very hungry.
He knew Wendy, and he would not give up and fight them because they both still wanted to stay here. But… if their birth father ca personally to get them… he could do nothing.
He didn't want to involve the Larsons more than this, and he didn't want his father to visit his friends to threaten him.
His sister must be thinking the sa he did. Thus, Wendy must have followed their father willingly because she didn't want Hades IV to announce his arrival to the world.
After finishing his portion of food, Nick got up and was about to leave Lydia's house. Sooner or later, his father would find out where he was, and he didn't want to involve Lydia.
"Thanks for dinner. I'd better go now."
"Wait." Lydia also got up and caught Nick's sleeve, but never did she expect to take the boy's hand instead.
Nick glanced at their intertwined hands with a pleased look. "Isn't it the first ti you initiated to hold my hand? Don't try it." Nick tightened his grip when he felt Lydia about to pull her hand.
"Let go!" Lydia protested while pulling her hand and pushing Nick's hand with her other hand. Alas, the flirtatious boy also held Lydia's hand with his free hand so that now both of Lydia's hands were in Nick's.
"You! What are you doing?"
"You did it first." was his thoughtful answer in a matter-of-fact tone.
Lydia bit her lower lip in frustration, wondering why this boy seed calm even though Nick was troubled about sothing else. As expected, Nick hid all his anxieties through his mischievous deanor and a roguish smile.
"Are you alright?" Lydia decided not to fight back and asked the young man to get Nick caught off guard.
"I'm not. You still haven't answered my question."
"Which question?" Lydia was about to retract her question because she had already guessed what the young man wanted to say next. But the boy beat her to it.
"Will you marry ?"
"Nick! I'm serious!"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"You're still nineteen, for god's sake. How could you ask a girl to marry you while you're still not working?"
"Ah, is that why you resist ?"
"It's not!" really. Lydia wanted to know how Wendy was doing, but the boy steered their conversation to their status instead.
"Alright." Nick released his hand from Lydia's and stepped back. He also put his hands in the pockets of his jeans for fear that he would want to hug the girl instead. "If you plan to reject , can you reject now?"
"Ha? You can't be thinking that I'm seriously want to marry you."
"You might change your mind in a few years. After all, I'm not a useless boy who can't earn a penny. You know very well I have my wealth through my band. I never even asked the Larsons or my sister for money. Leeching is not my style, even though I wanted all attention. All my guitar collections are the result of my efforts, and I can support myself and my future wife even though I'm only nineteen."
"..."
"But I admit, I'm not as rich as that doctor or the n you dated before. As you said, I'm still nineteen, and I still have a chance to pursue their fortunes."
"Nicholas, can you please stop playing around?"
"Why don't you believe ?"
"It's not like I don't believe you, but I don't understand why it should be ?"
"I like you. Don't you like ?"
"…" I like you, but… Lydia doesn't know what will happen in the future if she is with Nick. Her fear and trauma from living in poverty made her fearful of having a relationship with soone like Nick.
Plus, Nick is still very young. She didn't know how seriously the young man wanted to be with her. The feelings of this era's young man were easily swayed, and nothing guarantees their lasting relationship.
Lydia preferred a thoughtful, stable, mature man over a flirtatious boy like Nick.
"I think talking about marriage is too soon after all. Then, let change my question. Will you be my girlfriend? I need your answer right now."
"Why now?"
"Because that is what determines whether I will return to this country or not."
"!?" What? What does it an?
Nick knew he wouldn't be sleeping in New York tonight but on a plane. Once he was out of Lydia's house, no matter where he went, his father would definitely find him.
If he returned to Folkland Island and started joining Hades' organization, it would be difficult for him to leave or return to this place. If Lydia didn't want him, he would let her go and focus on doing what his father wanted of him, even though he didn't want to acquire Hades' position.
But if Lydia accepted him, he would have the reason and motivation to get out of the organization. No matter how hard he tried, as long as soone was waiting for him here, Nick would make sure he would return to this country.
"What do you an?"
"You've heard my talk earlier. As you can see, my father wants my sister and to go back to South Arica. Tonight I'll be leaving as soon as my father finds ."
"Mr. Larson?"
Nick shook his head. "My current father is not my real father. The Larsons have accepted us as their children for a reason."
"I don't understand."
"You don't need to understand," said Nick with a gentle smile. "I might explain to you if you beco my lover," added Nick with a sly grin that made Lydia roll her eyes lazily.
"Are you coming back here?"
"It depends on your answer."
"What?"
"If you reject , I won't co back. If you accept , I will return."
Lydia snorted in disbelief and folded her arms across her chest in displeasure.
"Why should I accept you if at the end you're at the end of the world? I'd better stay alone at the mont."
Nick chuckled in amusent at the girl's protesting tone. "Have you set a target for marriage age?"
"Ha?"
"At what age do you want to get married?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Just answer ."
"Twenty-six."
"Aren't you twenty-two now? Then, I'll be back in three years. Can you wait for ?"
"..." why did Lydia feel like Nick was sure she would accept the boy's feelings? "I can't."
"Am I get rejected now?"
"..." Lydia bit her lip once again, feeling an inner urge to accept the boy.
At first, she didn't mind seeing Nick from a distance, but when Nick told her he wouldn't return to this country, Lydia wasn't willing to let him go.
"You'll be back in three years?"
"Yes." ca his reply with a firm and unwavering tone as if he was sure he would co back.
Lydia approached Nick sheepishly then gave Nick a quick peck on the cheek, making Nick feel his world stop rotating.
Nick's heart skipped a beat when he heard the soft voice of the girl he liked. "That's my answer."
His joy knew no bounds, and he hugged his lover tightly, making a certain heart jump out of its place.
Not long after, the two of them heard a notification sound from Lydia's phone.
'Find Declan Black.'
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