Startled, Celeste went to open the door and saw Gary carrying his luggage and backpack at her doorstep.
She frowned slightly and asked, "What are you doing?"
"I've checked out from my room. I'm staying with you." Gary said matter-of-factly.
Celeste paused for a moment before letting let him in.
"What did Janice tell you?" Gary asked.
"She said she likes you," Celeste said as she closed the door. Then she saw him laughing.
"What kind of joke is that? Celeste, can you not be so petty? There's really nothing between Janice and me." Gary said.
Celeste knew she really didn't know Gary as much as Janice did.
Even if what she said was true, he still wouldn't believe Janice liked him.
Then there was no need for her to court a rebuff, so she smiled and said, "Yeah, I'm just messing around. I'm petty like that."
"Silly girl." Gary held her in his arms and took a deep breath of her scent before saying, "I only love you. Don't imagine things."
"Okay," There was one thing Celeste was clear about. Janice's wishful thinking was her own, and Gary indeed had no feelings for her. He just thought it wasn't important.
The boundary was ambiguous was because of his lack of awareness.
And she really shouldn't jump before the boat sank.
"Why are you suddenly so obedient?" Surprised, Gary lowered his head to look at and asked, "What's the matter?"
Celeste was born to be a quiet girl; she wouldn't show her emotions easily.
In his embrace, she froze slightly, and Gary easily noticed the change in her mood.
"Nothing." Celeste looked up at him and said, "I just feel that sometimes I'm not mature enough."
"Are you talking about our breakup?" He asked with a smile.
Celeste nodded, "Yes, I am very petty. I just want to say I'll do my best from now on. We can do this, Gary."
"And?" Gary raised his eyebrows.
Celeste looked at Gary seriously, into the deepest part of his soul, and said, "The highest realm any couple could reach is to grow old together hand in hand. Forever loyal to each other."
"Do you want us to be like that too?" Gary asked.
Celeste asked, "Don't you?"
"Then, you want us to be like that too, don't you?" He still didn't answer her question but laughed and teased her. Of course, he wanted nothing more than that.
Celeste pouted and looked at him, saying, "Of course I want to. I just said it; this is the highest realm in life. To be with you forever and always. But I can't do it myself. We need to both make an effort."
"I've always been working very hard," he said in a low, hoarse voice.
Celeste burst into laughter, "Alright, I'll believe you for now."
The following days went smoothly. They had a good time in Edinburgh.
Janice didn't bother them either. Five days later, Ava was almost done with her work, so she was ready to return to Oxford with them.
Before leaving, she told Celeste, and so Gary and Celeste treat her to a meal.
It was then that he admitted to being Celeste's boyfriend for the first time, and Ava wasn't surprised either as she knew it all along.
Ava gave her blessings to them. She even told Celeste to cherish her relationship and be careful of Janice.
When she bid Ava farewell, she kept thinking about her words.
"Be careful of Janice."
Sure enough, that night, Janice looked for them in the lobby and said with a smile, "I'm planning to go back to London tomorrow. Do you guys want to tag along?"
Celeste didn't say anything.
Gary asked Janice, "Aren't you having a good time with Flynt? Why would you leave all of a sudden?"
"Has she been out with Flynt all this time?" Celeste asked, a little surprised.
"Yeah. She had been going out with Flynt these past five days," he said, "Otherwise, how are we able to enjoy such peace? If she was alone, she would have annoyed us long ago."
"You know me well," Janice said with a smile.
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