"You're right, I am," Sylvia admitted immediately. "But you called at the right time; I have something to tell you."
"Really?" Chigo laughed. "What is it?"
Sylvia went straight to the point. "I can't accept your hair comb."
Chigo stumped at that, and his voice deepened slightly, "Why not? Your name is engraved on it; it's yours."
"I can't accept the hair comb from you," Sylvia said, "This is too ambiguous."
"It is just a hair comb; how is it ambiguous?" Chigo asked, but Sylvia couldn't tell from his tone how he was feeling right then.
Nor did she want to figure out what he had on his mind, only saying, "Anyhow, I don't need it either. I'm returning it to you; where are you?"
"I'm right in front of your house," Chigo said, "If you want to return it, come to your front gate now."
"Right now?" Floored, Sylvia rechecked the time, "You're in front of my house and not my greatgrandpa's."
"Yes, I'm in front of your house," Chigo said.
"What are you doing here so early in the morning?" Sylvia really couldn't tell what he was thinking now.
"Waiting for you," Chigo said.
Sylvia fell silent at that.
She frowned, feeling a little annoyed.
After some time, she said, "Okay, give me a few minutes."
She got up to wash up but decided she should instead just see him the way she was right then to discourage his thoughts of courting her. Perhaps he might lose interest in her if he saw her worst side.
With that, Sylvia did a quick change but left her hair in a complete mess. She looked a lot less energetic than usual, and it helped add a sense of despairing laziness.
However, she didn't realize it.
Fishing out Chigo's gift, she checked the hair comb before putting the whole thing in a bag and headed out.
Sure enough, Chigo was leaning against his car door when she arrived at the gates. His tall, slender body looked even more towering under the morning rays.
Upon seeing her, Chigo's eyes lit up as he waved at her, smiling, "Morning."
Standing in front of him, Sylvia handed him the bag, saying, "Here you go."
Chigo didn't take it but only looked at her, deep in thought.
She could feel the turbulent emotions surging from the depths of Chigo's silent gaze.
He seemed angry, but just that he didn't vent it out.
However, Sylvia couldn't care less about it. It was already ambiguous enough that he gifted her the hair comb; even though they were close when they were little, and he was a family friend, it still wouldn't do.
Ernest had said, hair combs symbolized a special relationship.
Sylvia thought only her beloved man had the right to put up her hair.
Moreover, only he could help her comb it.
Seeing Chigo was still reluctant to take the bag, she said, "Hurry up and take it back."
"I never take back anything I've gifted," Chigo said, still fixing his eyes on her, his gaze terrifyingly sharp.
Sylvia frowned, seeing that he really wouldn't budge. "You sure are overbearing, Chigo. I already told you I don't want it; are you going to force me to take it?"
"Why not, if you want to put it that way," Chigo said as he sized Sylvia up. He smiled, seeing she came out without as much as even fixing her hair. "Sylvia, even you have to admit you act more naturally in front of me than with any other men. Look at yourself, you don't even have to wash up before meeting me, and I think you look cuter this way."
What a psycho.
Sylvia reeled at his words, wide-eyed.
She didn't expect Chigo to find her adorable even when she came out looking absolutely disheveled.
What kind of beauty standards did he have?
"Don't give me your shoot." Sylvia was all serious, not letting him lead the conversation astray, only saying, "Just take it back."
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