Chapter 261 - Home In Molave 7

Charles watched Jane as she hugged his son. Seeing him on safe arms, he gestured for the others to go. With the clear image of his face in his mind, he tightly squeezed his legs against the body of the horse and commanded it to gallop. Somehow, the speed of their run and the cold wind slapping against his body lightened the heavy load inside his heart.

"Thanks for remembering me, teacher," the soft voice of the child pricked Jane's heart. Why should his father involve himself in such kind of movement when he knew it affects his child?

Jane released Kyle from her embrace and lifted up his chin to look at her. "I should be the one thanking you for still remembering me. Are you not afraid to be with me?"

Kyle shook his head, and with a shy smile, he answered, "No, teacher. Daddy and I talked about it already. He will visit me anyway when he can."

A situation like this always hurt Jane. Children should not suffer separation anxiety at this age. They should be lavished with love and care so that they would grow up as confident individuals in the future. The pain registering on Charles' expression reappeared at the back of her mind, and she understood the danger of his situation. Fate forbid, but the possibility of not seeing his child again was high.

As if Hayri had read her mind, he startled her when he butted in. "Kyle, from now on, teacher Jane is your mommy, and I am your second daddy. Later, we will bring you to Chloe so that you two can play."

This touched Jane emotionally, and nothing could express the joy she felt that Hayri understood the child's emotional needs. She looked up to him and held his arm, her eyes filled with messages of unspoken gratitude.

"Thank you," was all she could mumble out of a heart overflowing with emotion.

They bid goodbye to Issa and returned to the resort with Kyle. Hayri accompanied them to Jane's room and watched how she tenderly handled the child. As soon as she changed him into his sleepwear, it did not take long for him to drift into sleep. Jane then accompanied Hayri on the couch as they both silently watched Kyle on the bed, both absorbed into their separate thoughts.

For who knew how long, Hayri broke the silence.

"Jane, have you forgotten that we both grow up without our moms? So, more than anyone else, we understand Kyle better."

Jane pursed a smile, and Hayri gathered her in his arms. "Jane, you should have a child of your own. Your compassion to the children deserves you to become a mother to many children."

Jane broke free from Hayri and squinted her eyes as she gave him a long stare. "Really, Louise? Do you want me to hire a man for a one-night-stand? I wish for a real husband, a happy family. If I'm not granted such a wish, I could be a mother image to children such as Kyle. Then perhaps, I'll organize an orphanage."

The tingling sound of Jane's laughter that followed never brought a smile to Hayri's lips. He stared back at her with a complicated emotion he couldn't define.

"Jane, I don't know how to put this into words but-" 

"What?" 

"Jane, we know each other so well ever since we were kids-"

"And then?" Jane could almost predict what he would say next, and her heartbeats started to pick up.

"I mean, why won't we try to be, to be more than friends?"

"Hayri, stop it."

"Look, Jane. Base on what is happening around, I could no longer trust myself to just anyone. And I don't want you to put your life at stake, as well, with any stranger you'll come across with."

"Hayri-"

"Jane, listen," Hayri cut her off before she could stop the subject completely, "you are already special to me. I think it won't be difficult for us to fall in love."

Hayri finally nailed it, and Jane could feel her heart on her throat. Before she could find the right words, Hayri sealed her lips with his mouth in a light kiss that gradually deepened.

Taken aback, Jane stiffened and got breathless that she unconsciously placed both her hands and pushed Hayri away. Hayri stopped and allowed her to breathe, but as soon as her breathing returned to normal, he cupped her face and kissed her again.

Hayri was not forcing, but Jane was not also stopping him. Despite the scream of protest inside her mind, she felt her strength leaving her, and she acted like a robot submitting willingly to the kiss. Human as Hayri was, Jane's submission awakened his desire. He deepened the kiss, loosening her only when he felt her becoming breathless. He sucked on her lips, probed his tongue deeper until his hands moved over her arms and shoulders.

Jane got lost in the tide for a while, but when his hands started to creep into her b.r.e.a.s.ts, Jane jolted back to reality. She couldn't go on like this. Jane felt a sense of self-pity, a feeling of being taken-for-granted. This was not the kind of love she wanted- not asked, not begged, not tried. She desired an impulse, the sort of feeling that makes one wake up in the morning, realizing that she is already feeling in love with someone.

A tear slid from her eyes, and she hurriedly brushed it away. Looking up to Hayri with an awkward smile, she started to explain.

"Hayri, I'm sorry. I could not allow this."

"Jane..."

"Please, go out. I want to be alone."

"Jane," Hayri tried to assure Jane, but he didn't know how to put it into words. He stood up and looked at her with begging eyes. Yet, the anger on Jane's expression made him guilty. He should have waited. He should have allowed themselves to fall in love naturally, but he was scared.

Hayri went out with a heavy heart and a sense of regret. He made a wrong move again, and he knew it would take time to heal. Torn with remorse and confusion, he wandered. Two questions tortured his mind - should he persist, or should he give them both space?