Yearning for Love

One step closer, more tension

*CAROLINE POV*

Caroline Halls’s mind couldn’t concentrate on the document she was typing. Andrew Pak’s words were like magic to her. His voice was so calm and enticing. There was no way she could stop it from replaying it over and over again.

Caroline, you look lovely.

Like a child, she ignored her 24-year-old self and hugged her bosom. Her tiny breakages weren’t his concern? Her clumpsy attitude didn’t turn him off? Was he the one?

“O! Boi! I can’t,” she blushed, finally sitting up. She walked steadily before the mirror and gazed at herself. She dreaded this, but a hot guy called her beautiful. Of course she had to see it! Caroline ran her hands down her hair, finally having a view of her true looks. She was more muscular than her slender sister and had got the hips. But her tiny freckles and acnes, caused her insecurities. No guy looked at her without asking about them.

“Hey, Caroline! What are you doing about your acne?” She remembers one asking her.

She grabbed hold of her lipstick and painted her lips pink. The pink blossom under the light and her skin lit.

“Should I always be beautiful to you, Andrew?” She thought, with a blush. Her sister walked in and folded her arm enjoying the show. Caroline felt weird out.

“I wasn’t doing anything. You didn’t see anything.” She refused promptly. She wiped the makeup off and walked back to her laptop.

"Are you really going to do this now, sis?” Laura asked. She turned to her, and shrugged.

“He is hot. Anyone who sees him will know that.”

"Caroline, you need to stop being delusional.” Her younger sister said. Caroline frowned at the disrespect.

“Excuse me?”

“I am sorry I sound harsh. I….” Laura paused for a while and sighed. “The guy doesn't like you romantically, okay? He told me the same statement. He could tell any random girl she is beautiful and she would take it as a mere compliment. Do not take your head above the clouds."

Caroline began to punch her keyboard keys.

"I never said he likes me. It feels good to be complimented. Especially if you are one that hardly gets compliments from people…."

"You better don’t take it overboard. We knew the person he would find interest in here." Laura said, walking deeper into her room.. She looked around for a while and frowned. Her arm folded akimbo.

"Where is the picture with you in costume?” She asked.

"I got bored of seeing it." Caroline lied.

"Why would you take it away? It meant a thing to you. Do not stop believing, okay?” Laura encouraged. “I believe there is a silver lining above the cloud.”

Caroline gazed at her for a while and looked away in silence.

“I hope there is.”

Her sister smiled and sat on her bed beside her.

“Why did you drop out of school and elope with a guy? Did you love him that much?” Laura brought a discussion of the past Caroline sighed.

She wasn't surprised at the misunderstanding. Of course she convinced her parents to lie to Laura she dropped out for a guy. Laura was young at that time,. So she believed everything her parents told her. Her parents had no money and their only means of educating them was to sacrifice one. Caroline took her fall. She loved her sister so much, she could do it again.

"It's in the past now, my love," Caroline said with a smile.

"Caroline, you know I love Andrew, right? Could you sacrifice just this one person for me?"

I have sacrificed half of my life's choices for you already. Caroline wanted to say. She instead nodded. .

"I will…."

"Promise me that you will ignore him.”

"I give you my word."

Laura was relaxed. She grinned happily and walked out. Caroline couldn’t tell how many more sacrifices she is to make to keep everyone happy. Why wasn’t anyone thinking about her happiness?

“Laura, could you go to the stall and get my new pajamas? I don’t feel like going out today.” Her mum informed her, peeking her head into the room.

“Yes, of course Mum!” She said on impulse.

“And also meet Mrs Jovita. She wants some help with her puppies. Those little monsters need bathing you know.”

“I thought she said you should come personally….” Caroline remembered clearly her mum’s conversation with Mrs Jovita. The woman wanted no other help but hers.

“Since you are going out, you could just go in my place.” Her mum smiled.

“Sure, anything for my mother.” Caroline didn’t mind. Her mum walked out. And when her mum walked out, Caroline realized how urgent the write-up she was walking on was. The deadline was that night, but she chose to run some errands. Why had she taken responsibility like that?

“O! And Caroline….” Her mum walked back to the room. “If you can’t go, it’s fine. I will send Laura to go.”

“Why trouble Laura, Mum? Let me go.” Caroline spoke without thinking again.

Her mum stared at her for a while and left.

“This is why people take advantage of me,” Caroline said to herself with pain.

A few days later, while they worked on an upcoming Black Friday discount, Andrew Pak came for a visit with some flowers. Caroline saw them first, but she ignored them. The feeling came rushing back. Very beautiful butterflies. Berries and lalaland! Lots of roses…

“Stop Caroline!” She thought to herself. “Your sister loves this man. You promised to stay away. And not think romantically of him….of course”

She turned back to the entrance and watched Laura screech at the sight of the roses.

“Yeah! That’s how it ought to be.” She thought.

"Are you fine?" Andrew asked Laura, searching around the room. He wasn’t there for Laura. Laura stepped back in disappointment.

"Where is your sister?” He didn’t bother waiting for a response.

“I will get her.”

Laura was overwhelmed with embarrassment. She gave Andrew one last stare and went to get Caroline. Caroline smiled at fate.

So could he be her Sweetheart?

She turned to stare at her mum. Her mum nodded.

"Get to know him better."

Caroline stood and left for the living room. She stood before this 6’2 man, feeling overwhelmed by their height differences. He still had the bouquet with him.

"Hi…." He greeted. His smile was so good! It looked like one of her dreams. She smiled back accepting the roses and the note it came with them. It was just a regular customs card. He hadn't taken the pain to write anything.

"Nice to meet you, Andrew."

"Would you like to go out with me? Maybe to a restaurant or your favorite spot." Andrew asked, staring deep in her eyes. Caroline looked back at Laura, who gave her a death stare.

Damn all the sacrifices!

"Yes. I would love to go out with you." She betrayed her sister straight on. His hands held her hands and caressed her palm. It caused her a tingling feeling she couldn’t explain. She had never touched a guy before. Contacts were intense to her and she preferred not to try. This guy caused her heart to feel agitated. He made her feel what she hadn’t felt in years. She pulled her hands away.

"We can go to work. How is that?"

"Sure, lovely eyes." He told her, caressing her hair.

"I have to change first. I can't go out like this…."

"You look nice in whatever you wear, Caroline." He told her.

"Wait here. I won't take long.” Caroline informed him before walking towards the hallway with the roses. She felt the happiest she'd ever been. Placing her hands on her chest, she rested on her wooden door.

"He does love me. This is the love they talk about. His touch is so beautiful. His words, his eyes….”

*ANDREW POV*

Andrew Halls sighed as soon as Caroline was out. It felt suffocating trying to play the role of a perfect gentleman. He adjusted his shirt and sat on the sofa, throwing his phone across the seat carelessly with a frown. He was done with her. He couldn't put up with the act anymore. He just couldn't! If he wanted s*x, he would get it and leave her alone. The way he left Diana and Georgia and Olive. He gazed up at the dining area and noticed Laura staring suspiciously at him. This baffled him. He avoided the

stare at all cost. But it lingered. Was she aware of his plans? Did she know he wanted to use her sister? He slowly grabbed hold of the phone, pretending to be stressed out. Her suspicious stare didn’t change.

"This girl’s sister will be trouble.” He thought to himself.

He watched her stand up from where she sat and walk inside. Was she going to warn that lady? Would she ruin her plan that easily? How the heck could he get Mr Halls company then? The thought of failure made him uncomfortable. No! He couldn’t lose. He wouldn’t give up on her that easily. He must act quickly. He gazed up at Mrs Halls and thought of an idea.

"Hello Mrs Halls." He greeted her, approaching where she sat. His hands grabbed one of the stickers, as he helped in sorting them out.

"Hey, Andrew. I see you're hitting on my daughter, huh?" The old lady said with a smile.

“I haven't seen one like Caroline before. I believe we will make a good couple. You instilled good values in her."

Mrs Halls felt flattered.

"Don’t say that. You’ve only seen her twice.”

“I feel like I have known her for a long time.”

Mrs Halls smiled.

“That sounds fetish you know. You need to sit and converse deeply with someone before you conclude on that. You haven’t even spoken to her for more than 1 minute.”

Andrew knew Mrs Halls was right. But he wouldn’t stop pushing.

"You trained her Mrs Halls, isn’t that enough for me? I am confident she will be an amazing life partner for me. I would love to know her well. And also treat her well. Who knows, I could help with the finances of your home ."

Mrs Halls was surprised.

"Could your marriage really help our finances? Could it change our lives?” She seemed desperate now. “Unfortunately, Mr Hall's battling a terminal disease right now. We spend a lot trying to ensure he's strong and doesn't leave soon. All the help we can get will be appreciated .”

“I have contact with the best doctors.”

Things seemed to be going easier than he thought.

Mrs Halls wasn’t convinced.

"I still believe things are happening too fast…."

"If getting to know your daughter better is the issue, I will get to know her first. Give me a month."

“A month?” She repeated, ready to take the challenge.

“A month!” He was confident. “If nothing proves we are drawn to each other, separate us.”

Mrs Halls nodded. She stared at the living room where Caroline stood in her jean pant and long sleeve shirt.

"Remember it’s a month Andrew.”

"Thank you Mrs Halls." He thanked her. When he arrived back to the living room, and picked Caroline's hands. He kissed them and took her outside like a loving man. She felt shy but avoided his eyes as much as she could. He couldn't tell if it had a thing to do with her sister or her mere crush.

"Are you fine? " He asked.

"I want to know more about you.” She said, turning to him with a stern look. "Tell me about all you do, what you love. I want to know you better."

He was surprised and pissed at what she requested. What the heck was wrong with her?

"This is a nice weather, is it not? I heard nice weather comes with….."

"I want to know who Andrew Pak is." Caroline stopped walking. “The weather has nothing to do with you.”

He sighed.

"Let’s have this conversation another time…."

"Why are you avoiding this conversation? What do you want from me and my sister? What are your intentions?"

She gave him a threat and he hated it.

At that moment he saw a different side of the lady he never thought existed. So could she be that assertive or was it just her sister's influence?