Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Albrecht felt a twinge of irritation as he watched Tabitha walk away without so much as a second glance. He felt a surge of excitement at her new, detached demeanor. The cold indifference in her stare intrigued him, igniting a spark of something unfamiliar. He cleared his throat, disguising his reaction with a smirk. "Excuse me, students," he muttered before slipping away from the crowd, intent on catching up to her.

But as he rounded it, he halted, taken aback by the sight before him. Tabitha was laughing freely with another man, her carefree energy radiating in a way he hadn't seen in a long time. The guy, someone her age, seemed entirely at ease with her, bantering easily as he teased, "Tabby, look at you!" the guy exclaimed, running around her in excitement. "It's like I've got my old friend back. Honestly, I'm glad you finally moved on—this is the Tabitha I missed."

Tabitha laughed easily, giving him a playful slap on the arm. "Then why don't I treat you to lunch later?" she offered, her voice light and warm.

The guy grinned. "Deal!" he said, before suddenly sweeping her off her feet, his hands steady on her thighs as he lifted her into the air and spun her around.

"Dylaaaan!" Tabitha laughed, gripping his shoulders for balance, her cheeks flushing with both surprise and a hint of embarrassment. "Put me down, will you? Everyone's staring!" she whispered, glancing around, though a fond smile lingered on her face.

Watching from a distance, Albrecht took a step forward, the urge to intervene flickering within him. But just as quickly, he stopped himself, tightening his grip on his notebook. He couldn't afford to create a scene, especially one that would fuel rumors.

Albrecht's jaw tightened as he watched Dylan carefully set Tabitha back down, his hands lingering for a second to smooth her jacket. She laughed, brushing a strand of hair from her face, and rested a playful hand on Dylan's shoulder.

"Oh well, I guess I missed you too," she said with a warmth that seemed reserved only for him. Dylan's smile softened, and he paused, looking down at her thoughtfully.

"Can I... talk to you later?" His voice dropped to a more serious tone, sparking an alert in Albrecht. He took a step closer, straining to catch her response, but Tabitha's gaze flicked over and landed on him, her eyes narrowing.

Albrecht instinctively flashed his practiced, charming smile, raising a hand in a casual wave. But Tabitha's expression hardened, her lips pressing into a scowl that made him falter, his wave freezing mid-air.

"Let's talk at lunch, yeah?" she replied to Dylan, steering him by the elbow as they turned down the hallway together.

Albrecht watched them go, his face twitching with irritation. He scoffed, crossing his arms. "What the hell? You want to play it this way, Tabitha?" he muttered, the casual demeanor slipping from his face, replaced by something darker. "Very well, then. Let the game begin."

~~~~~~~~~~~

After Jonathan's confession, Laura had locked herself in her room. She began pacing back and forth, rested and did the routine all over again until nightfall as her heart remained pounding furiously. She wasn't angry at him. In fact, his words had been unexpectedly sincere, and that was what unsettled her. Jonathan seemed different, changed in a way she hadn't anticipated, and it had thrown her off balance. She had been ready to confront him, to clear the air, but his confession had only stirred up more questions.

As she tried to collect herself, a soft knock interrupted her thoughts. Her mother's gentle voice came from the other side of the door. "Laura, darling, may I come in?"

Laura paused, taking a steadying breath before opening the door. Her mother, Aurelia, stood there with a curious yet concerned expression.

"What is it, Mom?" Laura asked.

Aurelia hesitated, studying her daughter's face. "By any chance... are you and Jonathan on good terms again?"

Laura raised an eyebrow, confusion knitting her brow. "Why do you ask?"

"Well," Aurelia began, casting a bemused glance down the hallway, "Jonathan just arrived at the door all dressed up. He's in the living room with your father now... and he's holding a bouquet of flowers and some gifts."

"What?" Laura blinked, her heart stopping for a split second before racing even faster. Her mother's words took a moment to fully register.

"Flowers, dear. He looked quite determined," Aurelia added with a small, knowing smile.

Laura's cheeks flushed as the news sank in. "You're kidding..." she murmured, but a flash of urgency jolted her into action. She barely took a moment to gather her thoughts before sprinting down the stairs as the thought of Jonathan, dressed to the nines and facing her father with flowers in hand, propelled her forward.

As she reached the last step, she saw him—Jonathan, standing tall in the middle of the room, a bouquet of deep red roses clutched in his hands. He looked up, catching her gaze, his face breaking into a tentative smile.

Her father who noticed her presence, turned with a measured nod. "Laura, come sit with me," he said, patting the space beside him on the couch as his tone carried the weight of both curiosity and expectation.

Laura's legs moved stiffly as if on autopilot, and she took her place beside her father, her gaze flickering from Jonathan to her parents. Aurelia's quiet chuckle behind her was both reassuring and mortifying; she knew exactly what was unfolding and seemed thoroughly entertained.

Mr. Levine leaned back, folding his arms, his face a mask of fatherly scrutiny as he glanced at Jonathan. "So," he began, his voice calm but firm, "let's hear what you have to say, Jonathan."

Jonathan swallowed, his eyes locking onto Laura's for a split second before he cleared his throat and turned to Mr. Levine. "Thank you, sir." He paused, his fingers shifting slightly around the roses. "Mr. Levine, Mrs. Levine, I know this might seem unexpected, but I wanted to be honest with you both—" he glanced at Laura again, "and with you, Laura."

He straightened his shoulders and continued, "I've realized I've taken so much for granted... especially when it comes to Laura. She's been my closest friend, my best friend. But recently, I've come to understand just how much she truly means to me. I didn't want to wait another day without making that clear."

Laura blinked, momentarily speechless, her heart caught in utter disbelief.

'What is he trying to do?' she thought, clearly flustered at the thought of the possible purpose of Jonathan's visit.

"Mr. and Mrs. Levine," Jonathan began, his voice steady but filled with a quiet resolve, "I'm here because I love your daughter—more deeply than I can explain. I've loved her for as long as I can remember, and I've also hurt her more than you can imagine. But I'm here to ask for her hand in marriage."

Mr. Levine's eyes widened in surprise, momentarily speechless. Mrs. Levine hid a soft, delighted smile behind her hand, but Laura—Laura felt like the ground had been pulled out from under her, each word from Jonathan's lips only adding to her disbelief.

"I know my past hasn't been perfect," Jonathan continued, his voice gaining strength, "and I know I haven't always been the man Laura deserves. But if you'll give me this chance, I want to be more than just a friend or someone she's known for years. I want to be the man she trusts, the one she can lean on... the man who makes her feel safe and loved."

He paused, his eyes shifting to Laura, his voice softening. "I'm willing to leave behind anything that doesn't make me worthy of her. Whatever it takes to be the best version of myself—the version that deserves her, that's what I want to become. And if you'll allow it, I promise that I'll spend every day trying to be someone who deserves her kindness, her strength, and her love."

He looked at Mr. Levine again, his face sincere and vulnerable. "So please... give me a chance to prove that I can be the man she deserves."

Mr. Levine was silent after all Jonathan has said and it somehow made Laura scared. She already knew her father would disapprove after all the times she came home crying because of Jonathan. But her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when her father finally spoke.

Mr. Levine's eyes narrowed as he absorbed Jonathan's words. His jaw tightened, and he leaned forward, his voice firm and unyielding.

"Trying?" Mr. Levine repeated, his tone edged with disappointment. "You'll try to be the man she deserves? Jonathan, I don't want a man for my daughter who's simply trying. I want a man who already is at his best. Someone who's sure of who he is and what he can offer—not just promises of what he might become one day."

Jonathan swallowed, visibly thrown by Mr. Levine's response, but Mr. Levine pressed on. "Laura deserves stability, Jonathan, and strength. I can't put my daughter's future in the hands of a man still figuring himself out. If you're here to ask for her hand, I expect to see someone ready to take it with conviction—not someone who still needs to leave parts of himself behind."