315: Dinner (6)

Dinner (6)

Even though Ghost said that he could call a cab, Callum insisted on sending him back. During the entire journey, the usually talkative Callum was so quiet that Ghost was starting to get worried that he might end up in a ditch somewhere.1

His place was an hour drive away and after a while, he got fed up with the silence and called out to him, "Callum?"

"Yeah?"

Concerned, Ghost asked, "You're being awfully quiet there. Is there anything wrong?"

"No."

Ghost rolled his eyes as he thought, "Why the heck is he throwing a temper tantrum at his age..."

After another moment of silence, Callum broke it by asking, "Is Kai Xin the woman in your heart? The one you said you are in love with..."

"Huh?"

Callum glanced at him through the rearview mirror and said, "I saw the two of you hugging."

"And what do you want now?" asked Ghost as he met his eyes through the rearview mirror. He told himself that he did not care about what Callum saw but somehow, there was a weird feeling that was nagging at him.

Callum gripped the steering wheel tightly as he gritted, "I want the truth, Guang Ying. I'm not my brother. I don't have the patience to deal with this slowly. Tell me now. Are you in love - Are you still in love with her?"

Ghost looked out the side window. He took a few seconds to think before asking, "What if I said that I am? What are you going to do about it?"

"..."

Before Callum could say anything else, Ghost murmured softly, "If you are going to cry, then don't bother. She rejected me cleanly today...That woman can be quite cruel sometimes..."

Callum pulled the car aside before turning to face Ghost. With a serious expression, he said, "Guang Ying... I'm not joking. I like you and I want to give this - give us - a try...I'd care for you and protect you and above all things, you would be the first in my life. However, if you're really not comfortable about dating a man, I'll stop bothering you. So, what's your answer?"

"What is wrong with you? I'm not going to answer that question," asked Ghost as he turned to look at him in frustration.

"Don't change the topic. Tell me now if what I'm doing is futile."

Ghost sighed, "I'll be honest with you. I'm not sure whether I can ever accept a man… or a woman in my life. I've never trusted anyone other than her. If you are serious about courting me, I won't stop you. That is your prerogative. However, you might be disappointed in the end when you realized just how messed up am I."

"I won't. No matter what I find out later on, I'd never be disappointed in you."

Ghost gulped at Callum's declaration. After they stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, Callum leaned in to try to take a kiss. However, just as their lips were about to meet, Ghost turned away.

As he stared at the drunk people singing as they came out from a bar, he thought about the time he first introduced himself to Kai Xin. They had come a long way since then and they were finally able to end everything.

Without looking at Callum, he knew that the man had a disappointed expression on his face. After a while, he said, "I talked to her earlier and I think I need to think about a lot of things. I need to settle things at home. Don't constantly bother me."

Just as Callum thought that that was the end, Ghost added, "You get 5 messages a day and 1 call and you cannot bring any of it forward."

A grin soon appeared at the corner of Callum's lips as he realized what Ghost was saying. By the time he started the car again, he had a hard time holding back the smile.

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