Free Web NovelChapter 83: Chapter 83: I’ll Wait for You; If You Don’t Come, I Won’t Leave
Every time she spoke with Justin Sullivan, a sense of unease settled in her heart.
At first, she thought it was sadness, but she later realized it was fear.
She was afraid her own heart would waver, afraid that Selena would find out.
Justin Sullivan pressed her, not taking no for an answer. "Georgia, I’ll be waiting for you at the art studio. If you don’t come, I’m not leaving."
"Suit yourself!"
A sudden surge of anger hit Georgia. She snapped out the two words and hung up the phone.
She squeezed her eyes shut. ’How long have I known Justin Sullivan?’
She had fantasized countless times about him asking her out one day. They would spend a blissful day together. Now that the fantasy was becoming reality, she found she no longer had the courage.
On the surface, Justin Sullivan was a gentle man. No matter what you asked of him, however unreasonable, he would always agree with a mild-mannered "okay."
However, anyone who truly knew him would understand that he was incredibly stubborn.
Once he set his mind to something, no amount of persuasion could change it.
’If I don’t go, he’ll probably really wait there indefinitely.’
Justin Sullivan had personally requested a three-day leave for her, and he’d even told people they spent the night together.
She shot up in bed. ’Why would Justin Sullivan lie?’
’If he knew I was drunk, he could have just been kind and called in sick for me. That would have been enough.’
’Why did he have to add that last part when talking to Nicole Kane?’
’Don’t tell me... he knows I didn’t go home last night?’
The more she thought, the more wild possibilities sprang to mind. ’He couldn’t have seen me last night, could he?’
Justin Sullivan’s call had left her so agitated she couldn’t sleep.
She probably didn’t fall asleep until three or four in the morning.
The next morning, a refreshed Nancy Hughes was heading out to work. Before she left, she gently woke Georgia. "I made breakfast. You should get some more sleep."
Georgia mumbled an acknowledgment and rolled over, turning her back to the door.
She was so tired. Her head felt heavy, as if a nerve inside was stretched taut. Georgia squeezed her eyes shut and dozed for a little while longer.
She ended up sleeping all the way until noon.
When she woke up, she felt a little more rested.
But a glance in the mirror still made her jump.
Dark, bluish circles had appeared under her eyes, a clear result of her lack of sleep.
She washed up and put on some light makeup to cover the dark circles, only then feeling confident enough to leave the bathroom.
Justin Sullivan hadn’t given a specific time over the phone. ’Afternoon... that should mean sometime after one, right?’
She had no appetite and couldn’t eat. After a couple of sips of water, she saw that it was one o’clock, so she grabbed her bag and headed out.
Justin Sullivan used to study art. The studio was his paradise, and the paintbrush in his hand was his entire world.
Georgia had once believed that Justin Sullivan would become a brilliant painter, that he would make a name for himself in the art world with his talent and genius.
But in the end, he had chosen the path of business instead.
Georgia took the bus, deliberately trying to waste time.
’Hopefully, by the time I get there, he’ll already be gone.’ That thought brought her a small measure of relief.
The bus seemed to be moving faster than usual. Perhaps it was because more people owned cars now, so they didn’t have to ride the crowded buses.
She watched as waves of people got on and off. The number of passengers slowly dwindled, and soon, the bus reached the final stop.
The art studio where Justin Sullivan used to study was very far from where she lived now, located in the western district of the city.
The west district was also where she and her mother used to live. It was there, near that art studio, that a boy as gentle as a spring breeze had unexpectedly stumbled into her heart.
She had met Justin Sullivan a long, long time ago. She was eight years old that year.
Spring was the perfect season for being outdoors. Georgia was playing by herself in the neighborhood garden when she came across Justin Sullivan, who was sketching.
For a time, she believed that was the luckiest day of her life.
Because, in what felt like a stroke of lifelong luck, she had met the boy she would come to love.
The young Georgia was bold, if a bit shallow. She thought Justin Sullivan was handsome, so she took the initiative and struck up a conversation.
Slowly getting to know him, slowly understanding him, until finally falling for him... Georgia felt that every day she spent with Justin Sullivan was full and joyous.
She couldn’t remember when she’d started to love him, only that by the time she realized it, this boy who should have been a stranger had come to mean as much to her as her own mother.
Georgia loved watching Justin Sullivan paint, and she was always willing to be his little model.
Because she loved the look in his eyes when he painted—so full of focus, as if his entire world was in his gaze.
What Georgia didn’t know was that to Justin Sullivan, her appearance was like that of a little fairy who had fallen from the heavens to save him.
She was wearing a beautiful red dress, flitting among the flowers like a butterfly herself. He had been painting the intimate dance between butterflies and blossoms.
But by the time he looked down, it was her bright, lovely face that had leaped onto his paper.
He never dared to show it to her, afraid he would scare her away.
Justin Sullivan sat in the art studio, dressed in a silver-gray suit.
The studio hadn’t changed much. The furnishings were the same, and even the same teacher was still running the place.
He sat quietly in the spot where Georgia used to sit, his gaze fixed intently on the place where he himself used to be.
He remembered their time together—he would paint her, and he would also teach her how to paint.
She seemed to have a real talent for it, picking it up instantly. Even his teacher used to praise Georgia.
Justin Sullivan had arrived at the studio first thing in the morning. He wasn’t sure when Georgia would show up, so he resolved to wait.
He would wait until she finally came.
The bus reached the terminal station, and Georgia got off with the last wave of passengers.
She reached up and touched the corner of her eye, finding it wet with tears. She hadn’t even realized she was crying, probably lost in memories of the past.
She walked slowly in the direction of the art studio. Her memory guided her down the familiar path, one she had walked with Justin Sullivan countless times.
Fate... what a cruel and sentimental thing it was.
’It all started here. Does it have to end here, too?’
’Maybe that’s for the best. A way to finally put a perfect end to my long-held secret love.’
The residential complex was full of children playing. Georgia glanced at them briefly before averting her eyes and quickening her pace toward the studio.
The moment Georgia pushed the door open, Justin Sullivan shot up from his chair.
His eager eyes darted to the doorway. freēwēbnovel.com
Upon seeing Georgia’s face, his dark eyes lit up with joyful surprise. Justin took a step forward. "Georgia, you came!"
Georgia immediately took a step back, her eyes wary. "This is the last time."
’This really is the last time. After today, we have to cut away all our past memories.’
At her words, the smile vanished from Justin Sullivan’s face. "Georgia, what’s that supposed to mean?"
"I’ve already made my meaning perfectly clear to you. You’re just the one who refuses to listen." Georgia looked him straight in the eye, then walked around him and further into the room.
The studio had changed a lot. The walls were old, covered with pencil sketches left by generations of students.
Georgia glanced at the spot where Justin had been sitting. Seven or eight cigarette butts were scattered on the floor.
’How long has he been waiting here?’
’A few hours? That’s nothing compared to how long I’ve waited.’
Justin Sullivan followed her gaze. He wanted to hide the cigarette butts, but it was too late.
He explained, "I didn’t know when you’d arrive, so I got here at six this morning to wait. It’s already past four now, and the sun’s about to set. I thought you weren’t coming, so I had a few smokes to calm my nerves."
"But Georgia, thankfully, you’re finally here!" His voice was filled with unconcealable excitement.
