Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

In the sprawling suburbs of Sunhaven, nestled somewhere between the opulence of the elite and the modesty of the middle class, lay the neighborhood where Edgar's current abode was situated. It certainly wasn't the bottom of the barrel, but by Edgar's family standards, it was hardly a notch above.

Gilbert pulled up his car, glancing at Sherilyn in the rearview mirror with a tone that was as indifferent as the overcast sky, "Let's go, he's inside."

He had no intention of accompanying her further.

"I'll wait here for you."

After a pause, he added, "If you decide to stay, give me a call or shoot me a text, will you?"

Who knows, maybe their reunion would render them inseparable?

The thought almost made Gilbert bite his tongue. He stole another glance at Sherilyn, his irritation inexplicably rising.

"Aren't you going? Hurry up!"

If she didn't move now, he'd surely regret it.

"Oh, okay."

Sherilyn, puzzled by his sudden mood swing, unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car.

Following the address Gilbert had given her, she found Edgar's place—a cramped studio apartment rented by one of his college friends. Edgar had found himself there after his credit cards were frozen and his family decreed no financial bailouts from friends or relatives.

Taking a deep breath, Sherilyn knocked on the door.

"Sherilyn? You..." Edgar opened the door, his surprise mingling with delight. "How did you find me here?"

Sherilyn offered a small smile and asked, "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

"Ah, yes, of course." Edgar stepped aside, ushering her in.

"Sherilyn, please, have a seat..." He fumbled around, heading to the fridge to grab a soda. "What can I get you to drink?"

"It's okay."

Sherilyn shook her head. "Don't bother, I came here because we need to talk."

"Alright then."

Edgar still placed a bottle of water in front of her, his nervousness evident. "Living here is just temporary," he attempted to explain, wearing a strained smile.

He had been staying away from Sherilyn lately because he didn't want her to see how much he had struggled.

"Sherilyn." Edgar clasped his hands together, trying to mask his anxiety. "You know about it all, don't you?"

"Yeah." Sherilyn looked at him, nodding. "Why didn't you just tell your parents we're nothing more than friends?"

"Sherilyn!"

Edgar paled at her words.

"Don't say that. Hearing you say that hurts more than being disowned!"

Sherilyn closed her eyes momentarily, feeling like a villain. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"Edgar."

She pursed her lips, speaking softly, "Don't fight with your parents. Go back and talk to them. They only want what's best for you."

"Sherilyn..."

A weight seemed to drop in Edgar's heart, the stress of the past days was immense.

Yet, he hadn't given up hope.

He thought about seeking Sherilyn out once he had settled down.

"You're worried about me, aren't you?"

Edgar hurriedly shook his head, clarifying, "I'm fine, really. I just need some time to transition. With my degree, I'll find a job soon enough..."

"No." Sherilyn's voice broke, unable to handle hearing any more. "You're the only child; you shouldn't have to go through this..."

"Sherilyn..."

"Let me finish." She took a deep breath, continuing, "A good relationship should empower and uplift, not become a stumbling block."

Looking into his clear eyes, she continued, "Edgar, I don't want to be your stumbling block. You're my only friend in Sunhaven, and I can't be the reason for your downfall..."

"Sherilyn..."

As Sherilyn stood up, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Going back home is the right choice. I'm not worth this struggle. From now on, we shouldn't see each other!"