Chapter 128: <Chapter 127>
As he touched her intimately like he used to, Silje felt her heart race uncontrollably. She almost closed her eyes and suddenly, she realized that she really felt like she was seventeen again.
Silje murmured, “Kail…”
They walked together closely, talking and smiling. It was like they were really back in Oslo when they used to be in love. The only difference was that they were now in New York’s Central Park.
Kail and Silje walked slowly and her arms were linked to his. They talked like they used to, and the laughs they shared were genuine. From time to time, Kail kissed her cheeks and caressed her hair sweetly.
Silje couldn’t believe this was happening. This moment they had together…
Silje glanced at him secretly often to make sure he was real. It felt like she was dreaming.
“‘Smila’s Sense of Snow’ was great too. I will definitely check out the book you mentioned. Karin Fossum’s ‘Don’t Look Back’, right?”
“Yeah. You’ll like it. It won the Glass Key Award and it starts out like this: ‘Up on the road everything was quiet, and a breeze that had been playing amongst the buildings during the night that had finally died down.’”
It was shocking to realize that they were talking and walking like a normal couple. They held hands and as their skins touched, Silje felt the familiar tenderness.
How could this be? Only until yesterday, they were enemies doing their best to hurt each other.
But now…
She couldn’t stop looking at him. He was wearing a pair of gray pants and black boots, showing off his long legs. On top, he wore a snow-white shirt, a blue sweater, and a shiny dark leather coat.
As he walked, women around them stared with wide admiring eyes. Silje stood close to him and her heart beat fast.
How could their conversation be this smooth and pleasant? Ever since Kail appeared in front of her without warning, all they did was argue.
Until now.
In front of him, Silje pretended to be calm, but inside, a sharp anxiety remained as she wondered when this fragile peace between them would break.
“…”
Her heart pounded especially when he touched her. It was a strange feeling, but it was real. Silje tried to rationalize the situation.
‘Kail is a good-looking man. Any woman would feel like this if they stood next to him.’
She wasn’t sure if Kail knew how she felt. All he did was smile and looked around. He said to her, “…They all look happy.”
“Do you really think so?”
Kail nodded and smiled like he used to in Oslo.
“Everyone here looks happy today. It’s probably because I am happy myself. I am happy that I am on a date with you, Silje.”
It felt like Silje got punched in the stomach. She looked up at him and asked, “Are you really happy?”
“Yes. It’s not as good as it was in Oslo, but this park in New York is also beautiful. This feels nice.”
“Is there anything you want to do before you go back to Oslo? Something I can do?”
“Are you offering me a gift? Are you sure?” Kail smiled gently, but his eyes were filled with wildfire. It wasn’t subtle and Silje saw it too. But she didn’t regret offering.
“Of course. I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t sure.”
“Alright. I will tell you. I want to go back to my hotel room with you. Will you hit me if I say that?”
“Kail!”
She yelled at him and glared, but Kail grinned playfully and laughed. Suddenly, Silje realized that he was acting like the old seventeen-year-old Kail from Oslo. Playful naughty Kail. His eyes shined beautifully, making Silje feel weak. She bit her lips.
“Don’t make fun of me.”
She felt angry at herself for her weakness. She started to walk away and Kail, who continued to laugh, caught up to her.
“I was just kidding, Silje. There is no need to get angry, okay?”
“Are you sure you were just joking? Because I took it seriously. You normally don’t joke about things like that, right? Or am I mistaken? Am I not remembering you correctly?”
“I see that you are as fiery as ever. Well, I think a good date needs to end with a good night, don’t you think? We can leave this park right now and walk to my hotel. You won’t refuse me, will you?”
She needed to become angry at him, but Silje couldn’t say anything. She needed to response smartly, but when Kail gave her a smile, she couldn’t think clearly.
‘It’s all your fault, Kail. You are the problem here. If you look at me like that, how can I get mad at you?’
It was a strange day. A date with Kail… How bizarre.
They continued to walk and Kail held her hand. She flinched a little, but he acted calm. Kail was still smiling innocently and looking down at her.
Feeling the warmth of his hand, Silje blinked.
Kail whispered, “Silje, let’s walk just a little while longer.”
They strolled the park quietly, passing by people who indeed looked happy. Suddenly, Silje saw a tiny white speck in the air. She raised her hand and realized that it was snowing.
The first snow of the year. And it happened when she was on a date with Kail in Central Park.
“It’s snowing, Kail. It’s the first snow.”
When she mentioned it to him in a trembling voice, Kail looked at her affectionately.
“Yeah. The first snow for us, Silje.”
They continued to walk quietly and at the end, they found themselves back where they started….
In front of the Four Seasons Hotel.
It was busy with tourists and bellboys. The Christmas tree was up, making the area look festive. After looking up at the tall building quietly, Silje turned towards Kail.
He was still holding her hand tight, as if he didn’t want to let her go. After a long silence, Kail asked softly, “Should we go in, Silje?”