Memory Of Love
Part 42's
Surprising enough, Aaron kept his cool and seemed happy when Casey no longer argued with him.
It was as if Aaron felt victorious, as Casey no longer insisted on challenging him.
So when Casey goes after Steve and Lionel at the gym, Aaron seems undisturbed, and walks casually with Casey.
Both Lionel and Steve looked like confused people, looking at Aaron and Casey in turn.
"Steve! ... Let's go home! I'm so tired" Casey said.
"Didn't you say you wanted to watch the race?" ask Aaron.
"I changed my mind. I want to go home now" Casey said, looking at Lionel, and whispering in Lionel's ear, Casey said,
"So soon, follow us home. There's something I want to talk about."
"Casey!" said Aaron, who again looked agitated.
"Later you can call me, if you want to meet! But now I have to take a break, and Steve's driving my car" Casey said.
Aaron was silent for a while, and as if unwilling to believe it just like that, but finally he then nodded in agreement.
"Come, Steve!" take Casey, again.
Steve made no comment, and immediately walked away from the gym, along with Casey.
***
"I wanted to apologize to you in advance" Casey said, shortly after the car driven by Steve started driving down the street.
"What's wrong?" ask Steve.
"Huuufft...!" Casey grunts violently.
"I've made a deal with Aaron, so I can give him a chance, to do the same thing, like what I can do with you," Casey said.
Steve looked surprised, so he stepped on the brake pedal suddenly, and immediately pulled over his car, until he stopped by the side of the road, and said,
"I'm sorry ... But didn't I hear wrong?"
"Yes ... You didn't hear me wrong. Aaron threatened to speed up my marriage with her, if I didn't agree to her request" Casey replied.
"Truly my guess ... Aaron has fallen in love with you." Roughly, Steve scooped his face with both hands.
"I knew it would be painful for you to see Aaron being friendly to me, without getting any rejection from me. Because I can't stand it either, seeing another woman approach you....
...I also realized that my request would be very excessive and selfish. But I really hope that you can be patient, until I can handle it....
... I hope you can understand that if I can't act rashly, then just make Aaron prove his threat" Casey said.
"I'm sorry, Steve...!" continued Casey, scrawny.
Steve removed his seatbelt, leaned over to Casey, then hugged Casey tightly.
"Casey...! As long as you love me, then whatever it is, I'll do it for you" Steve said, seemingly trying to convince Casey.
"I can confirm that I really love you. But I also know that I can't force you to survive in such an unpleasant situation....
... That way, if you think about leaving me, then inevitably, even if I don't want to be separated from you, but I'll let you go" Casey said.
Steve then kisses Casey's head lighthouse gently, rubbing Casey's back.
"Casey! My baby...! I'm not leaving you. You can hold my word. So, you don't have to worry about that....
... But I hope that you find a way soon, to escape your engagement to Aaron. So he can't take advantage of that status anymore" said Steve.
The sound of Steve's breath, suddenly sounded heavy, as if he was being riled up, and trying to calm himself.
"Hmphh! ... I know your love is worth fighting for. But I didn't expect Aaron to use such a low way" Steve said, sounding furious.
***
Lionel who followed to Casey's house, some thirty minutes later, showed the same reaction as Steve, when he heard the explanation from Casey.
Casey just tells Lionel, that Aaron wants to be given a chance, to do everything, like Aaron was dating Casey.
However, Lionel still looked furious, and had Aaron been there with them, then Lionel might have landed his fist on Aaron's face.
"Shameful! ... Using such a dirty way? Hmphh! ... Pathetic!" said Lionel, clenching his hands together.
"Had to be weird when you two followed us at the gym!" Lionel shook his head.
Lionel then seemed to flinch, then asked Casey, saying,
"What happened to you two? Aaron's lips look hurt. Did you hit him?"
"I bit him, because he forced me to kiss me" Casey replied, spontaneously.
Lionel and Steve looked equally surprised to hear Casey's answer, until the two men looked at each other.
But not for long, Lionel seemed to smile in satisfaction, then while patting Casey on the shoulder, Lionel then said,
"Good! ... It's okay if you need to be rude. You just have to fight back, if you don't want to do what he wants to do to you!"
"B*jerk! ... What's he thinking? Even though he's your fiancee, he's too brave to harass you" Lionel continued, then hardened his jaw.
"Not exactly true" Casey said, chiming in.
Lionel seemed to be in disbelief, with what Casey had just said.
"I think Aaron just felt desperate, and it seems he was forced to do it too" Casey continued.
"Why are you still defending him?" asked Lionel, looking to knit his brows.
"Hm ... How explain?!" casey said, thinking, before he finally continued to say,
"Have you ever seen someone who had low self-confidence, but had ambition, and he found no solution or loophole, to achieve his wish?
...Aaron looked like that. Like someone who is desperate, because I still reject his wishes, and just continue to challenge him....
... So, whatever way he could use it, even if it might damage his self-esteem, he would still use it."
"Whatchu mean? All I know is that a person like Aaron is a selfless person" said Lionel.
"It's hard to understand. At first I thought like you. But after I thought about it, it felt like I could understand Aaron's attitude....
... Because I've met a few times with people, who have a Aaron-like nature," Casey said, explaining what she was thinking.
Lionel was silent, while Steve was seen nodding his head, as if something Steve was thinking.
"I see what you mean. He was devastated and could not get out of his pain. Or come to the surface, but don't be himself anymore....
... But such characteristics, you can only find in people who have experienced bullying—a victim of bullying, for a long time," said Steve.
"Did Aaron ever experience it?" ask Steve.
"Yes ... According to Oscar, it's because Aaron was bullied, then helped by Julie, so they could both be lovers" Casey replied.
"Can't fight it, with rejection. Because it will only be a futile fatigue, and it will only create chaos....
... So you must have known what decision I had to make, right? I have to follow the current, until I get to the edge of the mouth" Casey continued.
"Yes, I get it" replied Steve, nodding his head.
"But you still have to be careful. Because if you let your guard down, just a little bit, then he will be someone who is obsessive and possessive. And that would put you in a dangerous situation....
... Besides, he could be someone manipulative. So that the current becomes too heavy, and it could be, you are just drowning in it," continued Steve.
"I already know the risks. That's why I have to get your approval. Because I'm quite worried about that, too" Casey said.
"To be honest, it was a difficult choice for me. But I also realized that I had nothing I could use to hold you back. Even so, I will remain by your side....
... And hope that you can get out of there soon. Because in the end, only you can do it yourself, and make your choice" said Steve.
"What are you talking about?" asked Lionel, who looked completely confused, interrupting the intense conversation between Casey and Steve.