Love, Simply

~A week later~

"When was the last time you saw Cyrus?" Diane asked.

"I don't know. Last week?"

"You're asking me?"

"The guy needs his space. Like Greg said, chasing a guy is the same as courting a woman. I'd want space if I were him. I don't want him to feel overwhelmed," Louise said.

"Did someone give you a manual?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Louise hit her aunt's head lightly, "Kate said she has a surprise for us."

"Where are we meeting her?"

"She sent me an address."

"Niece."

"Yes?"

"What if he doesn't like you at all? What will you do?" Diane was happy that her niece was trying to date someone, but she didn't want Louise to go back to how she was before if he rejected her.

"I will be fine," Louise smiled.

"Loulou! You like him that much. How are you going to be fine?"

"Petite aunt, don't worry about me. It will hurt. I will be disappointed, but that's not going to be his fault. I will do all I can to show him, my love, but I know it isn't guarantee that he will like me back. At last, if he doesn't feel anything for me. There's nothing I'd be able to do. I will let him go with a distressed heart and a happy smile, wishing 'my love' to be well. No one wants to wish the person they love to be content with someone else, but what can I do? I will only pray that he feels the same."

"So, dear aunt. You don't need to worry about me. I will be fine," Louise said, squeezing her cheek.

"You thought this through, huh? That's the most you've said in years. I am glad."

"Me too," she smiled.

~~~

"Kate, you're here," Diane screamed.

"Yeah? What's going? Save me," Kate mouthed. Louise shrugged.

"What's the surprise?"

"Are you angry that I haven't been visiting?"

"You're married now. You can't come as often as you used to. Aunt Diane let me sleep by myself," Louise said.

"I don't want to die. Louise will cuddle you to death. No, thanks."

"You're exaggerating," she rolled her eyes.

"Not—"

"Katie," a cheerful voice called out from behind. It was Cyrus; Louise kept her eyes on him as he cheerfully jogged down the stairs.

"Why didn't you tell me he lives here?" Louise whispered.

"You wouldn't have come," Kate said.

"Robert dropped me off this morning he has a business trip," Kate said. "He didn't want me to stay home alone in case something happens," she touched her belly.

"You're pregnant!"

"Yeah!"

"Congratulations," Louise said. She was sincerely happy for her friend, but her indifferent expression made it seem like she wasn't happy at all. Kate smiled at her, knowing that under that cold face was a warm heart, screaming with joy.

"I am so happy for you," Cyrus said, pulling her in for a hug. Kate was much shorter than him, her face buried in his chest. She looked quite funny. "But, you don't look happy at all," he turned to Louise.

"What does happy look like?"

"That's how she is. Don't mind her," Kate said.

"Well—" Kate's nephew, Lucas rushed into Cyrus, making him stumbled backward, landed on Louise's lap.

His hands unthinkingly went around her neck, as she supported him with her arm around his waist.

"Fine."

Diane nudged Kate and quickly snapped a picture on her phone.

"I'm sorry, Cousin. Tara wants to use her makeup on me," the little boy said, "That's why I was running."

"It's okay."

"But, you're still sitting on Aunt's lap," Lucas reminded Cyrus, "Aunt, isn't he heavy?"

"It's alright," Louise said, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," Cyrus said, but didn't move an inch.

"You're not getting off?" Louise grinned. "You can keep sitting. It's okay."

"Sorry," he blushed. "Thank you."

"Mmh!"Louise said and frowned.

~~~

Cyrus peeked at her and wondered how she could be grinning sweetly one second then suddenly turned into a cold person. 'Is she bipolar?' He thought.

"I am not bipolar," Louise answered.

"What?"

"I am not bipolar."

"How did—"

"You were thinking aloud," she laughed. Cyrus bit his lips in embarrassment. He hated how she made him feel. Louise glared at him and groaned. Then, he remembered how she told him not to bite his lips around her.

"Sorry."

"I was ridiculous. I shouldn't have told you that. I can't tell you what to do with your lips. I am sorry. I will deal with it," Louise apologized.

'You're fucking bipolar,' Cyrus cussed.

~~~

"Niece?"

"Yes, petite aunt."

"Kate's hungry."

"Who is this?" Cyrus asked.

"She is my aunt."

"Hey," he smiled.

"Hello!" Diane greeted, "She wants to eat pasta."

"Where's your kitchen?" Louise asked Cyrus.

~~~

Louise took off her jacket and passed it to Diane, then unclasped her watch. Cyrus stood to the side, watching her. How he wished someone had taken a picture of her. He didn't know why he found her sexy watching her unclasped her watch and rolling up her shirt's sleeves. Didn't that only apply to women? She was so charismatic and gallant. She didn't even realize it.

"I am going to let Tara try her makeup on me," Diane said.

"Mmh! I'll meet them later."

His phone vibrated and received a photo of Louise from Kate. In the picture, she was wearing a long-sleeve white button-down T-shirt, black pants, hands in her pockets, smiling at whoever snapped the photo.

'Thought you'd want this," Kate texted.

'Thanks,' he replied.

Louise turned and smiled at him. 'Please, don't smile like that,' Cyrus said inwardly. Her smiles at him were so beautiful and sweet.

"Do you need help?" He asked.

"Sit!"

"Huh?"

"You can sit. Don't your feet hurt?" Louise asked, preparing the pasta sauce. "Come here!"

"What?"

"Taste this," she said, passing him the spoon. "How is it?"

"It's good," he licked his lips, making Louise looked away. "The cheese is just right, don't add any more salt."

"Thanks."

~~~

Louise ended up cooking for everyone.

"Miss, do you have to go now?" Tyler asked.

"Call me Louise. No, do you need something?"

"Can you and Cyrus be my model for a drawing?" He asked.

"You draw?"

"He's talented," Kate said. "You should go up and see a drawing of Cyrus."

"Okay, if your brother doesn't mind."

"He doesn't mind," Tyler said.

"Are you dating my brother?" Tim asked.

"No."

"Are you being nice—?"

"That's enough, guys," Cyrus signed.

"Sorry," his siblings apologized.

"This is so good, Louise," Kate moaned, "You need to cook for me more often."

"Come home. I'll cook for you," Louise smiled.

~~~

"I am sorry about my siblings," Cyrus said, walking Louise out.

"It's okay."

"Glad seeing you today," he whispered.

"I didn't hear you," Louise smiled mischievously.

"I was happy to see you today."

"Can I hug you?" She asked. Cyrus nodded. She pulled him by the waist towards her for a hug. "You smell good." She took in his scent. "I don't know when I am going to see you again, so let me hug you a little bit longer." Louise didn't know why she liked him that much. She loved him more every time she saw him.

"Is that enough?" He asked after a while.

"Thanks," she said, slowly pulling away. "I am leaving."

"Drive safe," Cyrus said. Louise smiled, waving at him.

~~~

Kate and Diane came out.

"Petite aunt, we're leaving."

"Already?"

"Did you come to live?" Louise asked. Her face showed off her usual bored and indifferent expression. "You're pregnant now, do not go running around for no reason. Call me if you need anything," she said to Kate. "I'll cook for you later, okay."

"Thanks!"

"I didn't say bye to my future nephew-in-law," Diane whined. "How can you—"

"Let's go," Louise took her by the hem of her shirt as she dragged her away. "Don't forget to call me," she reminded her friend.

"I am your aunt. Let go of me," Diane protested. "How old are you anyway? You're not much older than me." Louise stopped walking. She took her driver's license out, showing it to her aunt. What! "This is fake!" She yelled. "How can you be this old?"

"See, I am old enough to be your mother," Louise smirked.

"Don't exaggerate," she rolled her eyes. "Looks like you made some progress. How was it?"

"Better than I expected," she cocked her head, allowing her smile to grow wider. "He's so cute."

"Should I pity him?" Diane sighed.

"Get in the car," Louise glared at her.