Lowering her eyes, Serena truly couldn't come up with another excuse at the moment.
Sullenly, she said, "My mind's a mess. Give me some time to think things through."
"Alright! How much time do you need?"
"I... I don't know. Maybe not long, maybe a long time. When I've really thought it through, I'll give you an answer."
Xavier's face turned solemn, and he didn't speak again.
The sudden silence made the atmosphere inside the house feel heavy.
Just when Serena thought he'd become impatient with her for being indecisive, Xavier solemnly replied, "Alright, I'll wait for you. No matter how long it takes, I'll wait."
"You... you're really willing to wait? What if... it takes me years to figure it out?"
He tilted his lips into a smile and looked at her. "I've already made up my mind-I'm not marrying anyone else in this life but you. Take as long as you want, as long as you figure it out before I die."
"Then... what if... after all that time, I decide we're not right for each other?"
"Then I'll just keep chasing you."
His tone sounded light, but Xavier's expression was serious. "Serena, I told you, I have a lifetime to wait for you. It's okay if you don't believe me now. I'll prove my feelings with my actions."
With that, he placed his large hand back on the door handle. "Thanks for lunch today. I... should get going."
Serena wanted to say something, but her heart and mind were in complete disarray.
Just as he stepped out the door, she raised her hand, but in the end, she let him go.
She wandered back to the couch in a daze and sat down, staring blankly into space.
Her mind alternated between blankness and chaos, full of tangled thoughts she couldn't unravel.
Frustrated, she covered her forehead with her hand.
Suddenly, "Beep beep beep beep..."-the phone ringing pulled her out of her daze.
Serena quickly grabbed the phone.
The three characters on the screen made her curve her lips into a smile.
She had been planning to reach out to her soon anyway-speak of the devil!
"Hello? Miss Castano! What brings you to call me?"
Poppy snapped without pleasantries, "Serena, you vixen, what kind of spell did you cast on my Clint?!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Serena replied lazily, leaning back into a comfortable position. "If you've got something to say, just say it. Otherwise, don't waste my time with nonsense. If this is all you called for, I don't have time for it."
Even over the phone, Poppy's heavy, angry breathing was audible.
"Hmph! If it weren't for Clint, you think I'd want to call a disgusting woman like you?!"
"Miss Castano," Serena said, her voice cool and composed, "I've kept my patience out of basic courtesy. But if you continue calling me a 'vixen' or a 'disgusting woman,' don't blame me if I lose my temper. Manners are only meant to be used with someone who isn't rude."
Poppy's eyes flashed with anger. "Who are you calling rude?"
"Heh! There's only the two of us in this conversation. I clearly don't consider myself the rude one, so I assume you know who I meant. Otherwise, why act clueless and embarrass yourself?"
"You! Serena, you-" Poppy was so angry she couldn't even come up with a retort.
"Looks like you didn't really have anything important to say. I'm hanging up now. And remember-not everyone gets the honor of being on my blocked list, but you're getting pretty close!"
"W-wait!"
"What else is there?" Serena asked calmly.
Strangely enough, she had a lot of patience with Poppy today.
After all, she had been looking for a way to ask her about Gaius' suicide.
"You..." Poppy clenched her hand tightly to contain her anger. "Do you have time? Come to the hospital."
"The hospital?" Serena crossed her legs. "Miss Castano, are you already seriously ill at such a young age? That's unfortunate."
"You're the one who's sick!" Poppy gritted her teeth. "Are you coming or not?!"
"You called me, so you must be really unwell. I've said it before-I'm not like you. I'm a well-mannered person. Since you want to see me one last time, of course I'll come."
"Serena, stop spewing crap! You're hoping I die, but too bad-I'm perfectly healthy and not dying anytime soon!"
"Oh? Not a fatal illness then? So why did you call me...?" She paused, then teased, "Ah, Miss Castano, were you careless? But I've already divorced Clint. If you're pregnant, just have the baby. Or... does he not want it?"
That stabbed Poppy right in her sore spot!
She desperately wanted to get pregnant with Clint's child. If she had his baby, he'd surely be with her.
But ever since his divorce from Serena, he hadn't even wanted to see her, let alone give her the chance.
Face dark as thunder, Poppy used all her willpower to suppress her fury and said stiffly, "Your imagination is wild! If I were pregnant, Clint would be thrilled-why wouldn't he want it?!"
"Oh, so you are pregnant?"
"Stop twisting my words!" she snapped. "My Clint is sick! If you have even a shred of conscience, come to the hospital to see him!"
"Clint?" Serena frowned. "What happened to him?"
"Come see for yourself!"
"Miss Castano, this isn't some trap, is it?"
Serena was truly puzzled.
If Clint were sick, wouldn't Poppy be clinging to him, making sure she didn't get the chance to visit?
Yet she was now calling Serena herself, asking her to come?
"You think I want you to come?! If it weren't for Clint being stubborn and refusing treatment, I wouldn't want to see your annoying face either!"
Then, seemingly out of patience, she snapped, "I've delivered the message. Come if you want!"
And she hung up right after.
Serena slowly lowered her phone and smiled faintly. "You called me yourself-how could I not go? Of course I'll go. I still need to ask about Gaius's suicide anyway!"
***