Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen

Chapter 165

After Egbert dropped that bombshell, the place fell dead silent for a moment.

The soldiers in the back had already run far away, and their chants had become indistinct.

Eileen looked up at Egbert, her eyes wide as dinner plates.

Egbert took another step towards her. He stood really close to her, looking deeply into her eyes, and then repeated in a low voice, “I love you, Eileen.”

Eileen swallowed hard. She just stared at him quietly.

Egbert’s eyes flickered, “Don’t you have anything to say?”

Eileen paused, nodding reluctantly, “Yes.”

Egbert asked, “What?”

Eileen whispered, “I never thought I’d become your backup option…”

Egbert thought he misheard, furrowing his brows, “What did you say?”

Eileen gave Egbert a look, motioning him to come closer.

Egbert leaned in slightly. Suddenly, Eileen’s hand swung up, smacking him right across the head!

Egbert blinked, turned his head to look at Eileen, quietly asking, “Why?”

Eileen put her hands on her hips, fuming, “Wake up, Egbert! Look at me!”

Egbert raised his hand to his throbbing forehead.

Eileen began to reproach him, “What’s gotten into you? You’re taking it out on me! I get it, you just got your heart broken and you’re bummed. I know the best cure for a broken heart is a new love, but don’t make it my problem! I can help you get over it, but we’re friends! There’s a line you can’t cross! Don’t you know the rules?”

Egbert asked coldly, “Can’t I love you?”

Eileen scoffed, “Fine! If you love me,

then explain, why do you love me? Name ten things you like about me.”

Egbert didn’t answer. Eileen waited for a while, seeing that Egbert remained silent, she blew her top, “What’s your deal? You could at least make something up! You can’t even name one, and you dare say you love me?”

Eileen was about to smack Egbert again. Her hand was already up, but suddenly Egbert grabbed it. His grip was firm. He held Eileen’s wrist tightly, staring into her eyes, he said firmly, “Everything about you.”

Eileen was taken aback.

Egbert said, “Everything about you, I like it all.”

Eileen looked at Egbert, falling silent for a while, then took a deep breath.

Egbert let go of her wrist, and Eileen quickly pulled her hand back.

Egbert took her hand again, rubbing gently at the area he had just gripped too tightly.

“Eileen, I’m not messing with you.”

“I got it,” Eileen cut him off. After thinking for a while, she said, “Can I think about it?”

Egbert didn’t say anything, just looked at her deeply.

Eileen said, “It’s almost lights out. I should go back.”

Egbert wanted to say something, but Eileen had already pulled her hand back, turned around, and headed for the dormitory.

As soon as she got back to the dorm, the squad leader with short hair immediately came up and asked Eileen, “Are you okay?”

Eileen shook her head and said, “I’m fine.”

She was too embarrassed to say that not only was she not scolded, but she also got a late-night snack.

There were still ten minutes before lights out. Edna and the others were still frantically writing on the table.

Eileen climbed into bed and lay there thinking.

At this moment, Elaine came over, squatted by Eileen’s bed, and muttered, “Auntie Eileen, what are you doing?”

Eileen nonchalantly said, “Just thinking.”

Elaine called out again, “Auntie Eileen…”

Eileen looked at her, “What’s up?”

“Let’s sleep together!”

Elaine said and without waiting for Eileen’s consent, she took off her shoes and crawled into Eileen’s bed.

Eileen jumped, pushing her away quickly.

Elaine clung to the bed rail, unwilling to go. She looked at Eileen with pleading eyes, “Auntie Eileen, please!”

“No way! Get off!” After kicking Elaine off the bed, Eileen sat up and wamed, “If you keep this up, I’m gonna switch dorms!”

Elaine lowered her head, looking like she was about to cry.

Eileen didn’t give in. She coldly lay down, even turning her back to Elaine.

At that moment, a female soldier came into the dormitory, holding a register. She asked, “Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. You guys are all attending the performance tomorrow night, right?”

The squad leader stood up and said, “Yes, we’re all going.”

The soldier made a mark in her book and said, “Alright. It’s at eight o’clock tomorrow night, at Performance Hall in Building 2. Don’t be late.”

After the soldier left, Eileen asked the squad leader, “Is it Valentine’s Day tomorrow?”

The squad leader said, “Yes, tomorrow’s the 14th of February.”

Eileen slapped her thigh.

No wonder Egbert confessed to her today!

It’s Valentine’s day tomorrow.

Valentine’s Day, indeed a day that a heartbroken person can’t bear.

Eileen looked up and saw Elaine silently preparing to crawl back into her own bed.

Eileen suddenly called out, “Elaine.”

Elaine was startled and looked back at her, a wounded look on her face.

Eileen patted her bed, “Come sit.”

Elaine was taken aback, pouting as she stood in the middle of the room. After a while, she walked over to Eileen’s bed.

Eileen patted the bed again, “Sit down.”

Elaine finally sat down, mumbling, “What is it?”

Eileen reached out and poked her face, “Don’t be upset. I was just joking with you.”

“Humph.” Elaine huffed, but was easily appeased. She took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and snuggled up to Eileen.

Eileen said, “Can you do me a favor tomorrow?”

Elaine didn’t even ask what it was, she just agreed, “Okay.”

Eileen was quietly formulating a plan in her mind. She looked up, surprised to find Elaine so close, and said, “I’ve got nothing else to say to you. You can go now.”

Elaine pouted, feeling wronged, and slumped back to her bed.

Early next morning, after the morning exercise, Elaine ran alone to the instructor’s office and called out to Egbert inside, “Hey!”

Egbert was looking over the upcoming training schedule. Seeing it was Elaine, he said, “Come in.”

Elaine walked in. She pulled out a box of chocolates from her pocket, placed it on the table, and said, “Mr. Reed, it’s Valentine’s Day. These are from Eileen.” Egbert was stunned. He picked up the box of chocolates, and Eileen’s words from last night echoed in his mind.

She said she’d think about it.

Egbert looked up, nervously-asking, “Did she say anything else?”

Elaine said, “Eileen also said this box of chocolates costs three bucks. She didn’t bring any money, so she told me to get it from you.”

Egbert was speechless.