"Austin, What appointment is it?" Hazel asked.
"I need to meet a person.He is someone close to my Dad. He recently came to New york. So, my mom wants me to meet him." Austin answered.
"Ohh... Is it?" Hazel asked, looking at him questioningly.
"Yes." Austin answered, nodding.
"Okay." Hazel replied as she removed her gaze from him .
"What have you told your parents? Won't they yell at you and scold you later if you don't go home late?" Austin asked worriedly.
"Ahh... Mom does but it's fine, she will yell at me for sometime. That's it! She won't say anything much. So, don't worry. But I have also told her that I am going to a cultural festival at another university!" Hazel answered.
"You got nice with making excuses. Huh?" Austin asked giggling, making Hazel laugh.
"Yeah." Hazel said between her laughs.
"But, Hazel. Why don't you just move in with me? How many days will you still suffer like this? Those people don't even care about you?" Austin asked.
"I want to move in with you too. But, I can't... You know that my family really needs me right now. My step Dad is getting worse. He doesn't listen to anyone and is just getting more addicted to alcohol and glambling." Hazel answered looking down at her feet.
"I know. But I just can't take it or understand why are you even staying with those kinds of people? They just never take you even as a human. They just want you for money. The money you have been making, working hard with the part time jobs without having a peaceful sleep." Austin said with an annoyed tone.
"Austin, Let's not talk anymore about this. Shall we?" Hazel asked with a plastic smile and Austin sighed.
"You never listen to me. Will you? Your step-sister who is just a jealous woman. Won't even tolerate you for a second and say about every silly stuff to your parents, just to make them annoyed at you! How can they be like this? Your mother doesn't even care about you but her." Austin said as his temper reached his head.
"Austin, I have already told you. No matter what, she is my sister. It's fine for me. They love her way more than me and I can't do anything about it. So, I don't think we should talk about that either." Hazel replied with an empty voice.
"Yeah… they love her but not you! So funny!" Austin said sarcastically.
"Austin please…" Hazel requested.
"This is why I am telling you to move in with me. I promise, I will love you and respect you. You don't at all have to go through all their issues and don't have to get yourself treated like that with your sister!" Austin said, making her sigh in defeat to stop him.
"No. I will not now… I will think about it later and we are done with this discussion!" Hazel replied as she looked out from the window.
"Fine, if you say so!" Austin answered plainly.
"But keep in mind, I won't tolerate this for long. Okay?" Austin asked as he drove, keeping his eye on the road.
"Yes." Hazel answered and Austin grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles as he kept her hand on his chest.
Hazel smiled as she felt his heartbeat under her Palm. She is happy that she found a guy who can keep her happy and cares about her. He loves her a lot. She didn't really expect someone to love her this badly. She is just too happy with this love and she wished that this relationship would last longer.
"What are you thinking about?" Austin asked as he took a glance at Hazel.
"Thinking about how lucky I am to have you in my life?" Hazel asked, making Austin chuckle.
"You deserve all the love in this world, Hazel and that lucky is me to have you in my life. You are just too precious for me and will be forever. I can't afford to lose you ever. Just stay with me by my side for this lifetime and in the coming!" Austin said as he pressed her hand against his chest.
"Are you proposing to me or what? What is with your words today?" Hazel asked, pulling her hand chuckling.
"Umm... Thinking about it, why don't I just propose to you? We can just get married? Ohh… No, I don't have a ring… Oh,we can just stop at the jewelry store and can get a ring. What say, wifey?" Austin asked with a smirk.
"No... What? What are you talking about? Not this soon. You know that I am not ready and Don't call me wifey!" Hazel answered blushing as she looked outside the window.
"Why not, wifey? We love each other. So, we can get married right?" Austin asked as he pulled the steering to the left.
"Austin, You aren't serious right now. Are you?" Hazel asked and Austin took a deep breath as he smiled at her.
"Don't worry.We have a lot of time. I know, your family comes first and you won't leave them until you settle things for them and give them a happy life. You are too kind for this world." Austin said with a small smile.
"Thank you for understanding me, Austin." Hazel replied, sharing the same smile.
"No. Don't thank me. It's my responsibility to understand you!" Austin said as they both smiled at each other as they held their hands and the rest of their way home, there was a silence- that spoke a million words.