Miss nobody strikes back

do I like her?

Chapter Fifty-Five

I ignored what she said, continuing the lesson, though my mind kept drifting back to it. Does she like me? Or… do I like her? I’d been having these thoughts for a while now, and they’d grown harder to shake.

It was past seven, and we were just wrapping up the lecture when the rain began to pour. At first, it was a soft drizzle, then it suddenly turned into a heavy downpour. I glanced over at Hanna; I was pretty sure she was thinking about the rain too. We both walked downstairs to the living room, where my mom, dad, and sisters were gathered.

“Hanna, what are you going to do? The rain’s really heavy,” my mom said, glancing worriedly at the windows.

“I’ll be fine,” Hanna replied, though I could tell she was a bit hesitant.

“No, you’re not,” my mom countered, shaking her head. “This rain is too much; you’ll end up with a migraine, and you could catch a cold. That’s risky, especially since you’re just getting over that flu.”

I knew what my mom was driving at, and sure enough, my sister Judy chimed in from behind us. “What Mom’s trying to say is you should stay the night.”

“Yes! Hanna should stay for the night!” Dana added enthusiastically, jumping up from her seat and rushing over to Hanna.

“Um, it’s okay. I don’t want to be a disturbance,” Hanna replied, looking a bit uncertain.

“It’s all right, kiddo. We have more than enough space here,” my dad reassured her with a warm smile. Hanna looked around the room, then gave a small, resigned nod.

“Perfect,” my mom said, taking Hanna’s hand. “Let’s get you into something comfortable. And after that, hot chocolate for everyone!”

Mom didn’t even give me a chance to weigh in on the decision. She took Hanna upstairs, and a few minutes later, Hanna reappeared in a loose white shirt and baggy black trousers that looked comfortable and warm. She joined us at the dining table while Mom went into the kitchen to make the promised hot chocolate.

“Um, sorry for the inconvenience,” Hanna said softly. “I tried… but…”

“It’s okay,” I replied simply. We all enjoyed the meal together, and afterward, everyone gradually retired to their rooms.

It was late, and I’d just started to doze off when a soft knock sounded on my door.

“Can we talk?” Hanna’s voice asked from the hallway.

“About what?” I replied, genuinely curious.

“Actually… I can’t sleep,” she admitted. “I was wondering if maybe we could, you know, study or learn something. If it’s okay with you?”

After a moment’s hesitation, I opened the door and let her in. We both settled at my study table, and she immediately took an interest in the notes sprawled across it.

“Whoa. What are you studying?” she asked, her eyes wide with interest.

“Just some advanced physics,” I replied, watching as she carefully picked up one of my textbooks.

“Can I learn this?” she asked with a hint of eagerness.

“Well, yeah. But only when you’re feeling better,” I said with a faint smile.

“Mmm,” she murmured, flipping through the book. She looked up after a moment, her green eyes locked onto mine. “Why are you always so quiet?” she asked, studying me closely.

“Do I need a reason?” I replied, amused by her curiosity.

“No, but it’s different with you,” she replied thoughtfully. “People say you’re ‘allergic to women.’”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Allergic? That’s probably the strangest thing I’ve ever heard. I come from a family full of women. Why would I be allergic to them?”

She laughed softly, shaking her head. “I know, right? I thought it was so weird. But… I really want to know more about you.”

“There’s not much to know,” I said with a casual shrug, trying to brush it off. She looked like she wanted to say something else but held back, and a comfortable silence settled between us.

After a moment, I asked, “Have you taken your medicine?”

She looked away, mumbling, “No…”

“Why not?”

“It’s bitter, and there’s just too much of it,” she pouted like a five-year-old, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“You need to take it to get better. It’s only for a short time,” I reminded her gently, but she sighed dramatically.

I went to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water and grabbed a candy from the pantry as well. When I returned, she reluctantly took her medicine, albeit after a fair amount of grimacing. To reward her, I handed her the candy, and she popped it into her mouth with a small smile. As she sat back, a comfortable silence settled over us again. I went back to my book while she played with Nala, our cat.

Not long after, I looked over to see Hanna fast asleep, her head resting on the study table. She didn’t look comfortable, and I sighed. Setting my book down, I carefully lifted her in my arms and carried her to my bed. I gently laid her down and covered her with the duvet, tucking her in. As I turned to leave, her hand reached out, catching mine, and for a moment, I just looked at her. My heart beat faster, and I felt an undeniable pull toward her. Shaking my head, I carefully slipped my hand free and left the room.

Staying there with her so close was starting to make me feel restless, so I went to the living room. My mom was there, watching TV, and she turned to look at me as if she’d been expecting me.

“Dom, how’s Hanna?” she asked.

“She’s asleep,” I replied, sitting beside her.

“Good. She needs rest,” she said, nodding approvingly. We sat in silence for a moment, and then I broke it.

“Mum, can I ask you something?”

She turned to me, her eyes curious. “Of course. Is everything all right?”

“Yeah, it’s just… how do you know if you like someone?” I asked, unsure of what her reaction would be.

She looked a bit surprised but then smiled knowingly. “Well, you feel drawn to them,” she began. “You find them attractive, your heart races when they’re near, and you can’t stand to see them hurt. Above all, you just want them with you. Does that make sense?”

I thought about it in silence, her words echoing in my mind.

“I know this is about Hanna,” she added, breaking into my thoughts.

“What makes you think that?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

She smiled again. “I’m your mother, Dom. I’ve seen how you look at her. I’ve never seen you like this with anyone—not even Sarah. From the day she first came here, I could tell there was something different. You’re trying to suppress it, but maybe you’re just scared to show a side of yourself you’re not used to.”

I listened carefully, absorbing her words. As much as I tried to hide it, I couldn’t deny that I felt something for Hanna—something deeper than I’d ever felt for anyone.

Author’s Note:Is Dominic falling in love? Hmmm… Thank you for reading!