Dullahan [ COMPLETED ]

I Understand But...

CHAPTER 21: I Understand But...

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Here's a really short recap about what happened a couple of minutes ago: Did the Headless Rider, the Dullahan named Duan, just say that he LIKES me?

"I like you," Duan repeated and I managed to hold a forced smile as I stared.

"You're kidding, right?" I asked in disbelief, "I mean, you were really trying to behead me a couple of days ago,"

"I wanted you to become a Dullahan too, so I can spend the rest of my life with you,"

"Spend your life never seeing her face?" Penny laughed at her own joke.

It was funny, but my mind was still focused on the being infront of me, "I don't-"

"I know, I understand." He said with something along the movements of a sigh, "Humans fear death in all forms so it's only natural to resist,"

"Ah," I nodded in agreement and looked back down on the asphalt ground, "Also for the fact that someone can actually become a Dullahan just by being beheaded,"

"No, there's a process for it," He chuckles, body slumped down as if thinking, "So anyways, is that all you have to say?"

"Y-yeah... I guess," I stuttered out and then fidgeted with my fingers, "I'm really sorry for making you jealous,"

"Pfft, Jealous," Penny snickered behind me.

Seriously, when will she read the air? She's been side-commenting for the past hour and it's all farfetched from the discussion.

I stared at Duan for a while, silently praying that he'd forgive me and not charge at us all of a sudden. It was such a tense atmosphere and the silence really made it eerie.

"Fine," Duan finally said, making me sigh in relief, but he continued, "I'll accept yours but not his,"

"And if you accept mine, then that means you'll come back right?" I chimed, eyes sparkling with hope but he seemed hesitant. I gave a look of questioning at him, "You... Don't want to?"

He nods his non-existant head, "I've decided to work by my own,"

This time, it was Penny who asked a sensible question, "Why? We've all come this far,"

"That's the point," He sighed; hand grazing over the top of his horse's mane before adding, "I don't want to have to force you guys to do all those,"

"You're not forcing us!" I retorted almost immediately.

"Well, even if I wasn't, I still don't want this!" His voice raised and I really can't help but do the same.

"You don't want us, then?" I asked loudly, standing up to glower at him, "Why didn't you just refuse? Why didn't you just push us away? Why didn't you just kill us if you didn't want us in the first place?!"

Penny held me arm, "Jeffy... Don't-"

"No, she's right," Duan stands up as well, and even without his head, I could still feel his eyes glaring back at me, "I should've just killed you all, then and there,"

I instinctively stepped forward and placed my arms infront of Penny, shielding her. I was expecting something to happen. But Duan, however, remained still.

"I know that I really should've done so, but..." He breathes out and the extends his hand, as if staring at it, "I couldn't. I couldn't lift a single finger against you all,"

"But against me, you were willing to behead me?!"

"I want you," He says sternly, and I staggered back. He steps forward a bit and continued, "I want to stay with you. I want to stay with all of you,"