Can't Win Me Back



It was a beautiful night.

Jasper gently dried Alyssa off and dressed her in a soft silk nightgown. He lifted her in a princess carry, placed her gently on the bed, and tucked her in.

At this moment, he had finally qualified to be every bit of a caring and attentive husband, tending to his partner with utmost care.

His hands, roughened by combat and hardened by the business world, were unexpectedly tender toward Alyssa. He did not wake her at all throughout the entire process.

Alyssa slept peacefully, occasionally letting out a contented sigh.

She looked tempting.

Jasper swallowed hard. He caressed her dark hair as he leaned down and kissed her forehead, and then her lips. Then, he left the room and stepped out onto the balcony.

It was already the end of December. Solana City was already in its midwinter season, while Kontina was in its most enjoyable season. An evening breeze blew through the warm and moist atmosphere.

Jasper pondered Alyssa's words with a gloomy look in his eyes. Afterward, he picked up his phone and called a number he hadn't called in a long time.

"Oh, my word! I'm not dreaming, am I?"

The receiver, Dexter McGrath, picked up his call, and a man's surprised and agitated voice sounded over the call." Jasper, I thought you'd forgotten all about me!"

Jasper took a deep breath. In a voice full of helplessness and remorse, he said, "I'm sorry it took me so many years to reach out to you. Apologies for the sudden call."

'Don't mention it. We're not strangers. I've never deleted your number. I have been waiting for the day when you will contact me again. I was hoping that you didn't forget me.'

Dexter calmed down, his voice choked with emotions. "Back then, as soldiers in the Peacekeeping Forces from different countries, we broke all barriers of nationalities and ages, forging tight friendships on the battlefield.

"Whenever I think about those days, my blood still burns with passion. It's a memory that has been etched within me, and I will never forget it.'

"Me neither. I've never forgotten about it." Jasper gripped tightly onto the railing, and his knuckles turned white. His lashes quivered slightly.

"But that tragic battle caused us to lose our best friends within the troop."

Dexter sounded dejected. In a hoarse voice, he continued, "Not only that, we ended up with severe PTSD, especially myself. It took me a really long time to be able to live like a normal person."

Jasper lowered his eyes. His chest felt tight, and his breaths were heavy.

No one could ever get used to death.

When those people whom he knew and was well acquainted with fell before his eyes one by one, it brought him extreme pain and trauma. He, too, took three whole years to start coming out from that traumatic experience little by little.

During this period, they had never contacted one another. One lived in Solana City, while the other lived in Kontina. It wasn't because Jasper didn't wish to contact him. Rather, he was afraid that he would interfere with Dexter's recovery. He worried that his appearance would remind Dexter of those unbearable memories.

"Whatever it is, the past is the past." Update first at NôvelDráma. Org.

Jasper curled the comers of his lips upward into a gratified smile. "Your voice sounds the same as before. Hearing that tells me you've successfully put the past behind you."Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

"We're not just anyone. We're honorable soldiers!" Dexter exclaimed proudly.

"I haven't been a soldier for quite a while. I'm just a regular businessman and a husband." Jasper welled up.

"My, my! You got married? That's big news! Why didn't you tell me?"

Jasper beamed. With a blissful look on his face, he explained, "Not yet, but I'll be getting married soon. If I invited you to my reception, would you come?"

"Of course. I'll be there even if I must swim across the seas from Kontina!"

Suddenly, Dexter asked out of curiosity, "Is your future wife the White Dove you've been yearning for?"