I Knew I Loved You

Chapter Seven

~ Unveiling Shadows ~

Could she be his girlfriend? I pondered the question, my mind racing with conflicting emotions. It shouldn't matter, I told myself, trying to dismiss the nagging feeling in my heart.

Turning away from the scene, I forced myself to focus on what I was supposed to do. I continued taking pictures, but my concentration was shattered. Even the waitress I approached seemed distracted, her gaze fixed on Thorn's table. It was clear that his presence had stirred up a commotion.

Unable to resist any longer, I approached the group under the pretense of capturing candid shots. They all turned to look at me, and there she was, the center of attention—the girl who had kissed Thorn earlier. Seated beside him, she exuded a captivating charm. He seemed oblivious to the other girls vying for his attention. Thorn wasn't conventionally drop-dead gorgeous, but there was an undeniable allure about him, from his tousled hair to his expressive eyes and the curve of his lips. And those muscles... I silently chided myself, realizing my own fascination.

"Isn't that Ada Rhyce?" one of the girls whispered, recognizing me. The thought crossed my mind—should I consider another commercial? But I swiftly pushed the idea aside.

"Hi! You're Ada Rhyce, right?" One of them greeted me with a smile. They all looked at me with anticipation, and I didn't want to appear aloof, so I approached their table.

"The one and only," I replied, a polite smile on my lips. One of the girls stood up, asking me to take a picture with them, while another requested an autograph.

Thorn's girlfriend—Chary, I heard—spoke up. "Do you two know each other?" she asked, her hand extended toward me. Thorn's brow furrowed slightly.

"We go to the same school," I replied, accepting her handshake. My heart sank a little if she was really Thorn's girlfriend. That must be why he didn't respond when I brought up the topic of responsibility. A pang of annoyance shot through me—man-w***e!

Shortly after, Thorn suggested that we leave. He went out of the restaurant ahead of me, leaving me with no choice but to rush and follow him.

Chary and her friends bid me farewell, and I thanked them along with the kind manager. As I made my way back to the car, Thorn appeared gloomy, his sudden change in demeanor perplexing.

Why was he so bothered? His girlfriend was still inside. I can handle myself; he acts as if he has no choice but to leave Chary behind just to look after me.

"What took you so long?" Thorn's voice was tinged with rudeness as he started the engine.

I noticed my belongings neatly arranged on the passenger’s seat. "I had to say goodbye to your lovely girlfriend," I emphasized, observing his furrowed brow with concern. "Thank goodness Chary wasn't upset with you. She's quite charming, by the way." They make a wonderful couple. My throat tightened at the thought.

"Tss."

What was with that dismissive sound? He seemed irritated as if he really had no other option but to babysit me.

"Let's try an Indian restaurant this time. Hopefully, there won't be too many customers so you can conduct your interviews," Thorn said, his tone less brusque now.

I glanced at my watch; it was already past three in the afternoon. Typically, restaurants wouldn't be too crowded at this time. "I hope so," I replied, leaning back in my seat and closing my eyes. Thorn's smile, bestowed upon Chary, lingered in my mind. I couldn't help but wonder if he would ever smile at me like that.

I started feeling lazy as we reached the Indian restaurant he had mentioned. There were only a few people inside, casually enjoying their snacks. The smell of curry enveloped us, bringing back memories of a pleasant family trip to Brunei, where we had a wonderful meal together.

"We can leave if you don't like the smell," Thorn offered, bringing the car to a stop near the entrance.

"I actually enjoy Indian food. Besides, since we're already here, it would be a shame to leave," I replied, determined to savor the experience.

One of my fondest memories with my family flooded back—a moment when they encouraged me to try Biryani Chicken, only for me to discover its intense spiciness and erupt in coughs. We all laughed, and it was a memory I cherished.

Thorn glanced at me for a moment, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Are you sure?" he asked.

I grinned back at him. "You can put me to the test," I said, ready to prove myself.

Thorn nodded, engaging in a brief conversation with the staff. He then gestured for me to take a seat while we waited for our food. Soon enough, our orders arrived, and I recognized the dish—it was Roti-prata.

As he handed me a fork, Thorn challenged me with a smirk. "Let's see if you can live up to your words." Ah, so he was testing me.

Setting the fork aside, I tore off a piece of the bread with my bare hands and dipped it into the accompanying sauce. Thorn watched in silence as I savored the flavors, even allowing some sauce to drip onto my plate.

Shaking his head, Thorn couldn't help but smile, and it made me feel a pleasant warmth inside.

"What?" I asked playfully, my mouth still occupied.

Thorn chuckled softly, reaching for a tissue. "You have sauce on your lips," he pointed out, extending the tissue towards me.

"That's alright, I'll wipe it later when I'm done," I replied, undeterred, and dipped the bread once more. The sweet and spicy chilli sauce was always a favorite of mine.

"You're quite messy," Thorn commented, reaching out to gently wipe the corner of my lips.

I halted my chewing, captivated by Thorn's smile as he tended to me. The simple gesture sent a delightful shiver down my spine. What was this feeling?

His smile gradually faded, his expression turning serious once again. "Finish your food. We should hurry before more customers arrive," he said, resuming his own meal.

With the impending arrival of other patrons, I focused on completing my task at hand. Thorn sat in a corner, patiently waiting for me.

Time slipped away unnoticed, and by the time I finished, darkness had enveloped the surroundings, replaced by the glow of city lights.

Thorn insisted on driving me home, despite my initial refusal.

"Want to come inside?" I asked, staying put in his car. "I just want to thank you for helping me out."

"I didn't do anything special. I just kept you company and waited," Thorn responded, his hands firmly holding the steering wheel. We were still inside the vehicle.

"That's more than enough, Thorn." I stared at him intently, sensing a desire to reconcile between us. "Is this your way of making up for what happened?"

He remained silent for a moment, his gaze focused on his hands still resting on the steering wheel. There was a lingering tension, an unspoken something that hung in the air.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow," Thorn suddenly declared.

"No need," I responded swiftly.

"Your car is still at school."

I scoffed, realizing my forgetfulness. "I can take a cab."

"I'll come early."

His determination caught me off guard. I looked at him, finding him avoiding my gaze. There was something unspoken, a hidden meaning I hesitated for a moment, trying to decipher Thorn's hidden message. There was a palpable tension between us, and it stirred a whirlwind of emotions within me.

"Unless someone else will take you," Thorn finally added, his gaze meeting mine.

Our eyes locked, and I felt my heart race in my chest. His piercing stare held a depth I hadn't noticed before, sending shivers down my spine. It was as if he was trying to convey something profound, something that words couldn't fully express.

"I can manage on my own, Thorn. You don't need to trouble yourself with me. Besides, I wouldn't want to disrupt your time with Chary," I reminded him, opening the car door to step out. "You should go and be with your girlfriend. Thank you for today." Despite my attempt to sound resolute, a pang of regret tinged my words.

As I exited the car, Thorn hesitated to start the engine. I leaned in, meeting his intense gaze through the window.

"Thorn?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

His forehead creased, his hands still gripping the steering wheel tightly. He looked at me intently and spoke with a solemn tone, cutting through the silence. "Chary is not my girlfriend."

Thorn's words caught me off guard, causing me to jolt upright, my heart pounding in my chest. Before I could gather my thoughts or seek further clarification, Thorn drove away without uttering another word, leaving me standing alone with a whirlwind of emotions and unanswered questions.