Just Pretend

Chapter 10

Just Pretend - Chapter 10



For the first time since their reunion, West called her name.

At that moment, Evelyn was so on edge that she thought she might have imagined it. She had no time to stop and confirm—her body reacted instinctively, carrying her forward in a desperate sprint.

Then, suddenly—

A firm grip seized her wrist.

West yanked her toward him with a force that wasn’t exactly gentle. She stumbled slightly, looking up—his sharp profile filled her vision. His lips were pressed into a tight line, and without a word, he pulled open the car door.

His expression was grim, his frustration barely concealed.

“What are you just standing there for?”

Evelyn’s breathing was ragged—partly from the fear gripping her chest, partly from running. She stared at him for a second before quickly climbing into the car, following his lead without protest.

West slammed the door shut.

Through the window, Evelyn saw him casually press the lock button.

The three men had caught up.

Noticing the situation, the tattooed man leaned toward the car window, peering inside. Seeing that West was alone in the vehicle, he smirked and drawled, “Yo, bro, that your girlfriend? She’s pretty hot.”

West raised his eyes, his voice as slow and deliberate as a knife scraping against metal.

“Mind your own f***ing business.”

The moment the words left his mouth, the tattooed man’s face darkened. He stepped forward and shoved West’s shoulder.

“What the hell, man? Just making conversation. You got a problem?”

West swiftly grabbed his arm, tightening his grip before flinging it away like it was something filthy.

His expression was ice-cold, completely devoid of emotion.

“You leaving or not?”

The tattooed man sneered, assuming West was backing down. He jabbed a finger toward Evelyn and said, “Fine. Get that little wh*** out here to apologize first. She was acting all high and mighty, but she sure as hell—”

He never got to finish that sentence.

West kicked him straight in the gut.

Hard.

No hesitation, no mercy—Evelyn could hear the impact from inside the car.

The tattooed man doubled over, staggering back a few steps. A string of curses spilled from his mouth, voice strained with pain.

“F*** you—”

The other two men were momentarily stunned.

It wasn’t until their leader started swearing again that they snapped out of it and lunged at West.

Inside the car, Evelyn’s hands trembled as she fumbled to dial 911.

West had always been laid-back, never taking anything too seriously. He usually carried a hint of amusement in his gaze, as if everything around him was just a joke.

But right now, he looked different.

There was no humor in his eyes—just something dark and dangerous.

Two of them rushed him at once, trying to restrain him.

West grabbed one by the hair and yanked his head forward, slamming it against a nearby streetlamp. The other took the opportunity to swing a punch—landing it squarely on West’s jaw.

His head snapped to the side.

For a second, everything seemed to freeze.

Then, instead of reacting with anger—West laughed.

It was low and quiet, but unmistakable.

Evelyn forced herself to watch, terrified that one of them might pull a weapon.

Despite being outnumbered, West was focused. His hits were calculated—every ounce of force directed at the tattooed man, ignoring the others as much as possible.

At one point, Evelyn saw his lips move.

He said something short and sharp.

But from this distance, she couldn’t hear what it was.

Fortunately, before things could escalate further—

A sharp voice rang out.

“Hey! What the hell’s going on here?”

A patrol officer.

The three men froze, their bodies stiffening.

The moment Evelyn saw the uniformed officer approaching, she shoved the car door open and ran toward West.

She stepped in front of him before the officer could assume he was the aggressor.

“Officer, I called the police,” she said, voice carefully steady. “He’s my friend.”

West had taken a few hits. His lip was bleeding, a dark bruise forming along his cheekbone. He stood there, silent, gaze locked on Evelyn’s pale neck.

He didn’t say a word.

At the station, they gave their statements.

Because of the injuries on both sides, the case wasn’t considered self-defense—more of a mutual fight.

However, the tattooed man had a prior record, and given that he had just been released and was already harassing a former victim, the police viewed his actions more seriously.

The other two men were fined and let go with a warning.

By the time Evelyn and West left the station, she hesitated before glancing at his face.

“…You should go to the hospital,” she said quietly.

West didn’t respond.

Her fingers curled slightly. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

Still no answer.

Evelyn felt a pang of guilt. “Let’s just check, okay? It won’t take long—”

West cut her off.

“Evelyn.”

She blinked. “What?”

He looked at her for a second before asking, voice low, “Are you blind?”

“…Huh?”

“You didn’t see me standing there?”

Evelyn hesitated. “What do you mean?”

“You ran instead of asking for help?” His tone was sharp, layered with sarcasm. “What, you suddenly went deaf and mute too? All that was left was your damn legs?”

Evelyn should have been annoyed at his attitude.

But he had just saved her. And gotten hurt in the process.

She softened. “I was going to ask for help. But I wasn’t sure if they’d get violent. I didn’t want to drag you into it.”

West narrowed his eyes slightly.

“And,” Evelyn admitted, “there were three of them. I… didn’t think you could win.”

“…”

West let out a dry, disbelieving laugh.

They passed a pharmacy.

Evelyn stopped and looked at him again, her gaze lingering on his bruises. “Wait here.”

Before he could respond, she disappeared inside and returned with a bag of medicine.

They found a bench nearby.

“Here,” she said, handing him the bag. “At least put some on. You look terrible.”

West exhaled sharply but took the medicine.

She watched as he rolled up his sleeves and applied it haphazardly—his movements rough and impatient.

When he reached his face, it became trickier.

With no mirror, he had to guess where the cuts were, wincing when he accidentally pressed too hard.

Evelyn sighed. “Let me.”

West gave her a long look.

After a pause, he handed her the antiseptic.

She leaned in, carefully dabbing at the wounds.

The moment the swab touched his skin, he hissed.

Evelyn froze. “Did that hurt?”

West shot her an irritated look. “What do you think?”

“…I’ll be gentler.”

As she focused on his injuries, the space between them grew smaller.

When she reached the cut on his lip, she switched to a fresh swab, gently pressing against it.

After finishing, she looked up—only to find his gaze already locked on her.

The air shifted.

West’s voice was low. “It’s just medicine. You really had to lean in that close?”

Evelyn sat back. “Sorry. The lighting here isn’t great.”

West didn’t reply.

After a while, he asked, “So what’s your deal with them?”

Evelyn packed up the medicine. “The big one was my neighbor. He kept knocking on my door. I called the cops, and he got detained for five days. Guess he held a grudge.”

West’s expression darkened. “You’re still staying there?”

“…I found a new place, just haven’t moved yet.”

West didn’t say anything for a long time.

Then, finally, he muttered, “Took you long enough.”