Just Pretend

Chapter 4

Just Pretend - Chapter 4



His voice wasn’t loud.

But it might as well have been a gunshot in a quiet room.

The moment West Langley spoke, Evelyn Carter was yanked back into reality.

And with that came the sudden, horrifying realization of what she had said to him just a few nights ago.

— “Sorry, this is a respectable bar.”

— “That’s a shame.”

“…”

Evelyn pressed her lips together, overwhelmed by an all-consuming wave of embarrassment.

Fortunately, the noise in the bar was loud enough to drown out West’s words from the bartender’s ears. Oblivious, the bartender simply glanced over and frowned. “Boss, what are you doing?” Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he raised his voice. “Oh, did you see that bracelet I left in the drawer?”

West barely spared a glance.

The bartender continued, “A customer left it behind the other night. Ezra picked it up, and I—”

He paused. Then, in a sudden realization, changed his words. “Wait. Didn’t you put it away?”

West leaned back on the barstool, exhaling lazily. “Oh. Right.”

The bartender’s eyes brightened. “So where is it?”

West’s expression remained indifferent. “Never seen it.”

“…”

The bartender stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words.

Just then, two young women approached the bar to order drinks.

As if seeing a lifeline, the bartender immediately tossed a “Boss, you handle this” over his shoulder before turning to serve the new customers.

At some point, Ezra had also disappeared from the area, leaving just the two of them.

Even in the crowded, noisy atmosphere, it felt strangely isolated.

A moment of silence.

West grabbed a clean glass, poured himself a drink, and filled it halfway.

Then—without warning—he slid it in front of her.

Evelyn blinked.

His dark hair fell messily over his forehead, casting shadows over sharp features. The dim lighting only made his gaze seem colder, more distant. In his other hand, he still held the half-empty beer can, and with a slow lift of his brow, he asked, “So how exactly should I be entertaining you?”

For a split second, Evelyn genuinely felt like she had actually come here to solicit him.

She hesitated before politely refusing, “I’m good, thanks.”

— Awkward silence.

Maybe even he felt the secondhand embarrassment from the bartender’s earlier words, because he didn’t bring up the phone number issue again. Since this was technically his turf, Evelyn decided to let him save face and didn’t mention it either.

Instead, she changed the subject. “Do you personally handle all lost and found items here?”

West gave a short laugh. “Who told you that?”

Evelyn nodded toward the bartender.

West followed her gaze. Then, with a slight shift of his grip, he absentmindedly tapped the beer can against the counter.

“Hey, Noah.”

The bartender, now fully occupied, only spared him a brief glance. “Yeah? What’s up, boss?”

West’s tone was flat. “Since when have I been so free that I have time to manage lost and found?”

“…?”

Noah clearly didn’t catch on immediately. Too busy shaking up a cocktail, he just replied, “Hold on, man. Let me finish this drink first.”

West didn’t reply.

Evelyn pursed her lips, then set the business card down next to the glass. “I’ll leave my contact info here. If you find the bracelet, just call me. I’ll come pick it up. Thanks.”

West didn’t even lift his head. His response was a half-hearted, “Mhm.”

Evelyn had no idea how this bar was still running if this was how he treated customers.

Maybe it was just her.

Maybe he was annoyed by what she had said that night.

Or maybe he did recognize her from the past and just wanted to make sure she knew she wasn’t welcome.

Honestly?

She had bigger things to deal with.

She had spent the morning at the police station, run around the city for interviews, and still had to coordinate with her landlord about ending her lease early—not to mention figuring out her next place and staying alert for any potential retaliation from her neighbor.

Compared to all that, West’s attitude barely registered as a problem.

And yet…

Maybe it was the lingering frustration from her interrupted sleep.

But for some reason, she found it slightly irritating.

Lowering her voice, she added, “It’s important to my friend. Please take care of it.”

She was about to leave when—

West spoke again.

“Hold up.”

Evelyn paused.

West’s throat bobbed slightly, then he called out, “Noah, what the hell are you waiting for?”

Noah blinked, confused. “Huh?”

“The bracelet,” West said, voice slow and deliberate. “Are you looking for it, or not?”

“…”

With his boss putting it like that, Noah had no choice but to search again.

And somehow—this time—he actually found it.

From the lower cabinet.

With a sigh of relief, he immediately handed it over. “Is this the one?”

Evelyn took it, checking briefly before nodding. “Yes. Thank you.”

Noah scratched the back of his head awkwardly, stealing a glance at West. “No worries. Honestly, we should be apologizing for wasting your time.”

West simply sipped his drink, saying nothing.

Evelyn nodded, muttered a quick goodbye, and left the bar.

The night was damp and cold.

The streets, mostly empty.

As she walked, she quickly shot Chloe a text: [Found it.] Then, shoving her hands back into her pockets, she exhaled lightly, her breath visible in the frigid air.

But her mind had already begun to drift.

Memories slipped through the cracks, one by one.

All because of him.

Because of that same, familiar, infuriating attitude.

She found herself thinking back to the first time they had met.

It was the first day of freshman year.

Evelyn had been late.

So late that she didn’t even have time to drop off her luggage at the dorm. Instead, her uncle had left her bags with the staff while she ran toward the main building, racing up to the fourth floor.

The moment she reached the hallway, she started searching for her classroom.

And right then—by the water fountain—was the first time she saw him.

A tall boy.

Wearing a blue-and-white uniform.

Shoulders relaxed, bag slung loosely over one arm.

Sharp features, but an expression so distant and aloof that he looked untouchable.

Unlike her, he wasn’t in a hurry.

Seemed completely unbothered by the fact that the bell had already rung.

Still casually filling his water bottle.

Evelyn didn’t have time to waste.

She stopped in front of him. “Hey.”

West turned the tap off, screwed the lid on, and barely glanced at her before looking away.

No intention of answering.

At the time, she didn’t know him.

Didn’t know that, somehow, he always acted like he owned the place.

She hesitated, then corrected herself, “Uh… excuse me, upperclassman?”

West finally raised an eyebrow.

“Do you know where Room 17 is?”

This time, he actually answered.

Lazily, he tilted his chin toward the hallway. “Straight ahead. Turn right.”

Evelyn nodded, waiting for more directions.

But that was it.

No keep going or you’ll see it on your left.

Just… that.

Not wanting to take a wrong turn, she pressed, “And then?”

West started walking, tone flat as ever. “Then read the numbers on the doors. What, you want me to personally recite them to you, little freshman?”

“…”

Evelyn smiled. What an asshole.

She followed his instructions, turned the corner—

And sure enough, Room 17 was right there.