Chapter 9: Among Shadows and Glances
1518 Words
When the call ended, doubt took root in Mary’s heart. She told herself, “Maybe there isn’t even a gallery after all.” But it wasn’t long before the phone rang again—it was Helen.
“Mary? I talked to Nicholas. Yes, there’s a ceramics gallery next week. He just forgot to tell me because he was distracted.”
Mary smiled with relief. “So it really exists…”
When she arrived at the gallery, intricately designed ceramic pieces were arranged alongside the hall. Nicholas greeted her with a smile.
“Thanks for not standing me up.”
Mary returned a gentle smile. “I was eager to see these pieces myself.”
Nicholas said, “Helen hasn’t arrived yet. Come, tell me your thoughts about decorating that section.”
With an expert eye, Mary realized that the decorations didn’t match the vibe of the ceramics. Her experience from previous exhibitions now came in handy.
“I have a few ideas, but I’ll wait for Helen to arrive and share them with her,” she said.
A few hours later, when Helen arrived, their consultation and teamwork began. Near sunset, both were tired but satisfied as they wrapped up the work.
Helen: “Let’s go grab dinner.”
At that moment, the sound of the door opening came, and Nicholas entered with three bags of food.
“Dinner has arrived!”
Helen smirked. “Good thing you showed up, as always, after work!”
Nicholas: “Here we go again? Stop complaining!” He turned to one of the staff members: “I got food for everyone. Go get the rest and distribute it.”
During dinner, Nicholas’s gaze lingered on Mary more than usual. Helen noticed and looked on with a heavy expression.
After dinner, Nicholas said, “I’ll give you a ride.”
Helen immediately said, “I brought the car. You take Mary.”
On the way, Mary was silent. When they arrived, Nicholas asked, “Aren’t you going to say something?”
“Thanks for giving me a ride.”
Nicholas laughed. “I didn’t mean that… sometimes you’re really funny!”
“So what did you mean?”
“Like saying we could go to a café after the gallery tomorrow…”
Mary laughed. “Why should I say that?”
“Because I want to make it up to you, but I’m waiting for you to tell me how.”
“I wanted to help myself, no need to make it up.”
Nicholas said softly, “But I want to see you outside the gallery too.”
Nicholas: “So, shall we go to a restaurant after the gallery tomorrow?”
“Alright… since you insist. Helen will be happy too.”
“Helen? No, just the two of us.”
Mary smiled faintly and got out of the car.
When she entered the house, she heard nothing.
Ava, are you home?”
No response. Suddenly, her eyes fell on something behind the curtain. Her heart sank. She stepped forward.
“Ava? Is that you? …Who’s behind the curtain?”
A soft voice said, “She hasn’t left yet… see, I told you he’d give her a ride?”
Another voice said, “She’s good-looking, but she didn’t even get out to open the door. I don’t like it.”
Mary angrily pulled the curtain aside. Deniz and Eva were sitting there!
“What are you two doing here?!”
Deniz whispered, laughing, “Lower your head, you’ll see us now!”
Mary looked out the window. Nicholas was still in the car, busy with his phone…
Mary (sitting down angrily): “It’s obvious what you’re doing! My reputation’s ruined! Come over here so I can see!”
Ava : “Deniz is leaving!”
“Ugh… gone! We didn’t see him properly… it’s all your fault, Mary!”
“Shame on you! Now you’re punishing me too?”
Mary: “Nicholas and I are just ordinary friends.”
“But Deniz said your relationship is serious!”
Mary (to Deniz, angrily): “Deniz!”
Deniz (anxiously from the corner of the room): “Well… I guess I better go home. Eva, I’ll call you later.”
Deniz quickly put on his shoes and left.
Ava (to Mary, curious): “Tell me the truth. There’s really nothing between you two?”
“I said no!”
“And you don’t want anything to happen between you?”
Mary paused for a moment. “For now, I’ll just go with the flow… let’s see what fate wants.”
“Well, I got my answer. I’d better get back to my work.”
The next day, Mary was busy finishing the remaining work at the gallery. When everything was done, Nicholas approached her energetically.
“Shall we go to a restaurant?”
Mary hesitated. “It’s too early, it’s not dinner time yet.”
Nicholas smiled. “You’re right. Let’s walk around the city a bit until dinner time.”
Mary agreed. They got into the car.
“Well, now tell me where you want to go?”
Nicholas said mysteriously, “You’ll see when we get there.”
A few minutes later, they arrived at the parking lot of a large amphitheater. Nicholas parked the car.
“Alright, get out.”
Mary hesitated. “Don’t tell me you got tickets too…”
Nicholas smiled and pulled two tickets from his pocket.
Mary laughed. “Really! You planned everything in advance.”
“So, what did you think?”
They entered the amphitheater. The show hadn’t started yet.
Mary asked, “So what play are we going to see?”
“Romeo and Juliet.”
Mary laughed loudly. “No way… are you serious?”
Nicholas laughed too. “No, just kidding. I don’t even know exactly. One of my friends got the tickets; I didn’t hear the name of the play.”
“Good that you didn’t over-plan!”
“Meaning if I actually brought you to see Romeo and Juliet, would you have disliked it?”
yes…”
“Ah, now I get it.”
“Get what?”
The show started, and Nicholas quietly said, “Just watch for now, I’ll tell you later.”
Throughout the show, Mary’s mind lingered on Nicholas’s short sentence: “Now I get it…” What did he mean? Why did he bring her to this performance?
After the show, outside the theater, Nicholas said,
“It’s still early for dinner… shall we walk a bit in that park across the street?”
“Alright, let’s go.”
During their nighttime walk, Mary asked,
“What did you mean by that sentence before the show? You said ‘Now I get it…’ What did you get?”
Nicholas paused, then said softly,
“That you don’t want me to look at you as anyone other than a friend.”
Mary laughed. “Who said that?”
Nicholas teasingly: “Meaning, you want me to look at you differently?”
Mary laughed. “No, but you’re really skilled at talking. You know how to put words in someone’s mouth.”
“Honestly, that’s exactly what attracted me. You were different from the start. You didn’t follow me… your focus was more on painting than me. But you are different.”
Mary teased: “How do you know I’m different? Maybe I’d call this walk and seeing the show a date.”
Nicholas laughed: “Impossible. You already passed the test… remember that day at the workshop? Even after the camp, you didn’t want me to give you a ride… now it’s obvious you’re trying to keep your distance. Others aren’t like that. I just have to look at them.”
Mary was shocked by Nicholas’s words but tried to control herself. With confidence, she said:
“Well, you’re good-looking, your financial situation is good. Naturally, many girls are attracted to you.”
“First of all, my looks aren’t just good, they’re excellent! And also, you’re a girl… why aren’t you like the others?”
“Because I have my own standards… and honestly,
Nicholas stopped and laughed. “Am I supposed to keep mum today?”
Mary laughed: “Just kidding. Don’t be upset…”
“I knew I wasn’t wrong about you. I have to tell Yong he’s mistaken.”
“Yong? What does he have to do with it?”
“At the camp, he told me if I didn’t like you, I shouldn’t get close. Because you might like me. But I said, you only see me as a friend.”
Mary was surprised. “Yong really said that?”
“Yes… I was right again.”
Mary thought about Yong’s words… maybe he was right
They sat on a bench. A cool breeze brushed Mary’s hair across her face. She lifted her hand to move a strand aside, but Nicholas’s fingers moved ahead unintentionally. The tip of his finger gently brushed along her cheek and pushed the hair back. The brief, sudden touch sent a spark through Mary’s veins.
- Writer
