Chapter 81: Just an Act
My forehead head creased. "Didn’t we eat desserts already in that restaurant?" I asked.
"You look like you wanted the strawberry sherbet." He said making me blink thousands of times. "I’ll buy it for you." Night added as soon as we sat down on the farthest seats.
’W-What? He’s buying me ice cream just because I look like I want it?’ I can’t believe this. It’s not like Shiho and the others will learn of— oh, right. I can tell them about what happened since Shiho looks like she’ll ask as soon as we got home. Maybe Night did this so that I have a story to tell to his younger sister. ’He’s calculating everything well that it scares me.’ I’ll just go with it and eat the ice cream since I’m really craving that strawberry food.
I waited in my seat while looking at the glass wall on my side. There are lots of people outside and I can’t comprehend how they’re just passing by despite seeing this ice cream parlor near. ’Do people normally don’t like ice cream?’ Everyone’s not like me, so maybe they don’t. "Ellie? Goodness, we meet again." Just when I was about to put my chin on my palm, I heard someone calling my name. My forehead immediately creased upon seeing El.
"What the? How come we keep on meeting?" I can’t believe it.
El chuckled. "Same thoughts! It’s like fate keeps letting us meet." He said but I couldn’t laugh with him. If Night sees El right here, he might act like a kid again. I want to avoid that at all costs. "Oh, right. This is my younger sister, the one I’ve been telling you that wants to go to your school next year." El introduced the girl beside him.
"Hello, I’m Marielle." The girl with brunette wavy long hair that she tucked into behind her ear said. Her hazel green eyes made me stare at her more than I should. "I’m my brother’s younger sister. Nice to meet you." Marielle said, her tone was so gentle that it immediately made me smile.
"Hi, I’m Noelle, your older brother’s friend, I guess?"
I heard Marielle giggle. "May we sit with you?" She asked with that bright beautiful smile of hers. ’I don’t really know since I’m not alone, and the person I’m with is a real nit-picky.’
"Actually, I’m—"
"It’s fine." I looked behind and saw Night with ice cream in his hand. "Are they your friends?" He asked as he sat beside me. ’W-What’s with him? Why is his tone a little friendly unlike his usual cold and snob one?’
"Y-Yeah, this is my friend, El. And this is his sister, Marielle."
El and Marielle sat in front of us, but then Marielle said that she’ll order for her and his brother so she went to the counter. The silence surrounded the three of us and I really don’t want to stay there any longer. "Eat your food before it melts." Night said and I didn’t have the choice but to eat. I thought it’ll be hard to swallow but turns out it’s not, I really like how it melts in my mouth and the strawberry flavor is just satisfying my cravings!
"How did the two of you meet?" Night made me stop eating after he asked that. "You don’t go to our school, don’t you?" He smiled while asking that. ’Why is he abnormally talkative right now? Why is he curious about El anyway?’ I thought as I wanted to stop him.
El looked at me with those baby blue eyes of his, I wonder what was going on inside his head. He smiled and said, "I don’t want to tell." He’s smiling from ear to ear while resting his chin on his palm and he’s looking at me. ’Oh god, does he think this is fun?’
I felt Night’s aura getting darker and I really want to leave because of it. "Why do I have to tell you though? I don’t even know your name." El chuckled. It looks like he’s enjoying this! "Ellie already told you my name, but I haven’t heard of your name yet."
Night’s probably going to lash at El because of his cheekiness. "I’m Night."
El scoffed which made my eyes widen. "Night as in ’the night is dark’ kind of Night?" He asked making me shake my head at him but he doesn’t get it at all. ’Oh no, I don’t want to get screamed at the moment we got home because of this.’ "That’s a unique name. Why did your parents name you like tha—" I raised my hand to stop El from talking.
"This is Night Fuentes, my schoolmate, and this is El, my friend that I met before."
"Before what?" Night and El said in chorus.
I took a deep breath and just when I thought I wouldn’t be able to answer without acquiring damage, Marielle arrived. "I brought your favorite chocolate mint ice cream." She said as she gave El the ice cream. So he likes chocolate mint too? Marielle saved me from that awkwardness. We started eating our ice cream while I can hear El and Marielle talking in another language.
"What language are you guys speaking?" I asked
Marielle looked at El and smiled. "I actually came from Italy." She said while blushing. "That’s why I’m more used to speaking in Italian."
I nodded and I continued eating my ice cream. "Oh, right, I forgot. When will be the semifinals of your swimming competition held? I want to watch." El said. Why do I feel like every time he opens his mouth, Night’s aura gets darker and darker and the tension in the air keeps rising?
"I’ll just text it to you since I’m not sure," I said to be careful of how Night will react, but instead of getting a minimal reaction, I can feel Night’s eyes on me.
El smiled. "Sure, text me later." He said and after that, he bid us goodbye since he wanted to tour Marielle more.
"Did your type change?"
I turned to Night with my eyes wide after hearing him ask that. "We’re not in that kind of relationship." Why is he even asking that? "And apparently, I’m married to you so I can’t like someone else like that."
"If you’re not married you’ll like him?"
"Do you even hear yourself?" I stood up from my seat. "Let’s go home already." Night stood up and held my hand
"Fine, let’s go home." Before we could come out, Night ordered a smoothie for me which was unexpected because how did he know I still wanted some smoothie after eating ice cream? "What more do you want?" He asked as if I’m the one who told him to buy the smoothie.
"Why are you being kind to me?" Not really kind, but why is he buying me what I like to eat or drink? "I mean, you’re not kind but you’re not being mean to me either. Oh— I forgot! This is all an act! I’m sorry for questioning you like that." I said as we go out of the ice cream parlor.
Now that I remembered it, I feel quite at ease. Since he’s only doing it to make our relationship look believable, I only need to act with him and not take everything seriously.
"What if this isn’t an act?"
I looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "Are you crazy then? If this isn’t an act, then what’s the purpose of this?"
Night ignored my question as he opened the car door for me. "Think for yourself." He said and I was still confused as I entered the car. Why should I think about something I don’t even want to think about? If he doesn’t what to explain it, then so be it.
The car started moving and I closed my eyes to relax. I still haven’t thought of things to say to Ace. It’s still Night’s birthday today, and I still haven’t congratulated him. Even though we’re not in the best relationship, I should probably still tell him a happy birthday, but what if he just hates it more? Night’s not the type to enjoy birthdays, I think? "We have arrived," Kaoru said which made me open my eyes.
"Where’s Night?" I asked.
Kaoru scratched his cheek. "The young master has someplace he needed to go to, so he said to drop him off." He said. Oh, I didn’t notice that Night was already gone. Maybe because I was too distracted by all the thoughts that were going on inside my head.
I thanked Kaoru after that and was about to go to my room but Rika blocked my way. "Welcome home, young miss." She said. "Does the miss want to rest first or go meet lady Shiho?" Rika asked.
"Does Shiho wants to talk to me?"
Rika nodded. "She’s excited to talk to the miss, but she said that if the miss is tired, she should rest."
I forced a smile. "I’m sorry to say this, but could you please tell Shiho that I’ll be resting first? I’m too tired today."
Rika nodded. "Ah, the young master said that the miss and the young master shall use their shared room for a while." Right, I forgot about that.
"Yeah, thanks for reminding me."
