Chapter 111: The Quiet Observer
"I didn’t see you.. video called." she stammered.
"You’re looking hot.." Charlotte purred. "Shall I come and accompany you?"
"I don’t need it.." Thea replied hastily, scrambling to put on a dress. She took a deep breath, composed herself, and turned the camera back on.
"Why did you video call now?" Thea asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Charlotte’s mischievous grin filled the screen. "I was getting bored, but who knows I’d get to see your... I mean, you looking so radiant?" She winked teasingly.
"It’s good that you called now; I have something to tell you."
"Is it related to Mr. Thompson? Did he—"
She cut in before Charlotte could finish. "No, it’s not about him. Mrs. Evelyn is returning to her ancestral home, and she’s invited you to a farewell gathering at her house this Thursday."
"Why is she returning?" Charlotte asked.
"Mrs. Evelyn and her late husband had made a promise to spend their remaining years in their ancestral home."
"Oh, I’ll definitely go." Charlotte agreed.
"Lyla is leaving tomorrow; are you going to see her off?"
"Hmm, okay, I’ll go with you." Charlotte replied.
"I have something to show you tomorrow," Charlotte said mysteriously, winking. "Be ready."
With that, Charlotte bid her goodnight and hung up the call.
Shw was busy in the kitchen, chopping vegetables for dinner, when Grandma Grace walked in.
"Grandma, I thought you’d be watching your show today?"
Grandma Grace chuckled. "It’s not airing today, that’s why you find me here."
"Will you not go to the restaurant today?"
"No, Grandma.Aunt Evelyn won’t be continuing anymore."
Grandma Grace’s expression turned concerned. "How is she?"
"She’s a bit down." She explained. "She’s going to miss you a lot after returning to her ancestral home."
"Aunt Evelyn invited me to bring you along this Thursday." She said. "She’s planning a special treat and asked me to bring my friends too."
"Why is she going to so much trouble?"
She smiled warmly at her grandma’s words.
Grandma Grace glanced at the vegetables Thea was chopping. "What’s on the menu for tonight?"
"Hotpot.."
"Well, you’ve got this covered. I’ll leave you to it. I’m heading to the living room."
"Okay, Grandma.." Akai said with a nod, returning to her cooking.
"Done?" she asked, inhaling the savory aromas."From the smell, it looks delicious," Grandma Grace said.
As they enjoyed their meal, Grandma Grace generously added more meat to her bowl.
"Eat more, dear...." she encouraged.
Thea teased, "Grandma, your pampering has already made me gain weight. At this rate, I’ll soon hit 100 pounds."Grandma Grace laughed heartily. "That would be wonderful."
She pretended to pout. "Grandma, no one will like me then."
"Then you’ll have to take care of me for the rest of your life..." Thea continued, smiling.
Grandma Grace laughed, nodding her head. "Okay, I understood. My dear granddaughter wants to maintain her slim figure for her future husband, doesn’t she?"
"Grandma, it’s not that.." Thea said, shaking her head.
Grandma Grace suddenly remembered and queried."Thea, I went to your room and found a purple bottle on your dressing table. Is it some pain relief oil?"
Her brow furrowed. "Ah!" she exclaimed, unable to recall."I don’t have any pain relief oil in my room." she wondered aloud.
Grandma Grace watched her, expecting an explanation. "It was a purple bottle, on the dressing table."
Her eyes drifted off, lost in thought. "Purple bottle... on the dressing table..."
Suddenly, her expression changed to alarm. "Oh no!" she gasped, remembering something."Grandma, did you use that bottle by any chance?" She asked urgently.
Grandma Grace reassured her, "No, dear. I went to your room to put away the washed clothes and found it."
Thea hesitated before revealing, "That bottle... Charlotte bought it for me."
She decided to keep quiet, recognizing Charlotte’s bold nature would have led her to reveal all, unashamedly.
In Charlotte’s room, a sudden sneezing fit overtook her.
"Ugh, why now?" Charlotte groaned, wiping her nose.
A superstitious thought crossed her mind. "Someone must be talking about me, or worse, cursing me."
The next day at university, Charlotte draped her arms around Thea’s neck.
"Thea, what’s your plan for Thursday?" she asked.
She raised an eyebrow, shaking off Charlotte’s arms. "For you, I almost got scolded by my Grandma."Charlotte’s expression turned innocent. "Huh? What did I do?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Don’t play dumb. You know exactly what I’m talking about – that bottle."
Charlotte’s face lit up with understanding. "Ah, now I get it. Did you tell her?"
Thea’s anger flared. "I’m not shameless like you."Charlotte’s demeanor softened, her voice taking on a playful, apologetic tone. "Don’t be so angry, darling. I’m sorry."
"Don’t follow me," Thea warned, turning to leave.
"Dar... Thea, don’t be so mad," Charlotte pleaded, chasing after her.
Liam, who was passing by, noticed them. "What happened?"
"It’s about a bottle..." Charlotte began, before abruptly stopping herself, zipping her mouth shut.
"Bottle?" Liam repeated, intrigued.
Charlotte hesitated, licking her lips. "Yes... I broke one of her favorite bottles."
She quickly gathered her thoughts and spoke up."Professor Liam, good morning. Just ignore her words. I have something to say, may I?"
Thea began, and Liam responded with a curious, "Hmm?"
"I could have said this over the phone, but... Did you remember the lady whose restaurant I’ve been helping at?"
"Hmm, the one where we had dinner once?"
"Yes... Aunt Evelyn, I mean, the lady is returning to her ancestors’ place, so she wants to treat you all after knowing you’re my friends."
She looked at Liam, expecting disinterest, but he remained silent.
Just as she thought he wouldn’t respond, Liam spoke up, "When is it?"
His sudden question caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily shocked. She had assumed he wouldn’t want to attend.
"This Thursday.."
"Okay, I’ll go." Liam agreed.
"Are you heading to class?"
Thea nodded. "Hmm, we are."
"Okay, I’ll go ahead." Liam said, walking off.
As soon as Liam was out of earshot, Charlotte spoke up, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"Thea, you didn’t mention that Aunt Evelyn also asked you to invite those three handsome men, did you?" Charlotte teased, folding her arms.
Thea’s eyebrows furrowed in annoyance."Look, finally, I’ll get to see these three handsome men together..." Charlotte’s eyes sparkled as she imagined the scenario, her white teeth gleaming.
Her face darkened. "You are—"
But before Thea could finish, Charlotte whispered softly, "Have you ever seen any other gender’s naked body?"
Thea’s anger boiled over, and she stormed off without hearing the rest of Charlotte’s provocative comment.
Charlotte followed her to their classroom.Thea took her seat, and Charlotte settled in beside her.
"Have you?" Charlotte whispered, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"What?" She asked, feigning ignorance.
"Naked body..." Charlotte repeated, her voice barely audible.
Thea’s face flushed as memories of Ryder’s naked upper body flashed through her mind. She mentally chastised herself, "Thea, stop this perverted thought.""No, I... I haven’t," Thea stammered, avoiding Charlotte’s gaze.
Charlotte teased, "You’re lying. I can see it from the way you avoided my eyes."
"Whose body have you seen? Mr. Thompson’s?" Charlotte asked, her tone playful.
Thea’s face grew hotter.
"Charlotte.." she warned in a low voice.
"I got it, it’s Mr. Thompson." Charlotte concluded. "I won’t ask you further."
Thea swiftly turned the tables. "I should ask you the same question... Have you seen?"
Charlotte’s grin faltered for a moment before she replied, "Hmm... I have."
Her face went slack, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Charlotte, I’d better keep my distance from you."
Charlotte’s expression turned vulnerable. She grasped her hands, her voice pleading. "Then I’ll be alone. Without you, no one is my friend."
Just then, their professor walked in. "Good morning, Professor," the class chimed in unison.
Thea freed her hands and stood up, joining the others in greeting their professor.Throughout the class, Charlotte remained unusually silent, her earlier playfulness replaced by contemplation.
As the classes ended, Thea said, "We have to go see off Lyla."Charlotte asked, "You’re not angry anymore?"
"No, I wasn’t at all angry with you.I just played along with you... you fell for my act."
Charlotte’s expression turned serious. "Thea, you wait. I was unhappy about the whole class... you made fun of me."
She quickened her pace, laughing. "It was a good chance to tease you."
"I will catch you!" Charlotte called out, chasing after her.
From the corridor’s open glass space, a figure was observing them. "Boss, when are you returning back?" a man standing beside the young, dashing man spoke up.
