Chapter 147: I Knew You Were Waiting For Me
Thea’s silence was deafening, and Charlotte couldn’t help but feel a sense of trepidation. She knew that she had hurt Thea’s feelings, and now she was facing the consequences. Charlotte had seen Thea’s anger before, and she knew that it was not something to be taken lightly. Once Thea’s temper was ignited, it was difficult to calm her down.
Charlotte tried to think of a way to break the silence and apologize for her mistake. She wanted to make things right between them, but she was unsure of how to approach the situation.
For now, she just followed behind Thea, waiting for the right moment to speak up and try to mend their friendship. The silence between them was palpable, and Charlotte could feel the weight of Thea’s anger bearing down on her.
As Charlotte entered the library hall, she quickly scanned the room, her eyes locking onto Thea’s figure seated near a window. The soft glow of the natural light illuminated Thea’s profile, but her expression remained shrouded in mystery.
She slid into the seat beside Thea, the wooden chair creaking softly in protest. Thea didn’t flinch, her gaze remaining fixed on some point outside the window. Charlotte took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Thea..."
The silence that followed was deafening, a palpable force that seemed to press down on Charlotte’s shoulders. She waited, her eyes fixed on Thea’s profile, willing her to respond. But Thea remained still, her face a mask of calmness.
Charlotte’s voice cracked with emotion as she tried again. "Thea... I am sorry."
The words hung in the air, suspended in the silence like a challenge. Charlotte’s eyes searched Thea’s face. But Thea’s expression remained unreadable.
Charlotte’s voice was laced with desperation as she gasped, "Oh my god, Thea..." Thea’s gaze, which had been fixed on some point outside the window, finally shifted to Charlotte. Their eyes met, and for a moment, Charlotte thought she saw a flicker of emotion in Thea’s expression.
But it was quickly extinguished, replaced by a mask of indifference. "Now you finally looked in my direction..." Charlotte’s words tumbled out in a rush, her apology spilling forth in a heartfelt plea. "Thea, please don’t keep silent... I am truly sorry."
Thea’s eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing as she regarded Charlotte. But she didn’t respond, instead turning her attention to gathering her books. Her movements were deliberate and controlled, a stark contrast to the turmoil that seemed to be brewing inside Charlotte.
As Thea stood up, her eyes flicked to Charlotte, a silent command to move out of her way. "Move," Thea said, her voice low and even, but with a hint of steel beneath the surface.
Charlotte hastily complied, scooting out of the seat to give Thea a clear path. As Thea walked away, Charlotte felt a pang of disappointment and frustration. She knew that Thea was still angry, and that her apology had not been enough to bridge the gap between them. The silence that followed Thea’s departure was oppressive, a heavy weight that pressed down on Charlotte’s shoulders, reminding her that she still had a long way to go to make things right.
As Charlotte sat in contemplative silence, a girl around her age approached her, "Is Thea ignoring you?"
Charlotte’s gaze remained fixed on the spot where Thea had last been, her mind still reeling from their earlier encounter. "Who said that?" she replied, her tone neutral.
The girl’s smile was knowing, as if she had stumbled upon a juicy secret. "No one needs to say it," she said, her voice dripping with conviction. "The way she’s treating you is obvious. If she’s going to ignore you, you should ignore her too. Why bother with someone who doesn’t value your friendship?"
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed, her annoyance simmering just below the surface. But she remained silent, allowing the girl to continue her tirade.
"Let’s be real, Charlotte," the girl said, her voice taking on a snobbish tone. "Thea’s not exactly... our kind of people. I mean, we’re from the upper class, and she’s... well, she’s not. You deserve better friends, ones who share your background and values."
Charlotte’s patience finally snapped, and she cut the girl off, her voice firm and commanding. "Enough," she said, her eyes flashing with irritation. The girl’s words had struck a nerve, and Charlotte wasn’t about to stand idly by while someone disparaged her friend’s character.
Charlotte’s eyes flashed with irritation as she stood up to the girl’s condescending remarks. "Whoever is my friend is my own choice," she said, her voice firm and resolute. "I don’t want others interfering with my relationships or telling me who’s worthy of my friendship."
She took a deep breath, her conviction growing with each word. "And moreover, Thea will be my best friend forever, no matter what. Even if she’s ignoring me right now, I know that our friendship is stronger than any temporary disagreement. You don’t get to decide who’s good enough for me to be friends with."
Charlotte’s gaze turned icy as she addressed the girl’s snobbish comments. "And as for class, I believe Thea is far more worthy of being my friend than I am of being hers. She’s kind, genuine, and doesn’t care about superficial things like social status. So, keep your upper-class nonsense to yourself. I don’t need friends like you who only care about wealth and prestige."
With that, Charlotte turned on her heel and walked away, leaving the girl looking taken aback and embarrassed. She made her way to the exit, her head held high, feeling proud of herself for standing up for her friend and their friendship.
As she pushed open the door and stepped out into the bright sunlight, she felt a sense of relief wash over her, knowing that she had defended what truly mattered to her.
Charlotte’s eyes grew round with wonder as she turned a corner and stumbled upon Thea, who was resting against a nearby pillar. "What are you doing here?" Charlotte asked, her voice laced with shock and curiosity.
Thea didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on some point ahead. Instead, she pushed off from the pillar and started walking, her strides long and purposeful. Charlotte fell into step beside her, her mind racing with questions.
"Did you wait for me?" Charlotte asked, trying to break the silence between them.
Thea didn’t answer, her expression unreadable. But Charlotte couldn’t shake the feeling that Thea had indeed been waiting for her. She murmured to herself, her voice barely audible, "I knew you were waiting for me..."
But Thea’s ears were sharper than Charlotte had given her credit for. She had clearly heard Charlotte’s words, and a faint flicker of emotion crossed her face.
Thea’s lips twitched softly, threatening to curve into a smile, but she quickly neutralized her expression, smoothing out her features into a mask of indifference. Throughout the class, she continued to ignore Charlotte, who persisted in trying to engage her.
Despite Thea’s efforts to maintain her distance, her eyes would occasionally meet Charlotte’s, and she would be struck by the deep sadness and remorse that seemed to emanate from her. Charlotte’s eyes appeared to hold a profound sense of loss, as if she had lost someone truly special. Thea’s instincts urged her to respond, to offer comfort and reassurance, but she forced herself to remain aloof.
As the class drew to a close, Thea’s resolve began to waver. She couldn’t help but steal glances at Charlotte, who looked increasingly forlorn. Thea’s lips twitched again, and this time, a small smile escaped, only to be quickly suppressed. She was determined to maintain her strict demeanor, but it was clear that Charlotte’s sorrow was beginning to chip away at her defenses.
As the teacher dismissed the class, Thea swiftly gathered her belongings and made a swift exit from the classroom.
Charlotte felt a pang of desperation wash over her. She couldn’t let Thea get away, not without trying to make things right between them. But for now, she had to let her go, and instead, focus on finding a solution to her problem.
Outside the university compound, Charlotte’s driver, a kind and familiar face, pulled up to fetch her home. "Miss, is everything okay?" he asked, noticing the distress etched on her face.
Charlotte shook her head, feeling a lump form in her throat. "No..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Miss, did you need some help?" he asked, his tone gentle and inquiring.
