Leap OF Fate novel Chapter 43

Serene bit her lips as her eyes scanned Justin's face. All she saw was the movement in his jaws as he looked into the direction Bryan and Chester took. Somehow she felt ‌it would be easier if he showed his dissatisfaction rather than have him sit coldly beside her.

Unsure of what’s going on in his mind, Serene swallowed hard and felt icy chills run down her spine and spread through her body. The hand that held his tightened some more, afraid he’d let go. Tears accumulated at the rims of her eyes.

Part of her felt aggrieved by the events. She did not know that the necktie would resurface and of all the time it would; it had to be now when they’re just laying the foundations of their relationship, which at this point felt like a grain of rice could topple it.

“Shen, I’m sorry,” Dylan broke the silence. “I was just happy to receive a gift from Mary. I wore it on every occasion I could. I did not know that it had a history”.

“It’s fine, Dylan,” she gave him a curt smile. “As you said, you did not know that there was a story behind it.”

“Seeing that Mary gifted that to you, it only means that she holds you dear.”

Dylan’s face shone from her words. He cannot help but feel elated. Somehow, a weight got lifted off his chest from knowing that she did not blame him for today’s events. Serene mattered to Mary so much, he needed to make sure she does not suffer any grievances. As for his best friend, he’ll live.

“I made that couple of years back,” Serene continued. “Mary was still learning her craft, and I helped her. Remember, I said we planned on setting up a business where she makes the pieces and I will paint on the fabric? That necktie was our first piece. It’s not a surprise that she kept it. But if it were just me, I would have burned that”.

Both of them just listened to her explanation. The man beside her, in particular, looked at her through his long eyelashes. Both wanted to ask her why she wanted to burn such a sentimental piece, not to mention the painting was so detailed, it was probably difficult to do. However, they could ‌already guess the answer to their inquiry.

“Did you make any other collabs?” Dylan opted for a less heated question. Seeing that Justin’s facial expression has relaxed a little from listening to her, he wanted to just sustain the rhythm.

“Since she opened her shop, she would, from time to time, ask me to create patterns which she would have printed on fabric later. But she did not ask me to paint directly on fabric again,” Serene tried to sound lively, hoping to dispel the gloomy air around them.

“Why not?”

“I guess it’s because I made a lot of mistakes then. Colors would bleed to areas we did not like. So, I guess, it’s not cost efficient for her”.

“Do you still paint?” she felt relieved when Justin finally took part in the conversation. Her smile stretched from ear to ear upon hearing his voice.

“For leisure? No, I haven’t. I can’t recall when the last time I picked up the brush to paint. But outside that, I ‌make some digital patterns for Mary from time to time.”

He simply nodded at her answer and brought the glass of juice to his mouth. After a while, she turned her attention to Dylan, who just took a bite from his foie gras.

“So, you and Mary are together.” it was not a question but more of a statement. She didn’t have‌ to ask anymore. The tie was already a dead giveaway.

He’s always been an open book, and it’s quite amusing to see his facial reaction. Just like now, he almost choked on his foie gras when he heard what she just said.

Dylan’s face was beet red and coughed profusely. He frantically reached for a glass of water to clear his throat. When he was breathing more freely, he looked at Serene and said simply, “Yes”.

“That’s great!” her smile reached her eyes.

Dylan is the polar opposite of Mary’s serious personality. Having him in her life would give her balance. Finally, Mary has somebody in her life with whom she could share her passion with. And as her friend, she couldn’t be happier!

Shortly after, the three of them left the restaurant. Dylan drove separately and went ahead of them.

Alone in the car, the atmosphere between them was palpable. Justin did not immediately start the car. He just looked blankly at the windshield, as if in deep thought.

Serene kept shifting her gaze from her hands and to Justin’s side profile. She opened and closed her mouth multiple times, not knowing what to say.

“Justin…” her voice almost inaudible.

He looked at her direction. Her eyes wide and watery at the edges, her mouth a bit swollen from all the biting she’d been doing. She looked like she’s going to burst into tears at any moment.

“What’s wrong, Kitty cat?” he smiled at her.

“Are you angry?” she bit her lower lip, her eyes unable to focus.

He reached for the back of her head and kissed her swollen lips. “I’m not angry, Serene,” he smiled at her.

She hugged him and the tears she had been holding on flowed out of her eyes. A rush of emotion enveloped her upon hearing his answer. All the pent-up emotions she had rushed out like a broken dam.

When Justin felt that her breathing stabilized, he looked at her, wiping the traces of tears from her face.

“But I am jealous,” he sighed, looking at her in the eyes.

An invisible hand squeezed Serene’s heart when she heard his words. She understood why he would feel that way.

“I’m sorry,” she said in a barely audible voice. She looked up to him, “I don’t know what to do anymore, Justin. I feel like for every step forward we make, my past would take us five steps back.”

“And I feel so helpless because I can’t do anything about it. They’re all done.” an errant tear rolled down her cheeks, which she brusquely wiped away with the back of her hand.

Justin held her close to his chest and kissed the top of her head. He rubbed her back to soothe her.

“Stop crying now. I know that you have written the words of his vows. I witnessed how you spoke the words even before he did,” he smiled at her tenderly.

Serene’s forehead creased as she pushed herself from his embrace to look at him. Her brows knitted as she stared at him.

“I’ve seen nobody cry so much at a wedding like you did.”

“You saw me?”

“Yup and even gave you my hanky.”

“That’s you?” she asked incredulously. Her jaws dropped to the floor as she recalled a hand extending a handkerchief to her. She did not bother to look at the person who offered her the handkerchief. She simply took it, wiped her tears with it, then ran away. “I owe you a ‘thank you’ then,” she said smiling at him.

Justin simply chucked, gave her a quick peck on the lips, then drove away.