Chapter 76 Time To Go

Chapter 76 Time To Go

Steven's POV

When I heard Rebecca ask that question, my first reaction was surprise. I didn't expect her to actually go and look it up.

But that operation had spread so widely online. It was normal for her to find something about it.

I glanced at her quietly. She was looking at me expectantly.

All right. I nodded. Nothing to hide. "Yes. But that's all in the past now."

After I said that, Rebecca went silent.

Her silence made me a little uneasy. I didn't know what to do.

She just sat there quietly, not saying a word. That made me nervous. Was she scared of me?

I knew there were too many negative reports about that incident online. Those bloody images, those dangerous statements—any one of them would scare people.

I was afraid Rebecca might be scared of me because of it. Just like now, saying nothing.

This atmosphere made me uncomfortable. She curled up in her seat, turned her head to look out the window, and stopped talking to me. That worried me.

The slight furrow in her brow made me afraid she might be overthinking things. I didn't know what all she had found out. She shouldn't be troubled by those things.

While my thoughts were in chaos, a wild boar suddenly came into view. I hit the brakes hard.

Rebecca, who had been quiet, was startled by this. She grabbed her seatbelt and the handle. "Steven. What's wrong?"

I stopped the car. Right in the middle of the road, a wild sow was leading her three piglets strolling slowly past us.

Rebecca looked in the direction I was pointing. A small smile appeared on her face. "They're so cute."

I nodded along. "They sure are cute. But don't let their looks fool you. A full-grown wild boar can knock a heavy man flat."

Everett's snoring came from the back seat. Rebecca and I both turned to look at the same time.

Everett was sprawled out on the seat, yet sleeping like a baby.

Rebecca's laughter rang in my ears like bells, making my heart flutter.

"How come I never knew he could sleep this heavily?"

"Must be a natural gift. He could sleep like a log even in a typhoon."

Rebecca turned to look at me. The distance between us was no more than a finger's length.

I was going crazy. Her faint fragrance lingered around my nose. My heartbeat was getting faster and faster. It seemed a bit hot in here.

I thought I should roll down the window to get some air, so I could calm down.

Rebecca raised an eyebrow. Her warm, soft hand touched my face, turning my head to face forward.

"They're gone. We should go too."

My throat moved. I looked ahead, and starting the car was pure muscle memory.

God, how could her hand be so small. My face still seemed to hold the warmth from just now.

I could only tell myself over and over: focus on driving. She's still in the car. I couldn't let any possible danger appear.

Rebecca sat back in her seat. She casually pulled out a cookie and fed it to my mouth again.

The excitement I had barely suppressed surged back up. She was too kind.

The sweet fragrance of the cookie spread in my mouth. Rebecca, my dear girl, did you even know what you were doing?

What she thought was normal behavior was, to someone who had feelings for her, nothing short of direct temptation.

I knew that wasn't what she meant. I must be a despicable person. So despicable that even a very ordinary gesture made me think she was interested in me.

I should focus on driving. She didn't belong to me. Only the steering wheel in my hands and the road ahead belonged to me.

"Steven, are you scared?"

My hand on the steering wheel trembled. She really hadn't let go of the earlier topic.

Honestly, I thought I had long forgotten how it felt back then. But when she asked that question, I realized the truth.

No, I hadn't forgotten. Even just mentioning that matter briefly made my soul tremble.

But it wasn't the kind of fearful trembling. It was something closer to desperation.

I would remember the brutal deaths of my brothers. My ears would ring with the gunfire and chaos from that time. That blood was deeply imprinted in my mind.

But I couldn't tell her any of this. What she should know and feel was music, sunshine, happiness.

Not these things that couldn't see the light of day. But she seemed stronger than I had imagined.

"Steven, you're really so admirable. To be able to break out of such a dangerous environment and survive."

Hearing her excited tone and praise, I was deeply moved. She really was an extraordinary girl.

In the past, when people heard about things like that, they would always keep their distance, even showing fearful expressions.

But she was different. She wasn't scared. She was even happy for me that I had survived.

I really hadn't misjudged her. If she weren't Everett's girlfriend, I think I would tell her without hesitation—I love her. We would hug, kiss, feel each other's heartbeat.

But now, I could only bury my emotions at the very bottom of my heart. I couldn't tell her. I couldn't tell anyone either.

We shouldn't continue this topic anymore. That painful past—I couldn't keep talking about it.

Because I knew I couldn't bear to lie to her. I would tell her the real situation. So I couldn't discuss these things any further.

We should talk about her instead. Let me understand her better.

"Rebecca, when did you start liking the piano?"

As soon as I mentioned the piano, she came alive, brimming with joy and gesturing excitedly.

"Steven, you won't believe it. I've loved the piano since I was six years old."

I nodded gently, praising her generously. "No wonder you're so good. So you've been a piano prodigy since childhood."

Rebecca waved her hand. "No, you don't know. I really wasn't good at playing before. I had to play each piece many, many times."

"And there was this little boy back then who often kept me company. He was really amazing. He could learn any piece after playing it just once."

Hearing her words, a smile curved at the corner of my mouth. Of course I knew. Those days were when I practiced with her. She just didn't remember me now.

Actually, I wasn't amazing. I would secretly practice at home before going to find her. She just didn't know.

I suddenly hit the brakes hard and made a sharp turn onto a small road.

"Bang."

Everett, who had bumped his head, sat up abruptly. His head poked forward from the back seat, his tone urgent.

"Steven. What are you doing?"