Chapter 111: Heartbeats at the End of the Night

Before heading home from the zoo, we took the time to eat first. The dishes ordered by Kenn nearly filled the table in front of us.

Kenn sat beside Reno, while I, who was seated directly across from Kenn, sat next to Abel.

"Come on, eat plenty. You must be hungry after walking around earlier," Kenn said as he handed out the plates.

We began eating our respective meals. Perhaps because of exhaustion and drained emotions, I enjoyed the food in front of me a little uncontrollably.

I pulled apart the two crab claws and ate the tender white meat, not forgetting to suck the seasoning from inside the shell. It tasted truly delicious.

Once again, I looked for the next dish until my eyes found another tempting menu item. Before my hand could reach out to take more food, suddenly another hand touched the corner of my lips.

"Stay still for a moment," someone murmured.

It was Kenn’s hand.

I was instantly startled when I realized that the hand I saw was Kenn’s. My body stiffened at his small touch in front of the children. My eyes widened, while his fingers still lingered there, gently wiping my lips.

Kenn looked at me for several moments that made my breath feel as if it were forcibly stolen from my chest. His gaze was so deep and hard to interpret.

And that sound was heard again in my own ears.

Thump-thump, thump-thump.

My heart pounded hard.

What was happening to me? Why was my heart pounding this fast over something so trivial?

Oh my God, I could even feel it so clearly in my chest cavity.

"There’s yellow seasoning on your lips. You eat too enthusiastically," Kenn said flatly and calmly, as if what he had just done was nothing significant.

What did he just say? Seasoning? On my lips?

Oh, God, if possible, make me disappear from here right now. I beg you....

I pleaded silently because of the overwhelming embarrassment.

"Mother looks really funny when she’s eating crab," Abel exclaimed while chuckling softly.

I glanced at Reno and Abel who were laughing at me, then shifted my gaze to Kenn who seemed to be holding back laughter behind his flat expression.

"Why are you laughing at me instead?" I asked with a flushed face.

At that moment, without thinking twice, I spontaneously pulled my chair back. I acted indifferent just to cover up the embarrassment that had reached its peak.

"I need to go to the restroom for a moment. Don’t finish the food before I come back!" I said, trying to sound firm even though my voice trembled slightly.

After that, I immediately ran away while clutching my chest that was still pounding hard.

I had to calm myself down before my face truly exploded from embarrassment.

"Thank you, Kenn," I said with a smile that felt stiff when he took me home and offered his hand to help me get out of the car.

Kenn nodded briefly without releasing my hand. He looked at me with an intensity that made it hard for me to breathe.

"Is that all?" Kenn asked, his voice sweeping through the silence of the night. "You don’t want to say anything else?"

I swallowed, losing the words for how I should answer.

"Do you need me to walk you inside?" he asked.

His voice was low, almost like a whisper.

"No, no need, Kenn." I moistened my suddenly dry lips, attacked by overwhelming nervousness. "Besides, my house is already safe. Grandma may have locked the door from the inside."

"I just want to make sure you really reach the door safely," he added softly while observing my face.

Slowly, I pulled my hand from his grasp. To cover the awkwardness, I scratched the back of my neck that did not itch. I stepped back two steps until my back touched the closed car door, trying to shift my gaze to anything other than his eyes.

The surroundings were so quiet. Mr. Mamat’s stall looked dark and unoccupied. There was not the slightest sound from the corner of the street.

That was only natural because every Sunday the stall was closed. Mr. Mamat always said that everyone needs rest, including himself and his employees. Besides, the time already showed early morning. Everyone must have been fast asleep to welcome tomorrow.

"What is it?" That hoarse and deep voice greeted my hearing again.

I flinched, looked up, and found Kenn’s gaze resting on me calmly. "You seem to be looking for something in this darkness."

I shook my head quickly. "It’s nothing."

Kenn raised one eyebrow, looking at me seriously as if trying to read my thoughts.

"You’re not good at lying. Your face says something different."

"By the way, I’m relieved to see Abel and Reno so happy today. I hope they can be this happy every day," I continued, trying to show a cheerful smile in front of him. "Seeing them laugh like that, the burden on my shoulders feels a little lighter."

"How about you?"

The question left me dazed. I just stood there like an idiot. Kenn stepped forward, narrowing the distance between us until there was no space left. He placed both of his hands at my sides, trapping me between his arms and the car door.

I held my breath.

He leaned down, looking straight into my eyes. "How about you? Were you happy today?"

"I ... I don’t know," I murmured, almost inaudibly.

"What kind of answer is that?" Kenn whispered, his face now only a few centimeters away. "I need an honest answer."

I pleaded silently for God to help me breathe. My body stiffened spontaneously, while my eyes widened completely. In panic, I placed both of my hands on his broad chest. My intention was only to create some distance, but that small touch instead became a boomerang for my own heart.

Its pounding grew even louder. I cursed myself for this bodily reaction that betrayed my common sense.

"Y-yes, I was happy too," I said haltingly.

"Just happy? Nothing more than that?" Kenn teased.

The corners of Kenn’s lips lifted, forming a small smile. "So was I."

I froze.

Why did I suddenly feel like I really liked his smile?

Lately, that smile felt more sincere, without the mocking tone or cynical smirk he usually showed. If he smiled like this often, I was sure many girls would fall for him in an instant.

"Glad to hear that." I grumbled inwardly.

Why was my mouth speaking without permission?

"I mean, we should indeed be happy seeing Abel and Reno happy today. Right?"

Damn!

I felt like shooting myself in the head with a gun, or surrendering myself to a tribal chief in the wilderness who hated outsiders like me.

Yeah, at least I would not have to bear embarrassment this great.

Oh God, this was truly humiliating. Maybe Kenn would think I was strange now.

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