Chapter 114: Interrogation

I did not know for sure what time I finally fell asleep. The last thing I remembered when drowsiness began to take over was the faint sound of the dawn call to prayer echoing.

If it were not for Grandma’s call telling me that Kevan was already waiting, I might have stayed curled up on the bed and chosen to skip school rather than fight the overwhelming sleepiness.

I let out a weak sigh. “Just drive slowly. There’s still enough time, right?”

There was no response from Kevan, but I felt the car’s speed gradually slow down. I stayed focused on finishing the remaining physics problems, two questions left.

Suddenly, the car pulled over and stopped. My hand movements stopped instinctively.

I turned to him in confusion. “What’s wrong? Why did you stop?”

He smiled, but the smile felt bland. “It’s nothing. I’m just afraid you’ll get dizzy if you write while the car is moving.”

“Oh, thank you,” I said as I returned his smile, then went back to focusing on the problems in front of me.

“Which number are you on now?”

“Almost done,” I answered without looking up.

“I’m serious, which number?” he repeated, this time with a slightly different emphasis.

I murmured while writing the final result for problem number nine, then answered somewhat hesitantly. “Now number ten. It’s just that this part is rather difficult.”

“Need help?”

Strange. Why did I suddenly think of Kenn when I heard that offer? Maybe because Kenn had also asked the same question when we were at the zoo that time.

“Dear?”

I flinched.

Kevan was now frowning as he looked at me. “Were you daydreaming?” he asked probingly.

Nervously, I answered, “Can you do it?”

“Here, let me take a look,” Kevan said while showing his sweet smile.

I did not expect Kevan to be able to finish it so quickly. I was even amazed to see his very neat handwriting, far better than mine.

I clapped my hands excitedly. “Wow, that was so fast! It’s finally done. Thank you so much!”

Kevan laughed at my reaction.

Thank goodness, he was finally not gloomy anymore. Somehow, since earlier he had seemed quieter than usual.

“Why hasn’t the car moved yet?” I asked while blinking. “We could be late.”

Kevan let out a long breath, as if he were facing a very heavy situation. He shifted his sitting position to face me fully. I also released my seat belt so I could turn to face him.

“Is there something you want to say?” I said when I realized Kevan was only staring at me in silence. “Just say it. What is it? You’re scaring me if you stay silent like this.”

“Well,” Kevan cleared his throat while adjusting his sitting position. Slowly, his right hand clasped mine. “Yesterday, why did your phone get left behind? You really forgot it by accident, right? Or did you leave it on purpose so that no one would disturb you?”

I was startled. Was he accusing me of lying now?

“What do you mean? Do you think I did it on purpose?”

Maybe Kevan caught the change in my startled expression, because the next second he immediately corrected his words.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to accuse you. I was just very worried when I couldn’t reach you. I was afraid something might happen to you. You know how I feel if I don’t hear from you for even an hour?”

His face now looked very guilty.

I took a heavy breath. “Didn’t Grandma already explain it on the phone?”

“She did. But Grandma said you went on a date with Kenn.”

Oh God, Grandma. Didn’t I already say that I went with Kenn because of Abel and Reno’s request?

My eyes widened at Kevan’s words. “And you just believed Grandma like that? Grandma was only joking. You heard it yourself back at the orphanage, it was all Abel and Reno’s wish. We went to the zoo because of their choice. There was no date, Kevan.”

“Yes, I know. But why did your phone have to be left behind at such a perfect moment like that?” he pressed again. “Isn’t it strange for someone to go far away but forget something as important as a phone?”

Actually, all of Kevan’s questions were spoken in a gentle and patient tone. Yet I did not understand why my emotions were suddenly ignited. Maybe because I felt distrusted.

“So you still don’t believe that I really forgot? You think I was deliberately lying?”

Kevan tried to reach for my hand, but I immediately brushed it away.

He rubbed his face roughly. “It’s not that I don’t believe you. From the beginning I already said, I was just worried. You left without calling me first, even though yesterday I already reminded you to let me know.”

God, I forgot. Yesterday I really had promised to call him before leaving.

Immediately I lowered my head, no longer daring to look into his eyes. I realized that this was my fault.

“I’m sorry. Yesterday Kenn suddenly came to pick me up without telling me the departure time. I also couldn’t ask because I didn’t have his phone number. I was in such a hurry that I didn’t have time to let you know, and even my phone was left behind. I was just afraid Abel and Reno would wait too long,” I explained.

I lowered my head even further while gripping my uniform skirt. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ignore you.”

“You know, Dear, a whole day without hearing from you and not hearing your voice almost drove me crazy. I even recklessly went out to look for where you were, and saw....”

Kevan suddenly stopped his sentence. I instantly looked up and saw both his hands clenched tightly. He closed his eyes as if facing an intense inner turmoil.

“Forget it.”

Kevan turned back to his original position. I bit my lower lip. Before he started the car engine, I gathered my courage to ask.

“If I may know, what did you see? Where did you see me?”

He fell silent for a moment while gripping the steering wheel tightly, until his knuckles turned white.

“Maybe someday, if it’s really necessary, I’ll tell you. But not now. I’m not ready to talk about it.”

“But I—”

“We have to go. The school bell will ring in fifteen minutes,” Kevan cut me off without looking at me. “Save your explanation for now.”

“But I wasn’t lying. Truly.”

Kevan looked at me again. He looked tired. A forced smile appeared on his face.

He took my hand, then kissed it gently. “Yes, I know. Forgive me for being suspicious. I just love you too much. The most important thing now is that you’re still mine, and will remain that way. Never think of leaving, okay?”

Hearing his last sentence, instead of feeling happy, I felt the opposite.

That sentence sounded more like a warning than an expression of love. I smiled bitterly, even though I myself did not know the cause of the uneasiness I was feeling.

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