CHAPTER 26: STOLEN SECOND WITH YOU IS ENOUGH

CHAPTER 26: STOLEN SECOND WITH YOU IS ENOUGH
I panicked. My breath caught in my throat and my body instinctively moved to turn away. But Gavin held me back, his hand firm on my arm.

“Don’t act guilty,” he whispered under his breath. “Instead, think of a valid reason.”

Valid reason? What could justify me lying on the floor like a lost child and turning the whole place upside down?

I straightened up, cleared my throat, and forced a small, awkward smile.

“Sorry,” I said. “You had to see me like that. I just… think better when it’s messy. And about lying down on the floor—”

“You’re cute together,” the staff suddenly said, smiling widely.

“W-what? N-no. It’s not like that—” I stammered, heat rushing to my cheeks.

“I think you’re nice, Ma'am Val,” she added. “Not like what they said.”

That caught me off guard. My heart fluttered a little at her words. I opened my mouth to respond, but Gavin cut in before I could.

“Just tell us what you need,” he said, his voice back to being firm.

“Oh, s-sorry,” the staff replied quickly. “I just wanted to ask Miss Reina about the schedule for the company’s grand ball.”

I blinked. “My parents didn’t even tell me I had to arrange that. Are you sure this is for me?”

“They made a memo about it. Here,” she said, handing me a folded sheet of paper.

I took it, my brows furrowing as I read.
A ball... and no one even mentioned it to me?

My face changed the moment I saw my name written on the paper.

“This is hard to believe,” I whispered.

“You can go now. I’ll take care of this,” Gavin said softly. He took the other papers from the staff and gave her a small nod. She quietly walked out of the room.

Gavin turned to me and took the paper from my hands. Then, he smiled a little.

“What now?” I asked, my voice sounding a bit upset.

“Don’t tell me this paper made you look that way,” he said while lowering his face closer to mine. He gently pushed some hair away from my face.

“Hey. I got this, okay? Don’t cry.” His voice was calm and kind. I felt like a child being comforted.

“But… my parents said I have to do it,” I said in a small voice.

“Then just stay with me,” he answered. “I’ll handle the rest.”

I didn’t say anything. I only gave a small nod and tried to smile.

“You look better when you smile,” he said. “So keep doing that.”

He leaned back and checked the papers again. Then he pulled his phone out of his pocket when it rang.

“Where are you going?” I asked, holding on to the sleeve of his suit.

He stopped. “I’m just going to take a call, okay?”

He didn’t pull away. He waited for me to let go on my own. When I finally did, he smiled and stepped away to answer the call.

I didn’t ask who it was. I didn’t want to know.

I walked to my desk and opened the top drawer. Inside was an old photo of me as a child.

I stared at it for a moment… and smiled.

It was a photo of me when I was fifteen.

I looked happy, playing the piano, smiling like the world was perfect.

Back then, I thought being a kid meant learning instruments, practicing art, and reading books every day. I didn’t know that childhood was also supposed to mean running outside, sitting in the grass, and playing ball with other kids.

I didn’t realize I gave all of that up—just to become the perfect heiress for a place I never even felt I belonged to.

But I keep hoping it will all be worth it.

That maybe… one day, my parents will finally see me. Appreciate me for real.

“What’s that?”

I didn’t notice Gavin come closer until he snatched the photo from my hand.

“Hey!” I shouted.

“Just a sec. I swear I’ll give it back.” He raised the photo above his head so I couldn’t reach it.

“Ten seconds,” I warned, crossing my arms.

When he looked at the picture, he froze. His face shifted—like he wasn’t expecting what he saw.

Then he glanced back at me… and smiled.

“Here,” he said, handing it back.

I took it, but I didn’t miss the strange smile on his face.

“What’s with that smile?” I asked, squinting at him.

He shook his head. “Nothing. You just look really different in that photo. That’s all.”

Before I could ask more, he turned around.

“Where are you going now?” I asked.

“I’ll grab some snacks at the store nearby. You want anything?” He reached for the car keys on the table.

“Soda.”

He nodded, then paused at the door and looked back at me.

“Stay here. If you leave… I’ll find you.”

He gave a playful wink before stepping out.

I stared at the door for a second, blinking.

What was that?

Weird.

Totally something a chickboy would say.

When he left, I just rested my back on the couch and released a smile.

"Thinking about me?" I immediately opened my eyes the moment I heard a man's voice.

It's Jake.

He's staring at my face right now.

"J-Jake?" I rose from the couch to distance myself from him.

"I didn't like how you avoided me earlier." He said with disappointment and sadness in his tone.

"W-what are you doing here?" I stuttered.

He stood up and walked towards my direction. As he goes near and near, my heart beats fast that I even forget how to breathe.

"W-what are you doing?" I asked, continuing to step back as he stepped forward.

"Why did you make me feel like it's okay to take the risk but have the courage to shut your doors on me? Why? Why Reina?" he threw one question after another to me without giving me a chance to answer the first one.

"Please. Stop this, Jake. You're making it harder for me. You're making it hard for me to avoid you." I admitted.

"You're avoiding me?" he asked. But before I realised, he cornered me against the wall with both his arms.

"I have to...... and I should've done that before everything that happened to us," I said, trying to avoid eye contact with him.

"Why? Because of that guy you're with?" he exclaimed, wanting me to admit that what he's claiming is true.

I shook my head continuously, trying to hold my tears back.

"Why can't you say something? Why can't you admit that you still want me? That you want me to own you? That you miss me?" he broke down.

"L-look at me." He ordered.

I shook my head another time in disapproval. But he's not someone who will believe me because just like what he told me, my actions will always deceive me.

When I refused to look at him, he stole a kiss and that's when I felt his lips again.

"Reina?" That's when I heard Gavin's voice.