Chapter 138 138
I DON'T KNOW what we're going to do here at the mall. I don't want to buy anything either. Even though I don't need to support my siblings anymore, I still don't just spend money carelessly. Maybe being frugal has become a habit. I only ever spend money on books.
"Should we go to the bookstore?"
I looked at Luca because of what he said. "I thought you don't like reading books?" I asked, my forehead furrowed.
"Of course it's not for me. We'll buy books for you. You can read to me at night so it doesn't always end up in sex--"
I immediately smacked his arm. He laughed softly and just put his arm around my shoulder... As usual, he sniffed my hair again. I just let him be and continued walking even though my heart was almost going crazy because of what he was doing. I just tried my best to act normal.
We went to the bookstore. It feels like my eyes literally went heart-shaped as the smell of the books filled my nose... That's why I would always try my best to stop myself from entering a bookstore before. I think I would be okay even if I don't eat, as long as I can buy a book.
I immediately went to the classic books section. These books are expensive because there are only a few copies left of them... I bit my lower lip and immediately took the book The Catcher in the Rye. I've wanted to buy this for a long time. I've already read it in an ebook. But I still want a physical copy.
I looked at Luca and showed him the book. "Let's pay for it now."
Luca's forehead creased. "Is that all you want?"
"For now, I'll just buy this."
"Get everything you want, I'll be the one to pay," he said seriously.
I shook my head. "No need for that, I can pay for it," I said and smiled at him.
Luca flicked the frame of my eyeglasses. He just shook his head and took a bunch of books from the shelf and put them in the shopping basket. I just blinked while watching him. The basket was almost full of books. He held my hand after that and pulled me to the counter. I couldn't do anything but just follow him. The cashier was obviously surprised by the number of books in our shopping basket.
I was still silent until Luca finished paying. I couldn't do anything because he would still do what he wanted to do. Even though I've only been with Luca for a few days, I feel like I'm slowly getting to know his personality.
"Y-You really bought a lot," I just said while we were going out of the bookstore.
Luca held my hand. His other hand was holding the paper bags that were full of books he bought. I just shook my head and let him be.
"What should we buy next, Crescent?" Luca asked.
"That's enough, you might end up buying the whole mall too," I said, joking and shaking my head.
Luca stopped walking and looked at me. "I can do that, though... I can buy this mall, right now," he said in a serious tone while staring at me.
I stared at him too. "Really?"
Luca blinked. He tilted his head as if he's trying to figure out what he's going to say. He just bit his lower lip and chuckled. "You're so gullible."
I just snorted when Luca started walking again. I just quietly followed him... Why am I being like this, anyway? It feels like he can make me follow him so easily with just his simple words and actions... This is not good. It feels like I'm being bewitched or something.
I keep glancing at Luca as we walk. Just like me, the people we pass by are also staring at him. I couldn't blame them. He's sinfully attractive... but aside from that, there's something else likable about him... I hope he's not like this. I wish he wasn't clingy, gentlemanly, and sweet... I hope he's just a pure jerk. I hope I'll see something unlikeable about him... Maybe then I can still stop myself from liking him.
I froze when Luca turned to me. "Do you want to say something, Crescent?"
"N-Nothing," I mumbled and avoided his gaze.
We continued walking again, but I just froze when I noticed Luca stopped. I looked at him... It's as if he was surprised and his lips even parted a bit while staring at somewhere. I also looked at what he's looking at... I also froze when I looked at the woman who's approaching us now.
She's familiar... I think I've seen her before.
"Luca!" the woman smiled at him and waved her hand.
Luca's grip on my hand loosened until he finally let it go. I just swallowed because it felt like something stabbed my chest because of what he did... I can't explain it. It's the first time I've ever felt this kind of tightness in my chest... I can't figure out what the problem is.
I looked at the woman again. She's wearing a nurse's uniform. She looks beautiful... She's really beautiful. She looks like a delicate angel with her white skin, sexy body, angelic face, and her attractive smile.... She's way different from me, and she looks more beautiful in person.
I remember her now... She's the woman in the picture in Luca's room... the woman Luca loves so much.
"Sasha... what are you doing here?" Luca asked, as if he couldn't see anything else anymore while staring at the woman named Sasha.
"Is it wrong to go to the mall?" The woman snorted at Luca... even like that, she's still so beautiful.
I looked at Luca... His eyes are so different right now. The way he's looking at Sasha now is so different... it's as if she's the most beautiful woman in his eyes, as if he can't see anyone else... it's as if I'm not here beside him.
My chest is getting even tighter. I can't explain what I'm feeling right now... or maybe, I really know what it means... Maybe I'm just really afraid to admit to myself what the pain I'm feeling now means.
"You're not planning to introduce me to your companion?" Sasha asked Luca, as if teasing him.
"Oh," Luca seemed to come back to his senses and turned to me. "Sasha, this is Crescent... She's my friend," Luca introduced me.
I bit the inside of my cheek when I felt a pang in my chest again. I just shook my head and tried to erase it from my mind.
"H-Hello, Sasha," I just said and smiled at her briefly.
Sasha smiled at me too; she seems kind. "Hello, Crescent. You're so pretty."
I just smiled shyly and didn't say anything else. I don't know what to say... She's so beautiful, way more beautiful than I expected. No wonder Luca loves her so much.
"It looks like you just cried, Sashalyn," Luca said seriously while still staring at Sasha.
Sasha smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of her neck. "I-It's nothing."
Luca finally looked at me. But I froze when he handed me the books he bought. "Crescent, you can go home first," he whispered to me.
I just went silent and took the paper bags and looked at him blankly. He immediately came closer to Sasha; it's as if he forgot about me again... I couldn't do anything but just watch them.
I just smiled bitterly and bit my lower lip. I guess I was right all along... Luca is being a jerk. He just showed me his unlikable side... I just wish he should have done this sooner.