Chapter 139 A Scene
“It hasn’t,” she replied. “It just chose tonight to embarrass me.”
Adrian smiled faintly. “I doubt the car is trying to embarrass you,” he said, trying to assure her.
“You don’t know that,” she said. “It’s been unreliable lately.”
He stepped out and closed the door. “I’ll have someone take a look at it in the morning.”
“That’s not necessary,” she said quickly.
“It is,” he replied calmly. “You can’t leave it here.”
Rebecca hesitated. She didn’t like depending on people, especially people she just met. She really didn’t like it.
“I’ll call a mechanic,” she said after sometime.
“Tonight?” Adrian asked, and she paused.
Then she shrugged and opened her mouth to speak but closed it back. “…Tomorrow,” she finally said.
“And how are you getting home?” he asked, looking at her.
Rebecca didn’t answer. Adrian watched her for a moment. Then said simply, “I’ll drive you.”
Rebecca shook her head immediately. “No, it’s fine. I’ll get a ride.”
“From who?” he asked, looking at her with a raised amused brow.
She opened her mouth, then closed it.
Adrian raised a brow slightly. “That’s what I thought.”
Rebecca sighed. “I don’t want to stress you.”
“You’re not, don't worry.”
“But it’s out of your way.”
“It’s not.”
“You don’t even know where I live,” Rebecca countered.
“I can find out.”
Rebecca looked at him and saw that he wasn’t joking.
Of course he wasn’t.
She let out a small breath. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?” she asked in a resigned tone.
“No.”
She shook her head slightly. “You’re very stubborn.”
“I prefer the word consistent.”
Rebecca almost smiled but didn't.
“…Fine,” she said. “Just this once.”
Adrian nodded. “Of course.”
The night felt quieter on the drive back. Rebecca sat in the passenger seat, her hands resting loosely in her lap. The city lights passed by in soft streaks, and for once, she wasn’t in a hurry to fill the silence.
It wasn’t awkward. It just felt calm. Adrian drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting lightly beside him. Every now and then, he glanced at her, like he was making sure she was still there.
“You keep checking,” she said, when she noticed him glance at her for the fifth time.
Adrian didn’t deny it. “I like knowing you didn’t disappear halfway.”
She smiled faintly. “I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good.”
Another quiet moment passed. Then Rebecca leaned her head slightly against the seat.
“I didn’t expect tonight to go like that though.”
“How did you expect it to go?”
“Short,” she said. “Polite. Maybe a little awkward.”
“And instead?”
She looked at him. Then she shrugged and said, “I laughed more than I should have.”
Adrian’s lips curved slightly. “I don’t see the problem.”
“There isn’t one,” she said quickly.
Then, softer, almost like she was whispering it to herself, she said, “That’s the problem.”
Although Adrian heard her, he didn’t respond to that.
They pulled up in front of her house a few minutes later.
Adrian parked the car and turned off the engine. For a second, neither of them moved.
Rebecca looked out the window. Then back at him.
“Thank you… for bringing me home,” she said softly.
“You’re welcome,” Adrian said and then there was another pause.
But not long after, Adrian spoke. “I’ll wait until you get inside.”
Rebecca raised a brow slightly. “That’s not necessary. You've brought me home so you don't have to wait,” she said, shaking her head.
“I know. But—”
“There are no buts, Adrian. You should go home. You've done too much already,” Rebecca said and although Adrian wanted to argue it, he decided to let it go.
“Alright. I'll be going then,” he said and Rebecca studied him for a second.
Then nodded. “Alright.”
She reached for the door handle, then paused and turned to him. “Goodnight, Adrian,” she said with a smile.
“Goodnight, Rebecca.”
She stepped out of the car and closed the door gently. The night air brushed against her skin and she could feel it cooler now.
Rebecca took a few steps toward the house then stopped to watch Adrian drive off. She resumed walking after Adrian drove off but then she stopped when she suddenly started feeling a presence around her.
Something felt off. She turned slightly and that’s when she saw Derek, standing a few feet away, near the gate.
He just stood there, standing still and watching her. Immediately, Rebecca’s heart dropped.
For a second, she couldn’t move.
Did he… see?
She caught herself when she realized that wasn't what she was supposed to be worried about. What was he doing here? At this time and why now?
Hadn't he been busy with his Celia? What did he want from her?
“What do you want, Derek? Why are you here?” she asked, trying to keep a strong front even though she was breaking inside.
Their eyes met and Rebecca who had been expecting to see guilt in there frowned when she noticed something else instead.
“So this is what you’ve been doing,” he said, his voice was low and controlled.
Rebecca’s frown deepened slightly. “What are you talking about?” she asked, confused and wondering why he seemed annoyed rather than regretful.
Derek let out a short breath. “You don’t even try to hide it.”
Rebecca’s chest tightened when she realized he was talking about Adrian. He'd seen him.
Sighing, she said, “Even though I owe you no explanation, it'd been in your interest to know it’s not what you think.”
Derek laughed. A dry, quiet sound. “Really?” he asked. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks exactly like what I think,” he said, trying to hold back his anger.
“Derek, don’t do this here,” Rebecca said with a tired sigh.
“Here?” he repeated. “You’re worried about here?”
“I’m not worried about anything,” she said, lowering her voice. “I just don’t want a scene.”
“A scene?” he echoed, his jaw tightening. “You think I’m here to make a scene?”