Leap OF Fate

Serene bit her lips as her eyes scanned Justin's face. All she saw was the movement in his jaws as he looked into the direction Bryan and Chester took. Somehow she felt ‌it would be easier if he showed his dissatisfaction rather than have him sit coldly beside her.

Unsure of what’s going on in his mind, Serene swallowed hard and felt icy chills run down her spine and spread through her body. The hand that held his tightened some more, afraid he’d let go. Tears accumulated at the rims of her eyes.

Part of her felt aggrieved by the events. She did not know that the necktie would resurface and of all the time it would; it had to be now when they’re just laying the foundations of their relationship, which at this point felt like a grain of rice could topple it.

“Shen, I’m sorry,” Dylan broke the silence. “I was just happy to receive a gift from Mary. I wore it on every occasion I could. I did not know that it had a history”.

“It’s fine, Dylan,” she gave him a curt smile. “As you said, you did not know that there was a story behind it.”

“Seeing that Mary gifted that to you, it only means that she holds you dear.”

Dylan’s face shone from her words. He cannot help but feel elated. Somehow, a weight got lifted off his chest from knowing that she did not blame him for today’s events. Serene mattered to Mary so much, he needed to make sure she does not suffer any grievances. As for his best friend, he’ll live.

“I made that couple of years back,” Serene continued. “Mary was still learning her craft, and I helped her. Remember, I said we planned on setting up a business where she makes the pieces and I will paint on the fabric? That necktie was our first piece. It’s not a surprise that she kept it. But if it were just me, I would have burned that”.

Both of them just listened to her explanation. The man beside her, in particular, looked at her through his long eyelashes. Both wanted to ask her why she wanted to burn such a sentimental piece, not to mention the painting was so detailed, it was probably difficult to do. However, they could ‌already guess the answer to their inquiry.

“Did you make any other collabs?” Dylan opted for a less heated question. Seeing that Justin’s facial expression has relaxed a little from listening to her, he wanted to just sustain the rhythm.

“Since she opened her shop, she would, from time to time, ask me to create patterns which she would have printed on fabric later. But she did not ask me to paint directly on fabric again,” Serene tried to sound lively, hoping to dispel the gloomy air around them.

“Why not?”

to areas we did not like. So,

part in the

No, I haven’t. I can’t recall when the last time I picked up the brush to paint. But

mouth. After a while, she turned her attention to Dylan, who just took a bite from

are together.” it was not a question but more of a statement. She didn’t have‌ to ask anymore. The

amusing to see his facial reaction. Just like now, he almost choked on his

reached for a glass of water to clear his throat. When he was breathing more freely, he looked at Serene and said

her smile

her balance. Finally, Mary has somebody in her life with whom she could share her passion

three of them left the restaurant. Dylan drove separately and went ahead

did not immediately start the car. He just looked blankly at the windshield, as if in

Justin’s side profile. She opened and closed her mouth multiple times, not knowing

voice almost

and watery at the edges, her mouth a bit swollen from all the biting she’d been doing. She looked like she’s going to burst into tears at any moment.

cat?”

you angry?” she bit her lower lip, her eyes unable to

reached for the back of her head and kissed her swollen lips. “I’m not angry, Serene,”

of emotion enveloped her upon hearing his answer. All the pent-up emotions she had rushed out like

felt that her breathing stabilized, he looked at her, wiping the traces of tears from

I am jealous,” he sighed,