"Are you sure they're not gonna crash?" Eva asked Emerald, watching his friends climb into the high-end SUV.
"It's just a car. You think it's gonna cost you even if they did?" Emerald replied, his tone challenging.
"You do understand it's a f*cking limited edition?"
"So what? You can buy a hundred limited editions, am I wrong?"
"It's from Genna's estate, and it's a limited edition Volvo."
"Well, if it's Genna, I'm sure she's gonna let it slide, since I'm present in the matter, ain't that right, Eva?" he said, a surge of excitement—or perhaps Zinan's imposed arrogance—coloring his voice.
"Don't know. As for me, I only ride bikes and horses. Horses, right? Horses, right?" Eva acted like a spoiled brat, exaggerating her aristocratic background.
"Horses, mm, never rode one."
"Huh, such a pity for the prince. You need to learn that kind of royalty things before you put that ring on Her Majesty's fumble palm."
"I just wanna be a common man, you know."
"Well, you're one now."
Just then, his friends drove up. Emerald and Eva quickly got in, avoiding any further public attention.
Goutham and Albi took the front seats. Nihal, Ananthu, and Shanie piled into the last row, effectively sandwiching Eva and Emerald in the middle. His friends couldn't stop glancing at Emerald as Goutham drove toward the restaurant
.
"So, what's your story about your friends?" Eva asked Emerald, settling in.
"They are my friends," Emerald replied simply. Eva gave him a disappointed side-eye.
To ease her 'heart wreck,' he elaborated slightly. "Great people in need of time, or you could say they are like brothers, as you are a great friend for me."
"Ain't she your future wife?" Goutham interjected from the driver's seat.
"What the f*ck!" Emerald snapped.
"Oh man, such nice buddies you got here," Eva quickly interceded, sensing the tension. "I was just joking, by the way, when I said I'm gonna marry Emerald." Ananthu, however, wore a knowing smirk.
They arrived at the restaurant and took a large table.
"Show how much of an appetite you guys got, the treat's mine," Eva announced grandly. Shanie called the waiter and asked for "the usual" for everyone.
"The usual? What do you mean, you come here every day?" Eva asked, amused.
"We don't come here every day, but once in a while, you know," Albi explained.
"Emerald is the one who treats us, though," Nihal added innocently.
"Emerald?" Eva's interest sharpened
.
"I'm not rich, by the way," Emerald muttered quickly.
"His dad is," Albi corrected.
"Hmm, I didn't know about that," Eva said, studying Emerald.
"Really? But you're his cousin, right?" Ananthu questioned the story's rapidly deteriorating plot.
"I am, but I'm not that much in touch with his family, and I'm from his mother's side," Eva covered smoothly.
"He always says it's his dad's money. Like what the f*ck does that change? It's his money, after all," Shanie passionately argued, heating the conversation to perfection.
"He's so rich that he even sponsored the entire trip," Nihal concluded, adding the final garnish.
By the end of the meal, Emerald was high as Everest, feeling completely exposed—his friends had effortlessly roasted and revealed him.
Eva drove the way back, dropping off his friends one by one. Considering her volunteer duty, Emerald agreed to go home with her. She drove them to a nearby beach, parked, and got out of the car, with Emerald following.
"Why did you really come back?" Emerald asked, facing the churning water.
"I think you already know," Eva replied softly.
"Really? You were not chosen; you chose to volunteer."
"You don't understand. It's personal."
"I don't understand? What do you mean? I'm not a dumb-ass main character from a K-drama! I know what I see! You can't lie about something I see."
"It's a family secret. The family leaders know all about it. They see me as a little girl who doesn't have the heart to do what's right and wrong."
"You're a woman, a fine woman, someone I respect and admire."
"Hmm, you're making me happy." Eva took a deep breath, and Emerald matched her solemnity.
"Even if you take a hundred years to tell me why you chose to volunteer or why you raised your voice on my marriage proposal, my answer will be no," Emerald stated, his voice firm.
Eva shook her head slowly. "I thought I had a chance when I saw her. But everything changed when I spent some time with her. Now I know why you chose the marriage proposal. You truly are a gentleman."
"I don't understand what you're saying, Eva."
"It's not Genna, nor Lascrea. It's what's in your heart that I'm talking about."
Emerald's eyes instantly filled with tears.
(To be continued)