𝙉𝘼𝙍𝙐𝙃𝙄𝙉𝘼 𝙄𝙉 𝙋𝙊𝙎𝙎𝙀𝙎𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉

Ch/41 *Long Af*

*FLASHBACK PT 2*

"What do you want?" Max had to corner Hina when art class was over at one of the public restrooms in school. "You haven't been returning my calls." He glowered down at her while she glared up at him.

"Maybe you should go out and get advice on how to make me answer." He had to take short breaths through his nose. "We still have to intend that art event and you're not gonna embarrass me by not showing up. People expect to see a couple." She deepened her daggers. "Why should we go as a couple? We're not that, are we?" His muscles flexed when he bit down on his lip and backed away from her to swing his fists together.

"We're not debating about this!" He kept his distance. "I'll have a car pick you up at 8. Be ready." The blazing stare she sent him when he walked away from her was hot enough to burn through his soul.

Who the fuck did he think he was to demand her to be ready for their function tonight and why the fuck did she listen?

She angrily stepped into her heels and put on her glossy lipgloss. Then she did the last finishing touches on her hair. The petty girl inside of her wanted to say fuck the art event and fuck him but sadly Max was right. It wouldn't be a good look for one of them to be without the other when folks were expecting to see both.

Hinata wore a long-sleeved off-shoulder black dress that stopped above her knees. Even though it was in the beginning of May the weather got hotter and she hated sweating when she wasn't doing any physical activities. She took one last look at her reflection before pulling out her phone to tell him she was ready. But she didn't even need to do that because when she entered the lobby, there was an older gentleman in a tailored suit waiting on her. "Hinata?" She had to ignore the lusty eyes that were wandering on her in the elevator and now in the lobby.

"Yes?" The man extended his right arm and introduced himself. "I'm a driver for Max Zawa, I am to escort you to the art gallery tonight." She accepted the gesture and held on to his arm. He then walked her out to the all-black Range Rover. "Thank you." He shut the door and went over to the driver's seat.

"Would you like to listen to anything?" She shook her head no and he nodded. The ride there was quiet. Hinata was too deep in her thoughts to worry about entertaining others.

Kissing an ex was wrong, she knows that, she regretted it the minute it happened but going out and having sex with someone else as a response to that was unjustified.

The relationship was still new so they still needed to learn each other's triggers. She was open to it because letting someone go who was so dear to her heart wasn't something she was ready to do. He made her feel safe.

Who would wanna get rid of a genuine person like that?

"We're here ma'am."

She was snapped out of her mind.

The driver got out & helped her out of the car and then he walked her over to Max. "Thanks Guss." Max took her hand into his and stared down at her attire. "You look good." She rolled her eyes at his compliment and peeked over at his black suit with his black tie matching the black dressed shoes. She hated how good he always looked in those damn outfits.

That just made it harder for her to be mad at him and it was the same for him.
-
Hinata and Max were sipping champagne in their wine glasses. The art gallery was starting to fill up pretty quickly and many people came up to them, asking for them to explain their art pieces. They even had some high bidders who wanted to buy a lot of the art showcased.

Eventually, they both had to split and explain their artworks. But the one they painted together was one of the highest biddings.

"I painted this when I saw the Eiffel Tower in Paris." The older gentleman hummed at Max's info on his painting and they were interrupted when an older woman appeared from behind Max.