A walk on thorns

Chapter 42| Jealousy

Sabrina's POV

“You did an amazing job, beauty,” he said as we walked out of the school premises, his voice carrying a warmth that softened the air around us.

“And you’re good at scheming,” I shot back, rolling my eyes playfully. “I still can’t believe you contacted Mrs. Fiona before we came. You completely blindsided me while I was busy trusting you!” A chortle escaped my lips despite my faux indignation.

“Oh, beauty, that hurts!” he replied with exaggerated drama, clutching his chest as though I’d just wounded him.

“Had I known it was your former school, I wouldn’t have let you come with me,” I muttered, shaking my head.

“How could you have known?” he countered with a smirk. “But jokes aside, I got worried when Mrs. Fiona mentioned Rubina not being cordial with her peers...”

“It’s her parents’ situation, MJ,” I said with a sharp exhale, my mood sobering. “Rubina doesn’t open up to me as much as she should, but I know. It’s the unfortunate impact of her home life. The part about her attacking her peers...” I trailed off, the weight of it sinking in as I opened the car door.

“But she’s promised to try,” he reassured me as he started the car. “I believe she will.”

“I hope so. It would be awful to put in all this effort just for no one to show up,” I murmured, fastening my seatbelt.

“Trust me, Mrs. Fiona won’t let that happen. She’ll do everything in her power to make sure it works out,” he said, his tone steady and confident.

“Fine then. Where are we going now?” I asked, glancing at him as he pulled out of the parking lot.

“Lujain's shop,” He smirked, while I scowled at him.

“Lujain? Who is she?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual, but there was an edge to it I couldn't ignore.

“A friend of mine, a childhood friend. She's a chef and runs a shop where she sells all sorts of snacks,” He explained, and the words seemed to linger in the air, unwelcome.

“Great,” I said, tapping my fingers nervously on my phone. It was a gesture I often did when I was uneasy.

The drive was quiet, but halfway there, he broke the silence.

“Are you okay, Hazelnut?” He asked, his tone gentle, but there was an undercurrent of concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied with a tight smile. He didn’t look convinced, but that was all I had in me for now. We’d get to Lujain's shop, and I’d try to push down whatever strange feeling had settled in my chest.

“Here we are,” He said as he parked outside a beautifully designed building. I thought the shop would be tucked inside a plaza, but it was its own standalone space.

We walked inside, and he stopped near the door to dial her number. The moment his fingers swiped across his phone screen, I felt a flicker of discomfort. He smiled as he spoke to her, and something in me tightened. Why was I feeling this way?

“Let’s go in,” He said, holding the door open for me. I nodded, stepping into the warm, inviting space. The smell of freshly made snacks filled the air, making my stomach rumble, but I couldn’t focus on the food, not with the knot in my stomach.

“Welcome, Sir!” A girl at the counter greeted him, her familiarity with him obvious. I forced myself to smile, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes.

“Good morning, Sir. Please, have a seat. She’s coming. She’s with some guests,” Another worker said.

“No stress, Christoph. We’ll wait here,” He reassured him.