Unpredictable Connection

14. A Taste of Something New.

Nam's POV:

Everyone had left, and there I stood—alone by the road, waiting for my beloved Krik. And yes, I say "beloved" with every ounce of sarcasm in my body.
"I swear, I'm going to kill him," I muttered.

His car finally pulled up, and I walked toward it. Krik stepped out with a smile, holding a bouquet in his hands. I hated that it made me smile. But no—he was late. I had every right to sulk. Ten minutes of waiting earned me that right.

He opened the passenger door like the gentleman he always pretended to be. I slipped inside, folding my arms dramatically.

"Babe, I'm so sorry," he said as he settled into the driver's seat. "I promised I'd be on time, but there was an injured kid by the roadside. Looked like she'd been hit by a car or something. I had to help. That's why I'm late."

I rolled my eyes. "And how am I supposed to believe that?"

He turned toward me, that small smile playing on his lips, his eyes full of that irritating honesty. "Babe, not again. I've never lied to you. Can we not do this today?"

Okay, fair point. He doesn't lie. Still, I wasn't going to let him off that easily. Ten minutes is ten minutes. A girl needs compensation.

"I want chocolate," I said, eyes narrowed, still refusing to look at him.

He chuckled and pulled out two chocolates.

My eyes widened. "Wait—how did you...?"

He gave my arm a gentle pat, his smile soft. "I know you, babe. Now come on, let's go."

I couldn't stop the smile tugging at my lips as he started the engine. Krik had money, sure, but he was nothing like the arrogant rich boys I'd seen around. He was kind. Grounded. And he loved me—maybe more than I deserved.

Just as I unwrapped the chocolate, he cleared his throat. I looked over.

"Babe," he said, keeping his eyes on the road, "shall we get married?"

I choked. "What?!"

"I mean it," he said with that calm, stupidly handsome smile. "I want to make you mine. Completely."

What the actual hell? I wanted to punch him. Sweetly, of course.

"After my graduation," I replied, firmly. "I'm not ready for responsibilities yet."

"I can wait for you for years," he said softly. I saw him nod from the corner of my eye.

"Thanks," I mumbled, turning my face toward the window. I didn't understand it. I should've felt love, excitement... but mostly, I felt irritation. Why?

"I love you, Namo Namo," he said playfully.

My jaw clenched. This jerk.

"Stop calling me that. I hate you," I snapped, grabbing a water bottle to cool off.

"But I love you—and I always will," he said, his grin returning. Then his tone shifted—softer, more serious. "I know this isn't easy for you. I was chosen by your parents, and maybe you've never really seen me. But have you ever tried to? I'm not forcing anything, Nam. I just... want a chance. Don't I deserve that much?"

His words silenced me. Maybe... this was the first time I'd ever been alone with him, really alone. Maybe I hadn't given him a fair shot. I didn't even know him fully.

I set the bottle down and looked back out the window, unsure what to feel.

His smile had faded. The rest of the ride was quiet, the mood turning heavier.

We finally reached the mansion, and I spotted the cars already parked.

"Oh no—are we late?" I asked, quickly unbuckling.

Krik stepped out, locking the car. "Nope. Freen isn't here yet."

I scanned the lot. Freen's car wasn't there. I sighed in relief.

Noey's POV:

The moment we stepped into the mansion, I realized—shockingly—we were the first to arrive. That might be a first for me. Irin, Heng, and Kate walked in behind me.

Aunty greeted us warmly and offered some refreshments. We sat on the couch, chatting and sipping juice, but after about fifteen minutes, no one else had arrived. I turned to her.

"Aunty, I think I'll head up to Freen's room."

She smiled, giving a nod. "Go on, dear. I'll start on lunch. Have fun."

I led the girls upstairs. As we reached the top, Irin paused, her gaze falling on a door opposite Freen's room.

"Whose room is that?" she asked, pointing.

I exchanged a quick glance with Kate before she cleared her throat and replied, "Oh, it's just one of the extra rooms. Big house—lots of unused space."

Irin nodded, though I could tell she wasn't convinced. Thankfully, she didn't press the issue, and we stepped into Freen's room.

It was exactly how I remembered it—neat, classic, her personality in every detail. I flopped onto the couch tucked into the corner, and Irin followed suit beside me. Kate and Heng made themselves comfortable on the bed, and Heng immediately reached for the snack compartments mounted above it.

There were three organized sections—one for books, one for her laptop, and one for her treasured snacks.

"Wow," Heng said with a laugh. "She really lives like a queen."

And honestly? She kind of does.

As we sat there, chatting about everything and nothing, the door creaked open and in walked P'fa and Char. Heng immediately crossed his arms with a smug grin tugging at his lips.

"Well, well. Look who finally graced us with her presence."

P'fa casually tossed her bike keys toward him, which he caught with a soft laugh. Char walked in quietly and slid onto the couch beside Irin, offering a small smile. P'fa's gaze landed on me and her brow arched.

"Someone decided to show up on time for once, huh?"

I flashed a triumphant grin, crossing my legs with flair. "And our famously punctual P'fa turned up late? That's new. What happened?"

She rolled her eyes and dramatically flopped onto the bed between Heng and Kate. "Was just riding slow today. Took my time."

Heng snorted mid-chew, a chip crunching loudly in his mouth as he chuckled. P'fa narrowed her eyes at him.

"And why are you laughing like a pig?"

Without missing a beat, Heng nudged her arm with a teasing jab. What he said next made all of us—Kate, Irin, and even me—pause in surprise.

"Were you really riding slow or... enjoying a certain café? I saw you."

P'fa's eyes widened in disbelief while Char's cheeks flushed a deep pink. We all turned toward her, eyebrows raised in unison. P'fa cleared her throat, trying to mask the moment.

"Well... I thought I needed some coffee. I was feeling a little sleepy, okay?"

Her voice was just a little too high-pitched to be convincing, and I could tell she was lying through her teeth. Still, I wasn't about to call her out. I enjoy having a pretty face, and I'm not in the mood to get punched by P'fa today.

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That's it, readers. Stay healthy and thanks for reading... And I'm publishing this chapter fast because someone asked for next chapter in comment. Thanks a lot for commenting. It's published for you. Enjoy..

susu na..