Love Rivals: The Day I Saw Your Tears

149. Imperfectly Perfect

Her expression faltered, realizing what I’d just said. She took a small step back, her attitude shifting from aggression to hesitation. "You’re his wife?" she asked, her tone suddenly uncertain. "Then maybe you should control your husband better."

I took a step forward, closing the gap between us. "Oh, don’t worry, I’ll remind him not to be too kind to strangers. If his hand accidentally touched you while he was helping, we’re both sorry for that. Now tell me—did he touch you inappropriately?"

Her eyes darted to the side, her confidence diminishing. "No," she muttered quietly.

"Did he ask for your number?" I asked, pressing further.

She shook her head, her anger quickly dissolving.

"And I’m sure he apologized for any misunderstanding, didn’t he?" I continued, my tone calm but commanding.

She nodded silently, avoiding eye contact.

"Then there’s nothing more to discuss," I said firmly, my eyes locked on hers.

She muttered something under her breath before turning on her heel and walking away, her defiance completely drained.

Ryan quickly shrugged off his hoodie and draped it over my shoulders, the warmth immediately comforting me. I looked at him, still damp from the earlier incident, and asked, "You must be shocked, huh?"

He kept his gaze steady on me, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Shocked by your defiance, yeah. My heart's still fluttering."

The waiter arrived with our dishes, breaking the tension. I gestured toward the food. "Let's eat," I said, trying to steer the conversation back to something light.

But Ryan wasn’t done. His eyes lingered on mine, the serious tone in his voice undeniable. "How could you trust me so easily?" he asked, his curiosity evident.

I met his gaze, feeling calm as I replied, "Because it's a fact. I know you'd never do something like that."

He paused, his expression shifting to something more somber. "But I’m not perfect, Sarah. I can't always be right."

His words hung in the air as he glanced down at the food, his mind clearly elsewhere. "Do you remember back in twelfth grade?" he continued, his voice quiet but filled with the weight of the memory. "The day I got caught cheating in the pre-test exam? You defended me, even when Vicky and everyone else doubted me. The whole class teased you, saying you had a crush on me. You didn't argue back. You just stayed quiet... and then cried in class, skipping P.E. that day."

I swallowed hard, recalling the humiliation I felt back then. He was right. I had been terrified, not just of the rumors, but of my parents finding out. I had spent the entire day dreading that they'd hear and be disappointed, that they'd be stricter than ever with me.

Ryan leaned forward, his gaze filled with regret. "And the worst part?" he said, his voice a mix of guilt and honesty. "I did cheat that day. I’m not like those flawless heroes in the dramas you watch. I’m not all good."

I attempted to lift the mood, offering a light smile. "You really did that? Wow. But those notes weren’t in your handwriting. Did you change it up or something?"

He nodded, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Yeah, I did."

I shrugged, letting out a small laugh. "Well, it’s all in the past now. Just don’t give me a reason to regret trusting you again, okay?"

He looked at me, his eyes softening, and with sincerity in his voice, he said, "I promise."

Finally, that serious expression broke into a genuine smile. Seeing him like that, I felt the weight of the moment ease.

He looked at me thoughtfully, then said, "But still, I really fell for your boldness, your confidence."

I gave a soft chuckle and replied, "You know, back in school, I never fought back. I always tried to find someone to lean on, and there were so many times I begged for friendships. I regret those moments—they hurt me. By the time I reached college, I promised myself I would stand up for who I am, speak up if something didn’t sit right with me. That’s how I became the 'shameless beast,' as my dad used to call me."

Ryan smirked, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Then I must say, I like this 'shameless beast' much more than that meek girl who used to stay quiet."

For the first time, someone had embraced my craziness over my silence, and I couldn't quite explain how much that meant to me.