Silent Hearts: Operation Breaking His Ice Heart (Complete)

Chapter 8

I followed Rhythm to the cafeteria, still trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart. Walking beside him felt like being in a spotlight. Every step we took was met with curious glances, whispered comments, and not-so-subtle stares.

He didn't seem to notice—or care. Typical Rhythm. He walked with his usual calm demeanor, as if the entire world didn't exist. Meanwhile, I could feel my face heating up with every passing second.

When we reached the counter, I hesitated. Should I wait for him to order first? But before I could decide, he turned to me.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked, his voice steady and quiet.

I blinked, momentarily stunned. "Uh... I... um... maybe just—"

"Two orders of the special, please," he interrupted, addressing the staff behind the counter.

I stared at him. "You didn't even let me finish!"

He raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking up just slightly. Was that a smirk? "You take too long to decide."

"I do not!" I huffed, crossing my arms.

"You were staring at the menu like it was a life-or-death decision," he teased lightly.

My jaw dropped. Rhythm... teasing me? Was this real life?

We sat down at an empty table near the window. I noticed the stares from our classmates hadn't stopped, but Rhythm didn't seem fazed. Instead, he focused on unwrapping the utensils, placing one neatly in front of me before doing the same for himself.

"Thanks," I mumbled, feeling both awkward and flustered.

The food arrived quickly, and I tried to focus on eating, but it was impossible to ignore him. He ate with such quiet elegance, his movements precise and measured. Meanwhile, I felt like a mess, my nerves making my hands clumsier than usual.

"Why are you so tense?" he asked suddenly, his gaze fixed on me.

I nearly choked on my drink. "I-I'm not tense!"

He tilted his head slightly, studying me. "You've been acting strange lately. Is it because of the rumors?"

I froze. "W-What rumors?"

"The ones about us being engaged." His tone was casual, as if he were discussing the weather.

My fork clattered against my plate. I could feel my face turning red again. "I—I didn't start those rumors!"

"I know," he said, his eyes holding mine. "But they don't bother me. Do they bother you?"