Crushing Bad

Chapter 33

So we basically stayed up until 4 am or something before everyone agreed to go back to their rooms. I was the one who had to convince everyone to go to sleep otherwise they would have still been up. The ship was sailing back to the port and everyone still needed to pack all their stuff before we reach.

Of course, I was already done with all my packing as usual. I'd finished it yesterday only so that provided me with extra time to wander around the ship while I waited for the others. Vance being Vance had got up at 8 today and woken everyone up after a few hours by knocking on all the doors until we opened them.

It's like you never need an alarm clock with this guy.

As I entered the main deck, I found Ivan leaning against the bar shelf, a drink in his hand. He looked up from his phone right when he heard someone near him and offered me a small smile quickly. He was finally alone, it was the perfect time to ask him.

"What's up?" He asked, scanning my face carefully as if he knew I had something cooking in my mind. "Why do you have that expression on your face?" He raised an amused eyebrow, taking a sip from his glass.

"What expression?" I cocked my head to the side innocently.

"The one you make when you're planning something," he told me, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

I let out a chuckle. This boy just knew me too well. "I just wanted to talk to you about something," I cleared my throat expectantly causing him to give me one of his knowing smiles.

"Of course you do," he drawled as I pondered what would be the right way to ask him. He didn't give me an answer before and I needed to know if there was something big they weren't letting me on about. I could be wrong about my assumptions but I couldn't let this go without trying.

"What are you hiding?" I decided to ask directly, meeting his gaze in pure confidence.

A serious expression carved its way onto Ivan's features as he shot me an alarmed look. "What?" He mumbled, placing his glass on the bar shelf momentarily to give me his full attention.

"Are you hiding something or are you hiding something for someone?" I muttered and watched him furrow his eyebrows at my question in thoughtfulness. By now, I was sure he knew what I was talking about.

"W-what do you mean?" He asked quickly.

"Samuel. You're keeping secrets for him aren't you?" I stepped closer to him, crossing my arms over my chest protectively while he continued to give me a startled look. His expression was far from being relaxed like before now.

"Yeah the thing between him and you-" he started, gesturing towards my figure but I interuppted him.

"You know I'm not talking about that right now Ivan," I warned impatiently. "Samuel's hiding something. And I'm sure you know exactly what it is.'

Ivan pressed his lips together at my statement before looking away towards the sea, suddenly being uncomfortable by my presence. "And maybe it's not my business to pry about it but I just don't have a good feeling about this one. Why doesn't he want me to know whatever it is that he used to do at parties?" I questioned.

Ivan didn't say anything for a few seconds. He didn't look like he wanted me to know the answer either. "You really shouldn't be here asking me this," he simply stated.

"Why not?"

"Because he wouldn't like that. Why can't you just ask him yourself? He would definitely have a better explanation for it," he told me in a low voice. I sighed.

I hunched my shoulders restlessly, the curiousity filling me up with its inscrutability more every passing minute. "I uh..told him it was okay if he doesn't want to tell me," I bit my lip, feeling regret make its way into my conscience for the millionth time ever since.