STRAWBERRIES & CIGARETTES

CHAPTER 24

It was a cloudy morning, perfect to start the day with cool, breezy air. The sun is not at its brightest, and the clouds charm the blue skies as the busy feet of people stream the sidewalks.

Everyone is happy, except for a certain boy.

By now, Chenle can just sigh for the nth time, shutting his eyes from time to time to suppress his annoyance.

Somehow he's the only person to wish that the day would end with a strike of a clock, but it's just 8 a.m. and he still has many, many hours to spill.

"I didn't skip class just for this", he grumbled.

His inaudible mutters made Xifei look up; his towering height somehow made it uncomfortable for her head to stay ahead for a long time.

Sighing, the girl halted her tracks, making Chenle stop too, looking down with furrowed brows.

"Look, I know you're the very least likely to appreciate this day, but at least try to light that face up. People will stare and think that you're forced into this."

"Am I not?"

His rude reply made her bite her lower lip, blinking the tears away as she lightly shook her head and heaved a sigh. "Let's go to where you want to go."

"Home", he answered after a split second of hearing her words and flashed a forced, sweet smile. "Will you do that for me?"

Xifei scoffed, crossing her arms as she looked in front. "If I can just cool off the engagement, I will happily do that", She then stomped away, murmuring the other words she wanted to say, "even if I like you."

The day continued with Xifei trying hard to come up with a proper conversation and Chenle just keeping a straight face all throughout.

The only time his stern face faded was when they ate at an ice cream place—Chenle's choice.

A few hours ended like a pure torment to Chenle, who is currently sitting on the driver's seat while waiting for Xifei to get out of the boutique that's just on the sidewalk.

Impatiently tapping his fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel, head resting on his other hand, he caught sight of the girl stepping closer on his peripheral vision, unlocking the door lock in the process so she could hop in.

Once Xifei settled, Chenle pushed his sunglasses back in place as they had slid down on his nose awhile ago.

"Where?", Xifei asked cautiously, not wanting to annoy the boy more.

"Home", he simply answered and licked his lower lip, stepping on the accelerator in the process as the car swiftly ran on the highways.

Xifei didn't talk; the whole ride was silent; only the sound of the songs from Chenle's mixtape filled the atmosphere.

🚬 🚬 🚬

"Thanks", Harae smiled as Mark pulled the chair for her.