Chapter 666 No One Has Confessed To Me
Chapter 666 No One Has Confessed To Me
Rowen observed Celine, who was on the brink of tears, and his frown deepened. “Don't cry, I won't report you to Aunt Katherine.”
Celine blinked at his words. “Really?”
As she spoke, a tear escaped the corner of her eye and traced a path down her cheek.
Feeling embarrassed, she quickly lifted her hand to brush the tear away. “I'm not crying,” she asserted. “Really.”
Rowen studied her for a moment, concerned that she might actually burst into tears soon. “You should get back to studying.”
Celine picked up her textbook, cast a quick glance at Rowen, and pursed her lips. “I truly didn't cry.”
With that statement, she hurried back to her room, clutching her textbook.
An amused glint danced in Rowen's dark eyes as he watched Celine disappear into her room.
Tsk, such a crybaby.
That evening, Harper called Celine.
She avoided mentioning the events of the afternoon, instead focusing on the photos they had taken and discussing their expressions in each one.
The conversation continued for over an hour. As Harper's phone battery started to dwindle, she cautiously said, “Cece, don't worry, they won't dare to mess with you again.”
Celine's eyes welled up upon hearing her words. “Yeah.”
Her voice quivered as she replied.
Not wanting to make things harder for her, Harper didn't press on. “My phone is about to die, I have to hang up now. See you on Monday!”
Harper was planning to visit her grandmother the following day. Otherwise, they might have made plans to meet up.
“Sure thing.” Celine's soft response came before she ended the call. She gazed at her phone, her lip caught between her teeth as she fought back tears.
The next Monday, Lewinn did something unusual, he didn't get out of bed.
During breakfast, Rowen unexpectedly spoke up. “Let me know when you're leaving.”
Celine was taken aback by his statement but managed to respond. “I'm going to school with Harper.”
Rowen arched an eyebrow “Lewinn won't be heading to school this morning, so he asked me to drop you off at Harper's place.”
“Oh.”
Just then, Katherine entered the room from the kitchen. “Is your friend named Harper?”
Celine nodded. “Aunt Katherine, do you happen to know Harper too?”
Katherine gave Rowen a look before letting out a chuckle. “Of course. Harper has been chasing after Rowie since junior high. It's been quite a few years now.”
Celine was aware of Harper's long-standing crush on Rowen.
Her expression shifted, but before she could say anything, Rowen cut in, “Aunt Katherine, are there more shrimp frittatas?”
Katherine gave Rowen an amused look and decided to expose him. “Rowie, feeling shy, are we? No need to be embarrassed. With your looks, it's natural for girls to have a crush on you, right?”
Katherine gave Celine an encouraging look as she continued, “Celine is very beautiful as well. I'm sure you have quite a few admirers at school, don't you?”
Rowen's eyebrows furrowed at this, and he chimed in, “Aunt Katherine, you know dating isn't allowed at our school.”
“Oh come on, rules can be bent a little sometimes.”
She then winked at Celine, adding, “But remember, Celine, don't let those boys take advantage of you. It's okay to date, but be careful. Handsome faces don't always mean they'll amount to anything in the future.”
Celine blushed in embarrassment. She lowered her head and admitted softly, “No one has ever confessed to me, Aunt Katherine.”
Katherine, thinking Celine was feeling down, quickly tried to uplift her spirits. “Don't worry. You've just transferred. Give it some time and you'll see.”
Celine felt embarrassed, realizing that Katherine had misunderstood her intentions. But she didn't know how to explain herself, hence, she simply chose to remain silent.
Rowen's hands twitched as he noticed Celine's embarrassment and her red ears.
Who would like a girl who always cries at the drop of a hat?
After breakfast, Celine went upstairs to get her school bag. When she reached the second floor, she found Rowen already waiting with his own school bag. “Ready to go?” he asked.
She glanced at Rowen. “Rowie, I can walk there by myself.”
Rowen's bike didn't have a back seat, and if he were to give her a ride like he did on Saturday, especially if Harper were to witness it, explaining her relationship with Rowen would be awkward.
“It's a ten-minute walk from here,” Rowen maintained his steady gaze on her. “Let's go.”
With little choice, Celine followed him down to the first floor.
To her relief, Rowen didn't let her sit in the front this time. He had set up two pegs at the back for her to
stand on, but still, she needed something to hold on to for balance.
As they moved, Celine stared at her hand placed lightly on Rowen's shoulder. The wind constantly brushed against her, sending a warm flush to her cheeks.
Suddenly, a child dashed out onto the street from nowhere. Rowen slammed on the brakes, and due to the abrupt stop, Celine was thrown forward, her arms wrapping around Rowen from behind.
It appeared as if she was hugging him unintentionally.
Rowen's body tensed when he felt Celine's softness against his back, along with her subtle, unique fragrance. “Are you okay?”
The boy's warm back left Celine feeling as if she had been scorched, even though their contact had only lasted for a few seconds.
Her face was flushed, and her thoughts were scattered. It took her a moment to regain her composure. “I'm fine.”
She quickly steadied herself as she responded.
The child they narrowly avoided crossing the street stuck out his tongue at them and made a face. Rowen pulled a piece of chewing gum from his pocket and tossed it at the child.
With practiced precision, he hit the child's arm with the gum, prompting immediate wails.
Rowen clicked his tongue. “Hold on tight, Celine.”
Before she could respond, Rowen had already taken off on his bike, swiftly gliding away.
Celine glanced back at the crying child. “Do you think they'll complain about this to Mrs. Lewis?”
“What's there to worry about? I didn't hurt him.”
Celine nearly burst into laughter as she realized that Rowen wasn't as aloof as she thought. When Celine got off the bike, Harper was just coming out of the house with a doughnut in her mouth. She was completely taken aback when she saw Rowen. “R-Rowen?” Rowen ignored her as he turned to face Celine. Seeing that she had gotten off the bike, he said, “I'm going back to school.” With that, he pedaled off into the distance. Harper blurted out, “Wait, did Rowen just give you a ride?” Celine replied awkwardly, “Lewinn didn't go to school this morning.” “Oh, Cece, you don't understand, do you? Do you know how many girls in our school wish for him to give them a ride? But do you know what Rowen said? He said his bike isn't meant for carrying passengers, the peg at the back cannot bear more than thirty kilos.” Harper turned to Celine as she spoke, “Don't tell me you don't even weigh thirty kilos.”
Before long, Rowen pulled up in front of Harper's house.
When Celine got off the bike, Harper was just coming out of the house with a doughnut in her mouth. She was completely taken aback when she saw Rowen. “R-Rowen?”
Rowen ignored her as he turned to face Celine. Seeing that she had gotten off the bike, he said, “I'm going back to school.”
With that, he pedaled off into the distance.
Harper blurted out, “Wait, did Rowen just give you a ride?”
Celine replied awkwardly, “Lewinn didn't go to school this morning.”
“Oh, Cece, you don't understand, do you? Do you know how many girls in our school wish for him to give them a ride? But do you know what Rowen said? He said his bike isn't meant for carrying passengers, the peg at the back cannot bear more than thirty kilos.”
Harper turned to Celine as she spoke. “Don't tell me you don't even weigh thirty kilos.”