Chapter 190 - His cooking is better (1/2)

Harry froze.

Ryn looked at him with interest.

He gulped.

”Are you thinking about the gossip in the forum?” she asked, cocking an eyebrow.

”I...”

She sighed, leaning back. ”I almost forgot how it felt like years ago.”

”You always... have to deal with this?” he asked slowly.

”In a way, you're also the same. Girls like and adore you. Boys look upon you.”

He frowned. He was the same?

”What do you mean?”

”Jeremy and you are from super-wealthy families, handsome and good in sports. Both of you are popular, whether you like it or not.”

”You think I'm handsome?” he could not stop from smiling when he heard that word.

”That's not the important thing. What I want to talk about is that once you decided to become a model, your popularity has increased and whoever is close or look close to you will receive scolds and accusations,” she explained.

She was calm about this because she was used to this. When she started to become friends with Mika and then Jeremy, she received the evil eyes, jeering and accusations. Then, Jeremy joined the entertainment world right after they started their relationship. When he suggested to keep their relationship in secret for the sake of his career, she agreed. She did not want to receive more backlashes from his fans. The ones at the school was enough and that was before they became boyfriend and girlfriend.

Of course later on, when she was popular in her own career and kept getting 'harassment' by other men especially older men, she wanted to reveal her relationship with him to stop all these harassments and also wanted to walk together, holding hands with him in public. She wanted to tell everyone she belonged to Jeremy and Jeremy belonged to her.

But he refused and after arguments and that day, their relationship ended.

”Ryn?” Harry looked at Ryn worriedly. She suddenly kept quiet and started to look sad.

She snapped back to reality. She quickly reached for her drink and sipped it slowly, trying to calm down. Even after these years, the pain from the breakup still fresh in her mind... and in her heart. No wonder it was hard for her to accept Jeremy back. And it was hard for her to open her heart for someone else. She was scared of being hurt again.

”Are you alright?” he asked again.

”What did we talk about just now?” she asked, trying to pretend nothing was wrong.

”I... Honestly, I'm not sure,” Harry choked out. He did not want her to remember her sadness, and at the same time trying to stop her for asking him questions he was not ready to answer. Of course, he knew the answer but he needed to gather his courage first to say it loudly.

Ryn opened her mouth to speak but closed it back when the waiter came bringing their food.  She lifted their drink to give way for the plates. Then, she put the glasses back in between the plates and thanked the waiter.

Instead of speaking, Ryn focussed on eating her lunch. She had another class to go after all and if she did not finish her food on time, she would be late.

”How's the food?” Harry asked as they walked to the car. His hand was hovering behind her back, wanting to touch it but too afraid to do so.

”It's good. But the steak you cook is better,” she said with a serious nod. She did try the steak bowl in the restaurant. It was okay but not that good. She tasted better.

He grinned. Did she even realize she was praising his cooking skill was better than a popular restaurant? She did not even compliment about his face or his wealth but something he could which was cooking. If one day she confessed she like him, he knew it was not because of his family or face but because of him. Wouldn't that be great?

”If you want, I can make some for you.” Then he frowned. ”Why every time I go there, the house is empty?”

She almost stumbled at the question. Luckily she managed to control herself and did not fall down.

”Do you still stay at...?” his words trailed off as he looked at her worriedly. Please tell him she was no longer staying there... please...

”I've moved out,” she replied.

Harry smiled. Moved out? Meaning she no longer lived with that man. Although he knew the house they were staying in is a mansion and quite big, but Ryn is so beautiful and adorable. Everyone would fall in love with her.

”Then, the house...?”

”I've moved to another house.”

”Another house?” he felt like a parrot repeating her words but he could not hide his surprise. Why did she make such a sudden decision?

”I can't...” she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, ”I can't live in that house anymore.”

Her voice was low, he had to lean forward to hear each word but each word was filled with trauma, it made his heart ached. Without thinking, he reached for her hand and stroked it gently, trying to calm her down and give her courage.