Chapter 43


    Serene bit her lips as her eyes scanned Justin''s face. All she saw was the movement in his jaws as he


    looked into the direction Bryan and Chester took. Somehow she felt  it would be easier if he showed his


    dissatisfaction rather than have him sit coldly beside her.


    Unsure of what’s going on in his mind, Serene swallowed hard and felt icy chills run down her spine


    and spread through her body. The hand that held his tightened some more, afraid he’d let go. Tears


    umted at the rims of her eyes.


    Part of her felt aggrieved by the events. She did not know that the necktie would resurface and of all


    the time it would; it had to be now when they’re justying the foundations of their rtionship, which at


    this point felt like a grain of rice could topple it.


    “Shen, I’m sorry,” Dn broke the silence. “I was just happy to receive a gift from Mary. I wore it on


    every asion I could. I did not know that it had a history”.


    “It’s fine, Dn,” she gave him a curt smile. “As you said, you did not know that there was a story


    behind it.”


    “Seeing that Mary gifted that to you, it only means that she holds you dear.”


    Dn’s face shone from her words. He cannot help but feel ted. Somehow, a weight got lifted off his


    chest from knowing that she did not me him for today’s events. Serene mattered to Mary so much,


    he needed to make sure she does not suffer any grievances. As for his best friend, he’ll live.


    “I made that couple of years back,” Serene continued. “Mary was still learning her craft, and I helped


    her. Remember, I said we nned on setting up a business where she makes the pieces and I will


    paint on the fabric? That necktie was our first piece. It’s not a surprise that she kept it. But if it were just


    me, I would have burned that”.


    Both of them just listened to her exnation. The man beside her, in particr, looked at her through


    his long eyshes. Both wanted to ask her why she wanted to burn such a sentimental piece, not to


    mention the painting was so detailed, it was probably difficult to do. However, they could  already guess


    the answer to their inquiry.


    “Did you make any other cobs?” Dn opted for a less heated question. Seeing that Justin’s facial


    expression has rxed a little from listening to her, he wanted to just sustain the rhythm.


    “Since she opened her shop, she would, from time to time, ask me to create patterns which she would


    have printed on fabricter. But she did not ask me to paint directly on fabric again,” Serene tried to


    sound lively, hoping to dispel the gloomy air around them.


    “Why not?”


    “I guess it’s because I made a lot of mistakes then. Colors would bleed to areas we did not like. So, I


    guess, it’s not cost efficient for her”.


    “Do you still paint?” she felt relieved when Justin finally took part in the conversation. Her smile


    stretched from ear to ear upon hearing his voice.


    “For leisure? No, I haven’t. I can’t recall when thest time I picked up the brush to paint. But outside


    that, I  make some digital patterns for Mary from time to time.”


    He simply nodded at her answer and brought the ss of juice to his mouth. After a while, she turned


    her attention to Dn, who just took a bite from his foie gras.


    “So, you and Mary are together.” it was not a question but more of a statement. She didn’t have  to ask


    anymore. The tie was already a dead giveaway.


    He’s always been an open book, and it’s quite amusing to see his facial reaction. Just like now, he


    almost choked on his foie gras when he heard what she just said.


    Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Dn’s face was beet red and coughed profusely. He frantically reached for a ss of water to clear


    his throat. When he was breathing more freely, he looked at Serene and said simply, “Yes”.


    “That’s great!” her smile reached her eyes.


    Dn is the pr opposite of Mary’s serious personality. Having him in her life would give her bnce.


    Finally, Mary has somebody in her life with whom she could share her passion with. And as her friend,


    she couldn’t be happier!


    Shortly after, the three of them left the restaurant. Dn drove separately and went ahead of them.


    Alone in the car, the atmosphere between them was palpable. Justin did not immediately start the car.


    He just looked nkly at the windshield, as if in deep thought.


    Serene kept shifting her gaze from her hands and to Justin’s side profile. She opened and closed her


    mouth multiple times, not knowing what to say.


    “Justin…” her voice almost inaudible.


    He looked at her direction. Her eyes wide and watery at the edges, her mouth a bit swollen from all the


    biting she’d been doing. She looked like she’s going to burst into tears at any moment.


    “What’s wrong, Kitty cat?” he smiled at her.


    “Are you angry?” she bit her lower lip, her eyes unable to focus.


    He reached for the back of her head and kissed her swollen lips. “I’m not angry, Serene,” he smiled at


    her.


    She hugged him and the tears she had been holding on flowed out of her eyes. A rush of emotion


    enveloped her upon hearing his answer. All the pent-up emotions she had rushed out like a broken


    dam.


    When Justin felt that her breathing stabilized, he looked at her, wiping the traces of tears from her face.


    “But I am jealous,” he sighed, looking at her in the eyes.


    An invisible hand squeezed Serene’s heart when she heard his words. She understood why he would


    feel that way.


    “I’m sorry,” she said in a barely audible voice. She looked up to him, “I don’t know what to do anymore,


    Justin. I feel like for every step forward we make, my past would take us five steps back.”


    “And I feel so helpless because I can’t do anything about it. They’re all done.” an errant tear rolled


    down her cheeks, which she brusquely wiped away with the back of her hand.


    Justin held her close to his chest and kissed the top of her head. He rubbed her back to soothe her.


    “Stop crying now. I know that you have written the words of his vows. I witnessed how you spoke the


    words even before he did,” he smiled at her tenderly.


    Serene’s forehead creased as she pushed herself from his embrace to look at him. Her brows knitted


    as she stared at him.


    “I’ve seen nobody cry so much at a wedding like you did.”


    “You saw me?”


    “Yup and even gave you my hanky.”


    “That’s you?” she asked incredulously. Her jaws dropped to the floor as she recalled a hand extending


    a handkerchief to her. She did not bother to look at the person who offered her the handkerchief. She


    simply took it, wiped her tears with it, then ran away. “I owe you a ‘thank you’ then,” she said smiling at


    him.


    Justin simply chucked, gave her a quick peck on the lips, then drove away.