Chapter 18: Trust Me
Chapter 18: Trust Me
August pulled away from Flynn and looked at his face, trying to check if he's being serious about what
he just said.
His face still serious. "Answer me, August."
She could feel her heart pounding so fast. She can’t believe what he just asked her. All those moments
and kisses they shared seemed like the introduction to what’s coming next.
God knows how much she wanted to date him but she can't just say yes and let him quit his job just
like that.
And so she's come up with a very silly idea in her head. "You can't just quit your job."
"I can. I will."
"I can't. I mean, I can't just let you do that." She feels so confused and worried, torn and undecided.
She's always valued her work just like her parents and she's learned that since she was young.
And now, here's this crazy guy telling her he can quit his job just like that for her—to date her! How
crazy is that?!
But I swear to God! It feels so good. For someone like him to sacrifice the things he love for someone
like me!
"Work means so much to me. It's important for me, as it should be for everyone else. I mean, you
having a job is important. You doing what you love. Y—You." She blushed as she said the last word.
He sighed and smiled. "I think I already got an answer."
She looked down shyly. "I need to know though if—"
"If?"
"If I mean anything to you—" She uttered, looking away.
He holds her face in his hands. “You think I’d ever ask if you don’t? You mean so much to me. I kissed
you, almost made love to you. That wasn't just something I'd do for nothing, August." He looked into
her eyes. “It’s always because of you. I asked Stella to come back here and apologize to you for what
she did. I'm even willing to quit my job because being your professor made things harder for me to be
honest with my feelings and intentions.” He paused. “And you’d stop seeing other guys.”
She couldn't stop herself from grinning. "W—What?"
He sighed as he kissed her forehead. “Let’s date. Be my girlfriend.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. And if it's me being your professor that's stopping you to date me then I can—"
"We can date." She interrupted. "B—But in secret." She bites her lower lip.
His jaw clenched. "You're willing to do that?" He asked as if he could not believe what he just heard.
"I—I can't let you quit your job. I'll stop hanging out with the guys at work and Henry but promise me
you'll never quit your job."
He looked at her and kissed her hands. He moved his face closer to her to give her a kiss but a familiar
voice called her name.
"August?"
They both looked up to see who owns that female voice. Her eyes widened as she immediately pulls
her hand away from Flynn. "G—Gail."
Gail looked suspicious of them but she flashed her smile intended for Flynn. "Hi, Professor."
Flynn nodded after he gave her a concerned look. "Good evening, Gail." He greeted her with a slight
smile.
"Were you heading somewhere? I mean, I just happened to have dinner with a friend nearby." Gail
shared with a smile on her lips, not looking at her at all.
Flynn nodded as August discreetly gave him a pleading look, trying to tell him to make a plausible
excuse. "Henry invited me and my sister over dinner with Miss Peters."
She sighed inside.
Well, that's true and somehow a good excuse.
"Where are they?" Gail asked, looking around.
She went pale as she looked at Flynn and stuttered as she thinks for an excuse. "T—They—uhm—"
"We had to leave them at the restaurant and go back to the university. I remembered Professor
Anderson asked me to give Miss Peters the engineering book he borrowed from her when he filled in
my Friday class. But I left it at my desk."
"Oh, so you're heading to the University?"
"Yes." Flynn answered. She was all panicky but he's really smart he was able to come up with that
excuse.
Or is he just so good in making excuses?
"Okay. I'll go ahead then. I'm going that way." Gail points on the opposite direction. "See you,
Professor." She smiled at him widely before glancing at her. "August." She said and nodded at her.
She forced a smile and nodded while they watched her leave and walk away. She could feel that cold
chilling glare she gave her as she walked past her. She sighed before facing Flynn.
"That was a good excuse. I'm glad you came up with an excuse that fast." She chuckled shortly. "She
wouldn't think we aren't actually going to the University and—"
Flynn grabs her arm and gently drags her, walking towards the direction going to the University.
"W—Wait. Are we really going to Pearsons?" Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
"We can't risk it. We have to go there or she'd wonder why we lied to her. And you'd be so anxious
about how she treats you at work because of me. This is the least I can do." He hissed, clearly looking
upset about them tiptoeing in front of people they both know.
“You seem good at it."
He stopped walking while his expression went dark. He looked at her with a hurt expression on his
face. "I don't know if I have to feel happy with what you just said, August. Did you really think I'm that
kind of person? Making excuses and hiding? Lying?”
She suddenly feel bothered of how her words affected him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything bad with
what I said. I just think you're so smart to easily think of that feasible reason.I think we're reading each
other inaccurately."
He looked frustrated as he sighed soundly. "Can we just talk somewhere?"
"Yes, but definitely not at Pearsons University! We might bump into someone again.”
"Fine. I know a place."
"Okay. But we'll not be long, right? We should go back and have dinner. I mean, Henry and Stella knew
I left and that I was after you. It would be bad if they thought we left together somewhere."
"I don't want to go back there."
She noticed the pained expression on his face as he looked away. She remembered the woman who
was introduced to them as the guest chef.
Phoebe McClair.
She wanted to ask him about her but she doesn't want to cross any line. She knows Flynn has a
reason for not telling anything about it.
"What should we tell them then?"
"I'll handle that." He said as he pulls out his phone and started typing.
"What are you doing?" She steps closer to him as she tried to glance at his message to Stella.
I'm taking August with me. Make an excuse for us.
She went pale after Flynn tapped on the green send button.
That wasn't really a good message to handle the situation. With Stella.
It's as if Flynn read what's on her mind. "Don't worry. Stella can handle Henry."
"Yeah? I hope you're right." She said and noticed Flynn putting his phone to his ear and calling
someone. And she was surprised to hear him speak French.
"C'est moi, Hugo. Pouvez-vous me prendre trois rues à l'ouest de L'ARTE DEI SAPORI. Oui. Je vous
remercie. J'attendrai."
She studied a little French so she was able to understand part of what Flynn told the person on the
phone named Hugo. It seemed that he called his driver.
"Where are we going now?"
"Just come with me, August. Do you trust me?" He asked as he looked into her eyes and holds her
hand, clasping their hands like a real couple.