Ventina revealed a happy smile when she thought about how they had met, especially when she recalled Ven’s handsome face on that day. It made her maiden heart pound hard, making her blush a little at how he was like a knight in shining armor to her.

“I can see that you really love him, especially from your beautiful smile.” Zeke said as he teased her.

Ventina blushed that she was caught red-handed for dreaming about her crush. “Don’t tease me! I’ve been crushing on him for four years so of course my love for him have deepened.” Ventina said as she tried to conceal her blush.

“Then would you consider me after you’re rejected?” Zeke asked casually.

“Hey! Don’t jinx it! I’m still holding onto the little hope that I have!” Ventina retorted back.

“Well, would you consider me now then?” Zeke laughed as he asked. He felt that this woman was so innocent and charismatic. Her smile and the way she laughs, everything was attractive to him.

“Are you serious? I was just talking about my crush and you want me to consider you?” Ventina laughed at him.

“What if I said I was serious?” Zeke said in a serious tone as he looked straight into Ventina’s eyes.

“I know you’re joking. I mean, I’m sure that I’m not even your type and you’re also not my type.” Ventina laughed as she brushed him off.

“Hey! What do you mean I’m not your type? I’m so attractive that many women want to be with me!” Zeke retorted playfully.

“It’s exactly that! I don’t want to have to deal with your exes and one-night stands.” Ventina replied back playfully.

The two of them then laughed at each other and continued chatting. Unknown to the two of them, a man was standing outside the restaurant and saw the two of them having fun chatting.

The man felt like his heart was pierced, especially when Ventina showed such a gorgeous smile. “Why? Why had she never smiled like that in front of me?” the man thought to himself as he felt an unknown emotion surge inside of him.

He took out his phone and typed a few words and sent it to the woman inside the restaurant that looked like she was having the time of her life.

Bzzt!

Ventina noticed her phone vibrate and glanced at her phone on the table. On the screen, a text message notification appeared.

‘What are you doing right now? Can we talk?’

The message was from the person she wanted to avoid the most right now; Ven. She was afraid of hearing his answer, so she was trying to escape reality by staying far from him as possible.

Ventina only took a glance at her phone and decided to ignore it and continue chatting with Zeke.

Seeing that his text was ignored, Ven felt like there was a whole in his heart. He thought that there was no way for her to ignore his texts. He was feeling quite shocked by Ventina’s actions.

“Ven! I’ve finished buying the balloons!” Sharon said as she walked out of the shop opposite the restaurant.

However, there was no response from the man before her, making her curious as to what he was looking at. Sharon followed his gaze and saw two people chatting happily. Almost immediately, she felt like her heart was pierced. She had actually invited him to go shopping with them today, but he had refused her.

‘So, the reason he refused me was because he had a date? And with Ventina? Are you kidding me? I even decided to step back for you, but this is what you do to me, Ventina?’ Sharon thought to herself as she smirked, mocking herself.

“Ven! Ven! Let’s go! We shouldn’t disturb them.” Sharon said in a hurt tone as she dragged Ven away from that spot.

Normally, Ven would have noticed the change in her tone but he was preoccupied with thoughts about Ven, making him unable to focus on his surroundings.

Ventina and Zeke finished their meal and decided to go shopping since they were free for the whole day anyway. Strangely, they never bumped into Ven and Sharon, perhaps because Sharon didn’t want to stay near Ventina and Zeke as she was angry at the both of them.

Time passed by quickly and it was soon evening. Ventina decided to return to the hotel so she could review the pamphlets she received. Zeke offered a room in his house but Ventina didn’t want to intrude on him, so she insisted on going back to the hotel. Zeke didn’t try to push his luck since he knew she was determined to decline him. He wasn’t in a rush anyway, so it was fine if she declined his offer once or twice.

The two of them parted ways and soon, Ventina arrived at the hotel. She spent several hours comparing the houses but somehow, her mind always wandered to Ven’s manor. How good would it be if she could live together with Ven without having to feel guilty for troubling him?