Leap OF Fate

Chapter 30

The meal went smoothly. She now felt more at ease with his company. Although Justin looked stoic

and arrogant, deep down he’s a warm person. And gosh, that laugh. It hugged Serene’s heart and sent

shivers down her spine. She has not felt this good in such a long time.

After the meal, Justin drove her back to the hotel she was staying.

“Do you have any plans for the weekend?” Justin gave her a quick glance.

“This weekend? I’ll be in Coast City.”

“I see.” Justin nodded.

He stopped the car a few meters from the hotel’s entrance, which earned a confused look from Serene.

He cleared his throat and looked at her. He scanned her face, not wanting to miss a single feature. His

index finger gently traced her jawline, sending thousands of shivers down Serene’s back.

She wanted to look away, but Justin’s gaze held her eyes in place. He looked at her with so much

longing and warmth it made Serene’s heart beat erratically in her chest.

Different emotions played in his eyes. He seemed to fight an internal battle. After a while, he cupped

her face in his hand, still looking at her tenderly. Serene cannot help but lean on his hand and sniff its Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

fragrance.

“Serene…” His breath sounds labored.

“Hmmm…” she lifted her eyes to look at him.

The way Justin’s eyes looked at her simply took Serene’s breath away.

“I like you.” His eyes bored into her. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down when he swallowed.

Serene’s eyes rounded from his confession but said nothing and just continued to listen to him.

“I know that things between us are crazy and messy, but I don’t care about them. I only know that I

want to be with you.” Justin took his hand from her face only to hold her hand. He gave it a gentle

squeeze before putting it to his mouth and gave it a peck.

“Please Serene, give me a chance.” His pleading voice was knocking on Serene’s heart.

Her head was a mess. She cannot believe what she just heard. Justin liked her? When did this

happen? She felt a little giddy from his confession, but a heartbeat after the reality of their situation hit

her. Come on, Justin is Bryan’s brother-in-law. Her ex boyfriend’s brother-in-law for crying out loud!

“Justin…” She gathered all her courage and looked at him straight in the eyes. Her heart skipped a bit

when he saw tenderness laced with passion in them. She swallowed hard to steady herself.

“We’re adults, and it is pointless for us to deny that there’s chemistry between us.” Justin smiled at her

declaration.

“But you’re right, things between us are crazy and messy, I mean your brother and my ex.” She gave

him a weak smile.

She surveyed his face once more, tracing each feature with her eyes. She freed her hand from his,

then touched his cheeks.

“You’re a good man, Justin. The least I can do for you is to be honest.” She saw how emotions played

in his eyes. From tenderness, to passion, and now slight panic.

“I don’t think I’m ready to be in a relationship again. My past relationship has wrecked me to pieces I

don’t know if I’ll ever have the courage to be in another one.” She bit her lower lips as she tried so hard

to not cry in front of him. “I’m sorry, Justin.”

She felt her heart tighten and heat creeping up to her eyes. She did not want him to see her cry. So she

gave him a pained smile, released the seatbelt, and bolted out of his car.

Justin stared at her blankly as she walked her way towards her hotel. She was long gone, but he still

kept his position. A sneer formed on his mouth.

He released the breath that he did not know he was holding. Of all the people in the world, why did he

fall for Serene? He asked himself as he ran his hand through his hair. Why do things between them

have to be complicated?

He felt so defeated. If only I knew her earlier.

****

Serene plopped herself on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. She hugged the pillow beside her.

She felt her tears rolling down her eyes.

She knew she liked Justin from the time she agreed to give him another chance. She never thought

that Justin would like her. Now that they know they mutually liked each other, it would have been nice if

they can be together.

But things just have to be fucked up between them. Serene let out a long sigh. After Bryan, this was the

first time somebody made her feel good. It would have been a straightforward choice. Justin’s a good

man and any girl would want to be with him. However, she got hurt pretty badly and relationships

scared the living daylights out of her. It was so bad that it frightened her to trust once more for the fear

of getting hurt and broken again.

Serene let out a pained laugh. Of all the people she’d fall for, it had to be Justin, her ex’s brother-in-law.

“Justin…” She sighed as he said his name. A fresh batch of tears rolled down her face when she

uttered his name. It’s a pity that she cannot be with such a man. Her heart ached for him and wanted

nothing but to be held by him, but he spelled trouble.