Chapter 58 - Hard To Believe

For a long moment, Marcellus only continues staring down at Winter.

He decided to keep silent since he didn't want to say something he didn't mean. How she always pushes him to see other women is starting to get on his nerves. She did notice that he was no longer going on dates as much as he did before, but she ended up reacting the complete opposite of what he wanted -

He thought she would find it a good thing.

'Can't you see? You're the reason why I don't take women on dates anymore,' was what he wanted to say but could not find it in himself to do so. 

Right then, Winter saw how desperate Marcellus was starting to look.

She wants to know what he's thinking. She knows that there's something he wants to say. 

But when she was about to do that, she suddenly heard someone calling for her name. It's getting closer and closer to where they are. As soon as whoever this is has stood beside the entrance of that photo booth, she finally recognizes whose voice it is. 

"It's Ace..." she whispered to him, staying away from the entrance as much as possible.

"They already noticed that I disappeared. I can only guess what August is doing right now. I think I have to go."

"So, that guy is the one outside, huh?"

"It's fine. I'll go there and distract him. Stay here until we-"

Winter was abruptly cut off when Marcellus suddenly changed their positions.

He spun her around and backed her to the wall, taking his turn to corner her. Her eyes widened at this in surprise while her throat constricted at the loss of words. Perplexed, she could only stare back at him and try to figure out what he was up to this time.

But then, she realized that he had gotten more serious than ever. 

It showed through his hardened expression. His narrowed gaze appears steely while his mouth has curved down. Then, as if emphasizing his point, he leans down to her and inches his face closer to hers. 

"What do you think you're doing, Marcellus Lexington?" she hissed, keeping her voice low yet sharp.

"Say, do you enjoy having that guy around? You kept him with you even though you told me you're only going out with your brother," he brought up all of the sudden, dumbfounding her even more.

"What're you saying now? You're not making any sense."

"I saw it all, you know. The way he looks at you and the way he talks with you - he clearly has feelings for you."

"W-Wait a second. Are you seriously talking about Ace here?"

"Who else can it be?"

"Look, I'm not sure why I have to explain myself to you, but if it means getting this over with, I'm telling you at this very moment that there's nothing going on. We're seatmates at school, so we're bound to have something to do with each other. He also wanted to get close to me for a long time, and he wanted to know me better. Friends do that, okay?"

"Friends? Then, does a friend treat you the way he does-"

"That's how he treats everyone, Marcellus Lexington. He is that friendly. And he's kind. That is just how he is. Stop giving meanings to it." 

Winter is not so dense, though.

She is starting to have an idea as to why Marcellus is making a big deal out of something as small as this. On the same note, she already has an idea about what Ace feels about her. She understood their meaningful gestures and sincere advances, but she decided not to think much about it since she didn't want to assume things out in the open. Unless they'll explain their actions themselves, she's not going to pay too much attention on them.

That said, there's no use making her admit that someone has a crush on her - it's not her place to say that.

"And here you kept telling me to go on a date..." Marcellus suddenly said to no one in particular, talking more to himself rather than her.

"When you yourself is on a date with someone."

"Wait, what...?" Winter blurted out with a stupefied look, having heard his comment even though it was barely intelligible. 

"Date? You're now saying that I'm on a date with Ace?"

"It looks like that to me, especially with all that lovey-dovey, sweet talks of his. He kept smiling at you, and whenever you did the same in return, he'd turn into a blushing mess. He even got you a teddy bear back there-"

"Okay, that's enough. You're getting way over the top. Maybe you're only seeing things-"

"I'm a guy too, Ms. Agreste. I understand him better than you do. And in terms of experiences, I know better than you do." 

"When has this even become a competition of who is better, Marcellus Lexington?"

She can't help but sigh out loud.

And she can't believe that they've been arguing for some time now.

At this point, Winter can no longer hear Ace nor see him standing beside the entrance of the photo booth. He must have already left. Even then, Marcellus kept her trapped to the wall - he was even close to pinning her at this moment. Just when she thought she'd be the one doing the interrogation here, he went ahead and beat her to it. 

As much as Winter doesn't want to back down in an argument, she has to go back to the others and convince Marcellus to stay put for while longer.

"You know, if you want to spend time with me that much, you don't have to go all through these troubles. You'll just have to wait..." she started again a little hesitantly and pushed him back gently. 

"We're still going to that party together, anyway. Isn't that right?" 

He was a little taken aback at how she brought up George's party invitation out of nowhere.

This is probably her way of calling it quits. He did steal her away from the others and have her all to himself for a longer time than he intended. Besides, she was right about what she said. They'd be spending more and more time together after this - he would make sure of that. 

Apart from that, Marcellus should really give Winter back to the others before he loses control any more than this. 

"Right. Let's end it here..." he muttered as he took a step back.

"I apologize for getting too caught up in the moment."

"At least, you're honest. You really don't hold back. And to tell you the truth, I admire that honesty of yours..." she then confessed all of the sudden - and for a second there, he thought she was trying to flirt with him. 

"You're stubborn, though. You're not relenting until you get what you want. That annoys me a lot."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that part."

In the end, Winter wasn't able to learn why exactly Marcellus kept reacting beyond displeased whenever she said how she didn't mind his flirting with different women, but then again, she wasn't so dense that she couldn't come up with an idea or two. While she really doesn't want to assume, she has no choice but to take note that the way he sees her is starting to change from how he used to in her previous timeline.

'But still, no matter how I much I think about it, him developing feelings for me just seems so...' Winter pondered as she finally parted ways with Marcellus, blushing a little despite her will. 

'So hard to believe.' 

--- 

"I'm not sure if it's a good idea to do that, Ms. Violet."

"Come on, Winter. It's going to be fun. I promise you."

Almost a week had already passed by - and at long last, the day of the party had arrived. 

It turned out that George also invited the Miller's to the social gathering, considering that they're involved in her kidnapping last time. Winter wouldn't really know had it not for the phone call that she received from Violet earlier that morning.

Apparently, she's inviting her to have a little make-over for the event. 

"It's my treat, Winter! Let's just go to a salon and do some preparations," was what Violet had been offering to her in hope to spend time with her again. 

"I don't know, Ms. Violet. I don't really think that something like that is necessary. I'm not even intending to go all out with my looks tonight," was what Winter kept saying, feeling like she was doing much too much for her.

"That's fine. We can just tell the stylist what kind of look you want."

"I can do my make-up and everything else on my own, though."

"Doing it on your own is boring! Come on! Let's have some ladies' time before the party~! Besides, I already asked Sir August for his permission. You can't tell him where you're going out tonight, right? Then, make use of me as an excuse!"   

Winter flinched at what Violet just said. 

She actually knew that August would not allow her to go out tonight. Since the two of them exchanged phone numbers the last time they met, they could talk with each other any time they wanted to. It was more of his request than hers, though - knowing that she's close to her, he kind of thought that she's the one she's often together with. 

In a way, that somehow helped Winter.

And because Violet had a point, she eventually gave in and agreed to go with her to the salon. 

"That's great, Winter! I'm glad you're coming with me! I'll come pick you up in half an hour. So, get ready!"