"Yeah. I just had dinner with Kevin and Leena in the restaurant. What're you doing now? Do you want to go out to have some fun?" Claire said excitedly. While she was speaking to Louisa over the phone, she proudly raised her eyebrow at Leena. She wanted to show that even if they didn't want to go to the bar with her, she could go with someone else.
"Go out? Is Kevin going with us?" Louisa sat up straight upon hearing what Claire said. She was elated when she asked.
My brother said that he was tired and wanted to go back to sleep, so we'll hang out alone. You have a lot of friends, right? Invite them. The more the merrier." Claire was still angry. Thus, her voice was somewhat low.
"Err… Well, sorry, I can't go out now. Maybe another day." The thought that Kevin didn't go with them killed Louisa's excitement.
"Err… What're you busy with? Didn't you say you had nothing to do usually?" Claire disappointedly asked as Louisa declined her invitation.
Yeah. But I just came home today, so I can't go out now. Otherwise, my dad will ground me." Louisa said in a no-nonsense tone which made her words believable.
"Fine. I won't force you." Claire's mood could not have been grimmer. She puckered her lips, ready to cry.
I'm sorry. How about going shopping tomorrow? What do you think?" It was then that Louisa sensed Claire was depressed. She realized that she seemed to have refused her too quickly. She needed her help to win Kevin's heart, so she had to curry favor with her. She tried to please Claire, lest Claire should be angry with her.
We'll see. Go on with what you're doing. I have to hang up. Bye." Louisa was right. Claire was really angry at her. She quarreled with her mother for her sake back in the capital city. However, she cruelly refused Claire when Claire wanted to show off in front of Leena. Claire felt really down.
"Hello? Claire, Claire, wait… Ah!" Claire hung up the phone before Louisa could say anything. Louisa didn't expect that. She slammed her phone onto the couch. 'Damn! How dare she be angry at me?' she thought. 'I have to ask her for help in the future, or I'll just ignore her!'
"Fine. I give up. Let's go home." In low spirits, Claire leaned back on the seat. She wasn't even worried if Leena would tease her because of this. Once again, she turned her head to look out of the window.
Leena looked at Claire with worries but didn't say anything. She never added to the misfortunes of someone who was already unfortunate. Claire needed some time to calm herself down. It was Louisa's refusal that dampened Claire's spirits. Leena knew clearly how it felt, so she could understand her at the moment.
Although Claire loved finding fault with Leena, she walked to her bedroom without any word after they got home. It was obvious that she was really in a bad mood. To be honest, that was a bit surprising.
"What happened? Who upset her?" Kevin asked confusedly. He didn't hear Claire's conversation with Louisa over the phone. Thus, he didn't know what happened.
I don't know. Maybe Miss Ye frustrated her." Leena shrugged. She was also confused but thought that she could learn something from the two ladies' talk over the phone. Claire was hurt because Louisa refused to go out after Claire said that Kevin would not join them. Before she called Louisa, she was sure that Louisa would go to the bar with her. Thus, she didn't expect Louisa to refuse her cruelly. This was utterly mortifying.
Claire is capricious. She always thinks that she's the center of the world and everyone has to listen to her. Forget it. Go upstairs to take a shower. I'll go to her room." Kevin was helpless. However, Claire was his sister. He had to fulfill his role as her brother no matter how unreasonable she was.
"Okay. Don't scold her. Talk to her nicely." Leena stood on tiptoe to naughtily plant a kiss on Kevin's lips and then went upstairs with a big smile. She felt it was interesting to surprise him in this way.
Kevin chuckled, watching her back and touching his lips. Then he shook his head and went to Claire's room. Standing at the door, Kevin pursed his lips and knocked. He didn't go in directly. Even though Claire was his sister, he had to show his respect for her.
Come in." Claire was lying on the bed with her coat still on. She was unmoving there while staring blankly at the ceiling.
Claire, what happened? Who upset you?" Kevin pushed the door in and frowned at the sight. He sat down at the bed and asked in a concerned tone.
Kevin, do you come to see me make a fool of myself?" Claire pouted. She sat up after Kevin came in.
"Make a fool of yourself? When? I don't know what you're talking about." Kevin had a kind of vacant look on his face. He didn't know what was going on.
Don't pretend. You come to deliberately make fun of me, right? Leena must be happy to see that I'm frustrated." Claire shouted loudly. She got engulfed in the hysterics.
"Why would we make fun of you? You got angry without rhyme or reason. Why must you go to the bar tonight? You're not in a hurry to return to the capital city. We can go have fun some other day." Kevin thought that Claire was angry about this so he tried to soothe her anger.
"It's not the reason why I got angry. Forget it. You won't understand even if I tell you why. Leave me alone." Claire knew clearly that Louisa made an excuse. She showed great interest at the beginning but she changed her mind after she learned that Kevin wouldn't join them. Obviously, she didn't want to go out with Claire alone.
"Then why are you angry? Tell me about it. Maybe I can help you solve the problem." Claire's equivocal reply aroused Kevin's interest. He was curious about what could trouble his sister who feared nothing and no one.
"Kevin, what do you think of Louisa?" Thinking about the things that Louisa entrusted her, Claire rolled her eyes and suddenly changed the topic. She wanted to take the opportunity to hear her brother out.
"How do I know this? I'm not very familiar with her. You should ask yourself about it. She's your friend, not mine." Truth be told, Kevin didn't know what he thought of Louisa. He didn't pay attention to her at all though he was sure of one thing - he didn't like the way Louisa showed her love.
Alas. I just asked what you feel about her. Is it really difficult to answer this question?" Claire shook Kevin's hand like a spoiled child. She didn't believe what he said. Louisa and her brother had known each other way back, so they must have come into contact with each other.
"I have no feelings for her. Are you satisfied with this answer?" There wasn't any trace of pleasure on Kevin's lips. The mention of Louisa upset him. He really disliked Louisa.
"Aw, come on! Louisa said you used to get along very well but you had little contact with each other after she went abroad." Claire tilted her head to one side and whispered in confusion. According to Kevin, nothing happened between them, but it was not what Louisa told her. Did Louisa tell a lie?