บท 9: Hindering her image

Tiffany stood there for fifteen minutes, waiting for Gabriel or Eveline to leave. Finally, after fifteen minutes, Prof. Beckham's office door opened, and Gabriel left.

Tiffany was about to walk towards Gabriel, but she stopped to look at the person behind him. The joy in her eyes disappeared.

Her brows furrowed in confusion as she watched Gabriel turn to face Eveline.

Quickly hiding back, Tiffany tried to eavesdrop on them. But no matter what, she was unable to hear a word.

Meanwhile, there was an awkward silence between Eveline and Gabriel.

While Eveline was cursing her fate, which slapped right into her face, Gabriel was somewhat happy with Prof. Beckham's suggestion.

"When would you like to start the lessons? I am free this afternoon. If that is okay, let us go to the library and start studying," Gabriel said in a tone that was more gentle than ever.

Gabriel's indulgence momentarily surprised Eveline, but she was unable to express her disapproval. Regardless of how charming he spoke to her, she would constantly question his motivations.

Eveline sneered mentally, recalling how Gabriel agreed with Prof. Beckham when he would've refused to guide her. He had left the other day when she refused to ask for his assistance, but now he was obligingly complying with the professor's request to tutor her by the time he returned.

Just as she turned to face him, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a figure lurking behind the pillar.

It didn't take long for Eveline to realize who it was and she instantly changed her idea and put on a smile.

Eveline's smile made Gabriel's eyes prick up, and his heart skipped a beat. It was the same smile he had been missing since yesterday. And at last, he caught a glimpse of the former Eveline once more.

Eveline took a step and moved slightly closer to Gabriel, almost surprising him.

"As long as you are comfortable teaching me, I do not mind." Gabriel swallowed at Eveline's honey-colored words.

He was taken aback by Eveline's sudden boldness, however it was also the first time he had noticed Eveline's natural beauty.

Her black hair flowed smoothly over her shoulder. Those hazel-brown eyes stared brightly at him, and those heart shaped lips appeared so juicy that he wanted to kiss them.

Eveline waited to see how Gabriel would respond, but the longer he continued to stare at her like a devoted puppy, the more she felt like ranting at him.

'What with this look as if he is smitten by me' Eveline considered it for a moment but quickly changed her mind because she knew Gabriel would never look at her that way.

Tiffany, on the other hand, was shocked to see Gabriel's lack of resistance toward Eveline. She remembered how he hated being touched or even shared a meter radius with any girl, but with Eveline, he appeared comfortable.

"All right, let us meet in the library after lunch," Gabriel eventually said, emerging from his reverie with a sincere smile on the corner of his lips.

This time, Eveline was taken aback by Gabriel's response to her. This was the first time she had seen Gabriel smile at her and that too with such genuineness and it somewhat melted her heart.

'No, Eveline, you can't lose your focus this time. Remember, how he treated you back then. Don't fall for his charms'

Eveline took a quick step back, her eyes growing cold as she thought of Gabriel's cruelty in her previous life crossed her mind.

Gabriel's smile vanished at Eveline's sudden retreat. Giving him a quick nod, she then turned and walked away from there without sparing him another glance.

Tiffany hurriedly hid herself, thinking Eveline would go before she approached Gabriel. However, to her surprise, Eveline stood right before her.

Tiffany froze, her eyes unnaturally still. The sight of Eveline's icy gaze caused her mind to go blank.

"Tiffany, what are you doing here, trying to sneak up on us?" Eveline asked, her gaze piercing her every being.

Eveline would have ignored Tiffany, but when she saw her stalking them, she couldn't control her urge to get back on her.

Tiffany had taken advantage of her kindness back then, but in this life, she wouldn't let her fool her. She acted like a friend to whom Eveline could put her faith, only to see her crumble that trust in front of her eyes.

Gabriel, who observed Eveline stop abruptly, furrowed. She was looking at something behind the pillar with apparent displeasure.

'What's the matter?' He said and without wasting any time, he quickly reached her side.

"What's wrong?" Gabriel asked Eveline before he followed her line of sight and found Tiffany behind the pillar.

"You? What are you doing here?" he asked, giving Tiffany a serious look.

Eveline, who had no idea that Gabriel would follow her smile. She could not help but notice the expression on Tiffany's face and wonder how she would react.

Tiffany, however, was astounded to see Gabriel. It was unexpected but looking at Gabriel with that displeased look on his face made her heart race.

She looked back and forth between Gabriel and Eveline, trying to think of a lie, but before she could say anything, Eveline spoke.

"She was waiting for me? Weren't you Tiffany?" Eveline questioned, darting her gaze to Tiffany, who was once more left perplexed.

Tiffany squinted her eyes, unsure of what Eveline was attempting to accomplish. One moment she was accusing her of following them, and the next moment she was covering up for her.

"Then why did you appear so displease looking at her?" Gabriel furrowed his brow upon hearing Eveline's response.

Gabriel had noticed the same look on Eveline's face when she saw Tiffany coming with him. The kind of despise that even Eveline couldn't hide made Gabriel wonder whether she hated Tiffany and whatever she told him this morning was true.

'I am sorry, but Eveline refused to take me with her because she no longer finds me helpful. She thinks I am somewhat hindering her image

Although Gabriel had trouble believing Tiffany at the time, his mind strayed when he saw Eveline's response to Tiffany.