Chapter 172 It's Rude
Katniss was about to shut off her phone and stash it away when Tristan's laid-back voice chimed in, "You should reply; it's rude not to."
Ignoring it wasn't an option. She knew exactly what to say.
Tristan's tone was casual, and he seemed indifferent as he adjusted the dishes on the table. But if his eyes weren't glued to her phone, she might've believed he didn't care at all.
She couldn't put off replying to Samuel. But she didn't want to do it in front of Tristan and risk Michael finding out about their relationship. It wasn't fear, just a precaution—better safe than sorry.
Would Tristan be upset if she didn't mention their relationship? She glanced at him and realized she had no choice but to reply right there.
So she did. [I want mutual affection, not just suitable conditions.]
That had always been her stance.
After sending the message, she looked up to gauge Tristan's reaction. He scrutinized the message for a moment, then headed into the kitchen. He came back with utensils, sat down, and started eating in silence.
Was that his way of giving the thumbs up?
Katniss found it amusing and joined him at the table. Suddenly, she remembered something and asked, "I'm running for office this weekend. Think I'll get elected?"
"With your skills, no doubt," Tristan said confidently.
"But I'm a bit worried, so I'll need to buckle down for the election in the coming days." She meant she needed to hit the sack earlier and not waste half the morning sleeping in like today.
Tristan paused mid-bite, looked up, and said, "Your worries are unnecessary. Don't waste your energy on things that don't matter."
So, was he saying she should focus on him?
Katniss furrowed her brows, thought about it, and then seriously asked, "But we're already together. There's no need for me to focus on you; that would be a waste."
It wasn't like she needed to go out of her way to win his favor or get his attention.
Tristan's brows furrowed deeply, his intense eyes fixed on her, a fire of anger simmering.
"I'm joking," Katniss said quickly, always good at reading faces, flashing a playful smile.
Her squinted eyes reflected the white light above, clearly showing the mischief in her eyes. She was letting her playful side show now that they were together.
He wasn't worried; he could teach her in time.
Katniss didn't sense the impending danger. After eating, she went to the balcony to hang up the laundry.
After that, she spent some time chatting with Saskia on her phone.
Saskia was super curious and wanted to find a time to meet up and talk about her and Tristan.
But seriously, where was she going to find the time for that?
Saskia decided she couldn't wait any longer and planned to visit the educational institution tomorrow.
Katniss thought Tristan was kidding when he said focusing on the election was a waste of time. She figured he'd be a bit more understanding.
But nope, reality check—he still lacked empathy.
The moonlight barely lit up the room through the window. The soundproofing here was terrible. She tried to keep her voice down, but Tristan made it impossible, pushing her to the limit.
Then he told her, "That's the right sound."
If she could use even a tenth of the voice she used when talking to him on the phone during the day, he wouldn't have to go to such lengths to teach her.
The veins on the back of his hand stood out as he tightly intertwined his fingers with her soft ones.
Though she was the one being tormented, his low growls filled the air with unspoken emotions.
At least he had some sense of proportion this time, not tormenting her all night like before.
In the morning, Katniss changed her clothes, holding a few scarves, and stood in front of the mirror, trying to decide which one looked best.
So this was what Tristan meant by making her believe today.
She felt helpless about such childish behavior.
Luckily, adding a scarf this season wouldn't look too weird. She picked a red one, which made her look vibrant.
They got into the elevator and ran into their neighbors, a young couple.
Katniss smiled as a greeting, not noticing the woman secretly eyeing Tristan.
Tristan was more than a head taller than the guy next door, and he had a strong, handsome presence.
In the cramped elevator, he dominated the atmosphere.
When the elevator doors opened, he held Katniss's hand and strode out, leaving the young couple to whisper behind them. "Look at him, then look at you!"
This comparison wasn't just about looks but also the intermittent sounds from late at night over the past two days.
They had sex for less than an hour, while Katniss and Tristan went at it all night.
From the rearview mirror, Katniss saw the couple's small talk and uneasily fiddled with her hair.
They really couldn't live here any longer; the soundproofing was so bad that you could hear the neighbors chopping vegetables.
So, no matter how well she held back, it wouldn't make much difference.
"Today's Friday. I need to go to the hospital tonight," Katniss said, making it clear she wasn't asking for permission.
Tristan glanced at the young couple in the rearview mirror, his well-defined hands gripping the steering wheel. "Alright, I'll take you there tonight. Call me when you're heading to the election. I've got a surprise for you when you get back."
"Surprise?" Katniss looked at him, but his face gave nothing away. She could only say, "Okay."
She momentarily forgot to tell Tristan to stop a block away, so he ended up stopping right in front of the education center, whether by accident or on purpose.
The receptionist stood up, craning her neck to see if a client had arrived.
"Next time, remember to stop a block away," Katniss said as she unbuckled her seatbelt, ready to get out.
Her wrist was grabbed, and she was pulled back. His long arm reached over to wrap around her waist, pulling them closer together.
Tristan's scent was fresh and pleasant, much lighter than the sweaty smell from last night. "Katniss, should I go with you to the hospital to see your mom?"
He turned slightly, his deep eyes reflecting an enlarged version of Katniss's face under his slightly furrowed brows.
"Haven't you already seen her?" Katniss said.
That day, when he and Nicholas went, they even ran into Samuel, who left angrily.
Tristan thought for a moment and said, "It's different."
Back then, they hadn't confirmed their relationship and didn't speak, but now, even though Sophia still couldn't talk, he heard she was conscious so he needed to introduce himself and mention his relationship with Katniss.
But Katniss hadn't told Matilda and Sophia about it yet. And she hadn't figured out how to bring it up. "Give me some more time. My mom is in a critical recovery phase right now, and she can't speak. If I tell her about us and she can't respond, she'll be very anxious."
Sophia must already have a lot to say in her mind. Bringing Tristan into the picture would only make her more anxious. Katniss worried that the stress of not being able to speak might affect Sophia's condition.
Hearing this, Tristan furrowed his brows but still responded in a deep voice, "Alright, I'll wait."
"Okay." Katniss nodded. Seeing his reluctance to part, her ears turned red. "I'm going to be late for work."
"You're the boss. What are you afraid of?" Tristan knew all too well the 'benefits' of being the boss.
He didn't know why, but confirming their relationship made him even more reluctant to part with her.
He missed her more.
Katniss pursed her lips, quickly leaned up, and planted a kiss on his lips. "See you!" She turned, opened the car door, and ran.
Tristan, still savoring the moment, lowered the car window and watched her rush into the education center. Thanks to the 'exhaustion' of the past two nights, her running was a bit awkward.
He smiled slightly, his fingertip lightly touching his lips where her lipstick mark remained. And the faint scent of roses lingered.
Katniss arrived at the educational institution, her mind still replaying Tristan's reluctant farewell. It was a stark contrast to the cold, intimidating Tristan she knew.
The office window was slightly open, and the cool morning breeze made her acutely aware that she and Tristan were really together. It was a bit unbelievable, but more than that, it brought her joy.
A female teacher, unmarried, burst in from outside, exclaiming, "I just saw a guy driving a G-Wagon outside. He was so handsome!"
When she arrived, the G-Wagon was slowly leaving, so she didn't know it had stopped at the education center's entrance. And that Katniss had gotten out of it.
As she walked over, she marveled, "Just a glimpse, and I couldn't forget him. He was so handsome! If he hadn't driven off so quickly, I would've stopped him to get his Facebook!"
Other colleagues passing by gave her a knowing look and glanced at Katniss. They had seen Katniss get out of that car!
The female teacher followed their gaze and saw Katniss looking over from her office. She quickly smiled and said, "Good morning, Ms. Grey. Too bad you didn't see that handsome guy!"
"Ms. Grey saw him! And she got out of his car!" someone whispered quickly.
The female teacher was stunned, then sheepishly smiled at Katniss and returned to her work.
Katniss looked away, avoiding the curious glances of others. Thinking about Saskia's visit today, she had to speed up her work.
Saskia arrived at noon, and they found a nearby restaurant. As soon as they sat, Saskia pulled off the scarf around Katniss's neck, glanced at the hickeys, and said, "Trying to cover it up?"
"There are so many people here!" Katniss took it back and tried to put it on again.
Saskia balled up the scarf and stuffed it into her bag, not giving it back. "You have a boyfriend. What are you afraid of?"
"I..." Katniss, being a tutor, couldn't go around with hickeys on her neck all the time.
Realizing this, Saskia took the scarf out and handed it back. "Come clean. Didn't you tell me there was no chance with him? Now you're saying there is?"
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