Chapter 60: Chapter 60

Brett and Lawrence held their meeting in a small restaurant far from the campsite.

While Lawrence was briefing the documents that Brett had prepared, Brett observed the young CEO. He’s handsome, young, smart, and rich. He’s a full package, and back in the day, Lawrence probably made a lot of women cry.

“The proposal is good,” Lawrence said, placing the documents back on the table. He lifted his head and when he connected with Brett, the grimace smoothened on Brett’s face, as if it did not exist.

“I was glad that you loved the idea,” Brett said, giving a business-like beam.

Lawrence leaned his back on the chair and crossed his arms. “It was well prepared. There were no doubts since you were known for your unique ideas and stern critiques in business.”

“You can say that it is one of my charms.”

“Maybe? Never expected that you would come and meet me outside the city for this.”

“The sooner you sign the contract, the better. That’s my motto.”

The two of them laughed. When the beam subsided, Brett peeked at Lawrence. Then, he carefully detached his lips.

“Mr. Lawrence, it must be hard.”

“What do you mean?”

“Working in the mall and then working as a professor in the review center.”

“Ahhh, you mean that. It was really difficult. But if this is the only way to stay close with my fiancée.”

A bitter emotion flashed on Brett’s pretty face. But he was good at hiding his emotions and concealed it with a smile.

“Speaking of your fiancée, may I ask how the two of you got engaged?” Brett tossed a question.

“It was… fate?” Lawrence answered, the tone added quietly was quite meaningful. A mysterious way of speaking.

Brett knew Lawrence wasn’t an easy foe.

Lawrence picked up the glass from the table. He slowly continued to talk, spinning the glass with a hesitant look.

“I don’t know how to tell the story. But no matter where it all began, Ms. Agatha will marry me. That’s how it will end.”

A dark look appeared in the eyes staring at Lawrence.

“You don’t look good, Mr. Brett,” Lawrence said. “Did I say something that trigger you?”

Brett did not answer.

It was already salty news to Brett that a rich and influential fiancé appeared in her life, and she kept it by herself. Hearing these things was like rubbing the salt in an open wound.

Lawrence also did not seem to have asked the question in hopes of an answer.

“Anyway, we don’t need to talk about my fiancée. We met to converse about the business. I will sign the contract as soon as I get back to the City.”

“Sure. I will wait for that. When will you come back?”

“Not sure.”

Lawrence raised his glass.

“I am still enjoying my little vacation with my Agatha.”

Brett laughed. “I see.” He lowered his head, as his eyes flashed wildly. There was a ripple in his sight. A commotion. He was agitated. He had no choice but to be so.

While Brett was acting as fine as possible, Lawrence now drank the strong wine in one gulp and smiled stiffly at the frozen Brett.

The meeting ended.

Brett’s secretary came to pick him up and drive him back to the City.

Lawrence entered his car and sat in the back seat. He wasn’t allowed to go back to the Campsite after drinking, and so his secretary booked a hotel nearby.

As soon as Lawrence perched on his seat, he looked at his secretary.

“I need you to look into Mr. Brett Holmes.”

“Yes, Sir.”

*** ***********

Agatha’s POV

During the last day of the field trip, I hadn’t had the chance to talk with either Lawrence or Brett.

The two of them vanished together after my bast*rd self-proclaimed fiancé introduced himself. They left me unable to process what just happened, or how I would explain this to my best friend, Sebastian.

Sebastian asked me multiple times if Lawrence was telling the truth, and if he does, then how it happened.

I feared I might tell him the other reason why I was keeping Lawrence with me, so I shut Sebastian up by saying, [“No matter what happens, I won’t get married to our professor.”]

After that, Sebastian didn’t ask further, and now we were inside the bus, and was on our way back home.

If someone would ask me right now what I can say about my experience during this field trip, then I would say: ‘Please don’t ask me right now.’

The students from my review center grew closer to each other through this trip. That was… good. But the aftermath was that since everyone was comfortable, they were being so loud on the last day.

Deafening music was blaring from the portable speaker in the back. It was too loud, I could feel my throbbing head crack into two, while the others were singing along with it in gusto, and some were humming halfheartedly as if forced to do so.

Every now and then, they would suddenly raise the volumes of their conversations and laugh, as if jerked into showing enthusiasm. Yet, no one found this disturbing and overwhelming but rather as if it was normal.

As I observed these numerous men inside the bus, I felt so claustrophobic.

I wish I could just lose track of time and faint just like I did on the first day of the trip.

“Guys, guys!” Lawrence, who mysteriously took this bus on the way back home, stood up and shouted.

Everyone stopped and looked at our professor.

“I know you are very enthusiastic kids who are oozing with energy but please try to lower your voices. Okay?”

“Yes!”

Those who weren’t seated went back to their place, and the sound from the speaker tuned down, which eased my throbbing head.

I still don’t like Lawrence, but at times like this, I am thankful he can really play the role of our teacher. But that does not mean I can forgive what he did yesterday.

‘Moreover, Brett wasn’t saying anything up to now.’

In fact, I have a plan to tell him, and that’s when the field trip is over. Things went chaotic, I lost the chance and now worrying by myself like an idiot.

‘Why am I worrying by the way?’

Suddenly, the bus turned to the corner and tilted to the right. I toppled to the side of the window.

“Ahhh!”

My quiet seatmate, Sebastian, however, fought against gravity and stayed straight in his seat.

“Wow. That was so strong of you, Sebastian. Do you have some superpower?” I teased.

My best friend looked at me.

He crossed his arms, took a deep breath, and then looked away.

‘What? He’s still sulky?’

I didn’t tell him the details of how I became Lawrence’s fiancée. It seems he’s still pissed off.

“Are you still mad?” I asked the rhetorical question.

He did not reply and just cocked his head far.

‘And now I had to deal with this. Geez.’

Hoping that Sebastian would recover after some days, I stayed wordless while sitting next to him, while glaring at our professor.

‘It was all his fault.’

It was assuring me that I have someone to blame on. Somehow, it eases my anxiety.

Hours passed. I was watching the scattered trees devoid of leaves from the bus window. I was getting sleepy when suddenly…

“Agatha.”

I pored at the man who called my name.

“Do you want some juice?” Lawrence offered.

I gave him a look that says: ‘What the hell are you doing right now?’

He shoved a canned juice right in front of my face, IN FRONT OF ALL MY CLASSMATES IN THE REVIEW CENTER!

I looked back.

The students, including Mikhail who was sitting at the very back, gave us a malicious look. My eyes went back to Lawrence, cursing at him in silence.

‘Just how much are you going to torment me!’

“You look so pale. I heard that you suffered a lot during the first day. I initiated this trip, so I felt bad. Have this juice. It’ll help you ease motion sickness. Believe me, it works well for me.”

‘So, he decided to act like a guilty teacher who cares for his students?’

Did his Oscar-Winning-Award acting work?

I looked back. Some students weren’t interested anymore. There was only Mikhail, who kept his gaze to my side, and Lawrence.

It was so sneaky of him to do a good job pretending.

“T-Thank you, Sir. I will drink it,” I said, also PRETENDING like a good student.

I raised my hand, about to get the juice from him. However, someone else snatched the drink.

“…!”

Lawrence and I both looked at Sebastian, who stole my juice away. He opened the can and drank everything.

After he finished the juice in one gulp, he wiped his lips and looked at our Professor.

“Sorry. I suddenly felt thirsty,” Sebastian said.

Even if he’s so thirsty, it was not police to snatch someone else drink. Unless he did it on purpose.

I looked at Lawrence and Sebastian, Their eyes, which shone meaningfully, collided against each other.

Sebastian was no longer the student who used to shower praises on Lawrence, saying that he was a good teacher, and so on.

My hands sweated as I stared at them. Gradually, Lawrence’s expression smoothened, and he smiled at us.

“Well, if Sebastian is thirsty too, then I feel sorry for Agatha. Sorry, Agatha. I only have one juice left,” Lawrence said, with eyes gleaming with a spark of mischief.

“T-That’s all right, Sir,” I said.

Lawrence went back to his seat.

Sebastian burped silently, as he looked away from me, avoiding starting a conversation.

And I… spoke nothing.

This field trip was a real roller coaster.