Chapter 27: Tour in the city

The next morning, Matilda and I enjoyed a hearty breakfast together. As we walked side by side, about to head back to our room, it struck me that we rarely ran into Jake and the others around the massive resort. It seemed like the size of the place contributed to the feeling of solitude we often experienced.

Just as we were nearing our room, we were pleasantly surprised when Mr. Robert approached us with an intriguing offer. He informed us about the boys' plans to tour the city and invited us to join them. Such opportunities didn't come around every day, so, of course, we eagerly accepted.

The weather was warm and sunny, so we decided to dress comfortably in sleeveless shirts and shorts to beat the summer heat. I also wore a hat to shade myself from the sun, while Matilda opted for sunglasses. With our bags packed and a few other supplies, we made our way excitedly to the garage, where multiple cars were parked.

As we approached one of the cars, I noticed Owen heading in the same direction. I greeted him with a friendly wave and a warm smile. He glanced briefly in my direction but quickly averted his gaze without a word. A sense of tension settled in the air, and my hand slowly dropped to my side.

Matilda, ever perceptive in such situations, muttered, "Awkward," under her breath as she took a sip from her drink. Her words only deepened my unease. "Why is he always in such a mood?" she wondered aloud, licking her lips and keeping her gaze fixed on Owen. She shook her head briefly before hopping over to join the others.

I continued to watch Owen, puzzled by his sudden cold and distant behavior towards me. It had only been two nights ago that he had confessed to having a crush, and for the first time, I had seen him genuinely smile. Had I done something wrong? As far as I knew, I hadn't breathed a word about it to anyone, out of respect for his privacy.

Despite the lingering confusion in the air, I decided not to let it spoil our little trip. My eyes scanned the empty seat and briefly met Ethan's and Jake's gaze at the back of the car. Jake had a small welcoming smile, which I returned. Ethan, on the other hand, just grinned and winked at me, causing me to scrunch my face in response.

"How is your hand?" Ethan asked, seemingly trying to make small talk.

"It's just a scratch, Ethan," I replied calmly, but my tone held a hint of annoyance, indirectly telling him to drop the subject.

"Then what's with all the bandages wrapped around it?" he persisted.

Before I could respond, Jake interjected, "Leave her alone, Ethan. She's fine."

Ethan chuckled, seemingly unfazed, and settled back into his seat as we embarked on our adventure to explore the city.

I glanced back at Jake, whose attention was now firmly fixed on his phone, but I couldn't help but notice a hint of a smile playing on his face. His mysterious demeanor continued to intrigue me, and I couldn't quite figure out the source of his amusement.

Taking my seat beside Matilda, Mr. Robert closed the door behind me, and with a gentle hum, the car was in motion.

"Where are we going, anyway?" Matilda asked, her curiosity getting the better of her as we continued on our journey through the city.

Mr. Robert, who was focused on driving, glanced at us through the rearview mirror and replied, "We'll be visiting some of the city's famous landmarks and enjoying a bit of local cuisine. The boys thought it would be a great way to explore the area."

After riding for over half an hour, the car finally came to a stop, and we all got off. According to Mr. Robert, we would be walking on foot the rest of the way, which I found odd, but then again, I guess it was a better way to explore the town.

The warm breeze, the chatter of my friends, and the city's lively atmosphere created a perfect backdrop for our trip.

I turned my attention to Matilda, who was now once again standing beside Ethan, causing me to roll my eyes. Owen looked like he wasn't ready to talk to anyone, leaving me with Jake.

"I guess we are stuck together," Jake remarked, his voice heard clearly behind me.

"What do you mean 'we'? Aren't we all going together?" I asked, my brow furrowed.

A sigh escaped Jake's lips; his hands were tucked in his pocket, and his eyes squinted as a result of the rays from the sunlight. "It looks like they already have their plans," his statement directed toward Matilda and Ethan.

"How did they get so close? It was supposed to be just she and I," a frown settled on my face as I muttered, feeling disappointed. We had plans to spend most of our time in together, that was the whole point since I accepted this Jake's proposal but now we were too distant.

"And Owen," he continued. "Owen enjoys his own company," he stated, which led me to ask.

"Did something happen between you guys?" I asked, seeking an explanation for Owen's behavior, which led Jake to arch his brow.

"No."he stated.

"Did he tell you anything? Probably something to make him act this way. They were close friends, right? So he must know something, anything."

Jake held his chin gently, stroking it before responding. "He did say something," he said, causing my eyes to widen in anticipation. "But it's not your business," he grinned, stressing the last word. "If you want to know, you have to ask him yourself."

My lips pressed into a thin line, at a loss for words. I saw what he did there. It had been funny when I did it, but now, not so much. "Well played, Jake, well played," I stated in a matter-of-fact tone, but he didn't seem moved by my words because his grin only spread wider across his face.

"Let's just go". He spoke and before I could saw another word he pulled me with him.

"Where are we going?" I asked my steps quickly as I tried to catch up with his pace.

"You will see," he smirked.

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