Chapter 29: Avoiding Misunderstandings

Emerald’s POV

The evening breeze greeted us as we walked across the campus.

The student parking lot wasn’t far away, and before long, Elias stopped in front of a dark grey SUV.

He pressed the key fob in his hand. The vehicle responded with a soft beep.

I looked at it briefly before turning my gaze to him. For some reason, it hadn’t even occurred to me that he owned a car.

Perhaps it was because I had only ever seen him in class or around the school. Somewhere in my mind, I had unconsciously placed him in the category of "classmate" and left it there.

Elias seemed to notice my hesitation. "It’s alright," he said with a smile. "I promise I don’t drive recklessly."

A faint smile found its way onto my face. "I wasn’t worried about that."

He walked ahead and opened the passenger door for me. After a brief pause, I stepped in. "Thank you."

"My pleasure." He gently closed the door before walking around to the driver’s side. A few moments later, the engine came to life, and we slowly pulled out of the parking lot.

For the first few minutes, the only sound inside the car came from the air conditioner. Then Elias glanced at me briefly.

"What kind of music do you like?"

I thought about the question before saying, "I’ve never really limited myself to one genre."

He waited patiently for me to continue.

"As long as the music isn’t too loud, vulgar or meaningless, I can listen to almost anything."

A smile appeared on his face. "I think I know exactly what to play." Then he reached towards the dashboard and selected a song.

A gentle melody soon filled the car. The lyrics were simple, while the instruments blended together without overwhelming each other.

I found myself listening quietly. It was... nice.

Elias noticed the small smile on my face. "I’ll take that as approval."

I affirmed with a nod. "You chose well."

"I’m glad."

The conversation naturally drifted elsewhere.

"So," he said, "apart from school and going out to eat..." He paused for a moment before asking, "Have you managed to visit anywhere else since arriving in Boston?"

I thought carefully. "The shopping mall?"

He laughed. "You really do look like someone like that."

I turned towards him. "Someone like what?"

He chuckled again. "The type of person who only leaves the house when there’s a reason."

I looked at him for a second before letting out a quiet laugh. "Am I that easy to read?"

"A little." He smiled. "You don’t strike me as someone who wanders around just because she’s bored."

"I don’t."

"I knew it."

I shook my head with a smile. "I’ve been too busy to think about sightseeing."

"That’s a shame." He slowed the car as we approached a traffic light. "Boston has quite a few interesting places. The Public Garden. The Charles River. The Museum of Fine Arts. There are plenty more."

When the light turned green, he continued driving. "If you ever have the time, I would be happy to show you around."

I looked out through the passenger window. The city rolled by steadily outside. "I’ll think about it."

"Fair enough." He didn’t press the matter further.

Before long, he pulled into the parking lot of a quiet Italian restaurant.

---

The restaurant was warm and inviting.

Soft lighting reflected off polished wooden tables, while quiet conversations blended with the gentle music playing in the background.

After we had ordered our meals, the conversation continued naturally. Most of it revolved around Boston.

Elias shared a few stories about places he had visited over the years, while I listened more than I spoke.

Occasionally, he asked for my opinion, and I answered honestly. The conversation never felt forced. Neither of us tried to fill every moment of silence.

When the food finally arrived, we naturally shifted our attention towards dinner. The meal was enjoyable, and before I realised it, more than an hour had already passed.

Eventually, the waiter returned with the bill. Almost instinctively, my hand reached for my handbag.

"I’ll pay for mine."

Elias wasn’t surprised. Instead, he smiled knowingly. "I thought you would say that."

I looked at him. "Is it that obvious?"

"I’ve noticed something about you." He nodded. "You don’t seem comfortable letting other people pay for you."

I just smiled politely and said, "I think it’s better this way to avoid misunderstandings." I didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea and think paying for my meals meant we were on a date.

His expression remained thoughtful before he nodded. "I can respect that."

The waiter returned a few moments later. Without either of us needing to say anything further, the bill was divided.

After paying, we stepped outside together. The evening air was noticeably cooler than before.

Elias unlocked his car once again before turning towards me. "I’ll drive you back."

This time, I felt uncomfortable with his gesture. To avoid hurting his feelings, I chose not to reject him directly and instead asked, "Where do you live?"

He seemed slightly surprised by the question. "Beacon Hill. I rented a three-bedroom apartment there."

I knew the area immediately. It wasn’t just one of Boston’s oldest neighbourhoods, it was also one of its most expensive.

I smiled. "Then we’re heading in completely opposite directions."

He watched me as though he already knew what I was about to say.

"I can’t let you drive all the way to my dorm and then all the way back again," I explained.

"It isn’t that much trouble."

"It is," I insisted, then shook my head gently. "I’ll just take a taxi."

For a moment, it seemed like he was about to argue, but he ultimately just smiled. "Alright." He then added, "I’m still not leaving until you get one."

I let out a soft laugh. "I suppose I can’t argue with that."

"You probably can’t," he said, shaking his head as he shoved his hands into his jean pockets.

We stood near the roadside in comfortable silence, waiting for the next available taxi.