Was he just making a drunken scene?
The stench of alcohol wafted from his mouth, and I leaned back in disgust, my brows knitting tightly. People who got drunk weren’t worth arguing with, and I was more concerned about my own safety.
Just as I was about to turn and walk away, a tall figure suddenly approached.
“Mr. Murray, it seems you’ve had quite a bit to drink. It’s best not to drive,” Edward said with a polite smile. He still wore that gentle, considerate demeanor, but his tone carried an undeniable firmness. “Let me arrange for two designated drivers. Miss White, I’ll take you home since it’s on my way.”
He turned to me, his expression and actions remaining polite and courteous. “Miss White, would that be all right with you?”
The moment he got close, I instinctively tensed up. His scent—distinctly masculine—was more assertive than I remembered from high school.
Being caught in this situation by him left me feeling awkward, and the close proximity made me uneasy.
But I knew better than to let pride get in the way of what was best for me. Smiling politely, I nodded. “Then let’s do as you suggest, Mr. Scott. Sorry to trouble you.”
It was obvious Liam was acting out under the pretense of being drunk. The moment Edward arrived, his demeanor shifted entirely. His expression changed in an instant, seamlessly replaced by a polished, ingratiating smile.
“You’re right, Mr. Scott.”
He bowed his head humbly, his expression filled with flattery, as though the man who’d been making a drunken scene moments ago wasn’t him.
Before stepping away, he turned to me with a meaningful look. “Yuna, make sure you send me a message when you get home.”
Suppressing my disgust, I nodded. “Of course.”
With the designated driver taking over, both Edward and I sat in the backseat. After confirming my address, the car settled into an awkward silence.
In the confined space, no matter how much we tried to maintain a respectful distance, it was impossible to avoid the tension.
I turned to the window, pretending to be engrossed in the streetlights and scenery outside, though my mind drifted to the past.
I met Edward in high school.
Unlike the other boys who thrived on attention during those years, he was so quiet he could have been invisible.
However, thanks to his outstanding looks and top-ranking grades, Edward still managed to attract plenty of attention from the girls in our grade.
At that time, I wasn’t interested in him at all. I was too preoccupied with my own academic struggles to care about anything else.
Later, when there was a chance to switch seats, I had a sudden idea and ran to our homeroom teacher to request to sit next to Edward.
And that was how I ended up being Edward’s deskmate for three years.
After spending time with him, I realized his personality wasn’t as introverted as I had imagined. On the contrary, he was even a bit outgoing.
But between the pressures of high school and his family circumstances, he spent most of his free time working part-time jobs to earn money. With little opportunity to socialize, he didn’t have many friends.
When I entered his life, I naturally became his only friend.
We studied together, ate together, and eventually talked about everything.
