Chapter 78 - 77: Weird Rumors
Elara tried to protest, but she was soft-spoken and not very assertive to begin with.
And with Rex’s persistence and increasingly ridiculous excuses, she eventually gave in.
One time it was, "I accidentally took two trays thinking one was yours." Another time, "They had a deal going—buy one, get one free. It would be criminal not to share it, right?"
And when even that failed, he shamelessly added, "Come on, you’ll hurt my feelings if you don’t eat it."
At first, she would take only a bite or two, hesitant and clearly uncomfortable. But slowly, under his relentless persuasion, she began eating a bit more, her resistance crumbling a little each day. She still looked at him like she was unsure of his intentions, but she didn’t push him away anymore. In fact, on rare occasions, he even saw her lips curve into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
Not that he was doing it for thanks or praise.
He never brought up the state of her meals again, never hinted that he noticed. Nor did he ask about her circumstances or pry into her life. That would have been too cruel, too invasive. Instead, he simply chose to be there.
Not out of pity.
Not out of obligation.
He acted like it was all a coincidence, all casual and unplanned—even though it was anything but.
Because honestly, Rex wasn’t sure why he cared so much either. Maybe it was because no one else did. Or maybe, just maybe, it bothered him more than he was willing to admit—to see someone silently starving as he kept eating, laughing, and moving on without a second glance.