When Thalia came out twenty minutes later, Anthony and Benjamin were already waiting in the car.
At the sight of her, Anthony frowned. “Aren't you in a hurry? Why did you take so long?”
“Was I long?” Thalia got into the car, fastening her seatbelt with one hand as she asked that question, not daring to meet their eyes.
“Were you not long?” Anthony retorted.
“I went to tell Spencer that I was leaving,” Thalia murmured casually.
Just then, Benjamin leaned in to take a closer look at her. “Why is your face so red?”
At that, Thalia's face turned even redder. It was as though some secret deep within her had been discovered.
Right then, Anthony also leaned in for a look. In an instant, understanding seemingly dawned upon him. “Ah, I see.”
After saying that, he simply sat back down.
Benjamin also nodded. “Indeed.” With that said, he likewise sat back down. They both leaned back in their seats, looking utterly relaxed and content.
Thalia, who was driving, glanced at the two boys through the rearview mirror. “No, what have you two figured out?”
“What do you think?” Anthony asked in return.
“What... What could I think? How would I know what you guys figured out?” Thalia countered.
“What else could it be?” Anthony retorted.
Thalia pursed her lips. “We... It's not what you think. We didn't do anything!”
“Is that so?” Anthony continued questioning.
“Of course! Don't let your imagination run wild!” Thalia said, visibly flustered.
Anthony lifted his eyes and cast a meaningful gaze at her. “I didn't say a word, yet you accuse me of having a wild imagination. Are you burying your head in the sand or giving yourself away by denying the obvious?”
Thalia went silent.
Looking at him, Thalia was momentarily at a loss for words.
I shouldn't have talked about this with Anthony! He didn't say anything yet got me to voluntarily “confess” everything!
“I really just told him I was going out!” Thalia emphasized once more.
“Ahem, ahem.” At that moment, Benjamin pretentiously cleared his throat.
Seeing that, Thalia immediately shifted her gaze to him. “You don't believe me either, Benjamin?”
“I believe you... But did you forget to look in the mirror before you left home?”
“Look in the mirror? Why?” Thalia asked. As she spoke, she adjusted the angle slightly to look at herself in the rearview mirror.
With a screech, the car came to an abrupt halt.
She flipped the mirror down right away, staring at her lips that had been sucked pale, with traces of lipstick smudged at the edges. Instantly, she felt that her previous explanation seemed downright foolish.
She quickly pulled out her lipstick and applied a new layer. While at it, she took the opportunity to touch up her makeup. Then, she flipped the mirror in the car back up. Turning to the two boys behind her, she fibbed, “I accidentally smudged it while eating just now.”
Benjamin nodded. “Right. As long as you believe it, that's all that matters!”
Words eluded Thalia.
She didn't even have the energy to refute it then. Glimpsing at the sunglasses lying nearby, she picked them up and put them on.
Oh well, whatever!
Starting the car, Thalia drove off.
And so, the journey continued in silence with no further words spoken.
It was only when they had also arrived that Benjamin started, “By the way, did Kyle say anything?”
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