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Chapter 23 – Do You Trust Me?
Tea frowned as she walked outside, the rain hitting her full force as she gripped her bag tightly and the handle to her umbrella even tighter. She had a medium-sized, pink umbrella that she always used for storms. After all, she never was one to enjoy storms or the rain. To her, it was as if the whole of humanity was miserable or the Earth needed to shed its tears.
As she began walking down the sidewalk, a sudden idea popped into her head. "The park is just nearby here, and Seto told me that he was building that new orphanage close to the park. I wonder if I have time to take a peek at it. Just to see what it looks like. I'm sure I have plenty of time; I'm always at school early anyways. It shouldn't be that much of a problem." So she took a right at the intersection and began heading towards the park.
"I wonder what Seto has planned for this new orphanage," Tea mused as she walked down the now-wet sidewalk. "That area is kind of bad where the orphanage is now located, so it's obvious as to why Seto wants to move so swiftly. He acted as though it would soon be open, but I'm sure he's paying the company who's doing everything a good amount of money for this project. After all, in his mind, I'm sure those kids are worth every penny."
Tea smiled at the memory of the first time she saw Seto enter the orphanage, a smile on his face that radiated brightly. "He's in such denial of what those kids do to his attitude…or maybe he just doesn't like to admit it to others? That must be it; I don't think Seto's one to be in denial. Just one to keep a lot of secrets to himself." Tea sighed in frustration. "What happened to that Sophie girl? I kind of understand why Seto would freak. After all, I don't like remembering my ex-boyfriend…and what he did to me."
She involuntarily cringed at the memory as it began to enter her head. It had begun at a party, where the two eventually went back to her place. Things began getting interesting…and then… "No. Just stop thinking about it now! So what if that happened? I've moved on, haven't I? I'm in love with Seto, so that's obviously an improvement from where I was before. It means that my heart is telling me I'm ready for something else. But is my mind telling me otherwise? Am I really ready for a relationship? Everyone keeps thinking about Seto, but what about me? Am I prepared for the sacrifices of love?" Smiling, she slowly nodded her head and thought, "Yes, I think I am. If I can push that memory away just like that, I'm ready for something new."
Finally arriving at her destination, Tea blinked in surprise as she watched several men in the rain moving bricks and mud around. "Man, he must be paying them good money to be out in this storm," Tea thought as she felt a gust of wind push against her. "Although it looks like they've done a lot so far. Is it two floors or just one? It looks too short to be two but too tall to be one. I guess I'll just assume for now it's two. Seto most likely wants it to be a big, comfortable place for those kids. I'm sure he's pulled out all the stops. Seto…what you mean to those kids…you're so protective of the ones you love. Will I ever be able to fit under that category? Will you ever do something this special for me? You don't have to build me an entire house, but will you ever find something to comfort me with? Will you…ever show me love?"
Tea shook her head and chuckled. "I'm sounding so lovesick right now. Besides, I need to get to school. I saw the building, now it's time for my feet to—"
"And what do we have here?" a mocking voice asked, making Tea gasp and spin around to see none other than Seto Kaiba smirking at her in his school uniform, his briefcase in one hand and a black umbrella in the other. "What is Miss Gardner doing in the park when she should be fifteen minutes early to school, as always?"
"I should be asking the same thing for the Mr. Kaiba that's standing before me," she countered, a smirk appearing on her own. It had gone from an insult to a game of wits. She suddenly wondered if this was the reaction he wanted out of Joey; a playful remark, not an aggressive retort.
"I am checking up to see how my building is faring so far," he answered, quickly glancing over at the construction site before turning his gaze back to her. "And I see that it is going quite well, just as I had anticipated. Now I shall be off to school, where I'll inevitably become bored within the first ten minutes and begin doing work for KaibaCorp."
"Mind if the Miss Gardner joins you on your stroll to the school?" she asked, raising her chin slightly to give her a haughty appearance. Seto chuckled and shook his head.
"Alright, enough of this. But yes, you can walk with me if you want to." He immediately turned around and began walking in the opposite direction, and Tea quickly followed behind him.
"Can I ask why you aren't riding your limo to school when it's raining?" Tea asked as they reached the sidewalk and began heading towards the school, which was in sight down the street. "I mean, you ride the thing on beautiful days, yet you're walking when it's pouring down rain and windy. What's that all about?"
"I've always loved the rain," Seto answered as he eyed the sky for a split second. "If I didn't have to go to school, I'd probably be outside now just sitting or lying down."
"I hate the rain," Tea argued. "It's so depressing to me."
"Why is it depressing?" he asked, turning to look at her. She was surprised to see the genuine curiosity emitting from his facial expression.
"Why are you so interested?" she asked, smiling up at him.
"I'm just curious, is all. Don't I have a right to be?"
"I guess you do. Well, let's just say that some events that happened in my life…they occurred on rainy days like this one."
"Ah, I see. That's a good reason. I guess I can't blame you for that."
Tea waited for him to ask what those events were, but the question never came. "Maybe he's making a point by not asking me about my past for me not to ask him," she thought as the two crossed the street. "After all, I clearly remember the rain outside. That's why the two of us went inside in the first place. We made ourselves some hot chocolate…got cozy…"
"Are you okay?" Seto asked, and Tea realized she had stopped walking during her thinking process.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine," she answered, smiling widely up at him. He obviously didn't buy it, for he walked in front of her, blocking her path, and frowned.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Just a random thought is all."
"Random thoughts don't make us come to complete halts. Only bad ones do that." Chuckling, he rolled his eyes and added, "I would be one to know that."
"Even if that's the case, I don't think this is the best time to be discussing it. After all, you still have your fair share of secrets, so I think I'll just keep mine away for awhile until you share some of yours."
"Fair enough. Although I don't really care to know about your secrets anyway. They're called secrets for a reason, to keep them away from others. If you don't want others knowing about your secrets, that's fine. I have no problem with that."
"Thanks…" she mumbled, a small smile appearing on her face, replacing the fake grin that she had plastered there a moment before. She watched as he walked towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm going to be coming over to the orphanage tonight. This rain is supposed to let up, so the area shouldn't be too bad around it. I want to show you something there that I think you'll find rather interesting. Do you think you could stay later tonight?"
"Y-Yeah, I don't have anything planned afterwards," Tea answered, wondering what on Earth Seto was talking about. "Why? What's there?"
"Oh, you'll see. It's very neat, though, and I know you'd enjoy it. Just stay until we send the kids to bed, and then I'll take you there. It's just a short distance away."
"What is it? A monument?"
Seto smirked and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I'm bringing you to a monument dedicated to me for my talent and superiority above mankind. No, you idiot. It's just a place. You'll see when we get there. Why? Don't you trust me?"
Even though Tea didn't think it was supposed to be a trick question, she took it as one. Saying no, in her mind, meant denying her feelings towards the person now standing in front of her. A man that never smiled at society, a man who locked himself up in an office for hours on end, and the same man that flipped her world and her heart upside-down in less than twenty-four hours, was now asking if she trusted him. To say yes would be to accept her feelings and show that she respected him as a loyal friend. Was it that difficult….or that simple?
"I trust you," she answered after a moment of silence passed between the two. Seto nodded his head in understanding and turned around.
"We'd better get going, or else we might be late," he stated as he began walking forward. "I'll see you tonight at the orphanage."
"Right." Tea followed him to the school, making sure to stay behind a few steps so as not to raise suspicion, before she closed her umbrella and entered the educational building.