Welcome to the Innocent World - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: The Unexpected Invitation

The afternoon sunlight cast a warm glow over the street, though the cold heavily bored itself as Athlea and I walked side by side.

I could sense her quiet mood, the faint trace of a shadow in her usual brightness. I walked in silence for a while, puzzling over what to say, how to break through the invisible wall that seemed to surround her today. My mind churned with ideas, but none of them seemed quite right. Then, out of nowhere, a simple question came to me.

“So… what are you cooking today?” I asked, peeking down at the grocery bag I carried. “Hmm..probably Fried rice, I guess.”

She looked up, a small smile tugging at her lips, and her eyes brightened just a little

“Yes, Fried rice,” she said, giving me a look that was both surprised and amused. “How’d you know?”

“Just a wild guess.” I grinned, pleased to see the faintest sparkle return to her eyes.

We walked a few more steps, the sound of our footsteps filling the quiet as I thought about how to keep her talking. Athlea had always been someone I admired—smart, kind, and with a warmth that felt like home. But since few days, something was weighing on her, something she wasn’t sharing, and that only made me want to reach her more.

“So, how’s college going?” she asked, glancing at me sideways, her tone shifting into a teasing one. “You’ve got a holiday, don’t you? Shouldn’t you be with your girlfriend?”

I laughed, feeling an exasperated sigh escape me as I shook my head. “Not that again… I don’t have any, Athlea. Sigh.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she said, rolling her eyes as she gave my shoulder a light, playful smack. “I’m just messing with you, Austin. Relax!”

She kept her gaze forward but added with a slightly embarrassed smile,

“But honestly, I don’t get it. You’re handsome, smart, and girls must be all over you, right?”

I shrugged, trying to play it cool, though her words made my heart pick up just a little. “It’s really nothing like that,” I said. I wanted to add more, but for some reason, the words got caught in my throat.

She gave me a sideways glance, her smile still soft. “I see…”

I smirked, feeling a mischievous impulse bubble up within me.

“Well, I could make you my girlfriend if you’re okay with it,” I teased, raising an eyebrow and grinning.

Her cheeks turned a bright shade of red, and her eyes widened. She looked up at me, flustered, her hands clenching tightly.

“Stop teasing me like that, Austin!” she said, her voice high and her face glowing with embarrassment.

I chuckled, raising my hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. But hey, I’m glad you smiled… Keep smiling like that, always.”

Her blush deepened, and she looked down, muttering under her breath, “You’re doing this on purpose… making my heart race.”

Seeing her like this, flustered and shy, made me smile, though I kept my expression as innocent as possible. She reached out, gripping the sleeve of my shirt, almost as if to steady herself. I could feel the warmth of her hand through the fabric, her fingers brushing lightly against my arm.

We continued walking, her hand still holding onto my shirt as if she wasn’t quite ready to let go. The city street around us grew busier, filled with the chatter of people heading home, the hum of passing cars, and the occasional laughter of children playing in the park nearby. But all of that faded into the background as we walked together, this quiet bubble forming around us.

As we approached the corner near our apartment building, I hesitated, my mind flicking back to something I’d noticed recently. I turned to her, choosing my words carefully.

“Hey… I’ve noticed you don’t talk to your husband much these days. He doesn’t call?”

Her face immediately fell, her smile fading as if a cloud had passed over the sun. She hesitated, glancing away, her gaze falling to the ground.

“He’s… just busy, you know. He’ll call when he’s free.” Her voice was soft, and I could feel the weight behind those words.

“Right… I see.” I nodded, mentally kicking myself for bringing it up. The sadness in her eyes returned, and I knew I’d hit a nerve. It was clear that whatever was happening with her husband, it was causing her more pain than she wanted to admit.

As we reached the entrance of our building, she turned to me, her expression softening.

“Thanks for walking with me, Austin. And for holding the groceries.” She offered me a small smile, and though it was faint, it felt like a precious gift after the silence that had settled between us.

I gave a casual shrug, trying to play it off. “It’s nothing. My pleasure.”

She gave a small wave as she headed up the stairs, her silhouette fading away as she walked toward her door. I watched her go, my chest feeling a strange mix of concern and something else I couldn’t quite place.

There was something about seeing her like this, vulnerable and quiet, that tugged at me in ways I didn’t fully understand.

As I unlock my own door and went inside, my eyes fell on a few envelopes scattered across the floor.

Curious, I bent down and picked them up, shuffling through them until one caught my eye—a glossy envelope with a logo of a newly opened amusement park. Intrigued, I tore it open, my gaze drawn to the contents inside.

It was a VIP pass for the grand opening of the amusement park, complete with a theater built inside. The flyer mentioned that the popular idol “Sophie” would be performing on the second day.

I stared at the poster, my eyes widening in disbelief. The girl in the photo looked familiar… too familiar. Those eyes, that subtle smirk, the way her hair framed her face—it was uncanny.

A sudden memory flashed in my mind. “Gamma?? Could it be? Her real name is Sophie, Yes” I whispered.

I squinted at the poster, examining the idol’s face. The getup was different, of course, more glamorous, and her outfit was designed for the stage. But the body language, the intensity in her eyes… there was no mistaking it. This “Sophie” was Gamma, my own shadow mystic. The thought made me grin, a mix of pride and disbelief bubbling up inside me.

“Damn,” I muttered, still looking at the flyer in awe. “My own shadow mystics are out there killing it in the real world.”

The idea of Gamma living this double life, of her being both my loyal mystic and a celebrated celebrity in her own right, was almost too much to process. I chuckled, shaking my head, thinking back to the nights I’d spent with her and how much I fucked her. We even bath together.

As I flopped onto my bed, I opened the pamphlet that came with the pass, skimming through the details. Apparently, the amusement park had a five-star hotel built inside, along with a range of attractions designed to keep visitors entertained around the clock. And with the VIP pass, everything would be free and open to me, no limits.

Gamma must have had this delivered here, I thought, smiling to myself. She’s incredible…

~Some luck I have. I thought, grinning as I remembered the countless times we’d spent together without me even realizing that she was someone famous.

Then, as I set the pass down on the bedside table, my mind drifted back to Athlea. Her sad smile, the way her voice had softened when she mentioned her husband, the shadows that had lingered in her eyes… it all came rushing back, a lingering ache settling in my chest.

I sat up, my fingers brushing over the edge of the VIP pass as an idea began to form in my mind.

A slow smile spread across my face, grabbing the pass, I slipped it into my pocket.

Without another moment’s hesitation, I stood, heading toward the door with a wide grin on my face. This was going to be interesting.

Time to give Athlea a reason to smile.