Chapter 3
Logan was caught off guard. He froze for a few seconds before fumbling for an excuse, saying that the cafe was closed today.
Then, he grabbed Winona by the hand and rushed them out the door to get to his electric motorcycle. He sped along the roads, as if he couldn't wait another second.
Winona glanced at the misbuttoned shirt that had slipped his notice. Her mind drifted back to the last time Naomi had fought with Edmund. Logan had been just as eager then, urging her to comfort Naomi as quickly as possible.
She had doubted his intentions and had tested him before. But after hearing her suspicions, he simply looked at her innocently and rubbed her cheeks. A helpless smile tugged at his lips.
"What are you even thinking? It's only because Naomi is your best friend that I'm trying to be nice to her too. I just don't want her drama to end up affecting your mood. If she weren't close to you, I probably wouldn't even know her name."
His words were sweet, and his emotions were well-timed. Winona felt deeply moved and completely reassured after that time, so she never doubted him again. Looking back now, she felt utterly ridiculous.
…
Naomi's small rental apartment was dark and messy. It was clearly the aftermath of a fight, with things knocked over and scattered about.
Naomi sat on the floor, hugging her knees and sobbing uncontrollably.
Seeing her crying like that, barefoot on the cold floor, Logan's concern was written all over his face. He rushed over and helped her up, crouching to slip her slippers back on. Then, he reached for a tissue and tenderly wiped away her tears.
"There, there, don't cry anymore. If your eyes get all swollen, you won't look as pretty."
After all, they were childhood friends who knew each other inside and out. And just like that, Naomi stopped crying almost instantly.
Winona stood quietly at the door, taking it all in in silence. Once Naomi calmed down, she asked, "What was the fight about this time?"
At the mention of it, Naomi's anger flared right back up. "All I did was go on a little camping trip and buy a dress. I just spent a bit of money. That's all! And he just blew up at me!"
Seeing the branded logos on the shopping bags scattered across the floor, the words Winona had planned to say caught in her throat. She had once believed that Naomi, much like herself, came from an average family. She was just reckless with her finances. This perception was the reason Winona consistently went out of her way to look after Naomi.
Yet, it was clear that her spoiled tendencies as a socialite had returned.
She didn't want to waste any more energy on something so petty, so she simply watched coldly as Logan pulled out all the stops to cheer Naomi up.
After a round of comforting, Naomi changed into fresh clothes and agreed to go out with them to clear her head. Their destination was the largest amusement park in Josmere. It was usually crowded but oddly empty today. Even so, Winona wasn't surprised.
Before they had gone to pick up Naomi, she had overheard Logan on the phone, requesting the park to close for the day.
She silently followed behind the two of them, watching as Logan unveiled the surprise he had carefully orchestrated.
Costumed mascots appeared in groups, each bringing fresh flowers. Seeing them lit up Naomi's face with a radiant smile. She stood there like a princess, basking in the attention and affection as if the whole world revolved around her.
In the darkness of the haunted house, she clung to Logan and screamed without holding back. She released all the pent-up pain and frustration from her troubled relationship.
In the tunnel of the high-speed water coaster, Logan gripped her hand tightly, shielding her from the crashing waves with his own body.
Meanwhile, Winona was pushed to a corner by the crowd of mascots and was nearly trampled on while trying to stay on her feet. Despite her fear of the dark, she wandered alone through the haunted house, getting bruises from bumping into walls and furniture.
The strong spray from the water ride drenched her, and the lingering cold made her cough all day. Even so, Logan didn't look back at her even once—not a glance.
She trailed behind them like a shadow. She was utterly invisible and thoroughly ignored.