Burning Passion

CHAPTER 283: THINKING OF HIM

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Swallowing the food in her mouth, Nina gulped a glass of water. She clears her throat to prepare to talk to Kristina instead.

"Ahem. Kristina, is my room ready? Can I move in tomorrow?" she asked cheerfully. Of course, it delighted her to stay away from Steven. She wants to move out today if she were to ask. 

Kristina, who focuses all her senses on her food, raises her head and meets Nina's beautiful eyes. She responded, "Yes. Emily and Vanessa, with the other girls in the dormitory to clean your room today for you to move in tomorrow. I think it will finish soon." 

"Really? Then I can move today!" she uttered excitedly. 

Steven was in panic hearing this; he promptly stopped Nina. He complains, "Why are you in a hurry to move in? We haven't spent more time yet." He sounded hurting.

Nina pursed a smile as she mouthed, "We have plenty of time from now on, right?" 

"But still… you can stay here. You don't need a dormitory. I will drive you to school before I go to the office, then we can go home after our classes in the evening. And even if I have no class, I will always pick you up from school. And if I couldn't drive you to school, Mr. Feng can drop you off. They will be here in two weeks," Steven proposes. 

Of course, he would not give up convincing Nina. This is his chance to be alone with her. He wouldn't wait for Jessica to arrive. Once Jessica was here, she would follow Nina around and put her nose into Nina's business. 

Meanwhile, eating quietly across from Steven and Nina: Harry and Kristina fell on their thoughts. From their point of view, everything that Steven mentions is more likely a proposal. This guy is truly madly in love with Nina. 

But Harry feels something is not right. Why does Steven hurry to live with Nina like a married couple? 

Nina, on the other hand, prefers her silence, carefully munching her food. But Steven is tenacious to hear her answer. She presses her lips to calm down and has careful thought on how to explain things with Steven. Of course, she could not openly blurt out in front of others that she is breaking up with him. 

Heaving a silent sigh, she muttered, "Steven, I already told you that one thing why I came here is to live independently. I could not do that if I was living in a huge mansion with a bunch of servants and even have a personal driver. That's not my purpose why I am here as an Exchange Student. Besides, I know how to drive now. I will buy a car to drive myself. Also, Jessica knows to drive too."

Steven rendered speechlessly learning this. 'No way!' Now he was racking his head about how to make her stay, at least until tomorrow. He wants to spend time with her tonight!

Heaving a sigh of defeat, Steven concealed his displeasure. He could see that Nina wanted to stay away from him because of what happened last night, and she was still angry about what he did. But he loves her so much. How could he convince Nina that he is really in love with her and wanted to marry her sooner? If Nina accepts his proposal. Right at this moment, he will marry her. 

But now, she was aloof, and it felt like she was drifting away from him. How could she please him? What can make her happy? Steven mused. 

"Okay..." he stopped being stubborn. "I will take you tomorrow to your dormitory. It's my responsibility to help you settle in. Dean Collins assigned me to take care of all you needed and tour you around the University. We can go shopping to buy the things you needed," he said in a gentle tone, pushing a smile to hide his frustration. Nina ignores him, but she can not stop him from doing this. 

From that table, someone had no sense at all that a heavy tension grew in the room. Upon hearing the word shopping, Seth's ears stood like a puppy. Instantly, excitement crept to his body as his eyes twinkled. 

"Shopping?" he burst out.

Everyone's attention settled on Seth's direction. Watching him quiver with excitement, Nina got an idea. "You can come with us, Seth. I promised to buy you a late present. Let me buy you tomorrow!" She invited Seth to come along tomorrow.

"Is that true, sister Nina? That is not a joke?" Seth's eyes twinkled several times that made Nina laugh. 

"I'm serious," she said with a huge smile across her face.

"Yes!" Seth delightedly exclaimed, almost jumped from his chair. 

Astounded, Lucy watched Seth with an open mouth. She could not believe this guy didn't see the picture. 'It was a date for sister Nina and brother Steven! Yet, he volunteered to be the third wheel!' 

Steven, on the other hand, it shocked him when Seth cut in and didn't realize it was a couple's shopping date. Across the table, Kristina giggled in silence. She has no comment on how shameless Seth is. Harry, who astounded as well, could only shake his head. He glanced at Steven, and his twin brother was frowning from disappointment. 

Too bad the guy noticed nothing about what was going on; Seth doesn't stop talking. "Sister Nina! I will help you move in tomorrow! I could carry your luggage and shopping bags!" 

"Sure!" Nina answered gleefully. It will be a great idea to have Seth as a company. Besides, the guy is so funny. It was him who saved her from great tension when Steven kept insisting about her not moving out. 

"How about you, Kristina? Are you free tomorrow? What time is your class?" asked Nina after a little while. She's hoping that Kristina won't turn her down.

Surprised that Nina invited her, she replied, "My classes would be in the afternoon and evening." 

"Oh, great! Why don't you come with us? I need a girl's opinion while Jessica wasn't here. Honestly, she's the one organizing my things and helping me to choose what is the best quality for buying items." Embarrassed, Nina told Kristina honestly. But it's better to have more people to shop around than being alone with Steven. 

Kristina seemed to weigh things at first. Later, she accepted Nina's invitation. "Sure! Since I have nothing to do in the morning." 

"Great, then!" said Nina, her eyes caught Harry is gaping at her tenderly. She smiled at him before she lowered her gaze and returned to eating. 

From then on, the tension has lifted. Grateful at Seth, keep throwing lousy jokes and Nina laughing hard. 

After the merry lunch halfway, Nina volunteered to help wash the dishes. But Kristina and Lucy did not allow her. Honestly, they couldn't help staring at her creamy smooth hands. They are guessing Nina is not used to doing any house chores, and she must have countless servants to do them. Even Steven is showing extra care not to let Nina do anything and always mentioning the servants coming back soon to take care of her. 

After they kicked her out in the kitchen, Nina went to the library and scanned the shelves to check out what books Shang has that she hasn't read yet. 

Nina read the title one by one; she found interesting books that she had not read yet. Dean Koontz wrote it. However, she couldn't reach it. 

"Which one do you want to read?" 

Asked the man standing behind her. Her heart freaked out. 'Harry!' 

Nina gulped. Now she could not think straight. Harry was just behind her, and this made her heart thumping crazily. 

"Which one do you prefer to read?" Harry asked Nina once again. He was waiting for her to respond, but she remained silent. "Nina?" 

She pressed her eyelids, letting Harry's sweet voice soothing throughout her nerves. Listening to his voice, she won't tire of hearing every word coming out of his mouth. She wishes for him to speak more, but she has to respond.

Stammering, she replied to Harry. "I... I am having a hard time which one I should read first," she reasoned out. Her face blushed pink when Harry chuckled. 

"Okay. How about these two books?" Harry reaches out for a book with the color blue and black covers. "You haven't read them yet?" asked Harry. 

Nina shaking her head, she averted her gaze from Harry. 'What is he doing?'

Nina bites her lower lip. Harry is looking at her with an intense gaze. It made her have difficulty breathing properly. Harry's presence is too much for her senses to take. Last night, she dreamed of him. 

In her dream, they were kissing. It must be what she dreamed about after she's thinking of Harry all night.

And all night, she cried until she fell asleep. And to forget what Steven did to her, it was Harry in her mind. She recalls the night they held hands while looking for a way out from the Horror House and those kisses they shared. 

If she hadn't had those memories, what Steven did to her last night and even from the last time, it would be a complete nightmare to her....