Sophia reminded herself that this would only happen once in a lifetime.It wasn't every day that she'd
meet Kirstine and go shopping with her.
After some time, Kirstine eventually suggested having dinner outside.
However, Sophia shook her head and refused.
She thought it was inappropriate to dine out while Fiona was busy fetching Emma from the
kindergarten and driving her home.It was unfair for them.
"Maybe on another day? My friend is waiting for me at home" Sophia muttered.
"If it's your boyfriend, call him over.We are friends.It's not bad that we get to know each other, right?"
Kirstine said with a smile.
"I'd love to, but he's not a boyfriend.She's a female friend of mine," Sophia quickly answered.
After she said it, she stepped towards the road's edge and raised her hand to stop a taxi.
She observed that the lighting on the street at night was poor, and the vehicle's headlights that kept
passing by were so bright that people couldn't open their eyes if a car approached.
When Sophia realized a car was quickly coming, it was too late to avoid it.
Sophia automatically closed her eyes and waited for a few seconds.
The pain and impact she expected to feel because of the car didn't come; instead, Sophia felt that she
was pulled over to the side.
In a flash, she fell on the road, dragged by the inertia of Kirstine’s hands.
The shopping bags were scattered across the ground while Sophia's world spun around her as she
landed on a soft surface.
It belonged to Kirstine.It was her body.
Sophia's body pressed her down because Kirstine saved her subconsciously.
However, she was not able to avoid getting injured.She didn't even know that she was hurt.
It was only when Kirstine felt the pain in her entire right foot that she knew she seemed to twist her
ankle when she fell to the ground.
Sophia quickly stood and pulled Kirstine up after hearing her muffled groan.
"How are you? Are you okay?"
she asked nervously.
Kirstine didn’t dare to step her right foot on the ground and just hopped with her left foot so she would
not get more hurt.
"I'm fine.I just twisted my ankle; she said and winced in pain.Sophia heaved a sigh of relief when she
heard it.She picked up the scattered shopping bags on the ground and helped Kirstine walk to the chair
on the side.
"I'll call 911.Please, bear the pain for a while" she said in worry.
After Sophia helped her sit, she raised her hand to call for help.
Before she could do it, however, she was immediately stopped by Kirstine.
"This injury is not serious.I'll be fine after some medication at home.If you're worried and want to
compensate, treat me to a nice meal.I am famished after all that shopping" she said.
"No, let's confirm first if your bones are not ruptured through a hospital, '' Sophia insisted with a frown.
Kirstine smiled at her.
She understood her concerns and said, "I'm fine.If my bones were ruptured or had terrible damage, I
would feel the pain that I wouldn't speak properly.So, this is not serious.I am fine.I am not that delicate."
Because Kirstine persisted, Sophia brought her to a restaurant close to the shopping mall.
It was a medium-class restaurant, and each person's entry cost around 400 dollars.
Sophia gently guided Kirstine to a seat near the window.
After Kirstine sat down, she called the waiter and ordered.
"Uhm...can we order two signature steaks, two fruit salads, two glasses of red wine, baked cheese
shrimp, and a serving of cream soup.These are our first orders.Thank you" Kirstine said.
After ordering the dishes, Kirstine waited for the waiter to leave before saying something to Sophia.
"I want you to order for us, but I know you're not going to agree.So, I directly ordered as a sort of
compensation for me" she uttered and winked.
Sophia was aware that Kirstine said that to make her feel better, but she still felt she owed her big time.
Kirstine's phone rang on the table, interrupting Sophia's thoughts.She picked it up while Sophia had no
idea who the caller was.
Based on Kirstine's tone of voice and how she spoke towards the caller, it sounded like they had a
close relationship.
"Yes, I'll head home by myself later at night.I am fine.It's just that I sprained my ankle, but this is
nothing serious.You don't need to come over.I am okay" Kirstine argued.
She kept glancing at Sophia a few times.
"You don't need to come here, Patrick.I had a little situation going on.I am working on it.So, if you
come, I am unavailable.Just keep working.Don't mind me” she insisted.
It turned out that it was Patrick.
Sophia wondered why Kirstine was being so secretive.
Kirstine sprained her foot because of her, but she cared about Sophia's feelings, so she refused to let
Patrick come over because she thought Sophia would feel awkward if he did.
This was unreasonable, and Sophia felt terrible about it.
Besides, she was concerned that Kirstine was only acting strong.
What if she was indeed hurt and was just afraid of speaking up? Sophia could not bear to think about it.
"Let him come over.He can drive you home after he arrives in a while"
Sophia whispered to Kirstine.
Kirstine confirmed that Sophia didn't mind Patrick knowing their location before giving the address of
the restaurant they were in.
But she also made sure that when she told him about it, Kirstine didn't say she was with Sophia.
"Patrick just looks cold outside, but I know he is worried.Even though he won't directly admit it, he is
thoughtful.But does this doesn't bother you?" she asked.
Although she was hurt, Kirstine was more worried about others.She was too kind, indeed.
Sophia's lips curled into a smile.
"No, you were injured because of me.He is your relative.If he heard your condition, it was natural that
he would want to rush over.I don't mind.I am more worried about you.Are you really okay?"
In the end, their friendship was still shallow.
Sophia was practically a stranger whom Kirstine had only met a few times.
They were not close and comfortable around each other.
There was awkwardness between them.
Suddenly, Sophia thought about a word to describe the awkwardness and the sense of distance
between them, which was "suspicion"
Because she could not easily understand Kirstine, she was suspicious if she indeed told the truth.
‘Is she really fine, or she's just acting around me because we are not close? Besides, I'm practically
just a stranger!’ she thought.
"Sophia, I am not a pretentious person.I cry when I am hurt.I laugh if I feel like laughing.I am honest
about my feelings, and I do what I want.I can assure you that every word and sentence I say is true
without lies.But I also hope that you will be honest with me.I would not tell Patrick anything about us, as
long as you have trust in me; Kirstine said convincingly.Moments later, Patrick arrived at the restaurant.
Kirstine looked at her phone.
It had only been fifteen minutes since she had hung up the phone.He was so quick.
The road to Frostford City was infamously known for being overcrowded.
The traffic was always heavy.
Regardless of where he came from, Patrick might have driven extremely fast because he made it to the
restaurant within a few minutes.
Kirstine frowned.
Meanwhile, Patrick suddenly crouched down and raised one of her feet when she was about to speak.
He also frowned while he examined her foot carefully.
"Which ankle was sprained.Why are you being so careless?" Patrick quickly asked.
He almost sounded angry at Kirstine because of worry.
After a while, Skyler followed and walked into the restaurant.It was clear from his footsteps that he was
scared.His steps were sloppy and hurried.
Skyler was all over the place.
Then, he also knelt beside Patrick and nervously stared at Kirstine's foot.
Kirstine glanced at Sophia.Her face was flushed with embarrassment as she awkwardly drew back her
foot from Patrick's hold.
"This is nothing.I just accidentally sprained it.Stand up” Kirstine muttered.
Patrick, who just walked over, was only focused and concerned about Kirstine's injuries.He didn't notice
his surroundings when he came over earlier.
So, when he stood up, moved his gaze, and followed Kirstine's line of sight, he found out Sophia was
there.
This made his body stiffen.
However, he was good at hiding his reactions and didn't let anyone see his unusual response.
"Sorry, Kirstine was hurt because of me"
Sophia apologetically said as she bit her lip and stood up.
"How about you? Were you also injured?" he quickly asked.
Patrick didn't pause to wait for Sophia to respond.
His big hands yanked her out of control.
He wanted to examine her, but she fought him off.
"I wasn't hurt.I was standing by the roadside waiting for a taxi when a car rushed over from the corner.I
can't evade it in time.Fortunately, Kirstine managed to pull me” Sophia explained.
After her explanation, there was an awkward silence.
Kirstine grabbed Patrick's arm and spoke at the right time.She ended the awkward atmosphere, which
lasted for a few seconds.
"Enough, it's nothing.You and Skyler can sit.Sophia has been shopping with me all day and hasn't
eaten yet" she said.
Skyler made a smart move when he chose to sit next to Kirstine, leaving the seat next to Sophia for
Patrick.
Patrick couldn't help but take out his cigarette box, and light one after the two of them sat down.
Kirstine stopped him, but he smiled and uttered, "It doesn't matter.I often smoke inside the restaurant."
Even so, Kirstine couldn't help but nag.
"I think your cigarette addiction is getting worse.Don't smoke too much.It's bad for your health" she
warned.
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