"It's half-time, and this is the time when we invite everyone onto the playing field to divot stomp. So please join in and help restore the field!" Diether's voice rang through the speakers.
Majority of the spectator crowd were quick to rush out onto the field. Serena also wanted to join in but was a little hesitant. She only ever saw Julia Roberts do it in pretty woman and it was only a very short scene, so she was not sure how to do it.
Her eyes followed the people going to the field. Amazingly, she saw them just walk along the polo field, drinks in hand, chatting with their friends in tow as they moved their feet in such a way as to kick at clumps of grass the horses had dug up during the play, placing them back in the resultant holes. They would make a forceful stomp onto the replaced clumps of grass pushing them back down into the ground, and then casually move onto the next displaced clump of grass.
"should we go give it a try?" Gizel asked and the girls all nodded saying "let's go."
However, before Serena could enter the field with her friends, she heard Geoffrey call her name. She wanted to pretend that she didn't hear him, but it would be too obvious, so she turned back to face him.
"Why?" She asked.
Geoffrey smiled and walked beside her. "Let me walk with you."
"but I want to join my friends." She tried to reject him nicely.
"There are still two matches later, but I won't be able to join you then as I will also be playing. So, for now, let me escort you." He said charmingly.
Her friends turned to look at her noticing that she was not with them.
Serena gave them a signal to go ahead. Although she did not have romantic feelings for Geoffrey, she still felt guilty towards him.
—
They walked side by side while keeping a respectable distance between them. Serena was a little reluctant to kick the clump of grass given her white shoes. Now she understood why Julia Roberts removed her shoes that time.
Geoffrey sensing her predicament started to chuckle, "It won't stain your shoes as the soil is not wet."
Serena stopped walking to face him. He was standing before her, staring at her as if she's the only lady in the world that matters. He was so earnest, but she did not want him to be standing there giving her that look. She knew that based on the novel, Geoffrey, the male lead, could do anything, even abandon his conscience and his friends all in the name of love. However, since they already diverged from that path, perhaps his character should also be different. She convinced herself to at least give it a try.
"Geoffrey, would you mind me asking a question? Promise you won't get angry?" she asked.
"What is it?"
"If… let's say, I wanted to break my engagement with you, would you let me?"
Geoffrey furrowed his brows and frowned. "Are you seriously asking me that question?"
Serena swallowed letting his negative reaction sink in. A bit afraid but still wanting to hear his answer she replied with a "Yes."
"Do you even understand what your words mean and imply?" Geoffrey asked not wanting to answer her question directly.
Immediately, Serena understood what his words meant. Not wanting him to think further into it, lest he start noticing her interactions with Charlton, she apologized. "I'm sorry, it was just a hypothetical question." Then, she turned away from him and started kicking the clumps of grass on the field.
Geoffrey sighed as he looked at her. He knew he should be angry and offended that she would even dare ask him that. He still has his pride as the crown prince, but he loved her. So, calming himself, he explained. "Serena, our marriage has been ordained by the king. Aside from that, I think it should be obvious by now that I have feelings for you. Now let me ask, why did you ask me that question?"
Serena shook her head, not wanting him to start doubting her, she can only bring up his past indiscretion and push the blame on him. "Well, you did have an affair with someone while engaged to me. So, I thought it would be better if we separated ways."
Geoffrey did not know how to respond. He did not know if he should admit or deny her words, but what he knew was that the stuffy feeling in his chest dissipated with the thought that she was just asking out of jealousy. So instead of admitting anything, he could only ask, "Are you jealous?"
Serena shook her head. Whatever made him think that? "No, I'm not. To tell you the truth, I would even be happy for you." She replied with a straight face.
Geoffrey started laughing not believing her words. "You are jealous."
Serena wanted to pull her hair, okay, it seems like it was pointless talking to him as he just keeps on twisting her words in a way to make himself happy. Annoyed, she quickly tried to walk further away from him. Honestly, she was a bit worried with the way he was acting.
Geoffrey was staring at her the whole time amused. Despite her moving quickly, his legs were longer, and so he walked in a leisurely pace only falling a step behind her.
Lost in thought and confident with her flats, she briskly walked across the uneven turf without looking at the ground. Thus, she was caught off guard when her foot landed on a deep depression causing her to almost fall flat on her face. Yet before that can happen, she felt an arm wrap her waist.
Seeing her almost fall, Geoffrey moved on instinct. Like the first time, he wrapped his arm around her waist, but this time, he did not let go immediately. He pulled her closer as he whispered in her ear, "You should pay attention to where you're stepping next time. Then again, you will always have me here to catch you."
Serena tried to shrug his arm off immediately. What was he doing? "Please let go. I'm fine now."
Geoffrey chuckled. Thinking that she felt insecure about his feelings for her as he never shown them nor announced them in public before, he hoisted her up from the ground to princess carry her.
Serena felt herself being lifted from the ground. "what are you doing!? Put me down!" she angrily screamed in protest as she hit his chest. However, Geoffrey did not let go and continued to stride forward with her in his arms.
In the background, they heard the air horn making a sound as Diether's voice resounded through the speakers, "Please clear the field as the half-time break is over and… Woah!!!"
Serena felt her face redden in embarrassment with Diether's exclamation. Thankfully, he did not mention their names. However, it still caused all the people to stare at them. Hearing the crowd cheer, some even cat calling. She stopped struggling, afraid that it would be more embarrassing if she falls face flat on the grass. She covered her face with both her hands, how the hell did she come to this situation?
Geoffrey just laughed thinking, 'let people talk, she's my intended anyway.'
—
TBC
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