Chapter 1537 - First Kiss (the Second Time)

In Ade's room…

"Uhm… This… Just a second…", Ade panicked for a moment before swiftly moving his fingers in the air, to disconnect the video link.

Hande closed her eyes in an effort not to see Sarah and Aiden in the living room, but the lens was still working, and she could see the images clearly!

"We should not watch further.", he said awkwardly when he finally cut off the feed.

Hande hummed in agreement.

Hande didn't dare to look at Ade. Her face was on fire and she could only imagine how red she is. What did she just see? It was steamier than any movie she saw so far!

Ade said that they will not peek, but that was definitely peeking, and it was NOT a good idea. She took a deep breath to calm down, but the image of Sarah and Aiden making out and Aiden getting handsy in the living room was not easy to forget. Ah, her nine years old heart can't take this much stress!

"What do you think?", Ade asked Hande.

Hande was reluctant to ask, but she had to: "About?"

"How Sarah and Aiden handled those people.", Ade clarified.

Hande relaxed, happy that he was not talking about the last few seconds of what they saw.

"I'm not sure I understand what happened…", Hande admitted.

"No problem. Let me explain…", Ade started laying out events they witnessed and clarifying what they mean.

Hande listened with infatuation. He is so smart! He remembered everything and he explains it so that she understands easily. Ade is awesome!

"Thank you for explaining…", Hande said when Ade finished. "If I understood correctly, the property next door will also be ours."

Ade nodded confidently. "Next time when we come here and go for a run on a longer trail, it will all be ours and you can go and run on your own without worrying about safety."

Hande pressed her lips into a line before admitting: "I would still like to run with you."

Ade smiled. "Sure, it's always fun to do things with someone."

Hande smiled dreamily. Sarah and Aiden are awesome. She wondered if Ade is so amazing because he is with Sarah and Aiden. Does that mean that soon she will be amazing as well?

"It's almost lunchtime…", Ade reminded Hande.

"Oh… yes."

Ade helped Hande in removing ear stud and the lens.

"These ARE cool.", Hande said while pointing at the boxes.

Ade grinned. "I told you."

"Do you always wear them?"

Ade bobbed his head. "Most of the time."

Hande remembered what they saw in the living room, and her eyes widened in horror. She asked in a small voice: "How much can you see?"

Ade observed her for a second and her expression told him what is on her mind. "Don't worry. No one's private quarters are monitored. At home, we can see common areas and the closest anyone can see into your room are hallways. It is for security, not for peeping."

"Let's go…", he reminded her of lunch.

Hande knows that they should go, but she wanted to stay a bit longer with him. Just the two of them. In his room. "Can we read the clue?"

Ade approved. "Good idea. Let's read it now, and we can think about it while we eat."

They read the card which has a riddle: "From the ground floor, I am looking at the sky through the wall and if I could speak I would meow."

Both Ade and Hande frowned while looking at the card in silence.

"Let's think about it over lunch.", Ade reminded Hande after some time.

Hande sighed. "The ground floor part is straightforward, it means that our next target is inside, on the main level. But what is that about looking at the sky through the wall and if it could speak it would meow? Sounds impossible."

"Don't worry about it now.", Ade encouraged her. "We will think better on a full stomach."

Hande put the card and its envelope in the backpack and followed Ade out of his room.

As much as she was reluctant to leave, she had a feeling that this is not the last time that the two of them are alone in the room. Tonight, they will return to the Cliffside Villa, and they will live there for many years, only two hallways apart. She and Ade can train and study and talk about books every day. She smiled at that thought.

Hande walked after Ade through the hallway on the ground floor and observed his back in silence.

Ade abruptly stopped and turned toward Hande. "Why are you walking behind me?"

Hande widened her eyes. "Uhm… I don't know. A habit?"

Ade tilted his head. "Why would you have a habit to walk behind people? Makes me feel like you want to ambush me or something."

"I would never do that!", she said quickly and added: "I grew up in a place where kids go behind elders, and women walk behind men."

Ade's expression showed disapproval. "In this family, we walk side by side because we are equal, regardless of age or gender. If anyone forces you to the back, let me know and I will take care of it."

Hande blinked.

Ade was not sure if she understood. "From now on, walk by my side. If you can't keep up, I will slow down. OK?"

He was a bit frustrated, why is she not responding? She is not looking at him either. This is important! Is there something behind him?

"Hande, are you listening?"

"Uhm… yes, yes. I got it. Equals. Side by side… Look!"

Ade turned and looked through the window. The weather is nice, but other than that, nothing stands out. "Is there something outside I should see?"

"Not outside…", Hande approached the window and pointed at the figurine of the cat on the windowsill. "The riddle says: 'From the ground floor…', and we are on the ground floor. The next thing is: 'I am looking at the sky through the wall'. Windows are allowing us to see through walls…"

Ade's face lit up. "And the last part is: 'If I could speak, I would meow'. It can't meow because it's a cat figurine. No more clues, we found it! You found it! You are amazing! We finished the scavenger hunt, and it's all thanks to you… Hehe, and we did it before lunch!..."

Hande's head was buzzing. He praised her again and he said that she is amazing.

She remembered that in the last three days, she spent most of her awake time with Ade, and she liked every minute of it.

Ade saved her when she fell in the lake, and they did the courage test and many other events together. Ade gave her numerous compliments and treated her with kindness and brought her cake and they spoke about the books and their pasts and he showed her those incredible gadgets and… he is amazing.

Every time Ade comes close, Hande's mood improves, and she does not feel lonely. Because of him, she will cherish this three day long vacation very much.

Ade was so excited, that he didn't realize how Hande is looking at him dreamily. He was happy that they finished the scavenger hunt, before lunch.

Ade lifted his arm, expecting a high five, but Hande just stared at his face like she didn't notice that his arm up in the air.

"You should hit my hand with yours, as a celebration for a job well done…", Ade's voice trailed away when he saw Hande inching closer to him.

Hande gathered all her courage, got on her toes, and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you for saving me when I fell in the lake and for everything… It might not be much to you, but for me, what you did is amazing. You are amazing. I know that it's not two sets of lips, but I will count this one as my first kiss."

Ade didn't move a muscle. He watched without blinking as Hande turned away abruptly and dashed down the hallway. And her face was red again, more than ever.

After an unknown measure of time, he reached for his cheek. When tips of his fingers touched the spot where the feeling of Hande's lips lingered, Ade realized that his whole face is on fire. This… just what is this?

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