BXBX NOVEL Chapter 414 She Almost Did It To Me
They entered the cozy eatery with a sense of familiarity, their favorite spot already waiting for them by the window. The soft glow of the pendant lights overhead added to the warm ambiance of the place.
They settled into their seats, the menu already a formality as they both knew what they would order. The server greeted them with a friendly smile and took their orders effortlessly, having memorized their preferences long ago.
Their conversation naturally drifted towards in-game events, particularly the one scheduled for that evening and their meticulous preparations. It was like a well-rehearsed routine for Larissa, discussing strategies, items, and team coordination, all while sharing anecdotes and recounting past events. Their discussions flowed seamlessly.
However, today felt different. Allen\'s excitement was palpable, his eyes lit up with a spark of enthusiasm that Larissa couldn\'t ignore. She wanted to break free from the familiar pattern of in-game talk and dive into something deeper.
Their food arrived. The tantalizing aroma filled the air, drawing their attention to the steaming plates placed before them. The sizzle of grilled meat and the savor of aromatic spices beckoned, and they began to eat, their utensils gracefully gliding through the dishes.
Larissa couldn\'t help but sneak occasional glances at Allen while they ate. Her heart continued to beat rapidly. She desperately wanted to break the silence with a meaningful conversation, something beyond the confines of their usual discussions about games.
She pondered her options, considering the simplest of topics: food. However, Allen didn\'t strike her as a food enthusiast. He wasn\'t known for being a picky eater or someone who relished culinary adventures. In fact, he didn\'t mind ordering the same menu every time they dined at this particular restaurant.
Larissa couldn\'t fathom why she was finding it so challenging to speak at this moment. Her brain raced, searching for interesting topics or questions to engage Allen in a different way. She knew there was more to him than just his love for gaming, but the words seemed to elude her, trapped behind a barrier of nervousness and anticipation.
Finally, unable to ignore the change in Larissa\'s behavior any longer, Allen decided to broach the subject. He set down his fork, gently clearing his throat. "Hey," he began, his tone filled with genuine concern, "is everything okay? You seem a bit... different today."
Larissa, caught off guard by Allen\'s observation, tried to cover up her feelings with a forced smile. "Oh, it\'s nothing, really," she replied, attempting to brush off his concern. "I\'m just a little tired today, that\'s all."
But Allen wasn\'t convinced. He knew Larissa well enough to sense when something was amiss. He leaned in a bit closer, his eyes fixed on her with genuine care. "You\'re not your usual self," he said gently. "You can talk to me, you know. If something\'s on your mind, I\'m here to listen."
Larissa let out a sigh of relief, appreciating Allen\'s genuine concern. She looked into his eyes, her own filled with vulnerability. "You\'re right," she admitted honestly. "Sometimes, I do want to talk to you about things that go beyond games and the gym, but it\'s just... I don\'t know where to start."
Allen nodded, understanding the feeling all too well. "I get it," he said with a warm smile. "Starting a new conversation can be a bit tricky sometimes, but it\'s worth it. So, how about we start by sharing something about yourselves? You know, like, I don\'t really know much about your family."
Larissa opened up about her family, she began with a warm smile. "My family is pretty normal," she began, her voice soft and nostalgic. "I have two younger sisters, and we\'re really close. It\'s always a blast when we\'re all together."
She continued, "I also have a little brother who\'s still in college and stays at the dormitory."
"My father is a contractor, working hard to provide for my family, while my mother runs a small cupcake shop," she explained. She chuckled as she reminisced, "Mom\'s cupcakes are to die for. I used to be a little, well, on the plump side when I was a teenager because I couldn\'t resist eating her cakes. I remember one time I had to see a doctor who advised me to get more exercise."
Allen leaned in, engrossed in her story. "And that\'s when your fitness journey began?" he asked with genuine interest.
Larissa nodded, her enthusiasm shining through. "Exactly! That was the turning point. I started getting into fitness, exercise, and healthy eating, which eventually led me to the whole fitfluencer thing. But you know what?" she added with a wink, "I still can\'t resist having one of Mom\'s cupcakes on my cheat day. They\'re just too good to pass up."
Allen listened attentively as Larissa shared her family\'s warm and close-knit dynamics. He smiled genuinely, his eyes reflecting the sincerity of his words. "It\'s really nice to hear that you have such a wonderful family," he said, his voice filled with warmth.
Larissa beamed in response, her happiness evident in her smile. "Thank you, Allen," she said genuinely, touched by his words. It felt good to share a piece of her life with him, and she cherished his positive reaction.
"Whenever my lil bro comes home, I will visit my parents\' house. We usually have a great time catching up," she added again. "That was why I caught Sophia doing the \'walk of shame\' in our neighborhood not too long ago." As the words slipped out, she quickly covered her mouth. "I\'m so sorry, I didn\'t mean to bring that up," she apologized.
Allen chuckled softly, his amusement evident. "It\'s okay," he reassured her, a warm smile on his face.
Larissa\'s expression grew more serious as she remembered something else. "Actually," she continued, "This morning, my mom mentioned that Liam and Darren came home drunk last night. She overheard them talking when they passed by, and Liam mentioned something about a video. He was cursing Sophia and saying he would make her his no matter what. But then Darren covered his mouth, so she didn\'t hear the rest."
Allen\'s eyebrows furrowed at the mention of Liam\'s behavior. But then he quickly guessed what happened. "That doesn\'t sound good," he commented.
"I agree. Judging from those boys\' behaviors, they could do bad things to Sophia," Larissa agreed.
"No, I mean it doesn\'t sound good for Liam and Darren. We should keep an eye on the situation," Allen corrected her.
Larissa frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked in curiosity.
"He mentioned a video, right? It seems she is blackmailing them with their s*x video," said Allen without hesitation.
"How do you know about that?" she asked.
"Because she almost did it to me once… Right, before I caught her cheating on me," he muttered in displeasure.
That statement surprised Larissa. It made her understand why Allen had a bad trust issue toward women.