Another Museum Date (1)

Gwendolyn and Selene had a brief, cold conversation, but she was still the person most deeply ingrained in Selene’s life.
This was evident from the way Selene could treat Gwendolyn the next day as if she had forgotten their conversation.
Although she didn’t want to admit it, there was also the reason that she felt noticeably more at ease after postponing her study abroad to the winter.
It felt as if the sand in the nearly empty hourglass had been flipped over and refilled.
So, Selene, who started her day diligently even on the warming summer days, could notice that the second Wednesday of the new month was approaching.
The second Wednesday.
It was the day of Selene’s only regular outing.
Because it was the day a new painting arrived at the Kilberry Art Museum.
In fact, the word “regular” was meaningless, as Selene hadn’t been able to visit the art museum for a while due to a lack of time for her international competition practice.
And after the competition, she didn’t want to go out because she felt lethargic due to Theron Cox’s matter.
However, just the day before yesterday, the art museum had sent a brochure.
The brochure that arrived stated that a painting in her favorite Impressionist style would be coming in.
‘So, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go out after a long time.’
Selene, who had changed into a thin flapper dress, took her parasol and got into the car.
There were not many cars on the road.
Come to think of it, Wednesday was always like that.
The middle of the week.
A day that was ambiguous for doing anything.
The reason Selene visited on Wednesdays was the same.
It was the day a new painting arrived, but also because there were fewer people than usual.
However, the reason she had gone out today was not just because there were no people on the street.
It was because she felt like she would meet someone.
Although they hadn’t promised a place or time, the man she felt she would inevitably meet was…
Yes, Selene had a feeling that Theron would come to the art museum today.
Considering he hadn’t contacted her at all, she thought he might be waiting for the right time to pull the same trick he had before, pretending it was a coincidence.
She was curious what kind of startled face Theron Cox would make if she pointed out his shallow trick.
Or would he put on a brave face, just as he had in front of the building that was being demolished, saying he would be fine even if he had to beg?
Anyway, Selene intended to observe Theron in various situations now that she had postponed her study abroad.
Then, suddenly, the thought of studying abroad reminded her of someone she had forgotten.
‘…Logan.’
She had to tell him that she had postponed her study abroad, but she had completely forgotten.
But that was only for a moment; Selene decided not to worry about it too much.
Because it was Logan who had decided on his own to go with her.
It would be even better if his interest cooled by the coming winter and he canceled his study abroad plans.
In fact, it was troublesome to go to that distant continent with someone.
Still, it was a good thing that she hadn’t told Evelyn or her grandmother about her study abroad plans yet.
If she had told them in advance, she would have been pestered by the two of them until winter.
Especially her grandmother, considering she had tried to marry her off to Theron even knowing his true identity, she seemed to want to confirm the ducal title as soon as possible.
‘Since she’s not on good terms with my uncle, she must want me to have a child as soon as possible and pass on the title.’
‘Tiresome.’
Even with the passage of time, when Selene thought of her uncle and grandmother, she wanted to distance herself from them rather than getting angry.
As if they were people unrelated to her.
“I will wait for you here.”
As the driver, who had stopped the car in front of the art museum, said that, Selene nodded and got out.
The driver had parked the car close so that she wouldn’t have to cross the road, due to the accident that had almost happened here before.
But as soon as she got out of the car, sure enough, she saw a familiar car parked nearby.
It was the black car that had been stubbornly parked in front of the ducal estate’s main gate for a while.
As she was walking, pretending not to know, she heard the sound of footsteps quickly approaching from behind.
“The sun is so hot, how can you not open your parasol?”
The brazen man snatched the parasol from Selene’s hand as if it were his own and opened it.
As a round shadow was cast over her head, the scorching sunlight instantly disappeared.
Selene had once thought it would be nice if there was a machine that could hold a parasol for her, like a machine that could quickly sew clothes, but she was not particularly pleased that her parasol was opened without her consent now.
It was probably because the person who had rudely snatched her parasol was Theron Cox.
“You don’t deviate from my expectations one bit.”
Selene, finding it too much of a hassle to explain in detail, pointed it out lightly as she walked, looking straight ahead.
“What was your expectation?”
“That we would run into each other at this art museum today.”
“…”
“Don’t say it’s a coincidence. I’m not falling for that anymore.”
As if he had been hit where it hurt, Theron Cox was silent for a moment.
Of course, it was only for a moment.
“Yes, it wasn’t a coincidence, I’ve been waiting here since this morning. To hold your parasol like this.”
“How did you know when I would come?”
“I would have waited until night.”
Theron Cox was as calm as if he were telling the truth.
Selene, who had glanced at Theron, was about to tell him to go back now that they were inside, but she hesitated for a moment, seeing Theron’s face was faintly red, as if he had really been waiting since this morning.
Just then, Theron asked, as if checking her reaction.
“Since we’ve met like this, how about I continue to hold your parasol?”
“You don’t need a parasol indoors.”
“But you have to carry it around.”
Theron Cox seemed to be naturally brazen and insistent.
But looking at such a Theron, she felt a sense of ambivalence rather than just hatred.
An ambiguous feeling of being both annoyed and a little pitiful.
On top of that, Theron, who was stealthily checking her while being brazen, looked like a large dog who was wary of being kicked out by its owner.
‘Since I’ve decided to watch Theron Cox until I go to study abroad anyway.’
Selene intended to give him a little more of a chance, since they had run into each other today.
“Follow me quietly.”
“You won’t even hear my footsteps.”
At the permission that was given, Theron grinned and stood side by side with Selene.
As they were walking closely, her gaze was drawn to Theron’s blond hair, which was glittering in the bright light.
The same went for his clear blue eyes.
For a while, they had only contained a troubled light, but now they looked particularly bright.
The reason they looked that way was probably not just because of the color, but because of his overall expression.
‘Is he that happy?’
Selene suddenly wondered what it was about her that Theron Cox liked so much.
To think he only liked her external appearance, Theron, who had rushed over thinking she had a big burn on her face on the day of the fire accident, didn’t seem to care much.
And to think he liked her for her money, he had thrown away tens of thousands of pounds in the air by demolishing a nearly completed building.
‘Well, whatever, does it matter?’
“You investigated me at first, didn’t you?”
Selene, who had been silently gazing at a painting of a large wave, suddenly asked Theron.
Theron, who had been pretending to be engrossed in looking around with her, flinched.
“…Why do you think so?”
“You knew I liked the art museum. And it was the same when I went to buy a new metronome.”
“…”
“Gwendolyn told me. That she had told you my whereabouts.”
‘Damn it, she said she would keep it a secret.’
Theron, who had muttered something to himself, finally straightened his chest and looked at Selene.
“Yes. I investigated you. To see if I could easily win your favor.”
“What did you find out about me?”
“There weren’t many people who knew about you, so I didn’t find out much.”
“So what.”
“Just some useless information like you regularly visit this art museum and that you like moles…”
“Was the part about liking moles also a lie?”
Selene reacted at the mention of moles.
If Theron had known in advance that she liked moles, it meant he might have lied to win her favor.
“No, it’s not! I really came to like them because they seemed to resemble you!”
Theron, who was strongly denying it, seemed to want her to know that at least that much was sincere.
However, just because he hadn’t lied about that one thing didn’t mean it resonated much with Selene.
Selene, with a slightly subtle feeling, turned her head and looked at the paintings again.
Looking at the Impressionist paintings with their brilliant colors, she felt her eyes spin, which was chaotic and not so bad.
Of course, that was before Theron stirred her up again with his absurd words.
“I’ve revealed myself, so you should answer one thing too.”
Theron, who had been following silently, demanded.
To which Selene retorted, “I’ve never deceived you.”
“That’s true, but you’re originally a person who is thorough with calculations. If you receive one, you should give one, right?”
‘He’s going to throw a tantrum again.’
But before Selene could refuse his proposal, Theron asked a question without permission.
“Selene, about your study abroad. You’re not going this summer, are you?”