94 FIRST DATE III

(Protect me? Protect me from what?) Belle questioned internally which started the inner conversation between her and Ceres, with the latter focusing on teasing her host. 

[Protect you from the eyes of other men, perhaps.] 

(Men won't like women looking like a mess with swollen eyes.) 

[Who knows? Eli is a man, and he probably knew that some men have soft hearts for women in tears.] 

(That's absurd!) 

Ceres laughed out loud which made Belle pout externally. Sadly, she had her head lowered down, so Eli didn't see her adorable expression. 

When they got inside his car, Eli took away her baseball cap, and despite feeling shocked by his action, she instantly covered her face with her right hand. 

"Don't look at me!" 

Eli chuckled and pried her hand away from her face. "I've seen your messy face a lot of times. What's there to be ashamed of?" 

"Still I -"