Chapter 31

• My heart thumped loudly in my chest. I stole a glance at our intertwined hands; Japen's hand was large enough to envelop most of mine, and the warmth it radiated made me feel oddly comforted. I didn't understand why, but my heart raced faster as I looked at Japen.
• He kept his eyes on the road, his other hand firmly on the steering wheel. His forehead was slightly furrowed, lips drawn into a thin line—a clear sign he was irritated.
• Looking ahead, I noticed a slow-moving motorcycle blocking our path, preventing our car from picking up speed despite the distance between us and the previous cars. I flinched slightly as Japen honked impatiently.