*Chapter 11: Concerned (Part II)

Lunely's PoV

"Um... Lei? Are you okay? It seems like you somehow saw a ghost~"

I softly pinched Leiro's right arm as the two of us went outside the boutique shop- although apparently I was traumatized by the sales ladies inside. After all, the clothes they want me to wear what they want! Argh ... My head hurts that time- what did they think of me, a mannequin?!

But yeah, good thing I survived too. I found a great outfit Leiro liked, and it seems like this is what I will wear here inside the mall until we go back home this afternoon. My office clothes were inside this grocery bag that would have been for my dress now but I chose to wear it because I might freeze here inside the mall.

And yeah, from what Leiro's doing right now, I think he's looking for a shoe shop or a sandals shop for my sandals he broke earlier- just like what he promised. I was just barefooted this time, as I looked at my broken sandals and smiled. Hey ... These old sandals of mine really make me proud. It has been with me for a year and a half. But I can't believe it broke by just a mere running. Welp, I always run to the office whenever I'm in rush while wearing this! My, nothing really lasts forever- well, except for the two of us. Bleh!

"Hey, Lei! Hey! Why aren't you speaking? Is there a problem?" I suddenly asked Leiro as I realized that we suddenly stopped on a giant fountain inside the mall. I'm chasing my breath and Leiro's just the same too, but he's a bit serious that time- I didn't even see his facial muscles move.

"Hayy... Where is it? I thought it was located somewhere on the first floor. Maybe they moved?" I suddenly heard Leiro murmuring while stroking his chin. Although he just murmured but I can clearly understand what he said. Well, we've been walking for about three minutes, and my feet are a bit sore because the floor was hard at that time.

Nyii ... Hurry up and find a shoes shop or sandal shop Lei! The floor tiles here inside the mall are so cold!! I felt like I'm the Cinderella wearing those cold glass slippers ...

"Hey Lei? I know you're looking for the footwear shop but you can just slow down for a while, you know?" Seriously, that was so dumb for me to say that. Although I don't mind the floor's coldness but it seems like my feet are already sore.

"No, and I won't. You're walking barefooted right now!" Suddenly he said to me with a worried face- ayt, finally his facial muscles were moving. "I know you've been writhing in pain before because you're barefoot that's why I'm rushing!"

Well, he's right.

Luckily, while looking for that shop, a random fast food worker wandered carefully as he walked down towards the hallway. It's obvious that he's a fast food worker of a shop since I saw that outfit- a red polo-like T-shirt with brown vest and brown slacks, and the red cap on his head- on a fast food chain near the boutique shop earlier .

"Um, sir, sir! Excuse us please!" Leiro quickly walked towards that person as he pulled my hand. Eh, this self is just following. Hey ... I think I'm his dog- always following my master whenever he is.

"Oh yes, good afternoon dear couples. How can I help you?" He suddenly asked as the two of us approached him. And what did he say? 'Dear couples'?!

"I told this once- she's not my girlfriend!!" Leiro suddenly shouted at him as I snorted secretly- what about Lei? Just ride with it will you?! Everyone agreed that we can be a couple so why don't you just go along with it? But anyways, Leiro quickly cleared his throat as he returned to his senses and apologized right away, and started asking.

"Um sir, do you mind if you tell us where the footwear shop is? We're already looking for it for five minutes straight but we couldn't find it."

"Oh yes, the Neneko's Footwear Shop, am I right?" He said as Leiro just nodded while I just said nothing. Well, wala akong alam 'dyan eh so it would be better for me not to interfere. "It has been moved three days ago near the famous restaurant on the second floor. If you want, I can take you there-"

"Oh, there's no need for that, kind sir. We thank you for that valuable piece of information." Leiro smiled as he bowed down as if he was showing some respect- he's too formal...

"Glad to help. Have a nice day cute couples!" The fast food worker smiled as he quickly went his way now, when I noticed that Leiro was blushing a bit again. Nyahahaha... Oh Lei, you look so cute!

"Why does everyone thinks we're couples?!" Leiro murmured once again, and I just ended up snorting. Now I know na may pag-asa ako kay crush because whenever Leiro and I walked together, everyone will think we're on a relationship.

"C'mon Lei. Maybe we really need to go on to the second floor. My feet's hurting me already." Leiro just sighed as he let out his desperation and the two of us went on our way now...

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"So, are those sandals okay with you, Lunely? If so, then we're gonna choose that." Leiro smiled at me after he helped me wear that two-inch red sandals with a big yellow ribbon on it. Nyay! I'm like Cinderella with my prince who's helping me wearing my precious glass slippers- I'm thrilled.

After buying those sandals I picked at the sandals shop, I just placed my broken sandals in the sandals box that would have been for the sandals I bought- has your mind exploded yet? That's a lot of sandals ​...

As Leiro and I headed out from that shop there was a familiar person I saw in a restaurant beside the Neneko Footwear Shop, and I suddenly became angry when I saw her. Wait, Yusarine?! Why is she here?! Haven't I threatened her just an hour ago?

"Hi there, cuz Lei, sis Lou!" He suddenly shouted at us as I suddenly saw another familiar person, as well as their parents. "Hey guys! Come here!" Yusarine waved her hands to us as Leiro just smiled and approached them. Well, I also have no choice.

"Oh, hi there, Yusarine, Meryl and oh, Mr. and Mrs. Lorelei. I'm glad to meet you once again ma'am, sir." Leiro greeted Yusarine's parents as Yusarine just smiled and opened the door for us.

And wow, I never thought Yusarine's parents were running a famous restaurant like this. It is known as the El Lorelei Duche Restaurant, one of the famous, though expensive, restaurant which already had thirty-five branches all over the world. Well, I can't deny, they're pretty rich actually.

And all of us went inside the restaurant, I was mesmerized- everything here was glittering with light- It looked like a French Restaurant na may halong Spanish then a little twist of a Filipino-style.

Everything was made from marbles and glasses- starting with the dark glass door that was two times taller than me and those dark blue glass windows on the outside, a marble-covered concrete wall with antique brown designs on it. As soon as you enter, a silver-plated chandeliers with glass lights focused on the top will open up for you. The floor was also made from marble, as well as those large vases with exotic plants on the side, some antique paintings and I don't think the aircon is too cold here. What a relief ...

"Yusarine, why don't you take Lou Nylei and Briella towards the VIP room to eat? You can order anything you like for free so don't be shy, Lou Nylei, Briella." Yusarine's mother smiled as she ordered some of the waiters inside the restaurant to aid us towards the VIP room.

"Wait, but what about Leiro? Won't he come with us?" Suddenly I asked Yusarine's mom as Leiro just patted my head. It seems like he has an appointment with Yusarine's parents. Not to mention that Yusarine and Leiro's parents were great working partners.

"Don't worry Lou Nylei. Leiro and I were going to talk something about business stuff. Leiro will join you as soon as we'll finish talking, alright?" Mrs. Lorelei smiled once again as I realized we started spliting paths. Yusarine's parents and Leiro walked towards a room not to far away from us as the waiters brought the four of us towards the VIP room.

Hey ... I thought I was going to be alone with Leiro ... But it seems like this is life. And why are Yusarine and Briella here now? You're obviously ruining my date with Leiro! Get ready for me later ...

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"Wait, did you just say I'm going there?!" I shrieked out of shock as Meryl, Yusarine and Brel and I ate. We were eating some French steak that time tas my different flavors of juice among the four of us.

"I'm sorry if we didn't tell you this, sis Lou. This letter was sent yesterday from the United States. It is said that there was a patient with an ESCD disorder there and they were running out of volunteers. So as what Prof. Seth told us, he chose you from the workers of the ML Institution. " Yusarine said to me as she just drank her juice.

"What's my connection there huh? I was assigned to Leiro right?" I still don't know what Yusarine was talking about. Why am I a part of that even though I'm with Leiro? And, may... United States ?! That's too far away!! I won't be able to see Leiro then!

"That's what we want to tell you, sis Lou. That patient chose you. And although we said that you were already assigned to other patients, he still insisted that you were the one he wanted." Yusarine slowly placed a folder containing the information of a seventeen year-old teenager named Mark Zion Briolle.

"But I don't want to-"

"Easier said than done, Lou. But Zion threatened us that he would kill himself if you couldn't go there for the next two days." Brel suddenly entered the conversation, and what she said made me surprised.

"B-B-But, this is nonsense! What kind of blackmail is that?! I'm not going to U.S., not on my life!" I shouted once again, as Yusarine tried to calm me down.

"Sis Lou, relax. Although you don't want to go there but Zion's life depends on it! Prof. Seth said he's gonna arrange your papers tomorrow so there's nothing you can do-"

"This is soo unfair!" Tears suddenly fell from my eyes as I tried to defend my rights. "You didn't even ask me if it was okay with me or not ?! You should have told me! What's wrong with you?!" I wiped my tears as if I am a crybaby as Meryl just comforted me as a sister.

"Lou, stay ... I think they don't want to do this to you, but think about it, if you don't go there, something bad will happen. And you know the M.L. Institution's goal, don't you?" Meryl patted my head but I got even angrier as I pushed her away from me. I sobbed so much that Leiro suddenly entered the room and noticed that I'm crying. He quickly ran into me and he gave me a hug.

"L-L-Lunely? Are you okay? Is something happened?" Leiro quickly asked along with his worried face as he enveloped his arms into my whole body.

Wwaaahh!!! This is really unfair! Why does this happen to me all of a sudden?! If you look at it... I thought Leiro and I would be together forever, but it seems like I just ended up dreaming ...

Oh please... Help me!

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