11 Sudden crisis

"Brotheeer!" Imogen run towards her brother with her arms wide open. She was eager for a hug. Sherdan just laughed and took her in his arms.

He found himself being more carefree lately, although it was limited to his family and close friends. The unfamiliar emotions he dislikes before, he was embracing it now.

The more his 16-year-old self and his 32-year-old fuse, the more unfamiliar things become familiar for him. Making every thing he does feel so natural.

To be able to feel happiness and also freedom, felt so unreal. In here, he can escape the shackles of the title 'CEO'. In this timeline, he can be as liberated as he wants.

He kissed Imogen's fluffy cheeks, making the other giggle. Sherdan carried her, and she encircled her arms around Sherdan's neck.

"Brother, let's go to the paaark!" Imogen giddily said, her eyes bright, and she had an expectant look on her face.

Sherdan chuckled, making his 'unapproachable' vibe lessen to a great degree. The girls near them stared at him and muttered praises amongst themselves.

What a handsome guy!.

Sherdan lightly pinched her cheeks with his free hands

"Alright, alright." He said, quite considerate when it comes to pampering her.

Before, he thinks fusing with his 16-year-old self will only bring trouble, now, he's thanking heavens for doing this.

His 32-year-old self only have social skills when it comes to meetings and business gatherings, and even during those times, he rarely needs to say too much. Aside from that, he had never talked to anyone, aside from his secretary and personnel, when it's not about business. That means, interacting with a 7-year-old kid is like a mission impossible.

So having his 16-year-old's self is a blessing in disguise. Although most of the time, his 32-year-old personality will be the one overtaking his reasoning.

They went to the park as Imogen's wishes. He played with her for almost an hour, and when Imogene was already tired and sleepy, they went back home.

It had been a week since he last came here. And he had already adapted to his situation.

His plans do not need to be carried out this instant anyway. He probably still has five months of free time.

He had already checked the records he had obtained. Furthermore, he had confirmed that his relative from his mother's side had already started the first project. Sure, it will become successful, but it was the least successful when you compare it to the rest.

It was mostly because this relative of him had little connections than the other relatives he had. All of them were the kind of person who competes with each other, so naturally, they wouldn't help them obtain more resources. They were vile, even amongst 'comrades'.

Time had passed and a month was finished. August came, and so is the wet season.

Sherdan held a pink umbrella with a strawberry pattern as he walked Imogen to the door of her classroom. They can no longer walk so freely like last month when it was still humid, so they had to go to school by car. Sherdan only insisted on at least walking Imogen to her classroom doors since he's afraid her umbrella will turn upside down from the strong wind.

"Brother, I'll go inside!" Imogen said as she reached out for her pink umbrella. Sherdan opened his own black umbrella and then folded Imogen's. He then handed it to her.

He patted her head. "Do not go outside alone okay? Remember to wait for the car's driver to fetch you before you go out after class. Do not come along if a stranger tried to bring you. Call for the teachers." Sherdan was worried.

He had seen this in some dramas. Children getting abducted after mistaking their cars. So he had to remind her occasionally.

Imogen nodded and promised.

The two of them separated after that. Sherdan went back to their car and asked his driver to take him to the campus.

Sherdan entered the classroom. He was draped with a black jacket, and it greatly complimented his pale skin.

"Cohen!" Martin called. There's an empty seat beside him, so he called Sherdan to make the latter occupy it. They weren't like before anymore, but they're no longer in bad terms.

Who knows why actually? Sherdan just got mad at him for no reason before, then after that he acted like nothing happened. What a retard.

Sherdan glanced at Martin who called for him, after he realized what the other wanted him to do, he went there and sat beside him.

"Good Morning." Sherdan greeted with his usual smile.

This, it wasn't really anything surprising. He hated Martin before, but the more he thinks about it, the more he finds it odd. Friedde hanged out with them in the original timeline every so often, so the other three of them were somehow close with him.

When he had been busy, the four of them will often hang out. Sean, Arice, Martin and Friedde. That was probably why he instantly assumed that something must be going on between Martin and Friedde after he saw Martin naked inside the same room with a sleeping Friedde.

Thinking about it again, he really has some trust-issue. He didn't even spare Martin some time to explain his side. He wronged Martin. But that's limited to Martin, the only one he can forgive is this guy.

The other guy?

To hell with him.

The 32-year-old Sherdan hated this part of his 'self'. His 16-year-old self is truly someone so full of youth. He's so loud, even inside his head.

"Morning." Martin said, his tone lazy.

Sherdan sat quietly and fiddled in his pen.

And so, the day ended up without them realizing it. After school came, and the rain was so heavy. The air was also strong, making it hard to keep their umbrellas together.

"Lucian!" Lila called for Lucian who was standing in one of the schools sheds. He forgot to bring an umbrella. He just took shelter under a passing student's umbrella when rain poured earlier morning.

"Lucian!" Lila called again. Lucian looked at her side and finally saw her. But he can't hear her, so he had to shout too.

"Why?!" Lucian shouted. He can't hear her.

Lila raised the umbrella she was holding, signalling Lucian. Lucian immediately understood, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking that Lila had already brought him the umbrella he was borrowing.

Lila lives near the school, so she doesn't need to go through the trouble of 'commuting' nor racking her brain on how to obtain an umbrella when it is raining hard, and she forgot to bring some.

"The Umbrella is broken!!! I'M SORRY!! WE DON'T HAVE ANYMOREE! I ran here to inform youuu!" Lila shouted at the top of her lungs.

Lucian assessed what she wanted to say from the way her mouth moves. After finally processing what she just said, Lucian was stupefied.

He only noticed it now since they're quite far from each other, but Lila is truly soaking wet, her clothes were drenched and her hair was down. Because of the distance, he wasn't able to see it earlier.

Lucian facepalmed. But decided to just try his luck and find for a student who lives in the same Town as him. There must be someone. There has to be

"GO HOME NOW! YOU MIGHT GET SICK!" Lucian shouted to Lila. He can't trouble her to look for an umbrella in her neighbor for him, can he? Lila run here without and umbrella because it was broken, even if he asked her for this favor, she will only end up running around drenched in the cold rain.

"SORRY!! I'LL ASK AROUND FOR YOU BUT I CAN'T PROMISE!!" Lila shouted back. Although she can't make out most of what Lucian wanted to say, she can discern it from the hand gestures he makes.

Lucian waved his hand around in a criss-cross manner.

"NO NEED! I'LL HANDLE IT!" Lucian shouted. Lila felt guilty and tried insisting but was turned down by Lucian all the time.

"I CAN GO HOME MYSELF! GO HOME!!" Lucian shouted. Because of the persuasions, Lila reluctantly left and ran back to her house.

Lucian sighed. He talked big, but he actually had no idea how to go home. Since he'd been waiting for that umbrella, he had been in that shed for several minutes. And his classmates had already gone home earlier.

The ones passing were either his senior or junior, in simpler terms, someone he's not that close with. His friendliness was limited to students in the same grade level as him. He's not that 'extremely' sociable to have a connection with either upper or lower grades.

Right at this moment when Lucian was in a desperate situation, Sherdan saw him. After noticing Lucian's expression, he contemplated for a second, he can't decide whether he should come up to him or not.

In the end, he excused himself from his friends and told them to go ahead without him.

Better approach him and ask him at least. They're not strangers anyway, so there's no harm done.

"Are you alright?" Sherdan asked the moment he had already reached Lucian's shed. Lucian was startled after hearing Sherdan's voice and raised his head.

He subconsciously scratched the back of his head.

"Not really. I don't have any umbrella."

"And I can't trouble anyone to walk with me home to the next Town so--" Lucian paused after realizing what he just said. He just said that his home is in the next Town, did he? He just did right?

AHH!! Bury him alive please! He just said he was passing by Sherdan's house before! Now he lives in the Next Town!

But wait, stop panicking. He forced himself to stop panicking. He can still say that he had a business near Sherdan's street right? That way, his excuse of 'passing by' will be valid!.

Good thinking. He praised himself for being able to think of a good reason in such a short span of time. This really make him wonder what possessed his body that time to give such a 'lame' reasoning.

Sherdan watched Lucian's face during his 'inner battle' and finds him funny. He looks so conflicted at the first second, then he will suddenly look delighted. He really wonders what is inside this guy's head.

Sherdan cleared his throat and decided to act like he didn't hear Lucian's sudden slip of the tounge.

"Well then, how about you ride with me?. Our cars waiting outside, and after we fetch Imogen, I'll send you off to your home?" Sherdan offered. Do a favor, if you want them to do you a favor one day inturn.

It's the kind of stereotypical mindset any human have.

Lucian was surprised at this sudden offer, he felt embarrass to be in the same car with Sherdan. But he's not so stupid to reject his offer, so he just agreed. Shyness can go to hell, he really needs a ride home!.

"Okay. Thank you." He smiled. The other gave him a warm smile in response.

Sherdan asked Lucian to take cover under his umbrella, and so they walked towards the parked car outside side by side.

The moment they were ready, the driver started driving towards Imogen's elementary school. They picked up Imogen who was waiting in her classroom with her adviser. Sherdan thanked the teacher and picked up Imogen, he went back to the car in a hurry since the rain had become heavier.

They settled inside the car. Imogen saw Lucian and thought he was familiar, so she greeted him with a cute smile.

Lucian was delighted by her cute smiles that he can't help poking her cheeks. Imogen laughed after Lucian poked her. It tingles!.

The three of them had small conversations while they were on the way to Lucian's house. But when they turned into a corner, they were stopped by an officer wearing a raincoat.

The driver rolled the window and little and talked with the officer outside. The moment the conversation ended, everyone in the room was surprised, especially Lucian.

Wha....wha...what??

"Roads are blocked off due to a sudden landslide. No cars can pass this area.....xx xx xx" The officer said more, but Lucian didn't pay any attention to it.

Doesn't this mean he can't go home??