27 A Lunch to Remember

Shiki and I drove towards the mall where I will meet Krista and Geraldine. Once there, I parked at the parking area and alighted the car quickly while Shiki followed me.

"You'll meet my girlfriends so be on your best behavior okay." I glared at Shiki.

I know that Shiki is usually aloof and a snob with other women, especially if they are ogling at him. But I know that he can be nice and smile like what he did with the female administration officer a while ago.

"I am always in my best behavior." Shiki replied expressionless.

"Well try to be a little nice and respectable okay." I said. "And don't release those destructive pheromones of yours."

I look around while Shiki and I were walking in the mall and all the people that we passed by were looking at us in awe.

"Look at that couple. They look good together."

"Who is that hunk? Is he an actor?"

"Look at him, he is so handsome."

"That couple is made in heaven."

I hear the passers by saying such things that made me a little embarrassed. I have been with Shiki for the past year in Paris but we were never looked on as a couple because Franz was always with us. We were always a group when we go out and I only looked like a sister being escorted by my brothers. But here in my home city felt a little different. With my own natural beauty and Shiki's good looks, we looked like a pair made in heaven.

I distanced myself a few steps away from him to avoid looking like a couple even further. But then Shiki grabbed my hand and held it tightly.

"W-What are you doing?" I asked in surprise.

"This mall is big and I do not know the way. I am afraid I will get lost with this many people. So stay close to me." Shiki said with a blank face as if holding my hand was nothing important.

"Y-You are not a child you know." I said with embarrassment. "And you are not a normal human being. How can you get lost?" I whispered to him.

'Can gods also get lost?' I thought.

"Of course we can also get lost." Shiki hooked his mouth into a smile like he was teasing.

I know that he was joking and tried to pry my hand out of his but to no avail.

"So, where to my dear?" Shiki asked with a hundred karat gold smile on his face.

Shiki was being sweet that it could let any woman's heart explode with from within. But to me, I felt he was acting.

"It's this way." When I pointed the way, my eyes caught familiar faces.

A few feet in front of us were Jeremy and Christopher. I looked a Shiki and he has his mischievous smile on.

'I thought so.' I thought to myself.

Shiki maybe had seen Jeremy earlier and started to be close to me after that. He was trying to irritate Jeremy by showing our closeness to each other.

"Oh, if it isn't Mr. Jeremy." Shiki said with a smile. "Lucky to bump into you here."

Jeremy looked irritated with Shiki's greeting. It looked like he will pop a vein on his forehead.

"Hi Jeremy, hi Chris." I greeted them.

"Hi Anastasia." Christopher greeted.

"Hi." Jeremy looked at me with a warm smile. My heart started to thump but I felt Shiki's grip on my hand tightened that it brought me back to reality.

"Oh, by the way you still haven't met Shiki." I said to Chris. "He is my distant cousin."

"Shiki, this is Chris. He is my upper classman in the university." I introduced them.

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you." Shiki used his other hand to initiate a hand shake and Chris accepted.

"It's also a pleasure." Chris smiled. "So you are the rumored distant cousin that is currently residing in Ana's home."

"Yes. I am also one of her fiancé candidates." Shiki smiled.

"Hahaha, so I have heard." Chris chuckled and looked at Jeremy who was obviously not in a good mood. "It's a good thing to see again Ana. We haven't met for the past year."

"Yes it's good to see you again as well." I replied. "Oh by the way, are you busy now? I would like to ask if you would like to eat lunch with us. I am also meeting Krista and Din for lunch."

"Oh so you are meeting with my sister and Dinny." Chris said with a generic smile. "We are not in any rush. I guess we can make time for lunch. Right Jeremy?"

Jeremy was still looking at the hand that Shiki was holding in irritation. "Yes, of course. I am also a little hungry."

"Then it's settled. Come with us." I said with a happy smile.

I was thinking that this is a good way to start pairing up Geraldine and Chris. A group lunch is a good start to build up a good atmosphere I guess.

'Chris just called her Dinny?' I thought out of the blue.

Chris is Krista's older brother and we usually see him when we go to their place when we were younger. But we never had a chance to hang out with him. And so I never realized that Chris gave Geraldine such a cute nickname.

'Krista and I call her by Din, so hearing Chris call her Dinny is a bit surprising.' I thought. 'Maybe there is something that I can start with between this two.'

I was thinking that maybe I won't start from scratch with pairing up Chris and Geraldine. At least a cute nick name is a positive start.

edited by:nalyn