Chapter 78: Chapter 78

Who do I know in New York?

No one. Absolutely no one.

So imagine my surprise when I hear, "It's really you guys."

I'm like, what?! Am I about to be kidnapped by someone who claims to know me?

Oh, Quinnel is here to help.

But what is he is whisked away as well before he gets to say a word?!

Ah! Stop being dramatic!

I turned around to come face to face with a brown haired woman beaming with smiles. Directed at us. Woman, I don't know you!

I subconsciously gave the woman a once over and nope, I don't know her.

I glanced over at Quinnel to see his brow was already raised at the woman's face in confusion.

He doesn't know her. Wait, he is supposed to know her. Why won't he know her? Cause I don't know her!

So how does she know me?

"Were you talking to us?" Quinnel asked and the woman's smile faded.

"Aren't you... Leo?"

"Leo?" Quinnel repeated in shock and she nodded her head vigorously.

She turned her head to me.

"And she's..."

"Not the person you're looking for." I cut her off before she could give me another name.

Now, the poor woman looked confused as hell. Goodness, adults... Sigh.

"No... But..."

"We're sorry, ma'am. But you have the wrong person." Quinnel said politely and I nodded my head to agree with him.

"You..."

My phone rang cutting her off this time and I swiped it to the right without looking at the ID. Whoever it was was a damned saver!

"Hey!" I answered cheerfully with a big smile.

"You seem enthusiastic to see my call." I heard. Jake. Oh thank God!

"Hey, Jakey." I called and Quinnel turned to me with his both brows raised. I ignored the look and kept smiling like an idiot.

"Okay... I won't even say I'm not surprised but, where the hell are you and Quinnel? We're about to go back to the hotel."

"Oh you're about to go back? We'll be right there. Very very very very soon. Sooner than you think."

"You're just being weird." He mumbled and I chuckled like he said something funny.

"Kay. We'll be there soon." I replied and with a few words where Jake asked what I meant, I didn't give him a proper reasonable response before I hung up on him.

"Very sorry ma'am. But that was our friends. We need to head back now." I said with a grin and before she could process the meaning of my words, I had pulled Quinnel along with me.

"Wait! Leo!"

"I'm not Leo!" Quinnel yelled over his shoulder.

"And I'm not whatever name you wanted to call me. Have a nice life!" I yelled as well walking really fast.

Once we had walked some metres, I looked over my shoulder to see no one behind us.

"I don't think she followed us." I mumbled to myself intentionally. I didn't want Quinnel to hear cause ever since we started walking and running, he told me...

"I told you she wasn't following us."

That.

Well, as it is now... I didn't listen to him and now I'm hunched over with my hand on my knees fighting to take deep breaths.

I paused and looked up to him before I stuck my tongue at him. He sighed shaking his head also taking deep breaths.

"I mean.. think about it. Why would she follow us? She is not a creep. She just seems senile. Trust me, I've met a few of them on my visit to Mum's hospital." He questioned and I shrugged.

"You never know! She might be a young girl disguised as an older woman! Don't you watch shows and movies?" I questioned in return.

"That's movies and shows, Heaven!" He exclaimed.

"So? Some movies are based on true facts and events." I retorted.

"Oh God! Was that movie you watched based on True facts and events?" He asked crossing his arm and I didn't reply since the movie wasn't based on true events and it definitely wasn't based on true facts.

I turned my head to the right with a sigh.

"I'm so tired." I said and he chuckled.

"You should be. That's what you deserve. I told you not to make us run." He mocked and I turned my head to him.

"So why did you run then? Don't tell me... You were scared?" I asked with a smirk and he scoffed.

"Scared? Of a woman? Yeah, right."

"What's wrong with being scared of a woman?" I asked stalking towards him.

"I... I don't... I... You... Why... Why are you... you coming... near me?" He stuttered.

"Oh, but why not? You are, after all, not scared of women."

"So? Stay away from me." He said waving his hands in his front all while stepping back.

I didn't reply him as I smirked and kept on walking towards him. It was a huge surprise this place was clear and he has hit no obstacle for once while moving back blindly.

"Geez, stop that. Please." He begged his hand on his chest before I stopped.

"Did you say you weren't scared of women?" I asked and he looked at me in disbelief.

"What?" He whispered and I smiled.

"Never mind. I got my answer already." I stepped back with a smirk.

"We should leave. That was truly Jake and they're leaving for the hotel already." I continued walking back to where the bags were to grab mine and his where I saw the bag inside it already open.

Before my brain could process what was in there, it had been snatched from my hand. Thinking it was a thief, I turned my head almost immediately that I was surprised I didn't get a whiplash at the speed.

Only to find I almost got a whiplash because the owner of the bag had collected, no, snatched it from me.

What's up with this guy?

He was looking into the bag as if I had taken something from the bag and he was making sure it was still complete.

Like I had... Stolen from him. I scoffed and walked ahead leaving him behind. He caught up with me a few seconds later with no word.

We both walked side by side in silence till we got to where the rest were. He called me a few times but I ignored him, of course.

We got into the bus and went to the hotel. The night passed and finally we were going home.

We got to the school where we bade each other and went to our various homes. I had not talked to Quinnel and he didn't seem to know what he did since he was been pestering me ever since we got into the bus on the way back to our houses.

"Geez, you're annoying." I muttered shaking my head.

"You won't tell me why you aren't talking to me!" He replied and I shrugged.

"I just don't feel like. Is that a problem?" I questioned turning to him.

He pursed his lips and I turned my face forward once he didn't give me a response.

"Liar." He started suddenly.

With a sigh, I turned to him.

"What now?"

"Liar Liar pants on fire. The whole seat is on fire. You're lying." He accused.

"Bout?" I questioned even though I know what he was talking about. He saw through my lie.

"That's not the reason why you're not talking to me. I did something yesterday, didn't I?" He questioned and I shrugged.

No shit, Sherlock.

"I don't know."

"Was it when I argued with you about walking?"

No response. Really? I'm not that petty.

"Was it cause I said I'm not afraid of women?" He asked again.

Seriously??

"Oh! Wait, I didn't know that would make you angry." He exclaimed suddenly.

I turned my head to him.

"What?"

"Me snatching the bag from you." He replied and I blinked but I didn't shake my head nor did I nod. I did literally nothing. Just turned my head.

"I was just checking if something hadn't opened. I wasn't doing anything else."

"Exactly. You weren't doing anything else. Why the heck were you looking at the bag like I would steal from you? That's was really disrespectful and absurd. For you to think I would steal–"

"I didn't think you stole anything." He cut me off and I glared at him.

"Yes? So why were you looking into the bag so keenly? Checking if everything was still intact? Maybe a stone missing?"

"I. Wasn't. Checking. If everything is still intact. Heck, the thought didn't even come to mind."

I rolled my eyes before turning my head away from him.

"I really wanted to do this as a surprise but since things are like this... And it's my only proof... Here you go." He mumbled reaching for his bag.

I turned my head to him slightly to see him go through the bag that he snatched from me yesterday.

He then pulled out a white bag. I blinked at the bag when he stretched it to me.

"What's this?" I asked taking it from him.

"A gift." He replied with a shrug.

"Why?" I asked eyeing him and the gift.

"Just because." He said simply.

"Is there a bomb in here?" I asked taking the bag off my lap with my hand stretched out.

"Of course not." He replied with a chuckle.

I used my index finger to push the bag and it pressed softly.

"A bomb can't be that soft though." I muttered and pulled the bag back down to open it.

"I said it's not."

"I'll believe you when I see what's in here and it's not a bomb." I said instead.

I loosened the bag to reveal the black fabric in it. Why does it seem like I recognize this fabric?

I pulled the folded fabric out of the bag completely and unfolded it to reveal a scarf. Then it clicked.

The 20 dollars scarf that I admired at New York!

"You went back to get it?" I asked turning to him with glee in my eyes and my voice laced with excitement.

"You couldn't take your eyes off it. Of course, I went back to get it. And more so, you looked great in that scarf you used day before yesterday at the coffee shop... I just had to get you one as well." He replied with a smirk.

"But it's so expensive." I mumbled my hand playing with the designs on the scarf.

"It's not that–"

I jumped him as I wrapped my hand around him neck my body pressing to him firmly.

"Thank you very much." I mumbled into his neck and he chuckled hugging me back.

"You're welcome." He replied his hand rubbing my hair. This position always seemed uncomfortable but it was so comfortable we didn't pull away until we reached our stop.

Then we awkwardly pulled away and I immediately gathered the scarf throwing it around my neck.

Oh! Did I mention Jake was in the bus as well? I bet I didn't. So yeah, I'm embarrassed right now.

For two things.

My crush thinks I look good in a scarf and got me one! I got a souvenir!

And my friend saw me jump him.

Bury me now? I promise you I'm dying happy.