Charmaine laughed. "What's with this sakuras?" she asked pointing at the ceiling while lying on the bed.
Leo Ji came closer and sat on the edge of the bed beside her before looking up. "Well, someone told me she wanted to see cherry blossoms every morning when she wakes up, so I had it painted there." he replied.
Charmaine stared at the painted flowers with a smile. She then closed her eyes to commemorate the past. The truth was... she didn't mean it that way. During their first date, they were walking out of a coffee shop when she saw trees of cherry blossoms lining up the other side of the street. She pulled Leo along to take some photos of the flowers, and while looking up from under a tree, she said those words. But what she really meant was...
"I wish someday, I can wake up to the sight of you every morning." she whispered. When she opened her eyes again, she was surprised to find Leo leaning closer to her. His face only a few inches away from hers.
"Come again?" he mumbled.
With a blushing face, Charmaine turned her head to the side to avoid him. "Nothing." she replied.She fear that her heart would explode if he keep on looking at her like that!
"Well then... how was it? Do you think you can start dating me now?" he suddenly asked.
Well.... Should she be saying yes to that? Embarrassed she quickly got up from the bed and without answering his question prepared to get out. "It's almost time for dinner. I think I need to check the kitchen for something to eat." she said before fleeing away.
***
Charmaine was in the middle of cooking dinner when Luke went downstairs with Leo. In the little boy's hand was a brand new video game console. He was so focus on playing that he wouldn't take his eyes off it as he sat on a chair in the kitchen.
"Come on now. Why won't you tell me?" beside him, Leo continued to ask him about something.
"I told you. Nothing strange or special. She just chatted with friends in her social media." he mumbled.
"Friends? You mean Andrei?" he whispered to his ear.
"Well, he's a friend." he shortly replied.
"What kind of a friend? Did she date him before?" he muttered.
Suddenly, Luke just snapped. "Geeze!!! I'm dead! I can't believe you made me dead! You gave me this thing but you won't allow me to peacefully play with it!" he complained.
Charmaine heard Luke's loud voice from where she stood. She turned to him and gave him a warning glance. "That's not the right way to talk to your dad." she reminded him.
Luke lowered his head and apologized but Leo took the blame. "It's not his fault. I was being annoying." he said before gesturing that he can go and play peacefully in the living room. Luke stood up and run away with his game console. He really was into this new toy that his dad gave him.
"You can't spoil him like that. You gave him a gift but he wasn't just ungrateful, he was also being rude." Charmaine told him. How can he just let it go like that?
"It's alright. I owe him. I wasn't there while he was growing up." he replied.
Charmaine just chuckled. "He's still growing up. There's a lot of room for catching up." she said before placing two bowls of varying dishes on the table. "Here. Have a taste." she said.
Leo took the small bowl of soup and had a taste. It's good so he decided to eat more until he almost finished it. Charmaine just watched him. Somehow it felt strange. Leo eating something she cooked and wasn't complaining about the taste.
"What's your plan? How long are you gonna live here on your own?" she asked.
Leo raised his head and looked at her face. "I'm not sure. I can't reclaim my position until I get rid of the dangers." he said in a serious manner but suddenly he remembered something and smiled. "Maybe you can accompany me here so I don't get lonely." he jested.
Charmaine sighed. "I don't know." she replied. She then stood up from her seat. "I'll serve the food now so we can have dinner." She really wanted to do something for Leo, but she didn't know how.
Running away.... his prey always run away from him. He wondered how he can win her back.
***
"Hey dad! How was the banquet? What did Old Mr. Ji say? Did he agree to the engagement?" a young woman came closer to a middle aged man and sat next to him at the table. "You were so busy lately, I haven't seen you home since the other day. If I didn't know well I would think you're avoiding me!"
The man reached for a glass of red wine and drank it before turning to the young woman. "Chanel, I think you should just forget about him. I don't think he's worthy of you." he replied. "I've heard a lot of negative things about the guy. He'll only cause us trouble."
"Nonsense! He's the finest man I ever met. He's handsome, smart and very talented. How can he not be worthy?" the woman argued.
The man with the brown hair shook his head. "You don't know him yet.You only met him once. Do you know that he's a ladies' man? He had a fiancee before but she left him because he's a cheater! He cheated on her with her sister but after making her pregnant, he just ditched her away. Do you want the same thing to happen to you?" the man warned her. That's not just it. He heard he spends money on women, taking them to extravagant dates when he should be working in the office. He prioritized leisure over work and his grandfather was so disappointed in him that he stripped him off of his inheritance! Such a trash, he didn't want someone like him to be in his family!
"Are you sure we're talking about the same Leo Ji? I don't believe you. That's not what I heard about him. He's not a playboy! I'll show you!" she yelled before leaving the table.
Bill Aikens held his forehead. His daughter has been spoiled rotten. She wouldn't even listen to him now. That man must be really good in flirting with women! Was it his plan to catch his daughter's attention? He's just a toad wanting to eat swan meat!