"H-hi…" Leigh returned the greeting with a stiff and ridiculous smile.
"May I join?" the man asked again in a forceful tone and did not accept the refusal.
Leigh was stunned, she had a bad feeling, she had a feeling that something bad was going to happen. She wanted to refuse but it would sound rude but she really didn't want him to join her and Vhaken.
On the other hand, Vhaken's face had darkened the second the man looked at Leigh and the look didn't leave her eyes. He was annoyed, he was not considered here. He bit his teeth, his jaw clenched. And he looked at Leigh, there was a clear look of discomfort on her face there. He racked his brain, he opened his mouth to say but has stopped. Another voice was heard.
"Leigh" Farley called out to her behind the body of the man standing at their side of the table. And beside him stood Ezra. In his hands he held a tray full of the food. Seems to be a meal for 2 people. Definitely for himself and maybe Farley's.
Farley took a step and stood right next to the man who had been standing. He glanced around the table that only fit 4 people. For that he glanced at the man standing on his side who was now also staring at him.
Farley had come to this dining room not of his own volition, but at the behest of his Master. To keep the man in the room away from having an interest in Leigh, who was trying to get close to her. The moment he saw the man walking toward Leigh, his eyes darkened immediately. Without hesitation he walked towards her table even though he hadn't finished choosing the type of food he was going to eat.
Without hesitation Farley spoke "Duncan, would you mind if you look another table?" he asked in a flat and expressionless tone.
Duncan's right eyebrow rose, his expression looking annoyed. But he knew who the man standing before him was at this moment. None other than one of the training judges this time. Of course, he doesn't want to show and make a bad impression in front of him that will affect the results of his training later. Forcibly softened the look on his face, said "Yes sir, no problem" he lowered his head slightly, turned his body and walked away.
Farley turned his body to face his two team members with a small smile on his lips. "You don't mind if we join?" he didn't have to wait for an answer from them. The second before he spoke both of them looked stunning with his sudden presence and chased the man away with great ease. Whereas the second before this, the two struggled to drive him away. And here he was immediately seated next to Leigh, while Ezra was sitting next to Vhaken.
"You came just in time" Vhaken exclaimed, the joy on his face.
"Yeah, it seems on your faces, happy to help you at a crucial time" he sneered at the two while shaking his head.
And they ate in harmony, joking, laughing as if they found time together that had been lost for some time. Until lunch time is over. And one by one the participants and committee began to leave the dining room to return to the meeting room, continuing the afternoon training session.
Of course, the mysterious man that Leigh thinks of was present and sitting in the same spot in the morning session, still with that charismatic and dignified demeanor on his face but no expression. There seemed to be something bothering him at the turn of the session, seem on his face.
The day passed quickly, the sun was already on the western horizon, turning the sky a reddish yellow color. The bias of the shadows circled around the sun that was just about to set, letting it face look dazzling like a rosy pendant hanging in the sky, beautiful.
The closing remarks of the session were said by the speaker in an elegant and friendly manner. Before everyone disbanded. The event committee came forward to announce important announcements the following day. Until one by one all out of the meeting room.
This time the same thing happened. When Leigh glanced around the corner the mysterious man who had caught her attention had disappeared again. And it made her heart sink, disappointed. Strange isn't it, why should she feel disappointed when she doesn't know the man closely. She didn't know who he really was. He could go in and out of the meeting room as he pleased. Not even the committee was bothered by his presence. Indeed, in fact his presence can be said to be non-existent because he sat in the corner of the room, not a single word came out of his mouth. Totally sitting still, silent in the corner there.
Leigh stepped with a heavy heart, leaving the meeting room. Accompanied by Vhaken. Somehow, he began to feel something strange about her. "Hey. What is it?" he asked attentively with a worried look, but he managed to hide it behind his irritated, Vhaken-style joking face.
Leigh stunned, she glanced at Vhaken, showing a smile that showed her white teeth slightly between her parted lips. "Nothing," she answered briefly but with a stiff expression.
"Are you sure?" he asked for sure by bringing his face to the sides of hers and whispering the word in her ear in a teasing manner.
Leigh gasped. "Yeah..." she stammered, awkwardly.
"Would you like to walk with me to see the town of Yannick at night?" this was the second time he had invited her, but this time he had managed to invite her directly. There was a strong determination on his face that he wanted to take her around the city of Yannick, even though it was only a walk for only a few kilometers, still within the hotel environment.
But unfortunately, Leigh wasn't in the mood for sightseeing. For that she politely refused. "Sorry Ken, I'm tired, I just want to rest in the room" not because she was physically tired, but she was tired of the strangeness of her heart today. She wanted to sink her face in the bathtub, refreshing her mind from all the images of the mysterious man that had filled every space in her mind today.
"Okay, next time then, maybe tomorrow?" Vhaken was a little disappointed at her refusal, he really hoped to be able to walk around the surrounding area with her, but because she looked tired, he couldn't help but follow her wishes, but he still tried his luck by directly inviting her the next day.
"Okay, tomorrow" she answered briefly, a forced smile appeared on her tired-looking face.
Vhaken escorted Leigh to the door of her room. And say goodbye to each other. Then Leigh came in and closed the door to her room.
Leigh actually did as she planned in the corridor earlier, submerging herself in the bathtub, completely until her head was buried too. It was until she felt a little refreshed that she came out of the bathroom and lay on the bed, closing her eyes.
But after all this time, her mind still dwells on the mysterious man. Finally, she decided to open the laptop to check email, open the project report that she left to the other team, until late at night. In the end her eyes got tired, without her realizing it, she fell into a deep sleep.
The moment she closed her eyes. A shadow appeared in the corner of her room, there he was and his dark eyes looked at the woman lying on the bed, fast asleep. The shadow continued to stare at him without batting an eye, not once. It was as if the figure in front of him had something very, very interesting to see. The shadow remained in the same position for a long time, until it finally decided to disappear from there. The second he disappeared, leaving behind a gust of wind that curled violently, parting the curtains of the room briefly but after some time closed again. But the figure lying on the bed was still fast asleep.