He dragged me all the way to a coffee shop on the third floor of the mall.
The smell of coffee and freshly baked bread invaded my sense of smell, and the soft jazz music playing in the background just gave me a pleasant feeling.
I feel... relaxed.
Killian pulled me towards a two-person table and let go of my hand. I was about to pull a chair for myself when—
"Take a seat." He gestured and pulled a chair for me.
I settled down and watched him turn around the table to the other side to sit.
Oh...
"Thank you..." I mumbled.
I don't think he heard me. I averted my sight away from him and roamed the coffee shop. Well, it doesn't matter. I did not ask him to pull a chair for me anyway.
I roved my eyes around the coffee shop. The dark and cream interior walls and the black lining give an elegant touch to the ambiance. The chandelier of warm light adds to the cozyness. And the wooden countertop and tables really blend well.
'Nice' I thought.
"I-ehem" Killian called my attention, so I turned to look at him.
"What's your order?" He asked while looking into the menu. He still couldn't make eye contact.
I am still full. I just ate like 20 minutes ago.
I was about to refuse when he suddenly spoke.
"Please order whatever you want. It's my treat, so don't worry." He raised his head and looked at me in the eye.
"Sure..." was all that I could say before ordering.
"Black coffee, no sugar, and a croissant, please." I said while we looked at each other.
Yes, he is looking at me now.
'…'
"Nice, I'll have one cup of iced latte and two slices of strawberry cheesecake. Thank you," he said to the waiter with a smile that met the eyes.
[Badump]
I quickly everted my gaze to the glass window on my right side.
What was that? My breathing hitched.
What the f…
[Sigh]
I calmed myself down. I must be exhausted. I haven't had a good night's sleep since last week.That must be it.
"Are you alright?" Killian asked, bringing my attention back to him.
Well, I think I have calmed down.
"Yes." I said with a small smile and averted my gaze again.
I complained earlier that he was not making eye contact. This time, I am going to complain for the opposite reason.
I get nervous whenever our eyes meet.
'What the hell? Dammit. '
What is wrong with me? Ah, I must be exhausted and drained out.
I'm trying to relax myself.
I put the whole weight of my back against the backrest of the chair and tried to remain calm and clear my mind.
I'll remind myself to sleep early later. I must be failing my health lately.
.
.
Our order came. None of us has uttered a word since then. We just ate peacefully.
I am still full, but I still ate my order. Sipping my hot coffee, I watch Killian eat his cheesecakes.
I can tell he is really enjoying it.
The way he eats appears to be very passionate... or he's just hungry. I don't know.
He suddenly lifts his gaze and we lock eyes.
I raised my eyebrows, questioning him.
'what' in my head.
He quickly averted his gaze to his drink and chugged it down really quick.
"Uhm..why are you here?" He asked.
I frowned. What does he mean by that?
"What?" I asked in a flat tone.
"At the mall?" he replied.
My face remained in a frown. Is he seriously asking me that?
"Why not?" I replied.
"ha-a-ah haha yes, why not? Hehe."is all he just said and he gets back to eating his cheesecake, looking down.
.
After that conversation, we remained quiet until we finished our food.
I looked at the outside window. It's already night time.
I glanced at my wristwatch to check the time only to find out it was already past eight o'clock.
"Do you have anywhere else to go?" I asked Killian, who was playing on his phone, still sitting across from me.
"Oh! It's already past eight. I better get going." He mumbled and got up to fix his things.
" Going home? "I asked.
He looked at me and replied…"Yes." with a smile.
With that, I also got up from my seat and grabbed the heavy paperbag from the floor.
"Hey-!, I mean, Eloise... Let me have that. " He gestured to the paper bag I was holding.
"You are injured." I replied.
"I can handle it, and besides, you are going home, right?" He said, while scrathing his nape.
"We are heading to the same exit. Let me help you." I said, looking at him.
I did not let him reply, I started walking, leaving him behind. I am helping him anyway. I might help him till the end. What's the point, right?
I am already in the waiting area outside the mall. There are taxis picking us up here, but I remain standing waiting for Killian to arrive.
'What's taking him so long?'
I turned to look back and saw him half running, half walking towards me. I watched him till he was standing beside me.
"Haaa…haaa" he pants heavily.
"Do you commute? Taxi perhaps?" I asked, looking around.
"Haaa…I'm...I have a driver... haa "he replied, breathing heavily.
I looked at him blankly. What happened to him?
"Haaa…sorry, I walk so slowly, so I tried to run to keep up with you. " He pants.
I frowned... I am looking at him crouching, holding his knees beside me.
Why would he do that? I walk fast. He could've just walked normally. I wouldn't run away with his things with me.
Dammit.
I looked away.
"Then where is your driver?" I asked.
"I texted him already. He said he is coming this way, so I might have to wait." He said, standing up next to me.
"All right," I said.
[silence]
Nobody of us spoke, but I can tell that we were feeling each other, trying to be aware of what was going to happen next.
I just closed my eyes and leaned on the still railings of this waiting shed.
"A-are you waiting for someone too?" he asked, breaking the thick silence between us.
I can't see what he is doing, but I can feel him staring at me from across the room.
"No." I replied.
[silence]
He is very different from the usual him at school and now. The aura he has at school is dark and gloomy, and when you have him around you at school, you can feel that you must be weary of him. It's like you can't get too close because something might happen.
That's how I feel about him at school, but I am not scared at all. Even if it's true that he is a psychopath.
'I've met worse.'
However, seeing him today is very different. Bright and carefree. That's the aura I am feeling. He looks like a normal teenage boy to me.
I wonder why that is...
.
.
.
I don't know how many minutes have passed, but we've been here for a long time. I opened my eyes to see him squatting on the ground. I looked around.
The road is still busy with cars passing by, but there are fewer people walking around than earlier.
Well, I guess the night has sunken deep and yet we are still here. His driver sure is taking his time.
I am pissed. My patience is getting thin. What kind of servant treats his master this way.
"How long do we have to wait here?" I said, gritting my teeth while looking down at him doing something to his phone.
I don't know why I am getting pissed. It's like he asked me to wait here with him.
Tsk.
"W-what?" he asked with a very innocent and confused face.
I run my fingers through my hair that is already disheveled from the air coming from the streets.
"I said, how long do we have to wait here for your driver?" I said, I didn't even try to hide how pissed I was.
He just looked at me, dumbfounded, with a slightly open mouth and confused eyes. And I did the same, with the expressionless face I have.
Seconds after that, he blinked a couple of times, and then he stood up.
"I-I don't know why my driver isn't replying. Something must happen. " He said, looking at his phone. Despite it being night and the flickering lights hitting his face from the headlights of the passing cars, I can see his pink face.
It's pink again. What the hell?
[sigh]
[Peeep!] [Peeep!]
A loud honk followed by a blinding light flashed before us. When the lights were gone, I saw a white BMW iX parked in front of us.
I have a hunch that Killian is a son of a wealthy family. So I'm not surprised that a $200,000 worth of car is parked in front of me right now, let alone a personal driver.
"Oh, here he is!" I looked at Killian, who was picking up the paper bag and stepping forward towards the car.
The car door flung open and I saw a middle-aged man stepping out of it wearing a black suit and a chauffeur hat.
I frowned when the man just stood beside the door. Isn't he supposed to approach Killian and help him?
I am still holding the paper bag with rims of paper stacked inside it with my right hand only while my left hand is in my pocket as I watch Killian pace back and forth from the car to me. He approached me, trying to take the paper bag from me.
I refused.
Instead, I walked towards the back seat of the car and opened the door, putting the paper bag inside.
I can feel them watching me, but I don't care.
"Thank you." Killian said to me with a shy smile.
"No problem." I replied with a nod and turned away.
I did not look back anymore. I already did what I had to do, so I need to go home.
I climb onto my motorcycle and ride away, heading home.
I didn't notice I was clenching my jaw the whole time...