Withdrawing his hand, Leon shook his head and requested the driver to leave. There was no chance she actually remembered him! He thought with a straight face.
"Hey! You didn't answer my question!" Liana grumbled when the taxi started, truly annoyed with his behavior.
"So did you!" Leon muttered gritting his teeth.
"Huh, seriously!" Liana scoffed as the taxi vanished whilst the buzzing traffic.
For God's sake, she at least deserved an answer for saving him from those bullies!
---
Reaching his home, Leon got down and took out his wallet.
"Not needed, young man! Your girlfriend already paid while booking on the website." The driver smiled and took a U-Turn, driving back to catch another customer.
"She isn't my girl-girlfriend." He mumbled opening the gate and walked inside.
"Ahh, he is finally here." His mother rushed only to hold back her wish to hug him since he always had this 'no touch' tag over his face.
"What's wrong with your face?" She worriedly touched those wounds, tears slowly moistening her eyes when he jerked away her hand.
"I am sure he was beaten up by someone!" Raged a man in his late forties putting down the book he was acting like reading.
"When you can't act normal, why don't you just stay at home? Is it necessary to trouble us out every single day?" He continued but Leon just ignored him and sat at the dining table.
"Huh, look at that attitude!" Morgan scorned and Melissa sighed. He was worried and angry, but this wasn't the right time to take over him.
Leon unzipped his bag and dug his hand searching for something. His eyes peered when he didn't feel it and anxiously emptied down the bag. His hasty hands scattered the insignificant things but he couldn't find that keychain in that small pool of mess.
Guessing his anticipation, Melissa walked to her room and brought back the keychain she safely secured for him.
"Are you looking for this?" She asked, placing it on the table and Leon heaved a long sigh clasping those keys tightly in his hand.
It was gifted by Liana when she left him. She had given it saying that it was her lucky charm and it would help him conquer his worries. And surely, whenever he looked at the butterfly in it, his heart would ease down.
"You left it on the dining table this morning," Melissa added, her smile widening when he nodded back with a tiny smile. His son rarely smiled but every time he did, it would melt her heart.
"If you were normal, that girl would have sure contacted you after that incident. Who would want to be with a guy like you?" Morgan added resting back on the couch and Melissa could only sigh.
"Stop it, Morgan." She scolded her husband and turned towards her son, she tried reassuring him, "She really considered you as a friend, Leon. That's the reason she sent that letter before leaving the town. The day she comes back from aboard, I am sure she will personally meet you."
"Haha, nice joke! When his own brother treated him like an outcast and left the house, why expect something from an outsider? I am sure she would never like to meet a fool like him!"
"MORGAN!" Melissa yelled, her glare only making him shrug with nescience.
Though Leon never paid attention to those harsh words, his hands still halted from repacking his bag when he heard Morgan's last line. He was autistic, not deaf!
"Ste-step Bro-brother!" Leon corrected and taking his bag, he walked upstairs.
"Huh! he sure has no emotions!" Morgan scoffed only to shut up when Melissa glared at him.
---
Next Day.
Taking one more glance at his reflection, Leon adjusted his collar and sighed in satisfaction. Taking his bag, he walked downstairs practicing the lines for his interview.
"Aww, look at you!" Melissa smiled as Leon walked down in his navy blue suit. Except for that creased expression, her son was no less than a runway model.
Sitting at the table, he filled his plate while Melissa poured him a glass of milk, her eyes never tiring to admire his pure determination to prove the world wrong! He had failed in a row this month, but he still had the same zeel before his every interview.
And at the same moment, Morgan walked inside with a huge paper bag in his hand.
And as he walked towards them, Melissa glared whilst shaking her head, clearly warning him not to spoil Leon's positive spirit. Ignoring her stare, he placed the bag in front of Leon and took the chair opposite him.
"What did you shop for this early in the morning?" Melissa wondered taking the bag and her eyes widened looking at the leather bag he had brought to gift Leon.
"It won't look good if he goes around with that college bag. This will match with his outfit." He added, pouring himself a glass of water while the other two just stared at him blankly.
"I am sure he will miss his bus with that anxiety level, here, book him a two-way taxi." Morgan shoved his phone in Melissa's hand and walked to the bathroom.
Passing the brand new leather bag to Leon, Melissa just smiled in joy. More than herself, Leon was clearly aware of Morgon's love towards him, though he never acknowledged him as his father.
Unzipping his bag, he transferred his documents and other stuff into the new leather bag. Finishing his breakfast, he muddled trying the bag left and right in confusion that Melissa chuckled.
"Right side will look good!" She suggested and Leon hanging the bag loosely on his right shoulder walked out of the house.
---
Reaching the street, he got off the taxi and waited for the walk signal since the station was on the other side of the road. Tightening his grip around the belt of the leather bag, he gulped as many people surrounded him to cross the road. Blinking his eyes, he relaxed with a sigh as none seemed harmful.
And as at the signal, everyone started to walk but Leon stood there in shock. He stared at Liana who was on the opposite side of the road. Her mid-length hair swayed in that cool breeze as her impatient eyes wandered around, her mouth explaining something to the person on the other side of the call.
A few seconds passed and Liana finally realized that she should move like the other pedestrians and cross the intersection. Cutting the call, she rushed only to slow down her pace as something caught her eye over her phone. Looking at her, even Leon realized that he should walk and he did, his eyes peeping at her from now then.
The whole moment felt slow until they finally were on each other's side and amidst that huge crowd, their hands slightly brushed making Leon stop in his tracks. But Liana didn't give it a thought as she was busy scrolling through some articles.
Leon turned around, his eyes scanning her back. He looked away instantly and touched his hand, rubbing it as it felt hot.
He took a deep breath, fiddling with the strap of his new bag. He wanted to talk to her again, ask her if she remembered him but it was too hard to strike a conversation for him.
He turned around again and stared as she walked on the road. Taking a deep breath, Leon rushed back in her direction and held her hand.
Surprised by that sudden grab, Liana turned around in confusion, she squinted eyes smoothening and a smile slowly crept out of her lips.
"Ohh, it's you!" She greeted excitedly as Leon awkwardly stared around her.
"I I I have," Stammering a bit, Leon moved away his eyes left to right, and continued, "some-something to give you."
"Something you lent me,"
"Huh?" Liana blinked in confusion but they were brought back to the world as honks continued to buzz around.
The traffic signal had turned green and they were standing in the middle of the road disturbing the traffic. While Liana just stared at him in confusion, impatience slowly hitting her nerves, Leon stood there his eyes fixed on the ground as his thoughts jumbled.
He wasn't sure if she still remembered him. Even if she didn't, he had to at least return the things she had left behind with him.