"Let's go somewhere else." Shoving the phone inside her pocket, she held his other hand and dragged him out of that buzzing zone.
Reaching a coffee shop that was just on the other side of the road, Liana let go of his hand, and only then did she look at his awful expression. Wiping the palm she held, Leon sighed with his usual distasteful look.
"Ahh, you are a 'touch-me-not' guy right." Pressing her lips, she apologized, "I am sorry, I forgot!"
"Let's have some coffee, shall we?" And at his nod, Liana smiled and walked inside.
"Iced Coffee?" The part-time girl asked smiling at Liana who nodded back with a grin. This shop was just a meter away from her station and she was their premium customer, visiting them at least twice a day since she was a coffee addict.
Both the ladies looked at Leon who just shook his head and the girl nodded before billing the payment.
Taking an empty spot near the window, Liana patiently waited for him to speak. She thought to treat him calmly, afraid that he would run away like last night. But wait, his facial features didn't match with her cute little bunny, and she had thought about it all night. Pondering and disturbing her sleep with his question.
But when she sipped her coffee, and he just continued fiddling with the strap of his new bag maybe, she lost her cool.
"First tell me, have we met before?"
Leon just blinked and continued to look out of the window. He sure had no answer for her question, the more he thought to explain the lesser did words fall out. What would he say? That she was his childhood girlfriend? No, she was his Cinderella who fled away leaving behind a letter!
"What is your name?"
"Little brother, I asked you a question!" Liana grumbled and he just continued to fiddle with his fingers this time. He was anxious and she sighed regretting forcing him.
"I want to giv-give you something." Unbuckling his bag, he took out his wallet and hesitantly peeked at her. And when she blinked back at him, Leon took out a few bucks and placed them on the table.
"Your taxi fees!" Saying that he got up and rushed out of the shop.
"HEY!" She yelled banging the table. It took a moment for her to realize his words and she got up in frustration.
"Is this what you wanted to give me?" She yelled as the guy rushed out of the shop. Looking at him running away through the glass wall, she grumbled, "At least take your change, man!"
"Arghhh! Who is this punk???" Scrambling her hair, Liana slumped back on the chair.
At least she deserved to know his name! She wanted to confirm if he was Leon before jumping over him as this guy was sensitive to handle. And she was trying to be patient with him, only to receive some stupid taxi fees in the end.
"Argh! I will be late!" Taking those notes, she walked out of the shop.
---
An hour later.
Reaching her office, she parked the car. Looking at the fees she had thrown in the drawer, she gritted her teeth and walked out holding a stack of papers.
Liana scrolled through her phone, texting someone to find Leon's whereabouts again, and entered her building.
"I collected the lab reports!"
She paused, looking around as silence welcomed her instead of chaotic laughter or fight. It was awfully silent and she felt the storm that might flood them away soon.
She entered the hall and then walked to the first floor.
"What's happening here?" Liana frowned as all her colleagues gathered in front of the main cabinet.
She then looked at Ryan, her punching bag from almost 10 years, who was currently standing in the corner, leaning on the desk. When their eyes met, he just shrugged hinting about the battle that was already taking place inside that war room.
"Huh! You are finally here!" Sighed a girl of the same age, before dragging her in front of the chief's chamber where the other members had scattered, stress lines deeply furrowed on their faces.
"I am sure you didn't read any texts last night! Did you?" Drizella asked still clinging to her hand and when Liana shook her head, the girl sighed out loud, "Chief actually brought three new puppets and Senior Joseph is furious about the same."
Pressing her lips, Liana nodded and just looked in the front, thanks to the frosted lines of the cabinet, all they could see were glimpses of two men and a girl standing in the middle while their ears heard nothing but silence from inside.
"You should go in!" Pushed a guy standing beside Ryan and everyone followed the same including Liana because he was the only one who had the power to stop that cold war.
"Come with me!" And holding Liana's hand, Ryan opened the door and dragged her inside.
"Argh, I don't want to!" Liana tried to free herself but too bad, they already caught the two eagles' attention.
"Glad you came in! Just convince him to stop this nonsense." Josep grumbled sitting on the couch and gestured for them to talk to Graham.
"Yes, convince him to take them in! We are running out of hands here!" Graham, their Chief added his part and both sighed out loud. No, they didn't want to take anyone's side.
The three candidates standing in the corner turned around to look at them and so did these two. And when Liana's eyes fell on a particular navy blue suit, she gasped widening her eyes.
"You again?" She asked mostly in frustration, and her question made everyone look at the guy.
"You know him?" Graham squealed, his face sprinkled in glitters of surprise.
"No, I mean yes. We met a few times!" Liana answered scratching the back of her neck and everyone started looking between the two of them.
"That doesn't matter." Joseph grumbled passing them three files and ordered, "Scan their resumes. You will clearly understand why I don't want them on our team!"
And as they followed his orders, Joseph looked at the three candidates and sulked. His dark eyes then landed on Chief Graham who had a foul expression just like him.
"Did they bribe you with something that you are so cornered to take them in?" He finally asked, making Ryan and Liana sigh out loud. These two fought even over the smallest issue, and they would be the ones getting roasted in their anger.
"Yes!" Moving his eyes towards the newcomers, Graham smiled, "They bribed me with their talents."
"Waah!" Liana let an amused gasp and later shut her mouth feeling that intense glare from Joseph. Raising her thumbs up, she smiled at Graham before immersing herself in the profiles.
After around 10 minutes of silence, they both put down the papers while everyone in that room anticipated their opinions.
"I feel they deserve a chance to excel in their skills." Ryan was the first one to share his views and his words were extremely pleasing for Graham to hear, but Joseph scoffed and looked at her in hope.
'I am doomed!' Liana thought as everyone waited for her vote. No, she still needed time to read their resumes and make a decision. She even knew this guy! The same guy from her past whom she had been searching for a few months now! She wanted to properly talk to him first and then make her decision.
"Sigh! You agree with him, don't you?" Joseph asked and Liana shook her head. But before she could reply, he continued, "Okay, fine! But at least reconsider taking this guy!"
And everyone looked at Leon whom Joseph was pointing out right now.
"He is autistic and this isn't a place he needs to work!" And that statement had mixed responses. While the two candidates standing with him gasped as he didn't look like one, Graham and Ryan sighed disappointedly as they didn't wish Joseph to make it public.
It was just Liana and Leon who had blank faces, one reconsidering Joseph's words while the other excepting the outcome of his interview.
Leon was sure about the result but he still anticipated Liana's vote. Now that she got to know who he really was, he was excited inside to see if she recalled anything about him. And maybe be friends with her again!
"I do think Senior is right!" And Liana's words surprised everyone including Leon.
Was she the same Liana who once thought he wasn't anything special?
"Is that you Liana?" Graham couldn't help but frown at her words.
Out of all people, the one he thought might take Leon's side and help him get a spot was speaking against him now. Why? Just because he was autistic?