"A get-together?"
"A year-end party to be exact"
"Come on Qian it won't be an overnight party, we all knew how strict your parents are. We'll just spend the whole day together"
I raised an eyebrow at Annika and Adrian who had been pestering me since they found me at the bench outside of the classroom.
"And where exactly would that be?"
"At my house"
As if he had planned it, Leonel appeared and walked towards me wearing his all white uniform again. He sat right beside me on the bench and spread his arms on it making it look like his arms was going around my shoulders.
"Leonel offered since his house was according to him large"
Annika scowled at him for whatever reason I do not know but Leonel only chuckled.
"I can come and get you Qian and then I can return you home before the end of the day, what do you say?"
He offered while looking at me and like every time since it had been clear to me my heart fluttered again.
"I can't give you an answer right now, I'll have to ask my parents first but I'll try"
"Yes!! thank you buddy, well we gotta go"
And as fast as they came, they were gone with Annika dragging Adrian away.
I let out a sigh as I leaned back on the bench only to flinch when my back made contact with Leonel's arms. I glared at him when he let out a chuckle but he only touched my shoulder and made me lean back. Now, it really does look like his arms were around my shoulder.
"I heard you broke up with him"
I didn't dare look at him so instead I fiddled with my fingers.
"Yeah, it wasn't going to work anyway"
He was staring at me, I know because I could feel him staring right at me. It took a whole minute before he said.
"Good, he looked like a good-for-nothing asshole anyway"
My eyes widened and I stared at him, nose scrunched up as if he was disgusted and irritated. I let out a laugh at his words. I never really heard Leonel curse out except for that time when I was hyperventilating so hearing him now was kind of refreshing.
My laugh died down when I saw him staring at me, eyes soft again like it had been before our fall-out.
"What?"
I asked still a smile on my face but he only shook his head and took one of my hands again. He brought it up to his lips again and kissed my knuckles. I felt heat rising up to my cheeks again.
"Happy suits you Qian"
I felt my heart beating faster and every bit of emotion bubbling up inside of me. I smiled at him and offered no words. I doubt I'll be able to keep my sob in check if I had opened my mouth.
Because no one had told me that before. No one told me that happy suits me. He was a first and how I loved hearing those words came out of his lips.
***
"You're here"
Leonel opened the door wide enough for me to enter while taking the food that I had offered to bring.
"Hey"
I greeted and waved to the others that had arrived early.
"I told you I could have come and get you"
"That's alright, you're the host, you should be here to greet everyone"
I smiled as we both placed the foods that I brought on the table.
"Then let me take you home later"
"Alright"
I smiled in agreement but he only let out a sigh as he stared at me and I stared at him.
This was the very first time I had seen him in casual clothes. A plain khaki shirt, black shorts, and slippers, he looked too normal and I didn't even know why the butterflies in my stomach were running wild again.
He leaned forward and whispered in my ear.
"Like what you see Qian?"
I felt a blush creeping up on my cheeks, of course he knew I was checking him out. I was about to say something when he added.
"Because I definitely like seeing you in casual clothes"
It was a blue off shoulder shirt, denim shorts and rubber shoes. It was simple, the kind of clothes I always wear outside of the house but at that moment it made me feel as if it was the most beautiful thing I could wear.
"You are a flirt, has anyone told you that?"
He let out a low chuckle before winking at me and I felt my heart do a little somersault.
"It's either you find that too terrible or too enticing. Either way I meant what I said."
He pulled away and walked towards the door when another set of knocks sounded off.
He was terrible for my heart but it wasn't like I didn't like it. I turned around when I felt someone coming out of the kitchen right behind where the dining table had been set off.
She was an aged woman with white streaks decorating her black hair and she looked uncanningly similar to Leonel.
"Good morning tita"
I greeted and offered my hand to which she took as I brought it up to my forehead. It was a sign of respect, a tradition that my parents had taught me to uphold when it came to my elders.
"Well aren't you lovely, you must be Qian"
I froze in place when I saw her smile at me. The smile that says she had learned something about me. Whether it was good or bad was something I couldn't tell just yet.
"Ahh yes nice to meet you"
"No need to be formal darling, you're family, it's so good to finally meet you"
I am? The question must have hung from my face because she had chuckled. Before I could even ask, a hand went right at my back holding it.
"Ma, are you scaring her? please don't"
Leonel's mom only gave out a laugh as she shook her head.
"This one is a scoundrel and a bit slow on the uptake so you'll have to forgive him for that my dear"
At that I had laughed. It wasn't everyday that you'd get to meet someone who could berate Leonel. His eyebrows creased up in the middle as he made a variety of facial expressions.
"Well, you kids have fun and enjoy"
She winked at me before she disappeared right back to the kitchen.
"Your mom is nice"
"That's because she likes you"
He said as a matter of fact before his hand that was on my back started to move down to my waist to which I felt myself flinching at. He looked apologetic at that but gave me a soft smile nonetheless. I gave one of my own as a reassurance that I was fine with it.
"Come on we should start the party now, your buddy had been hyper since she came"
I gave out a low chuckle and true to that, Annika had taken it upon herself to start the music, grabbing one of the girls forcing them to dance with her.
"I'd like to dance with you too but I doubt you'd want an audience with that"
Another blush crept on my cheeks as Leonel whispered low. He was definitely dangerous for my heart but I cannot stay away. I could never stay far away from him.
I humored him and gave a whisper of my own
"Then we should do it later when no one is watching"