Chapter 4
Leonardo's POV
I stopped midway when my gaze landed on her through the glass. She was sitting at a table, struggling to cool off while slurping on her ice cream. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and she looked thoroughly uncomfortable.
I pushed open the door and walked straight to her. "Here," I said, offering her my handkerchief to dab off her sweat. I could tell she must be feeling pretty uncomfortable.
Her eyes shifted from the handkerchief to me, before she flashed a smile. I maintained a neutral expression and took my seat across from her.
"You got here faster than I expected," I said while looking at her through my mask.
"Not much to do at home," she replied, gesturing at the ice cream. "I needed something cold to clear my head."
She pouted playfully. "You're covering the pay, right?"
Her pout was so exaggerated that it nearly made me laugh. It was a sight that almost made me forget her drama earlier today.
"Take anything you want," I said, smirking through my mask as I had made up my mind to open the bombshell to her immediately after she was done. After all, that was the reason why I was there.
I could have just told her the moment I got there but I decided to act manly enough before doing so. And besides, there's more time ahead.
"Are you okay with the weird stare?" She asked me, which eventually made me look around, and true and behold,d, everyone was staring keenly at us– her precisely while whispering some words to themselves.
"They must be thinking you're blind, don't you think so," I heard Serena say with concern in her words.
Of course, they must have thought so. Who on earth would be with a mask in broad daylight, talkless of sitting with someone three times him?
"Daniel, are you not bothered about hanging out with a plus-size friend?" She asked me while I just stared blankly at her as I didn't even know what to say at that moment.
"Besides, you're a student, shouldn't you have enough friends? Why hang out with someone like me?" I heard her say that.
"Not like I enjoy hanging out with you, it'll end soon," I thought while staring at her through my mask.
This was the particular place I had met her a month ago, staring weirdly through the glass of the eatery while standing outside. I had a guard to follow her which made me realize where she was.
While staring through the people that were inside, I could see her lungs moving to and fro; just that dramatic scene, I realized she wanted ice cream but without money to get it.
It was a funny situation, but it was also a way I was able to speak up to her. Since then, she has known me as Daniel, and we mostly hang out whenever she feels like clearing her head.
"Damn! It's time to let out the bombshell!" I thought within myself while looking for a way to let it out, but a sudden nervousness caught me, which was something I had never felt before.
"Daniel, Why does it seem like you have a lot of things on your mind," She mumbled while looking at me.
"Oh, it's nothing," I said, trying to sound casual despite my nerves. My cold demeanor managed to mask my anxiety, but it was surprising how perceptive she was, seeing through my facade even with the mask on my face. "After this meal, let's take a stroll," I suggested, deciding it was time to reveal that I had been posing as a student to get closer to her.
**Serena's POV** As Daniel and I walked down the street, the serene atmosphere was a sharp contrast to the curious glances we were attracting. The sun streamed through the trees and the distant murmur of conversations mingled with the rustling leaves. Yet, people seemed unusually interested in us today. Some stared, while others whispered and shot us lingering looks. Although I was used to attention, today felt more invasive. "I have two pieces of good news and one piece of bad news," I said, noting how Daniel's eyes lit up behind his mask. His reaction seemed to be one of curiosity, but I didn't dwell on it. "Which would you like to hear first? The good news or the bad news?" I asked with a slight smile. "Well, choose whichever you prefer," he replied, his indifference making me sigh internally. I had hoped he'd show more enthusiasm to distract me from the attention we were getting. "There isn't any bad news. So I'll start with the good," I said, and he nodded. "My husband has returned home after a whole seven months of marriage." "Don't you think he's a fool? Marrying someone without even knowing her name—what a loser!" I said, expecting Daniel to be surprised. Instead, he coughed. "You can continue," he said. "Aren't you surprised he came back after so long?" I pressed. "Well, I am surprised, but he must have had his reasons," Daniel said, which made me roll my eyes. "You should be on my side, not siding with a stranger you barely know!" I said, nudging his shoulder playfully. "Okay, okay. Continue," he said. "The second piece of news is that we're getting a divorce. Isn't it ironic that our first meeting will lead to a divorce?" I said, attempting to keep a light tone despite the gravity of the situation. "Damn you, Mitchell!" I thought. "Don't you think everything is moving too quickly, Serena? Maybe you should take it slow and not act on impulse," Daniel suggested, trying to be practical. I had always known him to be insightful, and his advice was more astute than expected. "And finally," I said, my voice trembling slightly, "my medical report will be out tomorrow."
"Oh, it's nothing." I was so nervous but my cold demeanor wouldn't let anyone realize that. It was a shock to me that she could see through me despite having that mask on my face.
"After this meal, let's take a stroll," I said as I made up my mind to let her know about me disguising myself as a student to approach her.
Serena's POV
As Daniel and I walk down the street, everything around us feels calm and peaceful. The sun is shining gently through the trees, and the only sounds are distant conversations and the rustling of leaves. It's a perfect day for a stroll.
But even though the atmosphere is so serene, I can't help but notice the strange looks we were getting by passing by. Some people are staring at me, their glances lingering longer than usual. A few are whispering to each other and glancing our way. I feel a bit uncomfortable but at the same time, I was already used to such attention.
" I have two good news and one bad news," I said and immediately noticed his eyes lit up through his mask. I didn't know why and didn't bother to give it much thought as I thought it could only be curiosity eating him up.
"Which one do you feel like hearing first? The good or the bad news first?" I asked with a light smile.
"Well, anyone that goes well with you," I heard him say, which made me sigh frustratedly as I thought he would at least be eager to choose as that could make it more fun and maybe drive my attention away from the stares.
"There isn't any bad news. So I'll just go with anyone," I said, and I heard him hum softly in response.
"My husband came back home after endlessly waiting for him."
"Don't you think he's a loser? After marrying a woman, he didn't even bother to know her name; what a big loser!" I said, expecting to hear Daniel's surprise words, but he ended up coughing vigorously.
"You can continue," he said.
"Ain't you surprised he decided to come back home after months of being married off to him?" I asked.
"Well, I am surprised, but I guess he must have had his reasons for that," he said, which made me roll my eyes at him.
"You should take my side and not a stranger you barely know!" I lamented loudly while sleeping his shoulder playfully.
"Okay.. okay. Continue,"
"The second news is we're getting divorced. Isn't that cool? Our first meeting will lead to our divorce, hahaha," I said, feeling hurt underneath.
Just the thought of returning to the shell I was before was taking a big toll on me. I can't believe I'll have to return to my parent's house.
"Damn you, Mitchell!" I thought.
"Don't you think everything is going faster than usual, Serena? I think you shouldn't act based on impulse. Take it slow once at a time," Daniel said to me; I was pretty sure he had said to cheer me up at least.
I had always known him to be a very smart person but who could have thought he would be more smarter than I thought.
"And the last but not the least," I heard him say.
"M….y medical report will be out tomorrow," I said nervously while shivering inwardly.