Chapter 19: The Tree House

Leo continued to stare at her without blinking, making Lucia even more confused by the answer she was about to give. Either way, it seemed impossible to tell Leo about what had happened between her and Pierre last night.

Lucia just looked down with flushed cheeks, making Leo realize that something had happened to the two of them. Leo sighed while holding back a laugh at Lucia's nervousness.

"T-that, nothing happened-"

"Never mind! You don't have to tell me if it bothers you. You can keep it to yourself if you want!" He said. Leo lay on Lucia's lap just like that without asking her permission.

Lucia was surprised because she was wearing her short work skirt. But Leo just closed his eyes as if enjoying what he was doing.

"Caress my head please!" Leo asked while pulling Lucia's right hand to touch his head.

Lucia felt even more nervous, she felt that something like this would not be done by those who were friends. A man sits on a woman's lap and asks for his head to be stroked, it's something intimate that is usually done by lovers.

However, seeing the bruise marks on the corner of Leo's forehead made Lucia feel as if she couldn't ignore him. She knew that something had happened to Leo and that worried her a lot.

"Your forehead is bruised! Have you treated it?"

"Hmm?" Leo responded curtly with his eyes closed.

"Leo!"

"It's okay, there's no need to treat it!"

"You've always said that before, but after that your head hurts a lot, doesn't it? Does it still hurt a lot now?" Lucia asked him a barrage of questions, forcing Leo to open his eyes.

"If you really care about me, you're the one who treats my wounds!"

"What?" Lucia didn't understand not because she was insensitive. It was because she didn't want any other feelings between them now.

She and Leo were alone in this place, she didn't want what happened between her and Pierre to happen to her and Leo now. She doesn't want their relationship to be very awkward in the future because sex has been involved in their friendship.

But the thing she was worried about came up, Leo lifted his head and now his face was only inches away from Lucia's. It made Lucia couldn't help but stare into Leo's amber eyes that gleamed golden.

"Want to do it with me too?" Leo whispered.

Lucia stopped breathing, her body unable to move. All images of the past flashed through her mind of how their 12 year friendship had gone and she never saw her friends as the opposite sex, except Chris.

"I-it's, I-" Lucia couldn't answer, but she couldn't say no.

Leo hugged her and rubbed her back, Lucia could smell Leo's perfume which was exactly the same as her ex-boyfriend's perfume.

"Are you okay living in America?" Leo asked. Lucia who was already nervous, was confused because Leo didn't try to stimulate her or anything.

"Y-yes, I-I'm fine. Why do you ask that?"

"It's okay, I just wanted to make sure! If anything happens to you there, I won't be able to forgive myself!" He said. Lucia fell silent, Leo's words made her want to cry and for some reason she wished Leo was just joking like usual.

"What are you talking about? Even if something happens to me, it has nothing to do with you!" Lucia immediately stopped her words as she realized that she had just said something wrong. And was right, Leo immediately let go of his embrace and looked at her with his very cold wolf eyes.

"You're right! Since when did I become an important person in your life, didn't I? Sorry, because I was too confident!" Leo smiled bitterly, acting as if he wasn't hurt by Lucia's words.

Lucia was silent, she wanted to apologize to Leo and say that she didn't really mean to say that. But somehow her arrogance forces her to remain silent, a loser who always thinks she's right.

"Leo, I didn't mean-"

"Forget it! It's okay! By the way the pizza is cold. We should eat now!" He said as he opened a box of pepperoni pizza and two cans of cola.

Leo ate the pizza voraciously as if nothing was bothering him. While beside him, Lucia was haunted by guilt because of her words.

"I heard from Pierre that you are now working as a pilot for a private plane, aren't you?" She said trying to lighten the awkward atmosphere.

"Back then, but not anymore!"

"Really? Why?"

"You don't care about me, why do you know all that?" Leo sulked and his demeanor was very easy to read.

"Sorry, I didn't say you weren't important, right? I just said that what happened to me during these 12 years had nothing to do with you. Not only you, but Bryan, Chris and Pierre too. That's why-"

"Hahahaha..." Leo burst out laughing and his laughter really took Lucia by surprise.

"Damn it! Why are you laughing? What's so funny?"

"Hahahaha...how? After all, I was worried that you really changed. But it turns out you're still the same as before!"

"What do you mean? What's the same?"

"Crazy and annoying-"

Punch...

Without a word, Lucia directly punched Leo in the cheek, forcing this man to stop bothering her.

"Ouch... your punches still hurt, huh? Are you still practicing wrestling?" Leo said while touching his sore cheek.

"Shut your mouth! You bastard! Tch, that sucks! You're just like that damn Bryan, always bothering me!"

"Who said?"

"What?"

"We are different! I bother you not because I hate or hold grudges against you!"

"Then, what?"

"I missed you! I'm glad you're back!"

***

Heartbeat...

Lucia felt her heart beat really fast. Leo's gentle smile made her feel uneasy. It's been 10 minutes, but still she can't hide her happiness.

Seeing this attitude made Leo not join in silence. He felt he had to do something to get rid of this awkwardness. Leo took off the black jacket he was wearing, leaving his burly body only wrapped in a black t-shirt which was quite tight.

"Wear this! We're going home, I don't want you cold!" He said as he handed his jacket to Lucia.

Lucia was reluctant to accept it, not because she didn't want to. However, because the jacket was filled with Leo's perfume, she had to think back to her ex-boyfriend who made her life miserable.

"It's okay! I'm not cold!"

"No kidding! It's going to rain soon, we have to go home soon. Put this on!"

"I don't want!"

"Why? You think this jacket stinks? It smells good! I just put it on this afternoon, so it's still clean!"

"No, it's not like that!" Lucia looked down sadly. She really couldn't tell Leo that it smelled exactly like the man she hated so much.

However, the rain had started to fall before she made up her mind. Now, they can't go home and have to stay in this tree house until the rain stops.

"It's raining! Sorry about this, I really didn't know it was going to rain! I promise I'll take you home when the rain stops. It's still 7pm, you can be patient, can't you?"

"Yeah, that's fine. It's not your fault! We can wait until the rain stops!"

"Okay, you can call the old woman, so she doesn't worry!"

"My phone battery ran out, I forgot to charge it last night!"

"Because you're too busy making love with Pierre, huh?" Leo chirps while holding back a laugh.

Lucia couldn't help but be silent and hope Leo would stop teasing her like that. Meanwhile, they remained inside the tree house as the rains grew heavier.

The wind was blowing hard, making the roof of this tree house move because it was touched by tree branches. Lucia began to worry about the sturdiness of this tree house that was built when they were eight years old. That means this tree house has been around for 20 years and can be said to be old enough for the size of a tree house where children play.

"Damn it, why is it raining? When I actually wanted to see the stars with you here!"

"Seeing the stars?"

"Yeah, what can I do? I hope next time we can come here again to see the stars!"

"Next time? We can come here anytime, right?"

"Not right now! The day after tomorrow I'm going to London and next week I'm going to Macao!"

"Macao? What's the business there?"

"Nothing! I have a little work to do!"

"Is that so? Tomorrow, Pierre and Chris will also be returning to London and Bryan will follow the day after. Well done, I hope you guys are taking good care of yourselves!" She said with a sad smile.

"Why do you look so sad? Are you sad when we're not here?"

"N-no! Who said? I don't care if you guys are here or not! I don't care at all!"

"Really?" Leo asked and gave her a meaningful look. Lucia couldn't meet Leo's gaze and tried to hide her sadness by herself.

Leo pulled her chin gently and landed a kiss on her lips. Lucia was silent, she felt that everything was quiet for a moment. She couldn't even hear the loud sound of the rain. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of her heartbeat and Leo's heartbeat.

Three minutes, Leo broke the kiss after three minutes. He pressed his forehead to Lucia's and looked deep into her eyes.

"Want to come with me Macao? I'm taking you flying in private planes and helicopters. I really want to take you out!"

"Why me? You can invite your girlfriend or anyone!"

"No! Either then or now, you are the most important to me!"

***