Chapter 49 - Mysterious

(From Leandro's Perspective)

"I don't understand. Are you angry or impressed?" she asked. 

"Why would I be angry? Anyway, forget about going to the pub, we are going somewhere else," I said. 

"What? Where? Why? But you promised me that I can go to the pub with you. I even made a deal with you. You can't refuse now. It's not fair. It's against the rule, Leandro. You're breaking the rule. If you don't take me to the pub, I won't tell you about my before life either. Come on, you have to take me with you. What're you planning then? Tell me. Why are you not saying something? I haven't told you anything wrong, right? Talk to me. I hate it when you keep all quiet. I mean, I don't hate it fully. Anyway..."

"You aren't letting me talk, Ella," I said calmly. 

"Oh, right," she mumbled. 

"It's more important than going to the pub. I was thinking of going there just to see how things are going on. But I think it's not so important now. We need to go somewhere else. I was thinking about it for a while, but forgot it because of_," I could not tell her that I forgot about it because of her condition last night. She might get upset again and I would do anything not to see her like that. "Anyway, we will go there today. We can find answers to some questions."

"I still don't understand. Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

"But why are we going there?"

"You'll see."

"When are we going there?" she asked. "Don't say 'you will see' again!"

"We are going in one hour. Get ready," he said. 

"One hour? Why are we in such a hurry? Can't you give me a bit more time? I'm on my period."

"So?"

"So?" she repeated. "I don't know what to say to that."

"Ella, do you even know what you say half the time? You get lost in your words, but_ that doesn't look so bad," I said. 

"Huh?" 

She was surprised or perhaps shocked. Most probably she did not expect me to say it. I could not blame her. It was me who always held onto a cold personality. But I was sure that she was going to find out soon that all those changes were because of her and it would always be only her who would see this side of me. 

"Get ready, El," I said and left for the study room. I could feel her gaze on my back and I knew that she was blushing. I smiled but did not look back. It would not be too long until she would say yes to me. 

She stormed into the bedroom as I was sitting in my chair, reading a book. She was trying to show her anger, even though I knew clearly that she was not angry at all. But it was very adorable seeing her pouting her lips and blushing furiously with her lips pursed together. 

After half an hour, she was still not coming out. What was she doing all the time? As per I was concerned, she never cared about her look. But it still did not help other men from staring at her. I did not see it myself, but I was sure that others stared at her with lustful eyes. It was not her fault though. She did not even try, but she always looked very pretty. 

"Are you planning on taking all day to get ready?" I asked as I entered the room. 

She was not there. My heart jumped out in panic. The door was open. I quickly went out the door and_ "What will I do with you, Ella?" 

She was kneeling on the ground and talking to a cat. I sighed, while at the same time wondering if I was truly worried about her leaving me. 

"Leandro!" she exclaimed as she saw me. "Look at this!"

She excitedly showed me the cat that was sitting on her lap as she was messaging its fur. Why was she giving so much love to that cat as if it was the best thing she could see? 

"Come on! Why are you standing there? Come here," she urged, the prettiest smile plastered on her face. 

I sighed and went to her. "What are you doing? You're supposed to get ready."

"Kneel and touch her. She is cute," she said. 

She was telling me to kneel? If it was someone else who told me to kneel, it would be the last day of their life. And this time I was sure that I had fallen for her as I kneeled beside her, her shoulders brushing against mine. 

"Isn't she a little beauty?" she asked, smiling broadly.

I did not bother to look at the cat while I was busy watching her face as she lit up like a ray of sun. I had never been an admirer of the day and she did not seem to be one as well. Even though she looked like an innocent little ray of sunlight, I knew perfectly that she was not just that; there were parts of her that were dark and she preferred it that way. She might be innocent in some ways, but she knew what to do and when to do it. She might look like a daydream, and she was so to me, but to the ones who did not like her, I knew clearly that she would be more like a nightmare even though no one could see it through the enthusiastic chaotic nature of the girl. 

"Isn't she cute?" she asked again, nudging me on the shoulder, bringing me back to reality. 

I did not look at the cat again as I muttered, "Yes." And yes, she was beautiful- my Ella was beautiful. 

"Should we name her? She deserves a name, right?"

"You want to name it?"

"It? What do you mean by 'it'? It's she. Respect, Leandro, respect," she said. "Anyway, what about Angelina? Do you know that there is an actress named Angelina? Her name is Angelina Jolie. She is good-looking, I mean everyone says so. I like her acting too, though I'm not much of a fan. But she is cool. So what do you think about Angelina?"

"Good, I guess."

"Okay, so Angelina it is," she said excitedly. 

"Alright, now put her down and get ready. We have twenty minutes left," I said and before she could say something, I pulled her up with me that the cat jumped off her lap quickly. 

"You scared her!"

"Don't make me scare you, little El. Go and get ready. We can't waste any more time, especially not by talking to a cat."

"You're so..."

"Go and get ready. I don't like to repeat myself."

"Still you do," she murmured as she went inside the cave. 

"Only with you," I sighed. 

I waited outside for her and watched the cat go away. The cat did not like me for sure. No one did, except her. I wondered what made her think that she was not going to get hurt being with me. It was true that I would not hurt her if I was in control, but there was no guarantee of her safety if somehow I lost control. But I decided not to think about it. It would make me distance myself from her which was something I would do almost everything to avoid. 

"I'm ready," she said as she came out. 

She was wearing a loose black shirt along with knee-length jeans. Her hair was in a braid that was messy indicating that she did not bother to comb her hair before braiding. Yet she looked as attractive as usual. 

"Now, can I get my ears blessed knowing where are we going?" she asked dramatically. 

"Not yet. You'll see."

She huffed but did not say anything. She walked beside me as we walked more into the forest. 

"Why aren't we going out of the forest?" she asked, almost running beside me to keep up with my long strides. 

"Did I say that we're going to go out of the forest?"

"Well... No. But I thought... anyway, where are we going?"

"I told you you'll see," I said. 

"You're acting mysterious," she muttered.

I stopped abruptly and she bumped directly on my right shoulder. "What the... Why did you stop?"

"Have I ever acted less mysterious, Ella?" I asked, approaching her. 

She quickly backed away till her back touched the nearby tree. She gulped quietly. Her eyes were curious yet her heart was thumping in her chest. 

"Answer me when I ask something," I said a bit firmly this time.

"N-No."