When I Was A Wallflower

At 6.00AM, Amelie left home with a basket on her arm. Her father, Steven, had been suffering from a cold and coughing, so she was worried that it would get worse if he left the house. As such, she deliberately got up earlier to help with the groceries.

Shopping online was more convenient now, plus her company had a section dedicated to electronic shopping. It had held live shopping events for agricultural products, and she could always ask her own company to send some over. However, Steven wasn't sold on the idea and felt that it would be better if he picked them out himself. She couldn't argue with him and was willing to give in, so their family maintained the habit of going to the market.

Waking up at 6.00AM wasn't easy for Amelie. When she pushed open the lobby gate, a figure suddenly appeared. She assumed it was another resident who had risen early, but upon taking a closer look, she froze.

"Leo?"

What is he doing here so early in the morning?

Leo turned to her with a confused look, seemingly surprised to see her there as well.

"Were you drinking?" She rarely saw him this confused and couldn't help asking the question warily.

"No." He threw away the cigarette between his fingers.

Right then, Amelie noticed the multiple cigarette butts littered on the ashtray above the rubbish bin and tilted her head in surprise. She recalled that he was obsessed with cleanliness and never touched a cigarette, so what was this about?

"I was taking a walk and didn't realize I had wandered here." He stepped toward her, his arm nearly touching hers. The coldness emanating from it made her shiver briefly. How long had he stood in the cold air?

"Did you walk from Clouson City to Halport, then?" She had seen him acting cheesy with her too many times and did not take him seriously, teasing him instead.

forcing out a rueful smile.

who was at chin height. He then

saw that he was about to touch her. However, he did not lift his

to be so guarded against me, nor do you need to deliberately avoid me. I will

he nodded his head at her and turned away before

just like

back, her lips slightly open. He left just as abruptly as he had come, and his words even more so. She was confused and

so she was worried that it would get worse if he left the house. As such, she

willing to indulge her as well; her lessons were twice a week, but she had applied for an additional annual pass so that they could go every

freezing ice. Since the surface had to remain frozen, the temperature within was

looking for. Leo had practiced skating with them without fail all

wasn't there.

the disappointment clear in her eyes, but she did not give up. Dada is busy

did not show up even after they had warmed up.

yet his sudden absence made her anxious. She couldn't avoid replaying the way he appeared that morning, but she couldn't figure out anything

didn't think too much

of the rink despondently with hunched shoulders. There was no sign of him for several days,

transfer were already done and would be effective once both sides signed them. The lawyer could help send the files to Halport but considering Julia didn't know about it and Amelie would have to personally persuade her

documents to Julia's office in Starlight Media.

She did not call for her assistant and poured out the

assent, noticing that Julia's makeup did not hide her dark circles despite