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.

didn't answer, only forcing out a rueful smile.

who was at chin height. He then lifted his arm.

back when she saw that he was about to touch

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

that, he nodded his head at her and turned away before leaving.

leaving just like that?

his back, her lips slightly open. He left just as abruptly as he had come, and his words even more so. She was confused and could not react for some time, staring at where

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

was 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 day.

many people skating about on the freezing ice. Since the surface had to remain frozen, the temperature within was colder than outside the rink.

her clothes and dragged Amelie onto the ice excitedly, stumbling slightly before starting to skate. She looked around for someone with wide eyes as she did so, and Amelie knew whom she was looking for. Leo had practiced skating with them without fail all this while,

wasn't there.

eyes, but she did not give up. Dada is

not show up even after they had

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

practicing." She didn't think too much

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

was soon Friday, and the lawyer called to report that the documents for the share transfer were already done and would be effective once both sides signed them. The lawyer could help send the

the documents to Julia's office in Starlight

her white work outfit. She did not call for her assistant and poured out the

did not hide her dark