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

at chin

that movement, instinctively taking a step back when she saw that he was

don't have to be so guarded against me, nor do you need to deliberately avoid

his head at her and turned

leaving just like that?

more so. She was confused and could not react for some time, staring at where his figure had been while even wondering if it had merely been

so she was worried that it would get worse if he left the house. As such, she deliberately got up earlier to help with

practiced at home. Amelie 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

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

had practiced skating with them without fail all this while, so Bria was looking for him. Amelie was usually irritated by him, but she couldn't help looking around as well when she remembered his

wasn't there.

pursed her lips, the disappointment clear in her eyes, but she did not give up. Dada is busy with a lot

not show up even after they had warmed up.

sudden absence made her anxious. She couldn't avoid replaying the way he

think too much about it.

with hunched shoulders. There was no sign of him for several days, but Amelie was too occupied with work to ponder over it.

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 to accept the shares, Amelie drove to

she brought the documents to Julia's

practical in her white work outfit. She did not call for

not hide her dark circles despite being thicker. "Have you been