Chapter 116: Impulsive girl
"Why do I always find you in a shopping complex? Are you the type who spends money when you’re sad or happy?" Kyle asked as he walked beside the girl he had avoided until a few days ago.
"I had some clothes to buy," Layena said, a little flustered. The last time they met had been in a mall too, and Kyle had ended up helping her patch a wound.
"What about you? You’re here as well," she shot back, her eyes narrowing.
"Yeah, I came to buy a gift for Amanda’s father. It’s his birthday today."
Layena wondered if she had heard about it, but she couldn’t be sure.
"How are your wounds now?" he asked in a quieter tone.
Layena nodded. "Better. The organization has advanced tech that heals even fatal wounds within days, so what I had was just a scratch."
Kyle let out a dry chuckle. "I wouldn’t call those wounds a scratch. If anything, I would have told you to stay home and rest for a while. But then again, we’re not that close for me to give you that kind of advice."
"But you can..." Layena muttered softly, her voice barely reaching him.
They fell silent for a moment before Kyle spoke again. "Since you want to buy clothes and I need to look for a gift, let’s..."
"Let’s go together. I can help," she offered.
Truthfully, Layena wasn’t good with crowded places and often got lost in the rush. Having someone who moved so effortlessly through people would make things easier.
"You want to come with me? Though I don’t know if I’ll be able to help you later."
Layena shook her head. "I wouldn’t have asked you anyway. I need to buy underwear, you see."
Kyle was taken aback, nearly missing his step. "God, Layena... you really don’t hesitate, do you?" he said with a wry smile.
She blinked, confused. "Should I have? I mean, everyone wears underwear... or you don’t?"
"Ahem, let’s drop this topic and head to the fifth floor. I think we’ll find something good for a gift," he said, quickly changing the subject, unwilling to continue the discussion any further.
Seriously, the more he interacted with her, the more that mysterious aura she wore like a second skin began to peel away.
She was the straightforward type, someone who could state the truth with a calm face, even if she was delivering news of someone’s death.
He preferred people like her. Whatever was on their mind, their lips conveyed it without filters.
Without much conversation, they took the elevator to the fifth floor. The place wasn’t overly crowded, yet there were enough people to fill the elevator, pushing Layena and Kyle into a corner.
Most of them were schoolchildren who had just finished classes and come here to relax and hang out.
Layena ended up at the very back, her back pressed against the glass pane.
Kyle stood facing her, one hand braced above her head to keep from bumping into her.
Standing like this, Layena noticed something she had always known but only truly realized now.
He was tall. Really tall.
He practically covered her entire frame, his shadow casting over her.
Her gaze drifted to his arm, the same one that had lifted her that day.
There was no denying it. He was strongly built, and his eyes held a dark, commanding presence.
Overall, he carried the physique and aura of someone older, someone dependable.
"Take it easy, man." Kyle clicked his tongue as more people poured in on the second floor. The two guys closest to them shoved against his back.
He shifted his balance, supporting himself with his forearm instead of his hand. His body moved closer to hers, his face leaning down slightly.
Looking into her eyes, he muttered, "Just a moment. I know it must be uncomfortable."
She shook her head. Raising her lavender eyes to meet his, she said softly, "I feel safe."
Kyle fell silent. What...?
Soon, they reached their floor, and Kyle pushed through the crowd with ease, clearing a path for both of them.
As they stepped out of the cramped elevator, Kyle let out a long breath. "We should have taken the stairs."
Layena didn’t respond. She was already scanning the floor, searching for a shop where they could find a gift.
Kyle grew curious, watching her look around so intently. "What are you searching for?"
Layena blinked in surprise before answering, "Didn’t we come here to buy a gift? I can’t see any shops..."
"Layena..." Kyle smiled and pointed behind him. "We’re standing right in front of one."
Layena flinched, her eyes widening as she noticed the large antique shop right across from the elevator.
"..."
She fell silent, nervously looking away.
Kyle barely suppressed a chuckle at how adorable she was. It was obvious that even though she came here often, she never really explored the place and simply left once she was done.
Even in the elevator, she had been pushed around without noticing, her reaction so blank that it almost made him want to hold his head.
"Layena... you’re actually really bad with public places, aren’t you?" he said as he opened the shop door for her.
She nodded honestly. "I don’t go out much. Until recently, I used to order clothes online, but they rarely fit properly... so I had to come out and buy them myself."
"I can relate to that," Kyle said, then fell quiet.
Layena glanced at him, clearly curious, but he had already started browsing through the shop, which displayed a wide variety of antiques and collectibles.
"Do you know what to buy?" she asked softly, matching the hushed tone everyone in the shop seemed to follow.
"Well... he collects glasses. I’m looking for something unique to gift."
Layena hummed. "Glasses... as in drinking glasses?"
Kyle nodded. If Amanda had told him about the celebration earlier, he would have gone to Fortis and looked for a proper glassware store. Now, he had to find something unique here.
"Can I help you two?" someone approached with a polite smile.
Kyle turned to her. "Is this your full collection of glasses?"
The woman nodded. "Yes, and we have a few more premium pieces in the inner section. Based on your budget, I can recommend something suitable."
Kyle thought for a moment. "Around two thousand lumir?"
The shopkeeper’s expression shifted instantly. Her gaze turned slightly cold as she replied, "Then you should choose from the lower shelves. Everything here is handmade and unique. At that price, you won’t be able to afford anything from the inner section..."
Clang
Something suddenly hit the floor and shattered.
The woman’s eyes widened as she turned toward Layena, fury flashing across her face. "What are you doing?!"
Without a word, Layena picked up another glass and tossed it behind her.
"You...!" The shopkeeper stormed toward her, only to be interrupted by a voice from behind.
"What is happening there, Linda?!"
A man approached them, dressed in an expensive suit, likely the manager or the owner.
He glanced at the shattered glass before Linda quickly explained, "That girl just broke two of our upper shelf glasses."
"Oh, and I’m going to break the rest as well," Layena muttered. Before anyone could react, she slid her hand behind the remaining five glasses and swept them forward.
Clang. Clang.
Every finely crafted piece shattered the moment it hit the ground.
Kyle just stood there, lips parted and eyes wide.
What is wrong with this girl?
°°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading.