11 Chapter 11
Leonardo was quiet for a long time.
“You’re right. It’s hard to really know a person. I’ll be careful.
I didn’t think much of it, it being Christmas, so I kept him on the line as everyone counted down.
He was funny and witty and always made me laugh.
Leonardo naturally sat down next to me, watching my game.
“It’s too quiet over at our place. Mind if we crash your party?”
“Merry Christmas, Kira.”
“Thanks for the advice, Leonardo. You should probably think about your own future
too.”
I thought he had nothing else to say and was about to go back inside to my game.
This year, because of my situation with Leonardo, my mom had declined Mrs. Rossi’s invitation to have a joint dinner.
Leonardo looked deeply troubled and didn’t say anything else. He turned and left the backyard.
Leonardo’s expression grew darker and darker.
But he suddenly spoke again. “Long-distance is never a good idea. You should find a decent guy from back home, someone you actually know.”
I felt a slight blush as I pulled my arm from his grasp and answered the call.
I didn’t see Leonardo again, either.
I just smiled and corrected them each time.
“Honestly, I just wanted to be the first person to wish you a Merry Christmas after midnight.”
Mrs. Rossi said with a smile.
11 Chapter 11
I don’t know how long he was listening.
Not in a dark, brooding way, but a bright, smiling kind of handsome.
Before, I saw him through a filter, where everything he did was perfect. But now…
I didn’t think much of it. It wasn’t the first time he’d acted strange.
“Boyfriend?” he asked, his voice rough.
My relatives, who didn’t know the full story, kept making jokes about us.
But the very next day, I was shocked to see Leonardo standing at the campus gate.
The winter break flew by. Soon, I was back at UCLA.
At midnight, as we all went outside to watch the neighborhood fireworks, he pulled me aside, looking like he wanted to talk.
“Not exactly,” I answered truthfully after thinking for a second.
But now that they were at our door, we couldn’t turn them away.
He was also very handsome.
…
11
I laughed happily and wished him the same.
Just then, my phone rang.
I nodded.
In the past, our families always spent Christmas together.
It was Noah, a classmate from my film club in LA.
Before hanging up, he chuckled.
He said he called because he was alone for the holidays and wanted to join our midnight celebration.
After we chatted for a bit longer and he finally agreed to hang up, I turned around to find Leonardo standing right behind me, his face like stone.
After that, I was busy visiting family with my parents and grandmother, and then we
went on a short trip. I was barely home.
