Mason


    55 vouchers


    I didn’t expect Marcus to call me. His call came in while I was in the study reviewing important documents I couldn’tplete at the office that day.


    “Why are you calling?” I asked without bothering with formalities. We weren’t friends, so he had no reason to call me.


    “I need you to do something for me,” He said, his voice was sharp as he spoke, like this wasn’t a


    request.


    I couldn’t help but wonder what Marcus could want from me, even if I am not ready to do anything. “I can’t,” I said without asking for details. “If you have nothing else to say, I’ll be ending the call,” I stated, ready to put an end to this conversation. “It’s about Lydia.” That was enough to stop me.


    “What about Lydia?” I said hastily, pushing the file to the side. “Lydia needs you to be with her right now,” His voice is low but firm.


    Although he tried to pretend I could hear traces of hesitation in his voice, as if he did not want to tell me this, but he had no other option. “What about Lydia? What happened to her?” I asked again when he did not reply after a few seconds.


    “Someone has to be with her right now.” I was already standing and walking towards the door before he went on to exin. “I am watching now, but I can’t go close to her. She doesn’t want me to. I don’t know if she’s going to see you, but I think you would be the person who would be able to take her home in one piece.” He wasn’t making sense.


    “What did you do to her?” I asked, knowing that Lydia wouldn’t just say that. He must have done something. Although I didn’t like him, I can’t deny the fact that they are almost always together.


    “That is not your business. Get going already.” He said, “You’ll go with it without that information.” He said, and he was right.


    I was already running down the stairs before I realised that my keys were not with me, so I rushed back to the study and grabbed up my keys.


    Marcus sent me the location where Lydia was. I got there in ten minutes. I met him first, and he finally told me what he spoke to Lydia about. My jaw ticked, and I felt my pulse rising by the moment, angry at the entire situation. But I knew it was better to leave my feelings out of this.


    This wasn’t so hard since a part of me was happy Marcus was finally leaving.


    I walked past him, but he stopped me. “I may be leaving, it may feel like I’m walking away from her and handing her over to you,” he dragged his words, pain mixed with regret evident in his tone.


    6:44 pm P


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    “This is not because I cannot pursue her, but it’s because I respect Love, and I know that whatever happened between you guys was a misunderstanding which can be resolved.” He swallowed.


    He pushed his hand through his hair. It seems he had so much to say, but he was not able to say it. Finally, he said, “How about we go grab a drink together tomorrow evening?”


    “Why do you think I would want to drink with you?” I raised a brow.


    “I’ll send you the location and time, you are wee to join me.” Without another word, he walked off.


    Lydia bumped into someone and began falling backwards. I’m d I got there right on time to catch her.


    Holding her by her wrist, I steadied her and then brushed some strands of hair from her face. Her eyes were red from unshed tears, and a look of surprise shed through her face.


    “I’m so sorry,” the man she bumped into said, “Are you okay?” He asked, his voice dripping with concern. Lydia simply smiled, “Yes. I’ll pay for your drink.” She offered, but he shook his head and waved his hand at the same time. “No need. We are both at fault.” The man said, and bowed before leaving.


    “I’m d I caught you on time. It would have been a spur scene if you had fallen to the floor.”


    “Thank you, Mason.”


    “I thought I wasn’t going to hear you apologise,” I said, hoping I could lighten her mood.


    “Why are you here? Met with someone?” I asked, looking at her, hoping her face would betray any emotions, but it didn’t. All those emotions written on her face from earlier had been wiped away, reced with a solemn look.


    I truly wished she’d tell me the truth, that Marcus had met with her, and he was leaving. But just as I thought, Lydia didn’t trust me yet with some information about her life.


    “I heard of this ce and wanted to <i>try </i>it. It’s been a long time since I had Korean snacks.” She said, throwing her gaze to the side. I traced her gaze, a group of people were gathered around, and in the middle were two men singing while three behind them were ying instruments,


    “Do you want to listen?” I asked, and she nodded. We walked forward and stood at a spot where we could see them clearly. Lydia wrapped her hand around herself. Shaking her head along with the rhythm. That was when I noticed the brown map on her white top. I pulled out a handkerchief, wanting to give it to her, but it was toote to wipe the stain, which looked embedded in the shirt already.


    Instead, I pulled off my jacket and wrapped it around her, she froze and slowly looked behind her. I had been too carried away to notice the stain earlier. “What are you…”


    6:44 pm <b>P </b>


    12:55 vouchers


    “Shhh!!” I ced one finger on my lips, shutting her up. “Let’s keep listening,” I said, motioning to the middle with my head. We stayed there for the next fifteen minutes before leaving.


    We walked towards the direction we wereing from. That was when I realised that we were heading to her car. I wished she’d allow me to drive her home. “That song felt a bit nostalgic.” I broke the deafening silence between us.


    “It reminded me of the good times we used to have. And the lyrics got me thinking, too.” I paused and turned, wondering if she was interested in this topic.


    “What if I truly am living in the past, and then my life doesn’t have the meaning it should have?” I said, and she dragged in a deep breath, holding the jacket I gave her tighter to herself.


    “I think about that sometimes, too. We can never truly know if we are living this life correctly since it’s our first time here.” She stated. Her car came into sight. She was correct, that is why it was best to live in the moment. I was about to say that when she beat me to it.


    “Don’t give me that live in the moment shit,” she said, and for the next few minutes, as we walked to her car, we said nothing. When we got to her car, she didn’t hastily get into the car, instead, she turned and faced me, at the same time leaning into the car, “I don’t mean we shouldn’t leave in the moment, I just wish I had more receipts from my past to hold on to.”


    She pressed her lips together and held my gaze. When she moved her face away, she started taking off the jacket, but I stopped her.


    “Keep it on, I’ll take it tomorrow.” It will be a good excuse to take her for a drive. She didn’t try to resist but instead stepped into the car and drove off.


    Live in the moment, but have a receipt. I racked my brain for what could serve as a receipt, it didn’t take long before I figured it out.


    Pictures.


    As I drove back home, I ced a call to Daniel asking him to get thetest model of a camera. I’ll give Lydia all the receipts she wants.


    Trying to win her heart won’t be as easy as the first time. But I know Lydia, she wasn’t a materialist girl, then and more especially now. She can afford all she wants. It’s the little things that mattered to her and that’s what I want to give her


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