4. The Savior

Without realizing it, Lea slipped behind Shane's giant body. Wow, this man is quite tall and well-built, typical of a bodyguard, she thought, affected by the momentum at that time, which seemed to be Shane protecting her from the threat of an angry man.

The fierce man who glared at Lea just left without forgetting to throw his piercing gaze back at Lea, who had hidden herself behind Shane. He must have been eager to at least cuss Lea out, but he didn't want to mess with Shane.

Lea breathed a sigh of relief when the man had passed from there.

          

"Huff... thank you so much," she said later as she sat back in her chair.

Shane also sat before Lea and looked at the celebrity girl before him with a knowing look. Lea, who felt his gaze, immediately scanned Shane's eyes, wondering what the man wanted to discuss.

"What?" asked Lea finally when Shane said nothing.

"Nothing," Shane replied quickly. Too quickly, and it only made Lea more curious.

"When people say thank you, they'll usually say you're welcome or something else that calms the listener," Lea commented.

"Oh, okay, you're welcome." The flat, expressionless reply irritated Lea again. It was a good thing that he had just saved her life. Otherwise, she might have attacked Shane again with her spicy words, and they would have had to argue again like before.

"Oh, yeah, can I get you a drink?" asked Lea finally; it didn't feel good that she was drinking alone while her seatmate wasn't.

"No, I already drank up two bubbles of ice in there."

Lea frowned, "You finished my ration, too, didn't you?" Lea unconsciously said something that was out of her control. Why did she ask about the bubble ice she left inside earlier anyway?

"Yeah, after all, dealing with a girl like you is pretty draining on my fluids," Shane said without guilt.

"What's wrong with you? Can't you talk without insulting or criticizing me?"

Shane grinned, revealing a row of white and neat teeth, making Lea feel that this man was spreading charm. Oh, his smile is pretty fresh to the eye, too, Lea thought, among other thoughts. If it weren't for his borderline cynical attitude, Lea would probably be very impressed and have a crush on him.

"Oh, yeah, the movie's not over yet, how come you're already out?" Lea probed again. She just remembered that she wanted to ask that question earlier.

Shane glanced around the food court as if looking for something and replied, "It's not good to sit on a chair among the spilled popcorn everywhere and be alone without a friend to tease, exactly.”

Lea was again surprised by the answer.

"I swear, you have a talent for annoying people. Where did you learn that kind of conversation technique?" Lea asked sarcastically.

"Hmm? Do you want to learn? Let me teach you, private and free," Shane replied, making Lea even more annoyed.

They then fell silent. Lea wanted to ask many questions, but she was paranoid. The answer would not cure her curiosity but instead would make her even more annoyed than before.

Shane's figure is very talented in making his interlocutors seem like the world's most stupid and ignorant creatures. She doesn't know about other people, but for Lea, fix, Shane is not the type of man she wants to make friends with, especially a boyfriend. Fix.

Lea's wandering thoughts made her unaware that Grace and Freddie were near them. Suddenly, Grace tapped her on the shoulder and asked to go home.

"Oh, are we done yet? Come on, let's go home," Lea replied, a little confused because Grace's towel broke her reverie.

Shane was already walking ahead with Freddie in front of them. Freddie seemed to be talking about something while Shane listened intently. She didn't know what they were talking about, Lea thought curiously. A conversation that didn't involve insults and harsh criticism wasn't Shane's style. Or if his causing attitude was only reserved for when he was with her, Lea suddenly became suspicious.

"What was that about inside, huh? Fought again? But how come you're together here?" Grace interrogated Lea with great curiosity. Throughout the movie, she couldn't concentrate. With Freddie, she debated what could have happened between Lea and Shane and why they seemed to be having such a heated argument. Then, Lea left her seat and went out of the building.

"Let's not talk about it!" said Lea in an annoyed tone that made Grace sure what happened would not be good.

"Oh my gosh, Lea. Come on, I don't understand. Can't you just make a safe and peaceful condition, at least only for one night; no need to make a case, please?" complained Grace, grumbling.

Lea's temper flared up again, "Uh, I wasn't the one who made a scene earlier! Shane was the one who started it! He's such a snotty and annoying guy!"

"You're the same way! You don't want to give in just a little!"

"Why did I give in? I don't want to!" exclaimed Lea, not accepting being confronted by her sister over something that was not her fault.

Any girl who goes out with Shane would have the same attitude towards him, Lea thought Freddieantly. Or his attitude was only directed at Lea the only one. Suddenly, Lea thought of the worst possibility.

"Didn't Freddie tell you that he has a hard time hanging out with girls? That's his attitude, who can stand it? You know how annoying he is!" Lea again revealed her reason for fighting with Shane.

Seeing her sister still pursing her lips as a sign of dissatisfaction with her explanation, Lea comforted her,

"Well, what's important is that you managed to date Freddie tonight, right? That's the only tendency you had to invite me earlier? It's done. No need to think about anything else."

Grace widened her eyes, "There, right! If I want to go out with Freddie, I can also do it without your help, and I've done it many times before!" she said in a protesting tone.

"So... from the beginning, you've been trying to hook me up with that ice-cold, flat-faced guy? Wow, thank you so much for your good intentions with Freddie. But please, I'll do something else. We had a terrible night because we tried to be together.”

“Oh, Gosh, if I had to choose, I'd rather walk alone with a sissy than with him. For God's sake, it makes my tension and uric acid rise dramatically! He was truly a big no!" Lea grumbled to herself without realizing they had reached the parking lot, and the man he thought was a flat-faced ice block was right in front of her now. Staring intently with a tense face, ready to pounce on Lea immediately.

***