[ Chapter 4: Encounter ]

Leah didn’t expect this worst traffic.

: I am late!

Leah exclaimed.

: This traffic.

Leah muttered. She looked at the traffic jam, full of bustling cars and honking sounds. Then she looked at the other side. She saw a man in his yellow uniform, who ran through the crossing lane.

His look is common and his feature is very familiar. But he possessed a different vibe. His hair is black and eyes are black too.

: Hmm...

Leah thought.  Somehow, she saw him familiar. Then she observed that man. But in a sudden a van crossed, that man disappeared.

: Eh?

Leah shrieked. She just saw him disappeared.

: Is he gone or is it just my imagination?

Leah asked herself. She was confused when that man disappeared. She saw him for real but that man disappeared within her visions, like magic? It was because of that van crossed the lane and blocked her view.

: Is it just my imagination?

Leah asked herself twice. Then she moved the crystal shield. She leaned her head through the window. She wanted to confirm if that man was still there. Yet, that man is nowhere to be found.

: Where is he?

Leah asked herself. But she couldn't find anything. That man is nowhere to be found.

Upon seeing nothing, Leah leaned her head back.

: Is it really my imagination? Or—

Leah thought and stopped thinking.

: But why do I feel something, missing... Why am I?

Leah asked her mind. She can feel her heart, beats indifferently. She was confused about this sudden change of her mood. She, who sat inside, took a nap. Then time passed by.

: I'm late!

Her mind is wavering about her schedule in school and she can’t wait to see her friends. Then she taps and keeps tapping her heel and toe continuously.

Leah grins her teeth upon this endless traffic. Then she looked at her brother sitting while steering the wheel. His sweats pour. She is worried about him

: Brother, can I walk this time?

Leah asked him. She felt so sorry for taking her this long. She can commute by herself but her brother disagreed about it long ago.

         [This brother was over protective.]

Lance looked at her through the mirror. He can’t also deny it. Leah is late.

: Come on!

Lance painstakingly steered the wheel. However, the traffic is very heavy.

: Don't worry; this traffic will be over soon.

Lance reassured her with a smile. He guaranteed that Leah will be on time.

: But—

Leah said and stopped halfway without finishing her words. Because she saw her brother's veins suddenly bulged.

: Don't forget you're not just my sister, Leah!

Lance strongly disapproved without looking back. He grumbled at her through the mirror.

: Okay...

Leah said with a sad face. She has no choice but to wait. Then she glanced at the crystal shield. Her image is reflected.

: Where is that voice? Will it pop out again like magic? What about him? Will he appear in this world too...?

Leah thought about it. She was thinking about what happened last night. She wanted to believe but it did not show up again.

Suddenly it rained.

And the rain continued.

: Why suddenly?

Leah asked herself.

The rain poured outside. The people who are walking outside ran to the nearest building to shade themselves. However, the rain is too heavy. Someone made it but there is someone who did not. Then it blurred her sight, because the window of the van was blocked by the heavy rain.

20 minutes later.

The van stopped in the middle of the road. It is because there stood a waiting station beside their van.

[A bus stop is a stopping area for any person who wanted to commute. A bus stop is a station next to school or any public or private place.]

In this shed, the [Bus stop] sign is posted at the upper corner of the waiting station.

Lance stopped in this road because his work is on the other way.

: Here you are, Leah.

Lance said with a smile.

They reached the station even the traffic wore them out.

Thankfully the rain saved them.

: Thank you.

Leah said with a smile too. She calmed herself that they made it through. Then she thought of something. She opened her bag.

: My umbrella!

Leah yelled in her mind. She forgot her umbrella at her desk.

: Uhmmm...

Leah shrieked. She wanted to say something. 

: Here, Leah.

Lance said. He reached out something to her, it was an umbrella.

: Thank you.

Leah said embarrassingly.

In any occasion or during her first day of school, Lance knew her sister very much. She would either forget it or not bring her thing, especially an umbrella.

Then his brother nodded. Lance didn't know why but simply smiled at her.

: Good luck, Leah.

Lance cheered her up.

When Leah opened the door, she looked at the bus stop.

There was a man standing there together with his dog.

Leah saw it. But her face suddenly changed, shocked by what face appears.

Her world stopped like er time has stopped and slowed down.

: Ah!

Leah shrieked when her heel faulty step.

It was because Leah is not looking down that she accidentally stepped her heel.

Leah is falling.

But did that man secretly see her fall. He threw the cable of his wired dog and ran to her.

That man from the bus stop caught her firmly. He raised her head and touched her waist. He looked at her eyes.

In the midst of rain two motionless creatures staring from each other.

It was a long moment before the two creatures regained their consciousness.

: I--

Leah muttered while blushing. She stood there motionless. Her heart beats faster like beating drums. Beating and pumping like it would never stop.

: Um... Thank you.

Leah thanked despite her beating heart.

: Leah!!

: Are you okay?

Lance called. He suddenly heard a scream and saw it was his sister, Leah.

It was still raining.

Lance touched her head and face. It was all wet.

: You scared me, Leah!!

: What are you thinking!!!

Lance shouted at her. He didn’t know what to do if Leah fell that time.

: I was worried, not because I was angry.

Lance thought. His face grumbled, but his eyes, it was extremely worried.

: I am okay, brother.

Leah replied with her head bowed down. She made a mistake. She can only shrunk and hide her face embarrassingly.

: It is okay now, Leah.

Lance said while patting her head. He meant that it was okay and he was not angry. Then he looked back at the man who saved her.

: Thank you, young man.

: I don't know what to do if she fell down.

Lance said and thanked the man. He was grateful to the man who saved his sister. Then he reached out a grateful shake.

However, that man did not move.

Lance did not know why. He looked at the man with a confusing look.

: Did he want something?

Lance asked his mind. Then he took something out of his pocket and approached him again.

: Uhmmm... here.

Lance said and reached out a paper. It was a bank cheque with his sign.

[A bank cheque or, a check is a document issued by law. It can be used to pay a specific amount of money or sum of money. It can be referred to another person’s account which issued by the drawer or the person who signs it.]

However, that man did not move.

: Don’t you want it?

Lance asked the man again.

But that man didn't want it. He did not accept it.

Lance could only smile.

: I think he is a good man.

Lance thought of it.

: Well... Thank you.

Lance said and thanked him again. Then he looked back. He took off his suit and put it on her sister.

: Be careful next time, Leah.

Lance said. Of course, he couldn’t stand his sister fall or suffer. Then he left and drove the van.

Leah who wore her brother suit stood at her place, she couldn’t raise her head up.

: Is this true? Isn't it?

Leah asked her mind. She raised her head and faces him.

: Are you real...?