Twice The Trouble

Chapter 63: Kismet or Destiny?

Sophia

Lucas continued to stare at me with his warm brown eyes.

Should I bolt? I could bolt. Hold on.. I can't run very fast.

Not anymore. I sighed inwardly.

"How are you?"

I blinked at him. Repeatedly. "I'm sorry, what?"

His smile was full of patience. Darn him and his charms. He asked me again: "How are you?"

"I love Ryan Reynolds," I blurted out, then I heard some young girls giggle when they heard me.

"..Okay?" The black-haired teen tilted his head to one side. "I'll take that as a 'maybe.'"

I stuttered while looking at him: "Y-you.. what.. w-why are you here?"

Lucas shrugged his shoulders as he inserted his hands into his pockets. "Malls are fun."

"O-Oh. R-right." Cease the stammering, Sophia! Of course he's allowed to be here. It's a mall.

He pointed at the movie schedule inside a glass display. "Are you going to watch a film?"

"Hmm? No, no." I waved a dismissive hand. "I just like browsing the selection. It's a thing."

A toothy grin crept onto his cute face as he told me: "Ditto. I do it, too."

"That's nice.." I commented, summoning a normal smile across my lips.

"Sophia, if you have someplace else to be, you can go. It's alright," said Lucas.

My brown eyes swiveled to his understanding expression. "Um, thanks. So.. I'll.. just go now."

"You idiot," I scolded myself as I turned around and walked away from him. "You're such an idiot, Sophia. Now he probably thinks I didn't want his company. You could have handled that situation better." I exhaled some air. "What could I have done? Invite him to stroll the mall with me? Know your place, Sophia. You're a friend. He is courting your sister. Your. Sister. Not you."

I angrily smacked my forehead with the heel of my palm, forcing the fact to be embedded in my stupid, hopeless brain. He likes Stacy. He's pursuing Stacy. He's not interested in you. Never you.

"He doesn't like you," I whispered to my reflection as I passed by a glass wall of a flower shop.

The sadness in my voice matched the brokenness all over my face. I pushed my glasses up my nose, tearing my brown eyes away from the glass window of the store.

I rode another escalator, this time heading in the direction of Mood Music, the best music store in the mall and a sanctuary I visited often whenever I needed to placate my negative vibes.

Various guitars hung along the walls,and some were displayed on racks. Music magazines were stacked on shelves. There were couches and small tables at a corner, giving the place a comfy feel. It was also quiet, similar to a library.

I went to the shelves where several CDs were displayed. The store was filled with a countless array of music albums.

The bells clanged, signalling that someone had entered the store, but I didn't turn around. I continued rummaging through the stacks of albums until a hand caught my eye.

My gaze stayed on the masculine hand, then my eyes traveled up to the arm up to the face.

"..Lucas?" I sounded incredulous, which exactly was how I felt at the moment.

He waved at me. "Hey, stranger."

"Another coincidence," I remarked as I maintained eye-contact with him.