Mistaken by the Billionaire Marquess

CHAPTER 43: The Past

– LIA –

I FELT LIKE I suddenly became deaf after I heard what Kelleon said. Yeah, I heard it, but my mind suddenly lost its signal that it can’t process what he said to me.

Kelleon was just right there, staring at me and waiting for me to respond. After a short while, he touched my chin and pushed it up to close my open mouth.

“Cat got your tongue, mi amor?” he teasingly said as if he didn’t tell me something shocking earlier.

I leaned back from him and just stared at his face that’s full of amusement. He pursed his lips, trying to hold back a smile.

“You took what?” I asked after I finally composed myself.

He let out a chuckle. “I took that picture of you, mi amor,” he answered.

“What? How?” I questioned him while still thinking if I really met him that time.

“I was there near you, of course,” he answered before taking his phone out from his pocket. He scrolled there for a couple of seconds before showing the screen to me.

“Look,” he showed a photo of young me and swiped the screen to the left. Another picture of me flashed on the screen, still wearing the same outfit and took from a different angle. The only difference is my reaction.

In the first picture he showed to me, I was sitting on a small bench while biting on my hamburger. On the next photo, my mouth my opened because I was talking to Althea. On the third one, my mouth is still open, widely this time, as I was laughing like a witch.

I grabbed the phone from his hand and swiped the screen. More photos of me showed up. Some photos are taken while I was walking over the canal bridge. Others were taken while I was walking inside the mall of VGC McKinley, carrying the 7/11 foods I bought for a takeout.

“Why did you take these photos?” I asked. Supposed to be, I should feel creeped out because a stranger, that time, took several photos of me. But I felt different. I felt more confused but happy at the same time.

The thought of him getting pictures of me made me think that he already likes me that time. My brain is saying that I caught Kelleon’s interest without even doing anything.

“You caught my eyes, mi amor,” he said. “I can’t take my eyes off you. Everything you did was so precious for me that I want to keep a memory of it.”

I felt so touched and loved. I smiled at him before handing back his phone.

“Why didn’t you approach me?” I asked. “Our love story was delayed because of that. You know what I’m saying?”

He laughed and pinched my nose gently. “I was too shy to approach you,” he answered.

I gave him a “i don’t believe you” look. “You’re the most arrogant person I know. Why would you feel shy on approaching me?”

He pouted and hugged me from the side. “I don’t look well that time, mi amor. I looked like a bum.”

I laughed at him. “So you want to look good in front of me?”

He nodded with determination. “Of course! That would me our first meeting and I want to impress you!”

“But I also don’t look good that time,” I responded. “Look,” I said while pointing my photo. “I look so stressed with my eyebags and frizzy hair. I could passed as a witch.”

Kelleon kissed the side of lips before gently biting it. Oh, he’s horny again.

“You look so beautiful in my eyes, mi amor. You stood up between all of the ladies I met,” he answered. “You might think that you look like garbage, but you look like a queen to me, mi marquessa.”

I blushed because of what he said. My cheeks turned hot that I immediately covered it with my hands. Of course, Kelleon wouldn’t miss the chance to see me blushing because of him.

He touched my hand. I thought that he will removed it from covering my face. Instead, he softly caressed it and leaned forward to me before whispering in my ear.

“I love you so much that I can’t forget you after that. I love you so much that I even did an embarrassing and petty thing just for you to notice me. Te amo,” he said and licked my earlobe before his lips placed a kiss on my cheek.

I turned my head to him. Our lips are just a few centimeters from each other. I can see that he’s trying to stop himself from kissing me. He licked his lips while staring lovingly in my eyes.

“Cariño,” I cupped his face softly. I stared back at his eyes. When I first saw him in his house, his eyes looked so familiar. I looked at them while trying to figure out where I saw those pair of eyes before.

“You have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen. Do you know that?” I asked, giving him a warm smile.

He chuckled. “Of course. You can’t take off your eyes on mine when we first met,” he said.

“When you kidnapped me?” I asked while tilting my head.

He shook his head slowly. “Nope. In VGC McKinley, mi amor. Don’t you remember that?”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “Wait,” I trailed off. “I don’t remember meeting you in that place. And besides, you said that you didn’t approach me!”

He laughed and playfully rubbed the tip of our noses.

“Does a Michael Korrs men’s purse ring a bell on you?”

As he finished talking, waves of memories suddenly flashed in my mind. I saw the place where we had our college field trip. Crowds of people are walking and chatting. I was surrounded by building and I’m standing on the small bridge of the VGC canal. I looked at my side and saw Althea standing there.

“Say cheese, Lia,” Althea spoke while holding her new phone. I smiled widely, showing my teeth.

She signaled me to move to the side. “Move a little here,” she said and I gladly followed her.

“Side view,” she said and I positioned my body to the side.

“My head is aching pose,” Althea told me and I placed my hand on my head like it was aching and put my chin up.

I made a lot of body poses before we finally decided to leave the bridge and go somewhere else. There already a lot of people taking pictures on the bridge and some children running.

I pointed the Burger King stall from not a far. “Let’s buy burgers! I’m craving for some.”

Of course, since both of us are already hungry, we went to the restaurant and take out some burgers.

We decided to walk around to see the whole picture of the VGC McKinley. This is my first time to join a field trip, and this is our last destination so I want to enjoy it to the fullest.

“We can sit there,” I told Althea while pointing the vacant bench inside the mall.

I happily took a bite on my cheeseburger and took a sip on my cola. We’re just quiet while eating and watching people scattering inside the mall.

While I was throwing my trash on the nearby bin, someone dropped something in the floor. I picked it up immediately as it fell down in front of me.

My eyes widened when I realized that it’s wallet. It’s heavy and think so I’m sure that it has a lot of money inside.

I stood up and saw a long-haired man in front, walking away from me, slowly. I hurriedly ran towards him.

“Sir!” I called him as I grabbed him arm to catch his attention.

He turned around to face me. The man was wearing a black mask that covers the part of his nose, down to his chin.

His eyes looked to beautiful. They were golden, or yellow, or amber. I’m not sure what specific color it is but it pops when I looked at his face.

His eyes are the color of the rising sun, the color of the blooming sunflower, and the color of the sweet honey.

I was stunned for a few moment. If Althea didn’t poke my side, I wouldn’t move nor blink.

“Ah, oh,” I said while trying to form a sentence.

The man took a step forward and looked down on me, literally. His eyes were scanning me from head to toe before his sight settled on my face.

“Your wallet, sir,” I said when I already composed myself. I extended my arms to give him his wallet back. What he did next shocked me.

He placed his hand on top of mine, caging both the wallet and my hands. His hand were softer compared to mine. They’re cold, but they feel so comfortable.

“They’re yours,” his baritone voice spoke. It sent shivers to my body and my hairs turned cold.

“No, this is not mine,” I answered. “I saw it fell down near you.”

I heard him chuckle. That small reaction made me blush. It actually feel like an accomplishment for me.

“I know. But I’m giving this to you,” he said.

My eyes widened. I look on the wallet that’s still hidden because of his hands covering it.

Is he serious? I haven’t open this thing but I’m sure that it has a lot of money inside!

“I… I can’t accept this,” I told him and pushed my hand towards his body. I can hear Althea whispering that I should tale the wallet and buy foods.

“It’s not mine and it still has money inside. Besides, the wallet looks expensive. I can’t accept this,” I added.

But he didn’t back down. When he grabbed the wallet from me, I thought that he’s already accepting it. However, he suddenly shoot his wallet in my tote bag.

“It’s already in you bag, so it’s yours,” he teasingly said. “Take care of that. You can use the money and the card, I wouldn’t mind,” he added.

I was stunned and don’t know what to say. I can hear Althea saying that we’ll go on a food shopping and it’s my treat.

The masked man placed one of his hands on my cheeks and caressed it using his thumb. It gave me a sense of comfort. I closed my eyes, feeling his hands on mine. I purr a little because of that.

“When we see each other again, I’m hoping that this wallet is still in your possession.”

I slowly nodded at him. “I… I will treasure this. Thank you,” I said and gave him the sweetest smile I have.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

His hands slowly left my skin, as if he doesn’t want to let me go. He gave me last glances before walking away.

My eyes stared at his back before he slowly faded on my sight. I sighed, clutching my bag with his wallet inside.

I’m hoping that we’ll see each other again.