Chapter 22: Leeloo’s invitation.

‘I was so naive, of course they can’t bring so much money in effective, and the checks need time to be signed.’ I shake my head helplessly, I was so happy for getting the second place that I didn’t stop to reflect about the obvious.

“Did something happened Marcus?” Ana says looking at me.

“We can’t claim the check until Monday, and normally a check needs two days to be available for exchange in a bank, so I think I can’t return your money until Wednesday…” I say looking at her with sincerity.

“You shouldn’t be troubled for that,” Says Ana sweetly, “I can wait some extra days, I already did all the homework I needed to do before coming here, it’s not like my grades will drop for missing the university a couple of days.”

I scratch the back of my head, “I see, I thought that with the prize money you will finally be able to go to your hotel but it seems that we will have to ask Leeloo if there’s no problem for you to stay again.” I say helplessly. Owning a favor to Leeloo it’s not a good thing.

“Don’t worry about that either,” Ana answers immediately, “I talked to her this morning and she said that there’s no problem for me to stay at her apartment while I’m here in Glassglow.” She smiles and look at me, “I just have to tell her that it will be for a couple more of days.

I narrow my eyes and fix my gaze upon Ana, “You kind of…” I pause a moment and then continue, “Have everything planned, don’t you?” When I say this Ana scratches her head and smiles nervously, I rest my left hand in my chin and then I say in a thoughtful tone, “Furthermore, I know Leeloo’s temperament, the fact that you have befriended Leeloo so easily is suspicious.”

“You have to have your enemies closer than your friends.” Ana says in a low voice I could barely hear.

“Enemies? What are you talking about?” I ask with a confused look.

“NOTHING!” Ana says loudly, “Let’s go!” Ana’s face turns red and then she pushes me outside of Gamer’s Corner.

“Okay, okay, I understand, stop pushing.” I say a bit annoyed after the sudden change of mood of Ana.

‘At least it was a good idea to bring this,’ I say rubbing my pocket. There, a blue rectangular shaped card laid. It is a debit card which has some minor savings that I normally wouldn’t use unless a zombie apocalypse happens. When I came to Glassglow I was underage to open a bank account by myself, so I got used to keep the money hidden where I lived, but after meeting teacher Durian and entering the TVRW, in order to get paid by the university I had to open one.

Yesterday’s little celebration was David’s treat, but today it’s my turn, I can’t be that stingy and just do nothing, especially when the profit I made is 100% thanks to Ana.

“So, where are we going?” Asks Ana after a while.

“Well, I was planning to buy some things to make a little feast at the apartment.” I answer her frankly.

“In the apartment? Booooring.” Ana answers me in a childish tone.

“Hey, we can’t leave Leeloo out, besides, the more the merrier.” I say trying to convince her.

“Hmph, Leeloo this, Leeloo that.” Ana pouts and folds her arms.

“Didn’t you say you were friends with her?” I ask Ana upon seeing her strange reaction.

“Hmph!” She pouts again and turns her head away from mine.

“Geez, fine, I’ll treat you something light and then let’s dinner at the apartment” I say trying to convince Ana once again.

“Why can just celebrate the two of us and give Leeloo the leftovers?!” Ana says raising her tone of voice and stomping her right foot angrily. Some people strolling nearby turn to look at us with curiosity.

When I hear the word leftovers my body couldn’t help but shiver. Last time that I ate out and carried to the apartment some packed food for Leeloo, she raised the volume of the television for three straight nights as a vengeance in exams seasons, I couldn’t sleep at all. She then told me to never bring leftovers. If she rated packed food as leftovers and didn’t let me sleep for three nights, what would she do if I actually give her leftovers?

“Hey, don’t be so rude with her, yesterday I had no idea that she was in the city, but today is different, I’m living in her apartment after all.” I say rebuking Ana's idea.

“Do as you want then.” Ana says with a sad look. ‘I changed clothes for nothing.’ She sighs inwardly.

“Haha, you still have the same “sad kid” expression, come on, let’s go.” I laugh after looking at Ana and she pouts once again. I hold her hand and then start walking with her around the shopping center.

We walk quietly watching the liveliness of the night. The ceiling of the shopping center is made of glass and today was a beautiful starry night. The weather in Glassglow is always nice and the pollution is low, is easy to enjoy the scenery of the Mother Nature at night.

I treat Ana a cup of strawberries with cream and her mood improves a lot. Strawberries is the best thing which you can bribe her with.

After a couple more of snacks and visiting some stores, we finally buy some groceries and 2 six-pack of beers. Ana says that she have never drank beer, but I tell her that there’s no problem, it’s not like we have to drink it all in one night, besides, having beer in the refrigerator is definitely not a bad thing.

She tries to convince me multiple times to celebrate by ourselves and just give something to Leeloo but I refuse to do so. Maybe Leeloo wouldn’t retaliate while Ana is still in her apartment, but after we are alone again, I’m 100% sure I’ll be victim of one of her vengeances.

After a while we take a cab and head to the apartment complex. Ana is still a bit reluctant to return, but in the end she yields with a helpless and sad look.

We arrive at the apartment complex and I greet as always the perpetually half-asleep guard and then we enter the elevator. I glance at Ana and notice that she is crazily fidgeting.

After walking a bit more, I take out the keys from my pocket and open the door just to see Leeloo lying lazily in the couch watching TV.

“Shouldn’t you be doing research about your thesis?” I ask mockingly at Leeloo.

“Hello honey, I missed you too.” She answers indifferently, then she blows a kiss to me and winks her right eye.

“…” I just could open my mouth upon seeing Leeloo’s actions.

On the other hand, Ana hastily pushes me and quickly walks towards the bathroom.

“Oh, so you changed clothes?” Leeloo says while shooting a quick glance to Ana. Upon hearing this, Ana suddenly freezes and her face blushes, “You are quite aggressive, aren’t you?” Leeloo continues and Ana clenches her fist and grits her teeth, then she enters the bathroom slamming the door with a lot of force. Leeloo laughs maniacally after watching the flustered expression of Ana.

I stare blankly, not knowing what to do or what to say. ‘Did they really befriended each other so quickly or I’m missing something?’ I ask myself inwardly.

After a while I bring the groceries to the kitchen and start storing them. I toss a potato chips bag and a beer to Leeloo and she happily accepts the snack and starts munching it.

Two minutes later Ana leaves the bathroom with another set of clothes. When Leeloo notices her, she says loudly, “Mmmm darling, you really know me very well to bring me potato chips and beer on a Saturday night.” There is a strange delight in her voice while she say this, as if she is in ecstasy.

Ana freezes once again. She grits her teeth and looks at me, there is a tic in her right eye.

I slap my forehead and shake my head with a helpless look, “Come on, today was a good day, why I feel that the mood is not okay?” I say while looking at Ana and Leeloo.

“Fufufufu.” Leeloo lets out her childish laugh and looks at Ana.

Ana looks angrily at me, stomps her right foot in the floor, and then pouts.

“What is this?” I ask feeling that there is something really weird between them.

“Fufufufu,” Leeloo laughs again while looking at Ana and then looks at me, “Okay, let me explain you darling,” Leeloo says, sips the beer again, and then sits in the couch, “This morning I made a bet with Ana, if she could make you come late and just bring me food left overs, she wins and then I will destroy the contracts.” She says casually

“Hey!” I turn to look at Ana, “I told you that those contracts are just a joke between us,” I yell at her.

“Hmph.” She pouts coldly without looking at me.

I stand there expressionless and then I realize something, “Wait a minute,” I turn to look at Leeloo, “What is the prize if you win?” I say while pointing at her with sweat beads forming in my forehead. There’s something really fishy about this.

“Do you really want to know?” Says Leeloo with a mocking expression.

“Damn, don’t tell me is something about me!” I say shaking my fist in the air.

“Yes! Photos of your childhood, huhuhuhuhu.” Leeloo burst in an evil laughter.

“What?! Nooooo!” I say while putting both hands in my head. Giving Leeloo such embarrassing photos is just giving her more tools to do evil things.

“Huhuhuhu.” Leeloo's laugh intensifies after seeing my expression.

I return to the kitchen and shake my head helplessly, then I start to make the mini feast I planned. However, I couldn’t take out of my mind the fact that Ana make such bet with Leeloo. Leeloo is just too cunning! She knows that in the past months while she was in Glassglow, even if I was going to a party with my friends late at night, I always return to the apartment, make the dinner, and then leave. After all, that’s one of my duties.

It wasn’t a bet at all, it was just Leeloo asking Ana for those photos since the beginning! I sigh inwardly, there’s nothing I can do so I better stop thinking about it.

I start making some cheese sticks, hot wings, french fries, and onion rings. It is something simple but delicious to eat, and even better if you accompany it with a cold beer.

After finishing the preparations, I serve everything with some sweet pastries I bought. Ana is still mad, but after tasting the hot wings her mood improves and stops pouting. The three of us start talking about random things and then Leeloo remembers something, “Oh, right darling, did you win?” Leeloo says while looking at me.

Ana’s right eye twitches and she intervenes, “WE got the second place, I was playing too, you know.” She says proudly.

I could just laugh awkwardly and take a sip from the beer.

“Fufufufu, is that so?” Leeloo says still looking at me, “Then let me treat both of you something, let’s go out tomorrow”

“*Pffffft*” I spill the beer I just drank, “Say what? You will what?” I ask hurriedly.

Ana looks at me a bit confused.

“I said,” Leeloo winks her eye and then puts a coquettish tone, “I’ll treat both of you tomorrow, you don’t expect your childhood friend to come from so far and don’t show her the night life of Glassglow, do you?” She says and turns to look towards Ana.

Ana’s eyes lits up and then looks at me expectantly.

I scratch my hair near my forehead, ‘Leeloo treating? This can’t be good!’ I say to myself inwardly.

END OF CHAPTER 22.