Capítulo 40: Inviting the Young Master

TING!

"Do you need a bag?"

"Yes, please"

Justin nodded his head and put the supplies one by one on the paper bag and handed it to Liechael, who was quietly waiting for him. "Here, thank you so much..please come again"

The other guy took the paper bag and nodded his head like a normal customer. He turned his body and was about to walk away when Justin stretched his arms and grabbed Liechael. "W-Wait!" His voice wasn't that loud. Just enough pitch to not disturb other customers in the shop.

Liechael looked at the male, expressionless.

Justin retracted his hands and checked that his manager wasn't around. He leaned closer and mumbled. "D-Do you w-want to go with us...later?"

Still expressionless, the other guy replied with only one word. "Where?"

Justin curled a small smile. "3pm at the park near the riverside…". Lowering his head, he mumbled again. "We..A-Amy, Aiden and N-Nana will go.."

Liechael's blue eyes sparkled when he heard the name of that someone. His grips tightened and then he felt something inside him that jolted. Even if he wanted to ask Justin more, he restrained the excitement he was feeling. Liechael just nodded his head and walked away.

Meanwhile, Justin felt a little light from Liechael's answer. He thought that he still had a lot of work to do today and this is not the right place to explain everything to the E University owner's son. Before Monday, he will clear things up. Just like what he's always telling his father, he can do it.

His lips curved into a small smile as he assisted the other customers. He couldn't escape what the future holds for him. This day will come. One of his schoolmates will surely discover him, but instead of getting nervous, Justin felt light and comfortable.

Is it because, It was Liechael who found him out?

***

"Young Master, let me help you,"

Vlad took the paper bag from Liechael's hands and followed him to the art room. He waited for his Young Master because Liechael went out without eating lunch and he's worried that the kid might have felt hungry.

When they reached the art room, Liechael immediately took one medium size canvas and placed it on its stand. He left it for a while and approached Vlad, who's busy scanning the brushes from the cabinet.

"Give me the new ones,"

Vlad handed him the newly unwrapped brushes and let the guy choose what he wanted to use. "Y-Young Master, aren't you hungry? You went out without eating lunch," Vlad said, looking at Liechael with worry. Instead of getting an answer, it stunned him to see the guy smiling so brightly.

Vlad was stupefied. His Young Master, who turned expressionless in almost a month, suddenly smiled after going out of the mansion alone. 'Did that cat he saved do something to him?' he thought.

"Can you leave me for a while?" Liechael closed the glass door of the cabinet. "I'm not hungry, I will eat later,"

The butler bowed his head. He didn't protest anymore and exited the room.

Liechael went back to the medium size canvas with enough paints in his hands. He pulled a small table next to him. With all the excitement he was feeling, he started to dip the brush into that pale color. His fingers swayed in every motion like the waves filling the shore with its gentle waves.

That expression on his face didn't vanish until he made the first half of his masterpiece. His strokes are very light, as if he's putting the colors to sleep and letting it indulge itself into a daydream.

That white plain canvas from earlier became lively with the colors of his magical hands. Liechael paused, distancing his face from his masterpiece. He tilted his head and observed the painting. He's still halfway, and he needed a subject to complete it.

The one he painted was a night view of the city. He remembers how the cars passed by the roadside under the lamppost. The stars twinkling in the night under the chilly air. He drew the moon above the bridge. Under the moon was a quiet sea reflecting the diamond like in the sky.

Liechael put the brush down on the table and felt like something was missing. He tried to think about it, but his mind wasn't cooperating with him. "Nevermind, I will just finish this later" he stood up and put the stuff he used to the side of the room.

There was a sink, so he cleaned up the paintbrushes and let it dry.

He went down to eat because his stomach was now growling. The servant greeted him and, as usual; they followed him to the dining room.

"Is there anything you want to eat, Young Master?" the head chef smiled at him while serving his food.

Liechael gazed down and shook his head, "This is enough, thank you," he replied back.

The head chef giddy towards the kitchen. He put the tray down in the sink and pondered. Usually, Liechael will ask him to cook pork steak and ham because he didn't want to eat according to his dietary plan. There was a time when the Young Master threw his tantrums in front of the table while eating with the Madam.

He thought that Liechael would do it again since he's alone in the mansion. He peeked at the side of the door again to check if Liechael was really eating, and yes, he's indeed eating calmly on the table alone.

Just by watching the young lad eating alone, some memories flashback into the chef's mind. It was the time when the whole Ross Family gathered together to eat. Now it was only Liechael who eats alone. It was like the liveliness of the entire house fades away after that day.

Mr. Zack, the Head Chef, now felt pitiful. If only he could also eat with the Young Master, he will gladly join him. He turned on his heels and went back to his station. 'I wonder if he's really okay' he thought.