Chapter 42

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"Are you alright ... Lucas?" Sofia's soft voice sounded out, stiffly calling his name. Lucas snapped him out of his daze.

Lucas looked up to meet the Sofia's beautiful face. He found out that she was a rather simple girl after Lucas had caught up with the things regarding her.

She always wore simple clothes, the long sleeved white blazer combined with the black skirt that went down her kness. She also act more like a quiet girl next door.

Lucas looked at her and nodded, he didn't speak anything. Right now, unlike last time that Andrew was sticking and interrupting the two. They were walking side by side of each other in the rather comfortable afternoon, right after they had a meal together.

They went to the bookstore as per Sofia's request.

"Do you have something in mind that's bothering you?" Sofia tilted her head to side, making her looked more lovely as she voiced her concern. "If you want to talk about it, I am always available."

Lucas didn't respond for a while. "Don't worry, it's just about work. There has been so much things to be handled lately."

He didn't say the exact words of course. It's just about work, in the office that involved a very complicated story. He also had handled some things, though he was still confused.

His real feelings, what was that? He didn't know how to describe it. Was it just a sense of responsibility towards his old best friend who had accompanied him in his lonely childhood years, or did he really like her for real as a person?

He had ever heard of a phrase that love can comes from the habit of being together with a person for long, in a form of a friend or something else. As it would make them able to see through their personality, as well as the two people compatibility.

However, he just found out that although he did make that innocent and rather silly promise, after so many years passed, he just barely knew her at the moment. She seemed just like a stranger to him, which also made him felt confused. So, he just guessed that everything needed time to recall that familiar feeling again.

Lucas wouldn't lie that sometimes, he longed for that familiar feeling again. He knew how their childhood was like. Sofia was rather a quiet child when she was little, and right now it seemed that she still didn't talk much.

He had his doubts, however, he still buried those deep in his heart.

Lucas looked at Sofia, who was busy reading book titles to find something worth reading that caught her eyes. he couldn't help but analyze her every move and tried to match her figure into that blurry, but also familiar one in his heart.

After a while, Lucas just shook his head.

Lucas paid for the books that Sofia bought; she refused at first, however, under Lucas' insistent persuation, she just relented.

"I will drive you home then." Lucas said after seeing that the sky had gradually turned dark. Sofia seemed to be slightly surprised hearing that, she seemed a bit tangled. But, under Lucas' gaze, she could only nod.

They entered the car and Lucas drove then to the family's little house. They talked about some business and work related topic the whole ride until they arrived at the Sofia's house.

Lucas got out of the car first, and then opened the door for Sofia, who walked out of the passenger seat.

Sofia turned to look at him, seemed to be hesitating. She looked to have come into a kind of decision when the sound of the door being opened reached the two. The one who opened it was Stephen.

"Lucas, you have come visiting us?" Stephen looked at Lucas, then Sofia, who didn't say anything.

"If you are not in hurry, you can come in." Stephen added, then he looked at Sofia and told her. "Your childhood friend comes visiting here. Why aren't you inviting him already yet?"

Sofia inwardly just sighed, her expression turned a little strange. When her head shifted to Lucas to stare at tall man, her expression had turned back to normal. She asked softly, "Would you like to come in? Mother probably had cooked some dishes for dinner."

Lucas nodded curtly, following the lead of Sofia as she entered the house. Stephen came didn't go in anymore, probably he had something to do outside.

Sofia ordered Lucas to sit on one of the chair. She picked up some of the dishes from the kitchen and brought it to the dinner table. After she finished arranging them, she sat down beside Lucas.

Lucas looked around and noticed that it was just the two of them. "Where is Auntie Ellia?"

Sofia looked up at him. "Mother is probably still feeding my little brother right now."

Lucas just nodded. The little boy in the need of that severe treatment was indeed her little brother. It had been many years sincw they last met, so it wasn't soo surprising that there was another person being added into their little family.

"Father have already said to us to have dinner first if he didn't immediately come back. Pick anything that catches your fancy." Sofia smiled while saying this, she looked at the homade dishes in front of her, looking really delighted.

Lucas looked down and noticed that some of those dishes were things that he often eat while having a sleepover at Sofia's place when he was little. He looked at them carefully and began to pick some dishes that made him sense the familiarty.

He took some bit and relished on the same taste just like in the past. Sofia silently watches on the side, as if trying to read Lucas from his expression. However, Lucas' face remained neutral, af the taste of the food didn't move him at all.

After all, he was a person who was good at calculating things. He had already used to hiding whatever he was thinking and feeling.

"How's the taste?" Sofia asked. Lucas could almost see the expectant look in her eyes. Lucas didn't react for a while that made Sofia looked slightly anxious. "Is it taste bad? We used to eat those dishes before."

Lucas finally said. "No, the taste in actually quite good."

Although Lucas said those words without too much emotion, it didn't hinder Sofia's smile at all. "It's great then that you enjoy it."

Lucas continues to eat his meal, occasionally frowning a little that went unnoticeable by Sofia. After a while, he managed to finish his meal. Lucas softly said to Sofia. "Thank you for the dinner."

Sofia was about to open her mouth to retort back when suddenly a commotion caught their attention. It was coming from the front door, sounding like someone was banging into it, accompanied by shouting.

"Stephen. Come out and pay your debts!" A loud voice sounded again from outside.

Sofia's face was slightly pale as she stared at the front door. Then, she looked at Lucas and apologized, her tone sounded bitter. "I am sorry ... Lucas. When it's the first time I invited you to the house, there is something like this come up."

Sofia stood up, she didn't wait for Lucas' answer as she walked towards the door. She opened it and calmed herself down to face the people on the other side.

She began to speak. "I am sorry, Sirs. Father isn't home right now. And as for the debts..." She bit her lip, gazing at the two people with burly figure and tatto in their body that made them rather fearsome.

"When are you going to pay for it?" The shorter man asked with a scowl, eyeing Sofia with a look of disdain.

"Sir ...," Sofia seemed to hesitate a bit. "Would you be so kind to give us more time? After this, we are really going pay for the debts."

The taller man showed a clear look of displeasure as he scrunched his nose. "Giving time? Haven't we already gave you enought time?"

"Yeah, right." The shorter man piped up and said sarcastically, "If you keep on asking for more time, when are you gonna pay for it fore real? Everytime we come here to collect the debts, the answer is always the same."

Sofia looked helpless as she stood facing the two. She was about to pick out her purse and fork out any money she had for her next month grocery spare, but her hand was stopped by someone.

Lucas touched Sofia's hand to prevent her from reaching her purse, and quickly let go of it.

The two men who dressed almost like thugs seemed to notice Lucas' emergence as they shifted their attention on him. Seeing his outfit that was a suit, the two's eyes lit up. "Little boy, you seemed like a rich one here. You definitely have some relationship with this little girl here, right? How about paying for her family's debts?"

Sofia lowered her head, almost in shame as she heard the man talking. However, she quickly looked up again and said to them. "Sirs, please let my friend out of this. This has nothing to do with him."

Lucas frowned as he looked at the two of them. He weighed the pro and con of some options that emerge in his head. These two did came here in abrupt and violent manner, but it also wasn't right for one to avoid their responsibility of borrowing money.

If he also used violence here, the one who would be in disadvantage would be Sofia's family since he wouldn't be always there in case those people came knocking for more trouble.

Lucas took out his own wallet and handed some money to the two. "I just bring this little amount for now, just give then more time to pay the rest."

The taller man immediately snatched the money from Lucas' hand and counted, then he frowned. "This little amount is still far from the number they borrowed from us."

Lucas stared coldly at them and said in a tone that carried domineering aura. "Either you take it or leave it then. If you don't want it, just give it back to me."

The shorter man gazed at Lucas for a while, scanning him from head to toe. He weighed his options, between asking for more or just leave with it. The shorter man looked at his tall companion to see of what he was thinking. However, he was rather surprised to see that his companion was nodding his head.

"Alright then. Tell your parents to pay for the rest next moon." The taller man said. Lucas' tone just now carried the aura of someone that had been supressing a lot of people and dealing with the numerous unpredictable human personalities.

Judge from his outfit, the taller man also knew that this young man in front of him was someone that shouldn't messed with. His identity definitely wasn't simple and he didn't want to take risk of offending him.

This man was probably having another reason of giving them the money.

Without wasting another time, the two quickly left after receiving the money. Especially the taller man who was afraid that Lucas would snatch the money back.

"Lucas ... " Sofia called him softly. "You don't have to do that. When my salary come out, I will definitely pay you back." Sofia sighed. "Thank you."

Lucas seemed to be in sort kind of contemplation. "There's no need. That was just a little amount of money."

"But ..." Sofia bit her lip. "I don't feel comfortable. Let me pay it back to you once I get my salary."

Lucas didn't answer. He then juat curtly answered her. "Alright then."

Sofia had a tangled look in her face, as if she had conflicted thoughts over something. However, in the end, she just sighed. Her father didn't came back until Lucas left and her mother didn't come out of the said little brother's room. Lucas also didn't mention any of them.

I have read all your comments, and ... *chuckles*

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