"Be careful so you won’t get stained!"
Leo shouted, watching Sarah drag the large, black garbage bag toward the massive outdoor waste tank.
Sarah smiled at him over her shoulder. "Babe, don’t worry, it’s not that heavy!" She grunted, beginning to lift the bag to toss it into the tank... But in a swift, unfortunate movent, the heel of her high-heeled shoe snapped. Her body lurched, making the entire garbage bag tumble, tearing open as it fell, showering its gross contents all over her...
"Ahhh!" Sarah shouted, a mix of surprise and pain...
Leo ran into the scene, his heart pounding. "Babe, are you okay? What happened?" He bent down, extending a hand to her... Sarah looked up at him, tears welling in her eyes. Her face was sared with so of the garbage... "Babe, I’m sorry."
Leo knew it wasn’t her fault, an accident plain and simple, but at the sa ti, a flicker of frustration ignited within him...he warned her about it...
The elderly woman, who gave her the garbage bag rushed forward... "My dear, are you okay?"
Sarah, ever polite despite the ss, cutely nodded...
"Co on, let’s go upstairs and change," Leo said, his voice firm and gentle... He helped her up, guiding her back towards the apartnt...
After a quick change and a frantic clean-up, they both ca downstairs in different clothes. The elderly woman was still waiting near the entrance. She walked up to them as they descended the stairs. "I’m really sorry, my dear," she said, bowing her head slightly in bla and apology...
"It’s not your fault," Sarah quickly interjected, trying to reassure her. "It... it... I just lost balance and fell, so don’t be bothered."
"I know... but if you didn’t help , your dress wouldn’t have gotten..." the elderly woman began, but Leo gently stopped her before she could finish the sentence...
"Ma’am, it’s fine. It’s not a big deal," Leo said, walking forward, wanting to put the incident behind them...
Sarah stood for a mont, staring at him as he walked away, a slight frown on her face. He turned back. "Sarah, what are you doing? Let’s go before the mall closes."
"Sorry, coming!" she replied, shaking herself out of her thoughts and running to match his pace...
After walking in silence for a while, the earlier awkwardness hanging between them, they finally reached the bus stop...
"Taxi! Taxi!" Leo shouted, waving his hand high. Sarah moved closer, clinging to his left arm, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Babe, are you angry with ?" she mumbled, her voice small.
"Huh?" Leo responded, genuinely surprised by the question. "No, why would I be? Listen, things happen, so don’t let it get to you, okay?"
Sarah looked up at his face, her eyes starting to well up again.
Just then, a taxi pulled up and stopped in front of them. Leo leaned on the taxi window. "Where to, Mr.?" the driver asked.
"Umm, 39 Tokyo Road, Happy Land Mall," Leo replied.
The taxi driver opened both back doors of the car. Sarah entered first, sliding across the seat, then Leo followed. Sarah sat near the window, facing away from him. Leo stared at her reflection in the glass. His eyes widened as he saw her quietly crying, tears streaming down her face as she looked out the window...
Leo slowly drew her into his arms, pulling her head onto his chest. Her face was covered in sweat and tears. She looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy. He pulled out his handkerchief and gently cleaned all the sweat and tears from her face. He leaned in closer and kissed her head. "I really am not angry anymore," he whispered...
Sarah quickly got up from his arm, turning to face him. "Babe, so you were angry!"
Leo grabbed her back into his arms again. "Shhhh," he sighed, pulling her close. "I’m not angry that you helped an elderly woman in need. But I would’ve appreciated a heads-up. I just didn’t know what was happening."
"Babe... Sorry," she said, her voice muffled against his shirt...
"It’s fine," he responded, stroking her hair.
The taxi driver honked, "Pi pi... pi!" "We are here!"
Sarah stepped out of the taxi first while Leo made the paynt. Soon after, he joined her, and together they entered the massive mall...
"WOW!" Sarah’s eyes widened with excitent, her earlier sadness completely forgotten. "Babe, see? It’s a giraffe!" she exclaid, pointing at a large, colorful display.
"Huh? Are you a fool? It’s clearly a mannequin," Leo replied, a small smile touching his lips despite himself...
"I know that! You don’t have to be an about it," Sarah pouted her hands on her hips.
Leo chuckled and walked up to one of the mall staff mbers. "Excuse , we’re looking for the costu section."
"Lovely couple, please follow ," the staff mber said, beaming.
Sarah’s eyes glowed. She pinched Leo’s shirt. "Babe, she just called us a couple! We really do look like a couple!"
"Hmmm," Leo humd, looking downwards slowing his pace, then forward at Sarah walking ahead of him. At that very mont, he saw himself as a staff due to the fact that he also works in a mall...His smile faded completely, leaving him with a familiar sense of inferiority...
Sarah noticed his sudden quietness and slowed down to match his pace. She reached out, found his hand, and interlaced their fingers, squeezing gently as they walked. This simple gesture snapped Leo from his overthinking, a comforting warmth spreading through his palm...
"We have arrived," the staff mber announced, gesturing towards the brightly lit costu section.
Sarah bowed her head, genuinely thanking the staff for escorting them. Then, she imdiately grabbed Leo’s hand and dragged him inside. "Babe, do you want to take a break? Let’s talk about it."
"Talk about what?" Leo feigned a smile, trying to act nonchalant.
"Are you still angry about the garbage bag incident?" she pressed, her gaze knowing.
"No, it’s not that," Leo added quickly.
"Then what? Your mood changed as soon as we got to the staff to ask for directions," she stated, looking him directly in the eyes.
He stayed quiet, unable to articulate the sudden rush of inadequacy he felt.
"Babe, I’ve told you to get those thoughts out of your head, okay?" Sarah said softly, her voice firm but kind. Leo nodded, his mind slowly calming down under her steady gaze. She squeezed his hand again, and they both entered one of the costu stalls...
"So, babe, what do you want to cosplay?" Leo asked, genuinely interested now that his mood had improved...
Sarah’s eyes widened as she scanned the racks of colorful outfits. "Hmm, babe, I don’t know... maybe a dragon girl, or Sakura from Naruto?"
"Sakura? Why Sakura? She sucks," Leo added with a playful grimace.
"But I like her," she sighed, a small pout on her face. "Then what do you want to cosplay?"
Leo’s lips curved into a devilish grin. "A nurse... or a teacher..."
"Pervert," she said, swatting his arm, but a blush rose on her cheeks.
"Co on, you asked for my opinion," Leo said, walking up to one of the costus lined up on a display. "Babe, what about this one?"
Sarah ca closer, her eyes widening in excitent. "Yes! Yes, I want it!" She hugged him tightly. "I’ve always wanted to cosplay Nami from Two-Piece!"
"Mhmm, excuse ... Excuse ..." a staff mber from the stall said, turning away from another custor and starting to walk towards Leo and Sarah. "How may I help you, sir?"
"We would like to buy the Nami costu," Leo said. Sarah pinched him. "Oh, what?"
"Can I wear it first to see if it fits?" Sarah exclaid, ignoring Leo’s remark.
"Sure," the staff replied. "Just go to the east end, by the right. You’ll see a room with a pink door. Enter it."
"Thanks!" Sarah grabbed Leo’s hand and started walking towards the changing rooms.
"Mrs., what are you doing?" the staff mber called out as Sarah walked past.
Sarah stopped, turning around. "I’m going to try the costu on. Is that a problem?"
"Mrs., he can’t follow you there. It’s the won’s changing room," the staff mber explained patiently.
"Huh? Excuse ," Sarah declared, her hands on her hips, a stubborn look on her face. "He’s my boyfriend! Why not? He’s coming with whether you like it or not!"
Leo pinched her cheeks, pulling her face gently. "Don’t cause trouble here." He turned to the staff. "Don’t worry, I won’t go in with her. I’ll just be at the door."
Sarah pouted. "Babe, why would you agree so easily?"
"Because it’s the right thing to do," Leo replied, giving her a gentle push forward. "Now go and check if it fits."
She walked towards the pink door and stood in the middle for a second...
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