Finally, Leslie had to bid farewell to the Eternal City. Pressing her nose against the plane window, she quietly watched how the ancient city spread into a patchwork quilt from a high distance.
A limousine ca to fetch Calix up at the villa. Mr. Hao and Mr. Tan were already inside, beaming at the thought of returning ho to their family. They headed straight to the airport.
Calix dressed casually in a mint green collarless shirt and a khaki trench coat. He paired them with a dark blue denim pants. Mr. Hao and Mr. Tan still opted for formal business suits.
Once the three n got inside the private flight, Calix shooed Mr. Hao and Mr. Tan to the other side. The two n gladly took up the chance to stay away from their boss.
’Oh... The window doesn’t fog up.’
Staring at the window, Leslie inwardly thought of that. She recalled what she used to do when she was little.
Leslie liked blowing her breath through her nose or mouth to the car or bus windows only to see them fogging up. Then, she traced her fingers there, drawing anything adorable.
"Do you already miss the city?" asked Calix, his tone had a hint of laughter. His attention was on his laptop, "Can you still see the landmarks?"
"Yes," replied Leslie without looking at Calix. Her eyes wandered to a spot, "I saw the Colosseum."
As the flight continued ascending to the sky, the city continued growing smaller. Yet, Leslie could still pinpoint where the majestic Colosseum stood. The sight of it brought along the mories of the night Calix took her riding around the city by scooter.
"Are you still looking at it?" Calix put the laptop away before rising from the plush chair, "What can you see now?"
"Hurm... they look like miniature toy buildings now," Leslie chuckled at her own comparison, "The countryside is so nice from here. Calix, look at those rolling hills. Oh, are they olive groves? I think that one is a vineyard."
Amused by Leslie’s encouragent, Calix strode to where she was standing. Placing one hand above the window, he threw his gaze out.
"Yeah, the view is nice," Calix sang the sa tune as Leslie, not realizing how she stiffened when he stood so close to her, "Who knows, we might get to explore its countryside next ti."
"Haha... that sounds so nice," Leslie laughed awkwardly, keeping her eyes away from looking at him, "I’ve only seen Italian countryside in photos."
Leslie inwardly wished Calix wouldn’t stand too close. She sensed the warmth of his breath coming from above. If she accidentally moved away from the window, her back would collide with his chest.
Unnoticed by Leslie, Calix’s gaze wandered from the land spreading beneath them to her. He quietly looked at her eyelashes, unconsciously thinking of a pair of butterfly wings.
Coughing awkwardly, Calix moved backward, creating a distance from Leslie, "...we’ll return here. Isn’t that what we wished at the fountain?"
"Hehe, I wonder when it will be."
Realizing that Calix had stepped away, Leslie turned around. She planned to read a novel she picked among the collections stored in this flight.
But...
"Argh!"
An onslaught of pain pierced Leslie’s brain, causing her steps to falter. She cried out of discomfort, startling Calix.
"L-Leslie? Leslie! Are you okay?"
Calix caught Leslie just in ti. Frowning in worry, he unconsciously tightened his grasp on her shoulders.
"Haa..." Leslie winced, she weakly reached out for one of Calix’s arms, "I’m fine... It’s just... my head hurt for a mont..."
"Let’s get you seated first," Calix patted Leslie’s back, trying to calm her down, "Co here."
"...en."
Leslie slumped on the couch, keeping her eyes closed. She faintly heard Calix instructing the flight attendants to get him a hot drink. The remains of the splitting headache still lingered.
’Headache? Why suddenly?’
Leslie doubted the pain was caused by any poor health. This headache reminded her of the first ti she saw Rowan, Bianca and Irene. But, she didn’t receive other mories belonging to Charlene this ti.
What happened?
"Leslie, is your head still hurting? Here, drink so water," Calix sat next to Leslie, handing her a mug of water, "It’s hot, be careful."
"Not much, thanks," Leslie opened her eyes, her brows furrowing.
Calix was frustrated inside. This was the first ti he saw Leslie’s face turned pale. Even if he wanted to call a doctor, the latter couldn’t treat soone invisible.
"I’ll get you so dicine. It’s better than nothing," Calix rose from the couch, wanting to head to the shelf where a first-aid kit was stored, "You should take a nap inside the room."
"That... okay."
Leslie actually wanted to refuse but, she quickly backtracked at the sight of Calix’s concerned gaze at her. She waited in silence until he handed her paracetamols.
"It’s a long flight," Calix watched Leslie swallow two of the dicine, "Perhaps you’ll feel better if you sleep."
"I think I’ll do that," Leslie nodded, reluctant to argue with Calix, "Then... I’ll take a nap."
"En, go."
Having no choice, Leslie headed to the bedroom. The flight wouldn’t land until more than ten hours later. She perceived the heat coming from Calix’s eyes as he kept looking at her.
"What happened?" murmured Leslie once she lay on the bed. She pinched her temple, "Why a headache... all of a sudden?"
In the entire four weeks that Leslie was here—a brand new world to her—she had never suffered any ailnts. Of course, she didn’t count the ti she t Charlene’s parents and younger sister.
’I doubt that I’m getting sick.’
Unable to find the answer, Leslie thought to ask Mimo. The crochet fox toy might know sothing. Even if it didn’t, she better try asking first.
’Mimo, can you hear ?’
Leslie called Mimo’s na through telepathy, her eyelids slowly drooping.
’Mimo. I have a headache and feel sluggish now. Is sothing happening?’
But...
Unlike before, there was no reply from Mimo.
None at all.
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