Standard disclaimer applied…
'What…was that?'
Tut. Tut. Tut. Tut.
It was already half a minute since she made the call yet Lenalee was still holding the phone to her ear as if waiting for another person to answer. She's waiting for someone to talk from the other line. Anyone besides that female voice.
"Mou, sorry Le-na-lee! Allen-kun is currently busy here with me so please hang up now."
Her hand holding the phone slowly lowered down to her lap as the voice of the mysterious female kept ringing in her head. She could just dismiss it as someone who was concerned enough to inform her that Allen was not available at the moment, but she had said that Allen was currently busy with her with a mocking (or was it just her imagination?) voice. She absolutely can't ignore it. Who was that woman?
'Calm down Lenalee.'
She took a deep breath as her grip on the telephone loosened a bit. She glanced at her surroundings and sighed when she saw no one there and didn't hear any suspicious sounds, which meant Reever was doing a good job in restraining her brother from eavesdropping. She can confront the situation without making the others worry.
But she can't calm herself down. Not when different thoughts were entering her mind in a fast rate. Who was that woman? Why was she in Allen's room? Why did she say Allen was busy with her? What was her relationship with her fiancé? Her heart was beating so fast she's afraid she might get a heart attack. She didn't like the thoughts in her mind at all.
But what can she do? Her Allen was far away from her while she was there doing nothing but wait for him and their child, so she can't help but be sad and a bit anxious. Then suddenly, when she finally got a chance to talk to him again, a seemingly suspicious woman had cut in and now she's anxious as ever. What if that woman was a…a….a third party? What if she and Allen are….! But Allen loves her!
Her last thought managed to stop her almost endless formulation of possibilities. Of course, how can she forget? Allen did love her. The five years they had spent together was more than enough proof of their love right? Why would he commit such a horrible thing? It was not even plausible. Allen was not the kind of person who would do things behind his friends' backs….especially betraying trust. He was someone you can put your faith on and he had proven that many times. So there's no reason for her to lose belief in him right? Maybe that woman's only playing around, or maybe she's in a bad mood. Whatever her reason was, she's definitely not gonna assume something. She'll only take it seriously if she saw concrete evidence of something Allen might be doing without her knowledge – which she doubted will happen.
With a more calmed composure, she held the phone again tightly as she decided she will call again once more. Allen will surely answer it then he will apologize because some naughty girl had played around with his phone. Yes, that will surely be the scenario as soon as she got to talk to him.
So she reached out to dial the numbers again as a smile was beginning to form on her lips. 'Should I tell him about the chocolate cake we baked earlier?' She giggled at the thought. Allen would definitely want to have a taste of the cake.
"I'll tell him to tease him."
She giggled further upon imagining what Allen's face would be like the moment she told him about the cake. Maybe he would pull off that cute pout of his while telling her that he wanted to taste it and then she would ask the reason why he wanted to taste it so much – to which he would answer with a solemn yet serious voice:
"It's because you're the one who baked it."
She had to cover her mouth to stop herself from further giggling. Although that scene had happened so many times before, she can't get over it. It was one of those "cute" moments that she loved to think about over and over again.
Deciding that she had enough reminiscing, she continued her way to dial the numbers when suddenly a knock from the door resounded. She stopped again from her movements.
"Lenalee!" the voice of Reever resounded from the other side. "There's a package for you here! Are you done there?"
Lenalee stared at the door as she thought over what Reever had said. 'A package?' She glanced at the phone then to the door.
"Lenalee? Is something happening there?"
The question made her panic a bit as she remembered the mysterious woman on the phone. Suddenly, all her fears came rushing through her again and her will to call Allen slowly vanished. What was happening to her? Why was she doubting him so much?
It was too late though. Her heart was beating again in a painful manner and she started to feel suffocated inside the room. She needed to get out of there.
"There's nothing wrong Reever!" she answered back. "I'm finished now! Let me see the package!"
She went straight to her room after receiving the package while trying to get the recent turn of events out of her mind. She'll go to sleep after she saw the contents of the delivery for her. She sat on her bed and stared at the brown envelope with the familiar Black Order wax seal then to the neatly handwritten words on the center:
To Miss Lenalee Lee
The way she was addressed was a firm indication that the package was definitely not from Allen. Her curiosity suddenly escalated. Who would send her something aside from her fiancé? She carefully peeled off the wax seal that's keeping the folder closed then reached out inside it. Her hand caught pieces of thick paper where the other side was glossy. She pulled them all at once and quickly laid her eyes on whatever was the content.
She froze.
Her hands grew stiff as her eyes saw Allen, her fiancé, with a red-haired woman clinging unto his arm while resting her head on his shoulder. The woman was indeed beautiful, and Allen was smiling widely. It was the smile that was usually reserved for her…the smile that was supposed to be meant for her.
She began trembling as she quickly scanned the other pictures, her eyes widening in the process. What was the meaning of the pictures? There was only one thought entering her mind and she didn't like it. She didn't like it. There had to be some other reason. It had to be!
"Mou, sorry Le-na-lee! Allen-kun is currently busy here with me so please hang up now."
She suddenly stood up with a jolt when she remembered the mysterious voice. Then her eyes remained staring at the woman on the photos. 'Don't tell me…'
"Mou, sorry Le-na-lee! Allen-kun is currently busy here with me so please hang up now."
Her hands lowered. She can't think anymore. She wanted to think otherwise, but a single thought stuck in her mind and she's too shocked and tired to think of other possibilities…because there's only one likely logical explanation for the telephone call and the photos.
"…Allen-kun is currently busy here with me so please hang up now."
Tears welled up on her eyes. 'No…'
"…Allen-kun is currently busy here with me…"
"No…"
"…Allen-kun…"
-/-/-
-/-/-
Allen sighed in distress as he stared at the silent telephone lying innocently on his desk. He was sitting at the edge of his bed, back hunched in a lazy manner and eyes narrowed in fatigue with heavy bags below his orbs.
He had stayed up all night waiting for a call from Lenalee. But there was not even a single ring from the telephone. Maybe he had missed it? But that was almost impossible. When he decided to have dinner, he had thought of the possibility that Lenalee might call while he was gone so instead of staying at the cafeteria, he had only placed his orders at the counter and requested for them to just deliver his dinner at his room. Then from then on, all he did was to wait. He never slept the whole night in fear that he might really miss her call, but his telephone remained silent the whole time.
He wondered what had happened that caused Lenalee's failure to call him… maybe she's still resting…or worse, maybe she's sick! He was about to be worried when he remembered what Komui said about Lenalee's condition. The supervisor had told him that she had been taking longer rests frequently so it might be that she had slept all through the night.
He glanced at the wall clock near his desk and sighed when it told him it was already time for breakfast. The bell echoed through the whole place signaling that the meals were ready. His eyes traveled to the phone again as he tried to make a decision. So, should he wait or go?
His desire to eat grew stronger when his stomach gave its call of need. 'I guess I do need to eat now…'. At that resolve, he stood up from the edge of his bed and stretched out his aching muscles, eyes again fixated on the clock. If he was right, it would still be dark at the Main Headquarters and based from his observations with Lenalee before, she won't be waking up until the first rays of sunlight hit her.
He could grab some sandwiches and hamburgers at the canteen then he can think about what he was supposed to do next.
When he arrived at the cafeteria, he was greeted immediately with Lucille waving her hand to him as if requesting him to sit with her. He wanted to sit somewhere else though, but he remembered the deal he had with the female officer so he complied and sat himself next to her.
"Good morning."
He tried to appear cheery in front of them but the bags under his eyes and the lack of smile contradicted to how he wanted to appear. Gerald, who was sitting across them, had put down his fork and stared at the exorcist.
"Is something the matter General?"
Lucille stared at Allen too and gasped.
"Oh my god! Are you sick Allen-kun?" she leaned to him and quickly placed a hand on his forehead.
"Want me to take care of you?"
"Thanks, but I'm ok." Allen uneasily pulled Lucille's hand from his forehead. "It's just a lack of sleep."
"Lack of sleep?" Gerald raised a brow. "So you stayed up all night? What for?"
The General scratched the back of his head. "Well…I was waiting the whole night for Lenalee's call."
The mention of the name picked Lucille's attention and a small smirk slowly formed on her lips. But she quickly hid it in a second and instead pouted at Allen.
"Oh, how sad for you Allen-kun! You stayed up all night for nothing! How could she?"
Gerald gave a warning glance at his partner but the woman dismissed it. She placed a hand on the General's shoulder then started massaging him there with her fingers.
"You must be pretty disappointed in her, right Allen-kun?"
Allen shook his head while trying to pry off her hand from him.
"I'm not disappointed…rather, I have no right to be. I was always the one who was making her wait so I figured it's time for me to wait for me. A night without sleep couldn't compare to the days she spent without me by her side."
Lucille stopped massaging his shoulder at what he said and carefully retrieved her hand. She turned her gaze to her food.
"Why don't you go order your food Allen-kun? We'll wait for you here."
Allen smiled then nodded. "Ok. Please wait for me."
As soon as the white-haired exorcist left the table, Lucille released a frustrated moan and began biting her bottom lip. Gerald shook his head then leaned on his chair.
"Give up Lucille. He's clearly deeply in love with Ms. Lee. You don't stand a chance."
"Shut up Gerald." She glared at her partner. "I do have a chance, and that Lenalee will give that chance to me."
She stopped biting her lip and instead leaned across the table to her partner. "Have you sent the pictures yet?"
"Yes I already sent them since yesterday. She might have received them last night."
A smirk. "So that's why she never called since that time….Good. She might be in hysterics right now."
Gerald narrowed his eyes. "Wait. What do you mean since that time? Don't tell me you're the reason why Ms. Lee hadn't called?"
"Hmph." Lucille brushed some strands of her hair from her shoulder. "So what if I am? I just made it clear to her that Allen-kun's not only hers."
"You're sick Lucille." Gerald suddenly spat at her. He stood up from his position. "You're crazy."
"Call me whatever you want, but I won't stop. I want him so he's going to be mine." She glared at him.
"You should already know that Gerald."
The male gave up and shook his head, muttering a low "I'm outta here" before walking out of the cafeteria. Lucille stuck out a tongue at his back as she rolled her eyes. As if she can be stopped by his sudden actions! He's just a lap dog anyways! She can manage without him.
"Where's Gerald?"
Allen returned holding a large tray with a huge pile of food on top of it. Lucille gaped at the amount while he sweatdropped and took his seat beside her.
"Sorry if you're surprised. I have a…bigger appetite than normal people."
The General started eating while Lucille took her time to recover from her shock. After a few moments of regaining her composure, she cleared her throat and smiled sweetly at him.
"Gerald went to the bathroom while you were ordering. Anyway…" she rested her cheek on her hand.
"About what we were talking about…why don't you call your fiancée Allen-kun?"
"Hmm?" Allen wiped his mouth with a table napkin. "I have bad timing and I usually ended up calling for her when she's resting. That's why she was the one to call now when she's free."
"But Allen-kun…" Lucille leaned to him. "Don't you want to know what happened last night? The reason why she failed to call you?"
"I do, but –
"Then call! There's nothing wrong to know right?"
Lucille was inwardly smirking when she watched the General's eyes shift sides as if making a decision. Allen will definitely call. Then as soon as he talked with his beloved fiancée, he will be surprised to hear Lenalee's angry voice at him. They will break up and she will be there to comfort him. She will stay by his side until his love will switch to her. Wasn't that great?
"Alright. I'll call her as soon as I'm finished eating."
Her lips curved in an almost unseen smirk. "Then I wish you good luck, Allen-kun."
-/-/-
-/-/-
After satisfying his stomach at the cafeteria, he went straight to the telephone booths located near the building's lobby. It was a good thing there was no one there but him. He can relax while speaking to the phone without other people trying to hear his conversation. He dialed the numbers of the Main H.Q. and waited for someone to pick up, all the while wishing that Lenalee will be the one to pick up the phone.
Meanwhile at London, Lavi and Miranda were arranging files inside Komui's office. The redhead took a deep breath after he had placed a tall stack of folders at the side, sweat running down his forehead.
"Geez! So this is what Reever's been through whenever he's forced to clean this mess."
Miranda sweatdropped while dusting off some shelves. "Then you shouldn't have volunteered to clean Komui-san's office if you'll just complain about it."
"I'm just being helpful ok? With Komui and Reever at the Central and the other scientists locked up at the Research lab, there's no one left to clean this….can you even call this office?"
Miranda chuckled at her side while Lavi groaned in frustration. They had been inside the damned office for 2 hours, but it seemed there's not much improvement. God knows how Reever and the others managed to keep the office at least livable.
"Could you tell off your brother sometimes, Lenalee? He should be the one to clean this mess."
"…"
"Lenalee?"
The two stopped what they were doing at the lack of response from their other companion. Lenalee was standing in front of some cabinets, her hand holding a damp wiping cloth. Lavi and Miranda glanced at each other with worry. They temporarily left what they were doing and approached the pregnant woman.
"Lenalee-chan…" there was still no response when Miranda called her. Lavi narrowed his eyes.
"Lenalee." He held her arm and pulled it gently.
The action seemed to take her back to reality as she gasped and jerked her head to her two friends. Lavi and Miranda leaned to her.
"Are you ok? You've been standing there for 5 minutes."
Miranda sighed. "I think you should rest now Lenalee-chan. You're not even supposed to be here."
"I-I'm alright." Lenalee finally remarked with a smile. "I'm just thinking over a few things."
"Oh." Lavi snickered. "It's General Moyashi isn't it?"
The Chinese woman froze at the mention of her fiancé. Suddenly, the images from the photos went back to her mind in a fast rate. Miranda noticed her sudden change of expressions and became more worried.
"A-Are you really ok Lenalee-chan?"
The two assisted her to the office chair that was moved to the side.
"Don't worry. I'm really fine." Lenalee smiled up to the both of them but the two seemed unconvinced.
"Really? You –
RRIINNGG!
"Wait."
Their conversation was put to a halt when the phone at the desk started ringing. Lavi left the two women for a moment and approached the desk. He reached out and took the handset.
"Err…the supervisor's not available at the moment so –
"…Lavi?"
"…" The redhead thought for a second until he recognized the voice.
"Allen?"
Allen can't help but smile when he heard the voice of his red-haired friend from the other side of the line. It had been so long since he last heard his voice.
"Wow. This is the first time I heard you since I left…" he muttered. A laugh was heard from the other side.
"Yeah. It feels kinda weird….hearing your voice suddenly after almost 6 months."
"You're right."
"Anyway, why did you call?"
Allen paused at the question. He cleared his throat and leaned on the handset.
"Is Lenalee there?"
"Lenalee?"
Lavi glanced at the mentioned female a few meters from him. He considered saying that Lenalee's resting but it might be that the woman would want to talk to the General. After all, they only had a few chances to talk to each other. With that, he turned to the phone.
"She's here. Wait for a moment."
He placed the phone on top of a book and went to the two females. He grinned at Lenalee.
"Your lover boy's on the line right now Lenalee! He's waiting for you!"
The pregnant woman froze yet again. So Allen's on the phone huh? She wanted to run away then, but the situation had to be resolved as soon as possible. She had to know the identity of the woman in the pictures and her relationship with him. She needed to find out!
She nodded at Lavi and carefully stood from the chair, unconsciously caressing her swollen belly as if gathering support from the life inside there. Lavi offered to help her go to the desk but she declined and told them to just wait there. She took steady footsteps towards the desk and took the handset on top of a book. She pressed it on her ear.
"Allen-kun."
Allen didn't know how much happy he was when the voice of his pregnant fiancée resounded to his ears. He grinned from his position.
"Lenalee! I'm so happy to hear you!"
It was obvious that the male was really happy from his tone. But Lenalee wasn't as happy as him. Her brows were narrowed in seriousness and prepared to ask him the question that's been lingering in her head.
"I thought you –
"Allen-kun, I…I want to ask you something…"
"…"
The General recognized her serious tone. He suddenly became worried. Was something bothering her?
"What is it?"
Lenalee gulped and unconsciously closed her eyes.
"Allen-kun…" her hands began trembling.
"Are you with a girl there?"
Silence…
Allen raised his brows in surprised. Where did that come from?
"Lenalee,I don't understand –
"Please, just answer."
"…I…"
He took a moment to think about their current conversation. She was asking if he was with a girl there. Technically speaking, yes. The only girl he was with was Lucille Bashkir, even if he would try to say otherwise. Did that mean that Lenalee knew about Lucille?
"Allen-kun!"
Lenalee's voice already sounded impatient so he decided to finally answer her.
"Yes."
Silence.
Suddenly, Lenalee's surroundings darkened. 'What…?' There was a follow-up statement from him but she can't hear them anymore, as if his voice slowly vanished and all she can hear was his straight and simple "Yes."
'He said yes…'
"…she's an officer from the Central Office who was…"
She can't believe it. Allen said yes…which meant only one thing. The pictures and the woman on the phone call….that damned woman who said that Allen's busy with her….that woman and her fiancé…
Suddenly, she can't stop herself anymore, tears flowed from her eyes and her hand on top of her belly curled into a tight fist. Her eyes widened in anger.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Lavi and Miranda gasped at her sudden outburst. Allen's reaction was also the same. He gulped as sweat began forming in his temples.
"Lenalee, -
"How could you Allen-kun?"
"I don't -
"Shut up!"
Allen began panicking. Why was she suddenly angry? He was about to say something when he heard sobs from the other line. 'She's crying…' Oh god, Lenalee's crying! He's really confused now. Why was she angry with him?
"Is it because my belly's big now?" Lenalee spat from her line. "After having sex with me you grew tired and didn't want me anymore?"
The General ran a hand through his white hair with eyes wide with deep confusion. A myriad of emotions was running through him at the same time. Puzzlement…frustration…distress… and many more that he can't place at the moment. But that's not important. What's more important was the sudden turn of their conversation. He needed to know the reason behind Lenalee's anger.
"Lenalee…" he whispered gently. "Please tell me…I don't understand…"
"There's nothing more to explain Allen-kun."
Lenalee was crying almost hysterically from where she was. How can he not understand? After what he did, he can't understand why she was crying and yelling at him? Did he think she was stupid to forgive him right away?
She shook her head as if she had given up. She didn't want to hear whatever he wanted to say. The photos and his confirmation was enough. He needed not to explain. She's already tired to hear him anymore.
"Lenalee…"
"You admitted it Allen-kun….It's enough. I don't want to hear anymore."
"I…admitted what?...Lenalee –
"You said yes dammit! You admitted you're having an affair with another woman!"
It was then that Allen slightly understood. He finally got what she wanted to know, and he was foolish not to know the nature of her question that time. 'Shit! What have you done Allen?' He gritted his teeth as frustration took the best of him. There were still a lot of questions in his head, like her basis for what she thought he had committed. But that would be for later. Right now, he needed to calm Lenalee down.
"Lenalee, please listen to me –
"I don't want to hear it Allen-kun."
"Please let me explain –
"The photos of you and your woman are enough explanation… Please don't say anymore…"
What she said had frozen him. Photos? What photos? There wasn't a single time when….suddenly he remembered. He recalled the first time he accompanied Lucille through the city. Those times when she was stubbornly clinging to his arm, the moments when that woman was acting as if she and him had a relationship.
He cursed further when a realization hit him in a painful bang. Someone who knew him must had saw him and misunderstood then took pictures of him and Lucille together. Then without asking for an explanation, that person must had sent those photos to Lenalee!
'Damn. Damn it all!'
"Lenalee," he whispered with a pleading voice. "I'm begging you…"
"…I guess…this is goodbye?"
"No!" he yelled in urgency. "No! Don't say that! It's not what you think! I –
"Don't call me anymore Allen-kun."
"No! Please, you're the only one Lenalee! You know that! You're the only one I love –
"Goodbye…"
"Wait! No! Lenalee –
CLICK.
Lenalee collapsed to the ground in a sitting position. She was no longer crying hysterically but tears continuously flowed from her eyes. Lavi and Miranda ran to her, both very confused and worried.
"Lenalee! What was that about?"
"Lenalee-chan! Please tell us what happened! Why are you angry with Allen-kun?"
The voices of her friends seemed so far away from her and slowly her vision blurred. She can't take it anymore. Her chest was aching so much and her mind seemed to stop thinking. She's more tired than she thought.
"Lenalee?..."
The two panicked when the Chinese woman closed her eyes and her body became limp.
"Lenalee! Oi! Lenalee!"
"Lenalee-chan!"
-/-/-
-/-/-
Allen punched the wall in front of him as he let the handset fall from his hand. He ignored the pain from his knuckles and the drops of blood spilling to the floor.
"Damn!"
"General! What's happening?"
Shandez rushed to the young man upon seeing his form and hearing his angry curse. Forgetting the meeting she was supposed to attend to, she went to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"General Walker! Are you alright? Did something happen?"
The exorcist didn't respond to her questions for a few moments until he slowly stood from his position, withdrawing his fist from the wall and leaving a red mark on it. His eyes were void.
"Lenalee…"
Shandez blinked at the name that escaped from the younger person's lips as she let him leave the place. She stooped down and took the hanging handset, placing it on the phone's body. She could only think of one explanation for the General's distress.
Yet she can't understand. She had left a note inside the package. Lenalee should had noticed it and called her first. But that was not what she should be focusing on. She had to do something about the current situation, before it's too late.
AN: I wasn't supposed to end this chap like this…but if I continued with what I originally planned, this chap would be as long as 10,000 words. A friend of mine also advised me to keep a consistent length for every chapter and since she's an official writer at her school, I decided to follow her advice and cut the original to half…
Anyway, once again I'm apologizing for the long time it took for me to update. I was busy reviewing for my finals and won't risk doing something else. But now that I'm on a 1 week break, I can finally focus on this fic!
And more and more people hated Lucille now! That's good because I made her to be hated! XD I was also worried with the drama here. Did I overdo it? Or was it not enough? I mean, I even interviewed a person with the same experience and had applied what she had relayed to me…but I don't know if I did a good job…but hey, at least I updated right? XD
Until next chap guys! Please review!