Ryan Frederick

"Alice?" Nonilo tapped my shoulder and woke me from my daydream. I turned to him with my head filled with black fog. "Huh? Yes? You called me? What's wrong?" I asked.

"You're not getting enough sleep, are you?" he asked and took a bottle of cold chocolate milk, then gave it to me.

"Huh? Of course not," I replied, then took the bottle and drank it.

"Do not lie!" Nonilo handed me his cellphone which wasn't on, leaving me in the mirror there.

"Uahh, I'm so ugly," I said realizing my eyes like a panda.

"you're always ugly!" Nonilo said with a laugh that escaped his mouth.

"Damn it!" I cursed and threw the bottle he gave him earlier, but he easily caught it.

Last night, I couldn't sleep. My head is constantly thinking about how my life will be in the future after Devano finds out that I am here. I had intended to run away again, and move to another city. But, the plan was destroyed instantly before I executed it, because I remembered what Devano said about the spy he had.

"He'll definitely find me again right away."

Nonilo heard my soft moan earlier, he immediately pulled me into the staff break room, and told me to sit down. Nonilo stared closely at the door before sitting down and speaking in a whisper to me. "Alice. What is your relationship with the Hendrix family?!" Cold sweat suddenly ran down my forehead. My surprised face suddenly turned to Nonilo who looked at me seriously. I noticed his eyes were shaking slightly but looked very serious.

"Why do you think I'm related to them?" I asked.

"Alice. I asked, what is your relationship with the Hendrix family?" Nonilo again asked his question.

Because I feel I can not do anything, maybe I better be honest. At first I thought so, but, I didn't dare to tell him the truth. Just the basics. "I didn't want to tell you," I said, looking down at Nonilo's legs.

"Why?" He asked.

"If I tell you. You will hate me, Seira will hate me too."

Nonilo raised an eyebrow, looking at me questioningly. "Why should we hate you? What's wrong?"

I bit my lower lip before replying, "I-". Brakk. Suddenly the door that Nonilo had been closing tightly opened violently, revealing Seira with her large carrying bag. She was shocked to see Nonilo and I were in such an awkward position. Where Nonilo's face is very close to mine, and my face which looks very worried.

"What are you doing to Alice?" Seira asked while throwing her bag on the floor, and posing like she wanted to beat up Nonilo. Suddenly Nonilo pulled away and said, "It's not what you think damn!" He said annoyed.

"Huh? Then why does Alice look so scared? What are you doing to her?" Seira was getting more and more angry then Nonilo didn't answer her question, she took off her shoes and threw them at Nonilo.

"Woah!! Stop it!" I shouted when her shoe hit Nonilo's face.

Nonilo immediately hid behind me, sheltering me from Seira. "Alice get out of the way! This guy is being perverted, isn't he?" Seira asked again. If this was the anime world, Seira's nose would emit white smoke like a bull. "No, you misunderstood," I explained and Nonilo nodded quickly.

"Are you serious? This guy didn't do pervert things to you?" Seira looked at Nonilo suspiciously.

"Yeah, he didn't," I replied, pushing her gently out of the way.

I turned my head to Nonilo and smiled, as if my smile was saying, "Later when I'm ready to tell you, I'll tell you and Seira. Right now, please don't tell anyone."

He nodded and gave me an "ok" hand signal.

"Thank you," I said without a sound.

***

"Hoamm." Seira yawned as she stared at her deserted cafe. She sat down at one of the tables, and put her feet up on the chair. Several times I saw her sigh heavily, she seemed to have a problem. I also sat in front of her, leaving Nonilo who was cleaning the glass in front.

"Are you sleepy?" I asked.

She shook her head and buried her whole face om the table. She scratched his head violently several times, then shouted loudly, making all the workers turn around in surprise at her. I was shocked when the girl in front of me suddenly shouted. "W-what's wrong?" I asked worried.

"Whoa Alice!!!" She embraced me spoiledly, filling my ears with her loud voice.

"W-why?"

"I want to get married!!"

Everyone there was taken aback, even Nonilo who had been outside, suddenly went inside out of curiosity. "You want to get married?" asked Nonilo in disbelief. "Is there anyone who wants to be with you?" An annoyed twitch appeared on Seira's temple, she took off her shoes and threw them at Nonilo again. This time, Nonilo was able to dodge the toss of the shoe, then stood behind me.

"Are you serious? That's good news!!" Say I'm happy.

Seira pursed her lips like a koi fish, "Yes. But..."

She hesitated to say it. Nonilo sat beside me "is he an old man?" Nonilo asked curiously and was given a death glare by Seira.

"No, stupid! In fact he is more handsome than you!!"

"If he's handsome, why don't you want to marry him?" I asked and restrained Nonilo who was about to throw the tissue box at Seira.

"I didn't say I didn't want to marry him," She said.

Nonilo and I looked at each other, then shot Seira a questioning look. "Then?" Asked me and Nonilo in unison.

"The problem is I don't know him, i just know his name. My parents said that he and I had been set up for a long time, but I just found out about this matchmaking."

"Heee, strangers to lovers," Nonilo said.

"Not lovers!"

"Do you have a photo of the man you were betrothed to?" I asked. Seira took out her cellphone and showed Nonilo and me a photo of her future husband. I gasped in surprise after seeing the photo, because I knew that man, my brows furrowed, and I stared intently at the photo of the man.

"Damn, he's handsome than me!!"

"Yes, right!" Seira proudly showed the photo to Nonilo.

"He's Ryan Fredrick, right?" I asked.

Seira gaped at me when I said the guy's name. "You know him?" Seira asked and I nodded.

"I know him. But it's just a coincidence."

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