12 CHASE

"My treat!" Luna said over the com happily. "Take me around Frost and I'll take care of everything!"

Saturday. It is her day off.

"Ao," Ryun saw the man preparing breakfast.

"Good morning young master!" Ao greeted warmly.

"Where is Rose?" Ryun asked while looking around.

"Today is her day off," Ao replied. "Have you forgotten young master?"

Ao becomes worried. "Please bear with my cooking..."

"Your cooking is also good Ao," Ryun smiled.

"But not as good as hers," Ao is humble.

"Anyways," Ryun remembered. "Isn't today her birthday?"

"Yes," Ao nodded. "That is why she left early today."

"Without even telling me a thing huh?" Ryun is upset.

"Ah," Ao took out a letter from his pocket. "Here, she left me this saying please give this to the young master. I apologize I have to leave early I am seeing someone dear to me."

"I see," Ryun nodded. "A letter huh?"

"She's quite mysterious right young master?" Ao asked.

"You noticed too?" Ryun is surprised.

"Somehow," Ao nodded. "Yesterday I saw her really angry over something which made her clean the entire house within 3hrs."

"Oh?" Ryun is in a daze.

"Yes," Ao nodded. "It was maybe after she opened the package delivered to her. But then when I told her you have arrived the atmosphere suddenly changes. So fast that I was curious how she did it."

"Because of me?" Ryun frowned.

"You are her boss," Ao pointed out. "Such behavior, very mature... very professional that I wonder if she's really a fifteen year old?"

"She's sixteen now," Ryun reminded him.

"Oh yes," Ao replied.

"She's been working as a chef," Ryun recalled. "She has been working with diverse personalities so she must have learned how to act appropriately in every situation. Even you when you feel like that you won't be showing me an angry face right?"

"Of course not!" Ao exclaimed.

"See," Ryun smiled. "It is the same for her. In front of her boss she will have to forget she was feeling bad and brighten up to perform her tasks."

Rose had gone out to treat herself. She hadn't told Sai or Lucas even Lucy. She wanted an alone time on this special day.

"Where had she gone to?" Lucy is frantic.

"Sai," Lucas is angry at the AI. "She seldom goes out without informing us where she is going."

"I told you I cannot find her!" Sai heaves a sigh. "Her phone is off so how do I search for her?"

"I was planning to surprise her," Lucy is upset. "Now my plans are ruined."

Huge spacious room filled with so many people. Dimly lit with only the huge screen in front emits light.

"It is starting," she mumbled. "I hope coming here is worth my time..."

She had decided to watch a movie alone. A movie about a maiden who was orphaned and left under the cruel guidance of a stepmother and bullying of stepsisters. Then the latter meets a prince who changed everything. She had read the synopsis and is curious how this little commoner caught a big fish.

Although she wasn't comparing herself to that maiden but somehow her situation had fallen somewhere close to it. Also, she got curious how this lovely maiden caught the attention of a prince? A commoner cannot climb up high and make someone from the skies bend and like them to the extent of marrying at the end. Her curiosity is stirred as she watched the first part of the movie. Her blue eyes stared deeply into the huge screen. Very keen on taking note of every detail.

"Stay kind?" she frowned. "Let us see."

Her heart is heavy to watch how the maiden is being mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. Her jaws clenched in anger towards the people who brought bad things. She remembered her experience with her father's fiance. This maiden's story is very similar to hers.

Aching inside her, she felt her heart heavy with tears making it difficult to breath. For a moment she paused to clear her thoughts a?d calm herself. She is beginning to miss her dad and brother Aki. She missed the days she spent happily with her grandfathers. Those happy days made her heart ache more.

The movie is already at the climax. She wanted to stay and watch it till the end. However, her heart is crying hard. She had difficulty breathing. If she stayed, the more pain she will feel. She might not be able to bear it and break into tears. Even though it is dimly lit and she cannot be clearly seen on her seat. Those who sat close can tell she's crying. Thus, to avoid being embarrassed she decided to leave halfway.

Wiping her tears dry with a hankie she goes around the city center and decided to go watch the ice skaters on the north. There were so many people on the ice enjoying themselves. Her heart leaped but again there was sadness. The ice also holds dear memories making her heart ache even more.

"No other choice," she sighed.

Turning around her legs motioned for the door. To the east wing.

Skipping strangely inside her chest upon seeing a familiar face. Tall and handsome. His grey eyes had been eyeing her.

"Who?" she frowned.

Medium build. Dark hair. Grey colored spring jacket, black jeans and black walking shoes. His grey eyes locked on hers.

"Oh dear!" she remembered she wasn't wearing her lenses. Hastily, she goes around to find another exit. "Why is he here?"

Wildly beating inside. Her heart is in panic. Her thoughts amok thinking what to do.

Normally she remains calm to solve things out. But at this time she isn't thinking clearly well. It is her day yet she isn't feeling good. Instead of being happy there is sadness and tears recalling the past. Worse, this guy is here making fear envelope her while worrying he'd figure out. Her only option is to run and escape.

"Seri?" Ryun blinks his eyes. He had seen her across the hallway. Yet why is her hair umber? His heart beat uneasy as the memory of that night flashed before his eyes. Those eyes are blue yet her hair is umber!

"If you are Rose why are you running away from me?" Ryun asked himself. "If you are Seri why are you avoiding me?"

Amidst the freezing room where skaters happily skated around she slid herself in. There was a shock from the crowd as their eyes watched. She who had not worn any skating shoes had managed to skate on the ice! Those flat silvery shoes has no blades yet it smoothly went across the huge stage of ice. Those umber hair has been tucked quickly hidden underneath her cream colored hat. Leaving that gentle face clearly seen.

"Seri!" Ryun gasped catching up at her from a comparable distance. Yet he could hardly see her.

Calm eyes took one last look from him. A spark triggered as their eyes meet. Not long after, the crowd covered her and she mixed in with them. The peach colored coat registered in his memory. Such fine clothes worn by most ladies is popular these days.

"Wait," Ryun paused thinking.

Rose was wearing the same thing. Only that she wasn't wearing a hat. Those clothes he clearly remembered.

The day he found Seri walking on that day towards Oceania. Same clothes. Then he met Rose who wore the same underneath that chefs coat. Coincidence?

"Staying mysterious huh?" Ryun smiled thinking. "Very well. I'll leave it at that."

Sweet symphony echoed in the air. At a park outside the city center, a group of musicians happily played. The atmosphere is filled with sweet happy vibe. People gathered around to watch them play and listen to their piece. She who passed by has been drawn in and decided to join the crowd.

Her heart melted to the music played. So soothing to the ears. The sound of the violin accompanied by the piano sends electricity inside. Her ears listened more forgetting she needs to get away from there. Happy memories flashed before her eyes. Sai's annoyed voice echoed in her head whenever she makes something unlady like. Then Lucas would reprimand her if she keeps it up. And Lucy would storm in to give her another set of lessons turning her to become a lady.

"Here you are," Ryun popped out from behind her.

Shocked. Nervous. She awoke the moment she heard his voice. Blinking her eyes she meets his suspicious grey.

"Why is the miss wearing a hat?" Ryun curiously asked. "You don't normally wear one. So what's underneath?"

Surprisingly, a smile is all she can answer. Then those smooth hands took off the cream colored hat letting loose the long silvery strands. Hanging down messily it covered her entire back down to her thighs.

"This," she pointed on her head.

"Why would you hide that?" Ryun scrutinizes.

"Hmm," she thought for a moment. "I am sure you have heard."

"Huh?" Ryun is confused.

"That you might go and tell Antoine you've seen me," she glared at him.

"That," Ryun smiled. "Well, Antoine is really worried of you."

Seri looked away and tried to forget he is even there. She listened to the music until it comes to the end part.

"Can I talk to you for a bit?" Ryun asked.

"What for?" Seri asked calmly even though inside she's really itching to run away from him.

"There are a few things I'd like to ask," Ryun smiled making her feel suspicious.

"Fine," Seri suspects him but keeeps it at bay. "Let's go talk over a cup of tea. I hope you like tea."

"Huh?" Ryun is surprised.

"It is my treat," Seri replied. "It is my day anyway."

"That is not what I mean," Ryun felt embarrassed. He was just surprised of her response.

At a coffee shop across the street, the two enjoyed a cup of tea over a tray of sweets. There were 40 pieces in 20 varieties.

"You sure love sweets," Ryun is surprised to see what the waiter had served them.

"I'll talk to you until this tray of sweets goes empty," Seri told him.

'This gal,' Ryun is reminded of that night he danced with her. She said almost the same thing.

'I'll chat with you until the end of this piece,' Seri said before giving her hand to dance.

"Why are you so cruel?" Ryun looked at her. "Are you this cold hearted?"

Seri just tilted her head and frowned silly.

"Never mind," Ryun counted the sweets on the tray. There were forty pieces in round, square, rectangle, cone shaped, oval, and of different colors and flavors. He heaves a sigh being worried of the amount of sugar they are to intake.

"So what do you want to talk about?" Seri asked.