Déjà vu

"Here is your ticket, Madam."

I took my ticket and receipt from her grasp and thanked her.

I find my way to my assigned station and find a seat while waiting for my train ride.

I glance at my wristwatch to see if there is still a minute before the train arrives.

I sighed deeply and looked around at the busy people walking around the station.

Will I be alright? Could I still get up now that I'm feeling hopeless? I've had a lot of failures in my life, but I've never felt this way before. I feel totally useless.

I can't just hope on Senna, she's just an employee back at Leopold's Company. She has no control over the sudden cancellation of my interview. Which I understand, but what is the reason for this? Is there an error? That I don't deserve such a job?

What will happen to me, if I don't find a suitable job for me? I don't want Auntie worrying about my future, which would be crucial to my ego.

I felt my phone vibrated from my hands and I received a message.

'Haven, I'll be arriving home tomorrow, Could we hang out? I have to tell you something important.'

Bryan texted and my brows knitted in confusion.

What is he going to tell me? And how important is that?

'That's great. But I'm not at home anymore. I'll be going to Arkala to visit my Aunt. I'll be staying there for a while..' I texted back.

'So sudden? Anyways, How's your interview? Did you got through?'

I bit my lower lip and decided not to respond to his text message. I just stuffed my phone into my pockets and tried not to cry.

I don't want to talk about my mistakes. because it's making me cry, and I've had enough of their ridiculous excuses.

-Please pay attention, passengers. The 84404 train will arrive on platform 3 in 10 minutes.

The speaker made an announcement.

That's probably my ride. I rose from the benches and took my rolling luggage.

As I approached the platform, I noticed a few people on my sides, so I stopped behind the yellow line and waited for the train.

I'm going to let time heal me from this depressing experience.

While I wait for the train to arrive. A orange tabby cat unexpectedly appeared from my side and it was sitting beside my luggage.

I blinked twice and looked at the cat.

What exactly is that cat doing here? Was it lost?

I'm not a cat person, but this one has me wanting to pet him. I knelt and stroked his fur. He started purring and nudges his head on my knuckles, which surprised me.

"Hello there, Kitty. Are you lost?" I asked, despite the fact that he couldn't understand me.

"Meow," he responds by saying.

His sound soothes my heart.

"Aww, you poor kitty," I said as I slowly carried him onto my arms, purring loudly.

It does have a collar, but there is no name tag attached to it.

"Hi, excuse me. Did you see a orange tabby cat?"

"Hi did you see a orange cat?"

"Hello have you seen a orange cat?"

I heard a lady's voice from behind me, and I believe she was asking other people about her cat.

So this cat here was probably hers. When I turned around, I realized who that lady was. My jaw dropped as I was about to call her from the crowd.

I assumed it was just an ordinary woman who found the cat, but it was a beautiful woman!

"Auric! There you are!" exclaimed the lady as she approached me.

"How did you find him?" she inquires, after which I present her with her cat.

"Oh he just appeared out of nowhere but he's safe and sound with me." I answered with a smile.

"Thank Goodness. Thank you so much, how can I repay your kindness?" She asked but then her eyes we're sharp.

I quickly shooked my head.

"Y-you don't have to! It's fine." I simply smiled at her.

Wierd, I felt something strange about her was it because from her stare? But after exchanging glances with her, I thought she's going to leave when something unexpected happened.

Her cat jumped out of the Beautiful Lady's arm and then pounced on me, throwing me off balance. Everything began to slow down as I fell backwards.

Someone abruptly stopped me from falling, and when I looked around, it was the mysterious Leopold guy!

We locked gazes for a brief moment before averting from his molten gold stare.

"A-are you okay?" he asks, concerned, and helps me to my feet. I blushed in embarrassment and responded with a nod.

I braced myself to avoid being embarrassed in front of him.

"You almost fell off from the platform." He said worriedly, his eyes full of care.

A-almost fell of from the platform!?!

I turned around to check it out for myself, and he was correct! I might have fallen by the Train's Trail if it hadn't been for him catching me!

I looked around for the Cat and the Lovely Lady, but they were nowhere to be found.

My thoughts began to storm my mind.

Was that Lady attempting to push me off the platform with her cat? But, why?

That thought sent shivers up my spine.

"You seem deep in thought; did I startle you?" he asked softly.

I flinched and apologized to him.

"N-no! Y-you didn't! Thanks to you I didn't fall, right?" I said with my awkward smile.

I almost forgot he's here with me but what is he doing here?

"The pleasure is mine. I can't just let you fall just like that besides I can't stand seeing you...hurt." He said, whispering the last part and averted his gaze from me.

Is it only me? Or is this guy behaving strangely?

I just chuckled and smiled brightly at him.

"Then I suppose I should thank you for being my knight in shining armor, right?" I laughed, and he looked surprised, then laughed with me.

I realized this guy was different from the other guys I'd met while laughing with him. He's mysterious, to be sure, but I'm curious about him being so close to me. We must have met a long time ago if we shared this kind of bond.

Was I missing something important?

"You should go, Your Train already arrived." He said after we both stopped laughing. But there's something in his eyes that I can't quite read.

I looked at my side and the train was already there, open doors. While the passengers walked their way in.

We're so busy laughing that I didn't noticed the train arrived.

"O-oh right!" I immediately took my rolling luggage for me to go inside the train when he placed his hand on the telescopic handle that where my hands are we're.

I blinked several times and looked at him confusingly. But his eyes remained onto my hand and to the handle of my luggage.

His hands was soft and warm from his touch.

W-wait!

I immediately took my hand back from him and felt thumping inside my chest.

"I'll escort you." He said shortly in a straightforward tone. His eyes turned and locked in me.

The thumping on my chest suddenly became faster when his look looked familiar to me. This feeling was the same from my dream but it was not suffocating.

"O-oh sure.." I said in a low tone and walked first.

Wierd..His moves suddenly went different.

When I got inside the train and arrived in my assigned seat. He was the one who putted my luggage into the compartment just above it.

"Thank you for helping me board." I smiled and he smiled back. His eyes weren't leaving mine.

This is getting awkward..but the more I looked at his face I can't avoid but to admire his handsome, calm features.

Then he cupped my left cheek with his right hand. I was taken aback by what he did and had no time to react.

I can feel his gold ring on my cheeks, and it's cold, but the heat of my cheeks takes precedence over his cold ring.

He leaned forward and I closed my eyes, thinking he was going to kiss me, but only a second passed. I could feel his hot breath on my ears.

"I'll find you there," he said quietly, and then he was gone, leaving me perplexed.