Chapter 11: Promise Rings

Leon's POV

What should I wear? I only have this oversized shirts and pants. Should I change my style now?

Will Jade appreciate if I change my style? Hmm. But I don't know what will fit on me.

I combed my short wavy hair with my hand and went to my walk-in closet. I pulled out half of my clothes and placed on my bed.

"Leon, did you see my pho--oh? Are you packing your clothes?" Leah entered my room. We are on our Dad's house. The two of us stayed here, we felt being a family in this house so we decided to stay. But Lauren and Liam were still living with their guardians.

"No. I'm just searching for something different. Remember you told me to change my style? I want to change my style now Leah. Can you help me?" I asked my sister. Hoping she will help me. I saw her smile and look at me.

"That's my Leon! But, what I said last time about changing your style is not right. You should just upgrade it not totally change it."

"Why? Is it because new styles are not fit to me?" It made me sad thinking that trendy clothes won't fit my body.

"No. It's not what I mean. You have your own style Leon, it makes you 'you' and I don't want to change that." Leah tapped my shoulders. I smiled to her, she's a nice girl.

"So you will help me now?"

"Leah, are you coming or not? I'm leaving already." Liam peeked on my door.

"Come here Liam." Our sister motioned him to come. He was confused but he obeyed.

"I can't help you with that Leon because we have a very different styles. But this brother of ours, he will do the job." She smiled but Liam frowned. I gulped. I don't want to ask help from him, he's scary.

"What do you mean?"

"You will help Leon. She wanted to upgrade her style on clothing. And you're the best candidate to make it possible."

"What?! Why me? I promised to meet Phoebe today."

"It's okay if you can't. I'll just ask Lauren if she's free today." I butted in. I know that they're busy and doesn't want to spend time on unimportant things like this.

"Aish! Let's go. I'll make you the hottest version of Leon." He said that made Leah smiled.

"Come on." Our sister held my wrist and dragged me with them. We sat on the backseat while Liam is on the driver seat.

"Where are you going Leah?" I asked my sister who's busy with her phone.

"I'll meet Audrey and Fanella at the mall. We'll go watch some movies." She answered but still focused on typing.

I nodded and we stayed silent after that. When we entered the mall, Leah bid goodbye to us and Liam walked like he's not with me. It saddens me that we are not that close, when we're together we are more awkward to each other. I don't know why but it really happens everytime.

"Leon?! Aish! I was saying things here but you're still there. It made me look stupid." He said when he looked back at me. I jogged to him and we walked together.

"As I was saying, why do you like to upgrade your style? I mean what triggered you to do that?" He asked while looking around the stores we're passing by. He's more comfortable than before.

"Uhm." Should I say I have a date? Is it a date? Will she consider it as a date?

"Tell me, do you have a girlfriend now or you're courting someone?" He stopped and faced me. I can't read his expression, he's just looking at me waiting for my answer.

"I-I don't have a girlfriend but I have someone I consider as a special someone." I answered shyly while scratching my nape.

"Wow! That was unexpected. But, it's nice to know you're opening up to the world. Don't worry, you have my back Leon. If you have problems you can come to me. You know, I understand you because you're a half bro and half sis to me." She patted my head and put his arm to my shoulder.

"Let's go there. That's my favorite brand. The clothes are good and it will make you more pretty handsome." He smiled at me and pulled me to the entrance of the store. I can't believe this, he's reaching out to me. I mean, he's talking to me. Not the intimidating Liam but a cute and kind brother.

I'm happy that he is my brother, he became my savior everytime when I'm being bullied. He never told me that he cares for me but I feel it. He cares for his sisters. He's not the type of person to voice out what he feels but you will see it through his actions. The real and kind Liam.

"Now, choose the clothes you like and I'll do the upgrading." He said and sat on the couch. I obeyed him and choose something from the displayed clothes.

After couple of minutes, I chose a white shirt and a baggy pants. I can't help it, I'm used to this kind of clothes.

"You chose a very simple one. What I want you to wear are these." He pulled a cart that's behind him. My eyes went wide because the cart was full, knowing I left just a short time.

"This is for your dates, polo long sleeves and suit jacket with these slacks. While these you can wear anytime." He pushed the cart infront of me to let me check the clothes. Sweatshirts, hoodies, tees and jackets with different colors. Everything was nice but I don't think it will look good on me.

"Oh? Why are you sad? You don't like it? Okay, we'll find more better than all of these."

"No. It's the best Liam. But I don't think it looks good on me. I never wore anything like this before."

"You're wrong Leon. You have those checkered polo right? I only make it plain colors to look more younger. Those sweatshirts, hoodies and tshirts were the upgrade of your oversized shirts with weird printed designs. And for those slacks, are more better than your baggy pants."

"Add this." We both got startled when someone just popped infront of us.

"Lauren?!" Liam called her with furrowed brows. Lauren smiled while waving her hand with three beanies in different colors. It's gray, pink and black.

"Hey bro! Leon, never left your signature style out of it." She handed me the beanies.

"What are you doing here?" Liam seemed not too happy seeing our sister today.

"Leah called me, she said that our Leon suddenly wants a change. It excites me so I rushed and went here." She put her arm on my shoulder while grinning. Liam hissed and looked away.

"Now, come on. Let's buy something for us." Lauren excitedly said.

"It's done already. I'm going home."

"Liam, don't be a kill joy. This is the only time we're out together." Leah butted in. I didn't saw her here awhile ago. Where does she came from?

"Leah, I thought you're with your friends." I asked our youngest.

"I left them, they're just flirting infront of me and it's sickening." She crossed her arms and pouted.

"It's good that we're all here now."

We went on different stores to choose whatever we like, mostly Leah suggested everything but Liam keeps on refusing. Lauren just agrees and I kept silent.

When we reached a clothing store, Leah roamed around to check their collections. Liam sat on the couch near the fitting room, Lauren stood infront of the mirror fixing her hair. While I walked near the jewelry area. I wanted to buy a ring ever since but I never got a chance before.

"Can I see this one?" I asked the salesman. He immediately slide the glass door and pulled out the ring I want.

"It's a limited edition silver band ring." He smiled at me and placed the box of the silver ring infront of me.

"Hey! Do you want to buy that?" Lauren popped out beside me.

"Uh, yeah. I like it but I don't think it's good when I wear it."

"Stop saying that. I heard it for almost a millionth times since we're kids." I looked down because it's true. I never felt confident with myself. I always doubt everything about me.

"Buy everything you like because all of it looks good on you. Besides, look at Leah, Liam and me. Everything we wore fits in, right?" She added with a smile.

"Wow. It's beautiful. Let's buy this. I like it."

"What do you mean Leah?" Lauren asked our youngest who's now with us, admiring the beauty of the ring.

"Let's all have the same ring, so Leon won't feel that it doesn't look good on her." Leah grinned and asked the salesman to add three more rings. The salesman was surprised to see us, it's probably his first time seeing three girls with the exact same face.

"Luckily we have three more rings. Ma'am do you want to engrave here your initials for making it more special for you girls?"

Leah was busy looking at the plain silver ring on her finger. She managed to slide it there when the salesman started talking.

"Yeah, sure. Can you do that?" Lauren asked politely.

"Yes ma'am, and it's on the house."

After the rings got our initials and some shopping, we walked back to Liam who's looking so bored sitting on the couch.

"What took you so long?" He stood up with a furrowed brows. Leah explained and after, she managed to let him wear the same shirts that we are wearing. A white shirt with a small printed 'LM' on the left side of our chest. He was cursing over and over when people were looking at us. Most of them are smiling seeing the four of us, and the adoration on their faces were visible.

"Now, it's the time to wear these beautiful promise rings!" Leah said with full of excitement.

"Yeah yeah yeah! Pull it out." Lauren agreed and got her small box on her pocket. Leah put hers on the table and I was nervous pulling out two boxes. The other was for Liam, they said that I should be the one to give this to him because he will never say no to me. I doubt that! He's too scary, why do they think that I'm an exemption to his wrath?

"What now?" Liam asked before shoving noodles in his mouth. We are currently on a Chinese restaurant to eat before we go home.

"These are our promise rings." Leah stated while poiting the four small boxes on the table.

"See these, it's cute right? It has our initials too." Leah opened hers and pointed to the initials on the inside part of the ring.

"What are you? Couples? I can't believe you're doing this."

"We are not couples but we have this bond that we're carrying until the day we die. It's very special. So, don't complain there and wear this!" Leah got a bit annoyed.

"It's more special if we dropped some promises first, right?" I might be scared to suggest but a promise ring without a promise will be useless.

"Leon was right." Lauren agreed.

"You got to be kidding me." Liam commented but did nothing but to listen.

"Okay, Let's start from youngest to the oldest." Lauren said that Leah and I agreed.

"I'll start. I promise that I will always love you and be the best beautiful sister for all of you." Leah started it first while holding her promise ring.

"I promise that I will always be someone to hear your problems out. I may not be good at giving advices but I'm a good listener." I smiled while looking at the promise ring on my palm. We looked on Liam who's supposed to be saying his.

"Aish. Swear to make my annoying sisters safe always. Okay, I'm done." Liam averted his eyes on us and his cheeks got a light shade of red. His ring are still on the box. I can see him trying to fight the urge to hold it. I know he likes it.

"And I promise to watch over you and guide you forever. I love you so much. This is the best day ev--"

"Lauren, why are you crying?!" Leah worriedly asked.

"This is so wonderful." She wiped her tears and smiled at us. Our sisters looked at me, giving me a sign that it's the time I have to make Liam touch his promise ring.

"Uhm, Liam. Why don't you hold yours?" I asked. My voice was shaking a little. I can't believe I'm doing this. He looked at me without any expressions I can read.

"Please? Can you wear it for me?" I cutely asked while smiling. My heart was beating loudly. I'm very nervous right now! He'll gonna kill me.

"Aish! You two, you planned this aren't you?! You know that this cutie here is my weakness!" He whined looking at the our sisters while pointing at me. What did he say? I'm his weakness?

I heard them laughed. Liam on the other side hissed and then he pulled out the ring from the box.

"We promise to be sisters and brothers until we die." Our sisters said and one by one we slid the ring on our right ring finger.

After eating we went back to our Dads house. Liam drove us there and Dad saw our shirts that made him very happy and asked for a family picture, he even changed his shirt with white to match our white shirts. It took almost two hours because he hired the best photographers to take a lot of pictures and told them he wanted it a big portrait, so he can hang it on our walls. He's very fond of us. He likes it when we bond together because he never saw us went out before and the shirts and the rings moved him.

I went to my room after and fixed the clothes we bought. It's Saturday today, and tomorrow is Sunday. The day where Jade and I will date on a museum. I should pick the best of the best I have here. It's a very special day for me and hopefully for her too.

Jade's POV

It was Sunday morning when I received a message from Leon reminding me that we're going to the art gallery later. I never forget that because I'm too excited about it. I prepared my breakfast and my clothes before I took a bath, and afterwards I'm ready to go. Leon messaged me that she was going to pick me up. I sent her the address and waited for her. I stood infront of my half body length mirror and fixed my hair in a ponytail. I wore a black blouse and a denim jeans. This is the first time I put on a lip balm to make sure my lips doesn't look pale and yes that's all.

Leon messaged me again saying that she's outside. I hurried to lock the door and went out. There's no Leon, I can't see her. I only saw an expensive black car with--holy molly! She's smoking hot.

Leon went out of the car and smiled at me. I think I got weak. Oh my god! Is she really Leon? She's still wearing her beanie and round eyeglasses but her top it's a sky blue button-up tucked in on a brown slacks with a pair of white sneakers. It looks really good on her! She's more manly now, but it suits her. Not too much but enough to make those bullies to drop their jaws.

"Hi Jade!" She greeted that stopped me from dreaming.

"Oh, hi Leon. I almost didn't recognize you. You look pretty handsome there." I complimented her and I'm sure I saw her blushed.

"And you look really beautiful too." She complimented back. It's time for me to blush. Gosh!

"Let's go or else we will be late for the opening." She opened the car's door for me and I gladly went in. She jogged on the opposite side and slid in too.

"I didn't know you have a car."

"It's not mine, it's dad's. I only borrowed for this special day." She answered while starting the engine.

"Are you a licensed driver? I don't want to die." I joked that made her chuckle.

"Don't worry, Uncle taught me how to drive. I have license since last year and I drive before but my baby--well I mean the car I used was still on the shop, Uncle want to upgrade it's body." She explained and we started our journey to the art gallery.

When we arrived, I'm amazed by how it was built. It's not like the same old art gallery I always see on the television or on the internet. But it's way more different than I expected.

"It's the new generations gallery. I mean, it fits for our age. Let's find what's inside this beautiful place." She gestured me to walk first and I did.

"Wow! This is what I saw on the movies. We are like being transported in the future." I saw a robot giving people a paper bag of snacks I guess. A flying car but it has chains on it. And a holograms of two famous artist who smiles, waves and greet every people who's passing by.

I waved to them and they wave back. Oh myyy! They saw me?! It's amazing!

"It's not called The Future Gallery for nothing." Leon smiled at me while we passed by those inventions.

"Leon Campbell? Is that you?" An old man came to us with a smile on his face.

"Yes Mr. Tony. Uncle Rowan wanted to congratulate you for the success of this gallery." Leon motioned for a handshake.

"Thank you. It wasn't be this success without him." When the old man shook her hand, I gasped with wide eyes. I quickly cupped my mouth because they both looked at me. Oh my god! What did I do?

They both laughed before Leon finally introduced me to him.

"Mr. Tony, this is Jade. My companion for today."

"Hi Jade. You are a very gorgeous young lady. And sorry for surprising you about my electromechanical hand." He chuckled while closing and opening his hand, a hand of a robot for pete's sake! How the hell that happens?!

"Ahm hi Mr. Tony. I'm very shocked right now. It's my first time to see something like that."

"It's fine. Oh, I have to greet other guests. Feel free to roam around Leon. And let's see each other again, I would be glad if I get to work with you too in the near future." Mr. Tony bid goodbye and we walked more further.

"Is he a robot or what? Why does he have a hand like that?" I asked my date who laughed at me again.

"He's a human Jade. It's just fake. He only wear those for fun. But his men are working to make it real."

What?! He fooled me? That old man! I hate him. I look like a fool infront of them.

We entered a room named 'The Art of the Future' and I saw paintings hanging on the wall. I saw my favorite artist works so I quickly walked to get a closer view.

"Oh my! Why is it moving??" Again I was shocked because the painting is moving. The eyes and the hands of the human being painted on was moving.

"It's a secret. Professional programmers only know about it." Leon said. She's standing beside me while her eyes are on the painting.

"You're soon to be one of them, right?"

"Yeah, I will be one of them soon." She smiled. I can see it, she likes it here--cut that, she loves it. This is where the perfect place for Leon. I wish she will be a successful programmer someday.

She seems very happy and it makes me happy too. Her eyes are shining and her face is glowing. Her lips curved into a beautiful smile that everyone couldn't resist looking at.

I was busy staring at her handsome facial features when someone got my attention. I furrowed my brows while looking at the girls eyeing my date.

"Let's see the other paintings." She dragged me to the other side. But my eyes never left watching those girls who tailed us until we reached the programmers lounge. They're pissing me off. I want to put Leon on my pocket so they can't see her.

"Jade, are you still with me?"

"Oh yeah. But Leon." I gestured her to come closer and she did. I saw the girls frowned and it made me smirk.

"You are a nerd but those girls wanted to ask for your number." I whispered on her ear. She chuckled and leaned back. Then she turned her head to see the girls looking at her, they wave at her and she waved back. What the--

"Okay, that's enough. Even if I got their attentions. I only exists to get your attention Jade." She smiled widely and poke my cheek.

I know this place is fully air conditioned but my face was heating up.

"You're such a--" I didn't finished what I was saying when someone interrupted us.

"Leon? Is that really you? Oh my god!"

"Oh, hi Farah. Why are you here?" She asked the girl who's drooling over her. Aish! I think it's not a good idea to change her style.

"You're different. I mean, you look more handsome now." She nodded her head while saying those. I mentally rolled my eyes. Who is this? Why Leon knows her?

"Thank you." She combed her hair again. Aish! Mannerism. She's being cute infront of the girl.

"By the way before I forgot. Can we, uhm talk for a minute? I want to ask something important? Is that okay?" She asked her but looked at me.

What do you want?

"Uh, okay." Leon said before facing me.

"Jade, stay here or look over there. I'll talk with her. Don't worry I'll be quick." I nodded with a small smile and they went a little far from me.

I can see them talking but I can't hear them. But the girl is pleasing her with something while she's having second thoughts what will she answer. But later on, she nodded. Then the girl hugged her! Oh! Why are you hugging her?!

It was just seconds and after Leon got her phone and type something before handling it to the girl, she copied on what I guess is they exchanging their numbers. I rolled my eyes.

She's an innocent flirt. Aish! Leon. The girl bid goodbye with a winning smile and Leon went back to me.

"Let's go and eat now. I'm hungry and you looked like one too."

"You're too nice, you know that?"

"Am I? Is it bad?"

"Yeah, you made everyone fall for you."

"Everyone? Including you?"

Oh god! Did I say that?

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