An Unprepared Reunion

Rendered frozen in his place, Alessio DeFazio looks at the woman who slowly approaches him despite never taking her gaze off him.

After all those years, her appearance isn't that much different. Her long dark brown hair and hazel eyes; her figure and even her voice. As they both were just 16 when he last saw her, the only difference is that she is now a bit taller and appears a lot more mature compared to 9 years ago.

When a stranger makes her way to his master, Loris steps in to stop her but...

"Alora."

He hears how his Boss called the woman's name. He knows her?

Slightly raising a brow, Loris quickly steps aside again, not wanting to make a mistake.

Alora McLean is so invested in the familiar face that she pays so little attention to Loris who briefly stood in her way. Not to mention that she never takes her gaze off the man she recognized as Lucas Wilde, her first and only love even now.

Maybe she is afraid that if she turns away, he will disappear again.

"Hello, Alex!" Elio already answers his call but Alessio doesn't hear it or notice it at all as he has already lowered his phone since he is faced with an unexpected interruption from the least expected person in his least expected time.

"Lucas Wilde," Alora calls his former name again when she stands right before him. "Is that really you?"

He notices many expressions on her face but... it is the hint of pain that he notices the most.

It won't be due to his sudden departure, right? It's been 9 years, for god's sake!

Not to mention that it was her who stood him up when he tried to meet her for one last time!

"Alora McLean." He mutters her name for the first time in years. "How long has it been?" He knows very well that it's been 9 years but he doesn't even know why he asked her this. Maybe his mind goes blank.

He isn't prepared for this reunion.

Nevertheless, he notices how the pain in her eyes grows when she hears him.

Did he just make a mistake?

His black hair and brown eyes; his every curve is still the same. However, Alora indeed notices that he appears a bit cold compared to Lucas Wilde from her memory. The way he talks to her and dresses... these makes him look like a completely different person in her eyes.

It's been 9 years and she knows that she shouldn't expect anything but she can't stop herself from feeling hurt.

'How long has it been?' He sounded like life was so easy for him while she lived in torment during all those years!

When she saw him a few minutes ago, she thought that she was mistaken but she still followed him. Much to her surprise, it was really him and he still remembers her but... maybe he had forgotten what they used to have between them.

It is only then that Alora fully realizes the presence of another young man beside her ex-lover. The man is also giving her a somewhat confused look and she is curious about his identity but she ignores it.

His question is left unanswered for too long and Alessio feels the pressure that is very foreign to him now. It had been so long since he felt this way. He notices how Alora briefly glances at Loris and next, she turns her attention back to him. This time, Alessio can see how all those emotions have left her face and eyes.

Those pain, surprisement, and even longing... they are all gone as if they never existed. Instead, a calm smile appears on her face. "It's been so long," she says to him. "I almost didn't recognize you when I saw you in a hallway earlier."

Her sudden change in demeanor shakes him a lot and Alessio hates that. Once again, it had been so long since he encountered something that could make him feel this way. It had been so long since he forced himself to not think about her again, but...

He just realizes that she still affects him much more than he thought is possible!

The Don faces a strong urge to speak his mind but... when he takes a look at himself and compares it to the name she called him with, he knows that he can't do it.

He isn't that Lucas Wilde she used to know and loved anymore.

"As you said, it's been a long time after all," he finally responds to her in his well-composed tone and a faint smile. "But I think you still look the same."

He is very formal with her and Alora McLean realizes that a huge wall is now built between them. If he is still the same Lucas Wilde that she used to know, he will never talk to her with such a tone.

He has changed.

Once again, she curses herself.

What did she expect from a guy who suddenly left her without a proper break-up? She knows that she failed to make it to the meeting but... couldn't he just leave her a letter? Or call her just once to end things properly?

If he did that, those past years might have been easier for her!

Alora is snapped out of her thoughts by Alessio's ringtone and she quickly regains her composure once again. When her ex-lover lifts his phone to look at the caller ID, she promptly speaks up. "It seems like you're busy. I won't take up your time anymore." She briefly pauses and despite knowing that she might regret it later, she still continues, "It's great to see you again, Lucas Wilde. I'll get going. A friend is waiting for me."

When she turns on her heels and walks away, it takes every inch of Alessio to refrain himself from stopping her. Clenching his fist hard, he remains in his place and stares at the disappearing form of the love that was once his everything and strength.

Even after Alora is long out of his sight, the Don remains standing with a turmoil in his heart that is left frozen for a long time. After what feels like hours, it is Loris' voice that snaps him out of his stupor.

"Sir, Don Elio keeps on calling."

Glancing at the caller ID once again, Alessio is reminded of his purpose for going there. He tries to compose himself and soon enough, he is back to being the Don who rarely shows his emotions. Then he picks up the call.

"I think I'm lost in some hallway. Come and find me." He doesn't even give his best friend any time to speak and ends the call right away.....