chapter 7

Forcing a prestigious man like Leonard to kiss you in public, sister, what would happen to his reputation if his business partner should see him." Lana says, her face glimmering with jealousy. She was bent on believing that anything Leonard does with Nana is forced. 

"My business partner will have to worry about whatever contract I have with him, before he will spill what he says about me doing with my wife." Leonard replies, not sparing her a glance and pulling Nana close to him. 

Lana clenches her fist in anger and disappointment. She really thought she could use this trip to get Leonard far away from Nana, but all her attempts were ignored. Hell, she had picked out the skimpiest dress she had in her closet because of him. 

The public bus stopped at its bus stop and everyone alighted. Nana and Leonard were the first to get off, while Lana was being squished and pushed around by the other passengers. It was like they were taking revenge for the old man she had disrespected earlier. 

"Argh! What disrespect." Lana cried, when she was finally able to get down. 

"I'm an Allen, I shouldn't be seen riding a public bus, this is all because of that illegitimate daughter" She said, stomping her foot on the ground. 

She looked around and found them already checking out a boutique for clothes. Lana smiled, going towards the place. 

"Sis, I want this." She squeals in excitement, grabbing the clothes Nana already picked out. 

"I already took it, look for another." Nana says, taking it back. 

"Sis-" She was beginning to say, but Nana already walked off, paying her no mind. Lana squeezed her fist again, her fingernails digging into her palm. She moved on, and when she finally saw another gown, she called Nana over. 

"I love this, can you use Leonard's card to get it for me?" Lana says, pouting her lips. In the past, the pouting gesture always seemed to work. 

"What happened to your card? " Nana asked back. 

"I left it at home. " Lana mumbles. 

"You badly wanted to go shopping with us and you forgot your card? If you were hoping to use Leonard's card, just so you could go off to your friends and boast about him paying for it, dream on." Nana says walking away, leaving Lana embarrassed. 

"You really did change." She mutters, blood dripping from the bruised palm. 

"What did she want?" Leonard asks, as soon as Nana walks to him. 

"She just showed me a gown." Nana shrugged, sitting down.

They were still at the boutique, but at the relax area. 

"You sure you don't want to pick up some clothes?" He inquires. 

Ever since they arrived an hour ago, she had just looked around the store and the designs they had. When he asked her what she wanted, she said "nothing."

Even him was taken aback. I mean, this was the 'city's warmth' known for her extravagant lifestyle.

"I lived extravagantly for the camera, the press. That's not who I am." She says as if knowing what I was thinking.

"The designer clothes I have in my wardrobe won't go out of date in the next 5 years."

Leonard nodded. "What do you say we leave here?" He offers, standing on his feet and stretching his hand out. 

"Sure, wherever you go I go." Nana smiles, getting on her feet and taking his arm. Together they both leave the boutique, Lana has no idea because she's still sulking and picking out clothes. 

Leonard and Nana kept walking down the street, like normal average couples and checking out every stall. 

"Is that chess?" Nana asks, jumping in excitement. 

Leonard smiled at her childish behavior. "You like chess?" He asks. 

"Yes, a lot." She replied, dragging him inside. 

"My grandfather loves it."

"Woah!" Nana gasped. "Then we can find an ancient chessboard for him."

Leonard nods and they both look around. 

"Oh my goodness, is that the 'The Lewis chessmen'" Nana asks, squealing in excitement. 

"You know other girls jump in excitement when faced with a guy they like and maybe clothes, no one ever jumps in excitement when they see a 12th century board." Leonard says in a teasing tone. 

Nana frowns, "I'm not other girls" She says shrugging. 

"Come on, let's go ask how much it is." Nana tells him, holding his arm and pulling him towards the cashiers. 

"Sorry, how much can we get this?" She asks, raising the chessboard. 

"Um, I'm sorry, but the owner just took it off sale this morning." The cashier says. 

Nana's moods depreciate immediately, on seeing her once bright and now sad, he wasn't happy. "Can I see your boss?" He asked politely. The cashier nodded and showed him off to the boss's office. 

"Can you stay here, while I go see him?" Leonard tells her. 

Nana nods. Leonard gestures at a chair, not speaking. She looked at the chair and sighed, she still wanted to look around the stall. 

"I want to look-" Before she could finish, Leonard was already shaking his head. 

Nana sighed, going to the chair and taking a seat. He smiled in her direction, before disappearing through the door. 

Nana sat there for hours, just staring at what she could touch. It was like she was going insane. Leonard hadn't returned yet and she was really curious about what they talked about. Then she heard voices, Leonard's and one other man. 

"Wish your grandfather a happy birthday on my behalf." The shop owner, an old man said. 

"Will do." Leonard smiled, shaking hands with the man. 

Nana jumped off her seat, running to where they were. 

The shop owner looked at her weirdly, before asking Leonard "who's she?"

"My daughter." Leonard replied, patting her head and hugging her close. Nana wanted to protest, but let it slide. She went from his wife to his daughter. 

The man looked at Nana, nodding. "She behaves like a kid. Hurrying over without her footwear." 

Leonard's eyes landed on her feet, then to her face. 

"What did I say about footwears?" He asked. 

To always wear them." Nana mumbled. 

"You don't have sense." He reprimanded. 

The two men exchanged farewells, Nana could only stand there, playing with her toes, too embarrassed to leave