CHAPTER 58: IT’S NOT A DATE!

Theo smirks. He can feel it. Good. Remember it.

Liam looks at Theo in disbelief. But he freezes even more. All the things that made him stagger backward are gone, replaced by a smiling young woman who looks like she just got out of a difficult situation.

What was that? Was I imagining things? Liam doesn’t know what to believe.

"Liam? Are you okay?" Theo asks innocently.

"Huh? Yeah." He clears his throat. "Yeah, I’m okay. A–are you?" Liam struggles to shake his shock.

Theo nods firmly. "I am now. Thanks to you."

"Anyway, I don’t want to keep you from your training schedule. I’ll just get going." Theo starts to turn and leave.

"How do you know I’m training?" Liam asks quickly. He feels something is off, and he’s not the kind who easily lets go.

Theo turns to face him again, moves his eyes up and down, his face amused.

Liam suddenly becomes self-conscious and remembers what he was supposed to do. He closes his eyes in embarrassment.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I reek of sweat. I was going to buy a change of clothes when I noticed... you earlier."

Theo just smiles without saying anything.

Liam feels like his mother just scolded him.

He takes a deep breath. "Come with me to buy some clothes. Then I’ll take you home."

"I’m coming with you?" Theo asks in his sweetest voice.

Liam nods firmly. He’s back to his normal self. "Yes, you are. I’m not letting you out of my sight. Not after that. And you’re a woman, I’m a man. You can help me with the clothes. Besides, I just saved you. Consider this your way of thanking me."

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"They are what?!" Leila asks in shock.

She is currently on the phone with Miranda, waiting for Theo.

"Yes!" Miranda giggles through the phone. "Liam just called me. He said he met Thea in the arcade and saw that she was alone. He asked for her help to pick some clothes for him, and she agreed!" Miranda squeals in delight.

"And I told him to take her to dinner as a thank you! It’s happening, Lei!"

"Oh, and he said to tell you not to worry. In case Thea hasn’t told you herself."

Leila is flabbergasted. "They are together?"

"YES!" Both moms shouts in sync.

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"Thank you for not saying anything to your mother," Theo says after hearing Liam call Miranda.

"Yeah, I figured getting grabbed in public by a stranger wasn’t part of your day out." Liam walks beside Theo toward a clothing shop.

"It means more than you know. Today’s my first day out alone." Theo appreciates Liam’s honesty and chivalry. Ever since thinking about Aldriana and Liam, he’s been looking for ways to test him, and now, an opportunity presents itself.

Honesty and chivalry. They can help with magic addiction and corruption. There may be no test for a person’s heart, but at least his core values seems solid.

"Really? Your first day out alone? Then we need to celebrate!" He instantly remembers what his mother said about dinner. Mom, it’s only two p.m. Do you expect me to hold on to her until dinner? Five hours? Do you want me to be a kidnapper?

He shakes his head lightly. Sometimes his mother’s ideas are absurd.

"Are you okay?" Theo asks.

"Huh? Why?"

"You just shook your head. Headache?"

"Ah, that. Erm, no. I’m fine."

"What do you think of Aldriana?" Theo suddenly asks.

"She’s amazingly powerful! And I—huh? Why bring her up?" Liam frowns.

"It’s such a fascinating subject. How’s your progress finding her?"

Liam’s expression darkens. He sighs. "No luck. Everyone keeps pushing me to contact her. That’s what I’m trying to do! Can’t they see that?"

"Who’s ’everyone’? Why are they bothering you?"

"Everyone number one is the paparazzi. They love haunting people. Then there’s the city’s Mining Department, they want the dungeon rights. And I get it. We do too. It’s so many Heartstones. Who wouldn’t?" Liam shakes his head again, his bad mood returning.

"Are Heartstones really that valuable?" Theo asks.

Liam looks at him to see if he’s joking, but he isn’t.

"Yes, they are," Liam nods. "Heartstones used to be an alternative energy source, but in the last decade they’ve become the only one. Altheon’s natural resources are basically depleted. The remaining ones can barely meet demand. Scientists like your brother, Julian, have integrated Heartstones into daily life. As a result, we can’t function without them now."

He glances at Theo, checking if he understands. When Theo stays silent but attentive, Liam continues, "No, that’s not quite right. It’s our world that can’t function without Heartstones."

"Aren’t they afraid the Heartstones might run out too? Or do they think the dungeons will last forever?" Theo asks, trying to make sense of it.

Liam shakes his head. "That, we don’t know. I just hope they’ll find another source soon." He stops in front of a clothing store. "What do you think about this one?"

Theo looks at the display. "The clothes look comfortable. They’ll do."

Liam chuckles. "Wow. A girl who thinks like me. Must be my lucky day."

Theo smiles back, and they both enter the store.

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"Mother, it’s not a date!" Theo whispers firmly into his phone.

He’s inside the clothing store, waiting for Liam choosing the clothes. He uses the opportunity to call Leila and tell her he’ll be home later than expected. He’d already guessed Miranda had called Leila, but he still feels responsible to tell her himself.

"Thea, you don’t need to be embarrassed. It’s okay to date, if it’s Liam. We know his family." Leila’s voice sounds indulgent and far too satisfied through the phone.

Theo closes his eyes in defeat. I should’ve known this would happen. These two mothers are unbelievable.

"Mother, let me say it again. It’s not a date. I’ll explain everything later. I’m just calling to tell you I’ll be home later than expected, so you don’t worry."

"Okay, Thea. Whatever you say. And you don’t need to hurry home. This is your first day out alone. You should celebrate and enjoy it!"

As Liam looks at him to check on him, Theo chuckles bitterly. "I will. Thank you."

"Your mother?" Liam asks, loud enough for Leila to hear.

Theo answers dryly, "Yes. I’m calling to let her know I’ll be late." You’re not helping here, Liam.

"Okay. Let me pay for these, then we can go," Liam says, heading toward the cashier.

Theo nods and hears Leila’s delighted squeal through the phone.

"Really, Thea, you don’t need to hurry home! Just go and enjoy, okay? I don’t want to disturb you. Bye!" She hangs up.

Theo stares helplessly at his phone.

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"Who was that? Why are you squealing like that?" Maurice’s voice comes from behind Leila. He has just entered her office.

Leila turns around with a huge smile and kisses her husband’s cheek.

"You’re obviously in a good mood. Far from the scowling woman I saw in the meeting an hour ago. You two have the same face, same voice, but definitely not the same mood," Maurice laughs, relieved to see Leila back to her usual self.

"I was just on the phone with Thea," she says, ignoring Maurice’s teasing about her earlier sour mood. "You’ll never guess what she’s doing right now."

"Isn’t she at Dr. Leighton’s?" Maurice checks his watch. "She should be home any minute now."

Leila smiles and shakes her head. "I hope not."

Maurice frowns, puzzled.

"And I wasn’t scowling! I was worried about Thea. Ever since she woke up, she’s never gone out alone!"

"You’ll have to let her go eventually, darling."

Leila sighs. "I know. And I did let her go by herself, didn’t I? Anyway, back to Thea, she just called to say she’ll be home later than expected."

Maurice’s frown deepens. "Why? And why are you smiling like that? You’re not worried anymore?"

"Because she’s not alone. She’s with Liam." Leila’s smile somehow gets even wider.

"What?!" Now it’s Maurice’s turn to panic. "They’re alone?! How is that okay with you?"

"Oh, would you relax, Reese. She’s perfectly safe with Liam. He already called Miranda to let her know. Miranda called me. Then Thea called me. They’re fine. Just having a good time together."

"But Thea’s too young to get married!"

Leila is both amused and mildly annoyed. "Who said anything about marriage? Certainly not me! Yes, Miranda and I hope they’ll get married someday, but we’re not forcing anything. Today they met by chance and it’s the perfect opportunity for them to get to know each other. Is that so wrong?"

"No, of course not, but... she’s..." Maurice trails off, unable to explain his unease.

"I know, darling. I understand. She’s my baby girl too. Of course I understand." She smiles sweetly. "But you’ll have to let her go eventually, darling." She repeats his own words back to him, pats his chest, and walks out of the room.

Maurice stands frozen, paling slightly. I should’ve known better than to say that.

He sighs, already resigned. Looks like I’ll be eating those awful vegetables for dinner.