After leaving Lemon's house with his heart full and a warm smile on his face, Leon felt like the happiest man alive. The confession, the kiss, Lemon's blushing smile—all of it kept replaying in his mind as he drove through the dimly lit streets. It was already night when he reached home. A heavy silence greeted him as he stepped inside. The house was quieter than usual.
His mother had left earlier that morning to visit some relatives for a few days, leaving Leon alone. He didn't mind it though; he could use some alone time after everything that had happened lately. He walked inside, set his phone and keys on the table, and headed to his room.
He quickly freshened up—washing his face, changing into a loose black T-shirt and sweatpants—and let out a sigh of comfort as he fell back onto his bed. He reached for his phone and tapped on Lemon's name. It rang once before she picked up.
"Hey," Leon said, smiling as he laid back.
"Heyyy," Lemon replied, her voice calm and sweet.
"I reached home," he informed her, looking around at the empty house.
"Good," she said. "You took your sweet time, huh?"
Leon laughed. "I was busy thinking about someone."
Lemon sighed dramatically. "Ugh, here comes the cheesiness again."
He chuckled. "What are you doing, my love?"
"Leon!" she groaned, clearly embarrassed. "Don't be so cheesy... I'm just watching a series."
"At this hour? You should rest," Leon teased. "Or you'll get dark circles under your eyes."
"Oh really? Says the one who already has dark circles," she fired back.
"Hey! I don't," Leon protested. "My face is flawless."
"Flawlessly stupid," Lemon said with a smirk in her voice.
"That's rude," he pouted dramatically. "I come bearing love and get insulted."
They both laughed softly, the kind of laugh that only came when two people were completely comfortable with each other. The world outside their call faded, and they were wrapped in a bubble of their own.
"You know," Leon said, his voice softer now. "It feels so nice... being able to talk like this. I feel like everything's finally falling into place."
"I know what you mean," Lemon whispered. "It's like we deserve this peace after everything."
Suddenly, the lights in Leon's room flickered. He sat up. "Oh shit."
"What happened?" Lemon asked.
"The light just went out. Damn it."
"Power cut?"
Leon got off the bed and peeked through the window. "Looks like only my house. All the other houses have lights."
"That's weird," Lemon said, frowning.
"Great," Leon groaned. "Now I have to stay in the dark... but it's okay. I have you."
"What if I cut the call?" Lemon teased.
"Then I'll talk to someone else. Maybe a girl..." Leon grinned mischievously.
"WHAT?!? SERIOUSLY?!" Lemon shouted, pretending to be mad.
Leon laughed harder. "I knew you'd react like that!"
He began walking back toward his room. "Okay, let me just find a candle or something. I'll be right b—"
A loud, disturbing bang echoed on the other end.
"Urghh," Leon grunted.
Lemon immediately tensed. "Don't tell me you banged your head somewhere, Leon! Hello? Leon? This isn't funny! Leon!?!? Hello?!"
The call disconnected.
"Leon?!" Lemon stared at her screen. "No... no no no!"
She quickly tapped on his name again. It rang. No answer.
"Pick up... pick up, Leon!"
She tried again. And again. Still no answer.
Her heart was racing now. Something didn't feel right.
"Oh god," she whispered. "I have a bad feeling..."
She opened her contact list and found Scarlett's name. Scarlett lived just a few blocks from Leon. Lemon pressed call.
"Yo! Girl," Scarlett said cheerfully.
"Scarlett, listen!" Lemon's voice was shaking. "I was talking to Leon and... he suddenly cut the call. Now he's not answering. I tried again and again... I don't know, I just... I have a really bad feeling. Please, can you check on him? Please?!"
"Calm down, girl," Scarlett said, her tone becoming serious. "Okay. I'll go with my brother. He knows Leon too. We'll check and call you. Alright?"
"Thank you so much... please, please let me know."
Scarlett hung up, and Lemon paced around her room, her hands trembling as she clutched her phone tightly.
Time felt slower.
Minutes felt like hours.
Then the phone rang.
"Scarlett!" Lemon picked up immediately. "Is Leon okay?!"
Scarlett's voice was grave. "Lemon... I went to his house. The front door was wide open... lights off. Leon... he was lying unconscious in his room."
Lemon felt her knees give way. "W-what?!"
"My brother and I took him to the hospital. He's in emergency care right now."
"Is he... is he okay?!" Lemon sobbed.
"The doctor said something hit his head. Like a heavy object. There's swelling... bleeding..."
Lemon's voice cracked. "I... I heard the bang. On the phone... I heard it."
"Hey, calm down," Scarlett said gently. "You don't need to worry. We're here. You don't have to come now. It's midnight already. Come tomorrow, okay?"
"Please... please call me if he wakes up," Lemon begged.
"I will," Scarlett promised. "Now try to get some rest. Don't stress."
As the call ended, Lemon sat in the darkness of her room, her heart pounding with fear and confusion. Her thoughts swirled with dread.
She remembered what her mother said about Ellara. How familiar she looked. How this entire thing started after Ellara arrived.
Was this all a coincidence?
Or had Ellara come back with more than just memories?
And now Leon... her Leon... was hurt.
Someone had done this. And Lemon was going to find out who.
No matter what.