They even shared the innocent closeness of sleeping side by side as children.
But now, the context had changed.
Leonelâs gesture of carrying her which was once a simple act of childhood friendship, now held a new and unspoken meaning.
She remained in his arms with her red cheeks.
It wasnât until they reached the car that Leonel gently set her down.
Beneath Alexis in the car lay Leonelâs jacket.
He used it to provide her with additional cover.
Leonel sat beside her and dr@ped his arm around her shoulders.
He offered his shoulder for her to lean on and then asked Ross for some hot water.
Seasoned and discerning, Ross immediately understood the situation.
He went to the nearby convenience store to get some brown sugar water.
âThis should help; itâs sweet and soothing.
â
Overwhelmed by the situation and the attention, Alexis felt incredibly shy.
She bit her lips and said to Leonel, âThis is all your fault.
â
Alexis suddenly felt another cramp in her stomach and leaned weakly into Leonelâs arms.
Leonel cradled her gently in his arms.
He brought the brown sugar water to her lips and coaxed her to drink, âHave some of this.
Itâll help you feel less dizzy.
Come on.
Donât act like a child now.
â
âWho is acting like a child? Iâm not a child.
â
There was a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
Leonel looked at her face and said, âFrom this moment onward, youâre indeed not a child anymore.
â
He paused abruptly after these words.
Alexis was so angry that she bit his shoulder in response.
Ross overheard their exchange from the driverâs seat and couldnât help but feel a sense of joy.
To him, their interactions signified that they were a perfect match and indicated that they had a deep and comfortable relationship.
With a smile, Ross continued to drive the two young kids back home.
Conscious of the state of her clothes, Alexis felt too embarrassed to exit the car.
Ultimately, it was Leonel who carried her to her bedroom on the third floor.
After gently setting her down, he appeared slightly shy as he asked, âDo you have⦠those things when girls⦠I meanâ¦â
Her lips pressed together in discomfort as she responded, âHow would I have those?â
There was a prolonged moment where they simply looked at each other.
Then Leonel said, âIâll find someone else to ask.
â