KARMA COLADA

Chapter Nine

IT WAS apparent to Naomi that Leon was ignoring her on purpose.

Ever since they bought their tickets (business class, baby, woohoo!), Leon hadn't uttered a single word to her — not even so much as a quick insult or a rude glare while they were checking in and a burly security officer tried chatting her up.

Leon merely stared blankly into space as he waited in line behind her, until Teddy the Security Officer finally got the hint and ceased his clumsy advances, letting her shuffle along in a haste. Afterwards, although they boarded the plane together, they did so in complete, awkward silence.

And now, it was like she was sitting next to a virtual stranger.

Which he was, in a way, but it didn't sit well with her.

Especially considering Naomi couldn't stand not talking for more than fifteen minutes. Another twenty hours more of this torture would simply drive her over the edge. She must do something.

Gently, so as to not appear overly affected by his cold shoulder treatment, Naomi turned from the window to Leon, offering the friendliest smile she could muster. He locked eyes with her, his elegant features stony.

"Do you fly often?" she asked brightly.

Nothing.

Naomi sighed exasperatedly. "Look, did I do something to make you mad?"

But Leon remained silent as a monk, causing her to shift uncomfortably in her seat. It only occurred to her that she did do something to make Leon mad — she helped Francine disappear. 

Naomi bit her lip at the thought and decided to change her line of interrogation.

"Do you often fly business class?" she coaxed excitedly.

Naomi sure didn't. The spacious seats and warm folded blanket tucked over her legs was definitely something to shout home about. She would have to remember to tell Mila all this once she got home from Thailand.

At her query, Leon's features finally changed into a look of unbridled annoyance, and something inside Naomi clicked.

"That's what you're angry about? The whole ticket thing?" Naomi moaned in frustration.

"Thanks to your ingenious fake marriage scam, I was made out to be the biggest asshole in history, while you waltzed off with your business class ticket like the Queen of Sheba," Leon retorted, and she mentally cheered over the fact that she finally got him to talk.

"I can see you're happy about that," he mumbled, misinterpreting her joyful expression.

Naomi waved her hands about defensively.

"No, I'm just happy you're finally speaking to me!"

He responded with a bland, "Then I intend to do just the opposite for the rest of the journey."

Naomi's face fell. "Don't be so mean, Fit—" she paused when Leon began pinching the bridge of his nose. "—Leon. Can't we do this on friendly terms? I'm sorry about the whole charade at the counter, alright? I just blurted out what was on my mind when Hannah mentioned the price of the ticket—"

"Stop. Talking," he said through gnashed teeth, and Naomi pressed her lips together obediently.

After a tense beat, Leon dictated, "We're not friends. I don't have friends, and I'm not going to start now. Especially not with you."

No friends? What a gripping life he led.

"You don't have friends?" Naomi reiterated, her brows rising to her hairline.