Seize A Lost Identity

Chapter 16: The Unspoken Bonds

The 'usual' café was buzzing but this morning was something else. A certain excitement hung in the air. Jules sat at their usual table, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the surface of her cup. Her gaze drifted toward the entrance, waiting for Xio.

When he finally walked in, his presence was unmistakable. [Hinge of "and that made the room felt quieter and closed like all the people had ceased to him" He carried the same confident, if almost impenetrable, air as he always did but today there was a distinction, a sense of pause about him, that somehow held the room quiet as if every person had halted to look at him.

Xio quickly recognized her, a smirk spread playfully across his face. Ready for today? he said, his tone easy but imbued in that characteristic power which always seemed to emanate from himself.

"Always," Jules replied, grinning back as she stood up. "Let's go shopping."

Wait, wait, Xio exclaimed, stopping with his hand in the air of surrender. "We're not going to school today."

Jules blinked, confused. "What? We aren't going to school?"

"Nope," Xio said, winking. "We're going shopping for clothes first. For school tomorrow, of course."

Jules raised an eyebrow, but before she could protest, Xio was already grabbing his helmet and handing her the extra one.

Excuse me, I'm saving up to enlarge the shop, and you wish me to use this money on clothes? Are you serious? She did so, however, with a look that couldn't help but evoke a smile playing along the edges of her lips.

"Oh, come on! You can save later. Let's just go!" Xio laughed, his excitement palpable. "Besides, you deserve a little shopping spree."

With a reluctant chuckle, Jules followed him out of the café, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She sat on the back of the bike holding on as Xio revving its engine, the sound of the engine echoed down the road.

There, they reached the mall, and as soon as they stepped in the doors the place turned around. Seeing the two of them together—both in stylish, sleek black leather jackets, as fresh out of a fashion magazine as could be imagined—was just the ticket to turn even the most apathetic bystander and give them a second look.

"Are they celebrities?" one person whispered.

"Yeah, they must be," another replied, wide-eyed.

Some girls were clearly enamored by Xio's presence. "Look at that guy! They both look amazing together. What a lucky girl she is, one of them remarked.

Jules overheard the comment and laughed, elbowing Xio. Avoid making false assumptions", she suggested, as if they already knew one another.

Xio blushed, but his grin never faltered. "Don't worry. I'm just here for the clothes. The real fun starts when we're in school."

Walking through the chic store, Gucci's stylish displays captured their gaze. Xio, without a thought, reached for a number of pieces of clothing, his arm flitting across the racks as if getting ready for a fashion show.

Jules, watching him, shook her head with a chuckle. It is not required to purchase all of this product, Xio. It's expensive. Just get one or two pieces. I'm wondering what I should do with a pack of clothing?

Xio glanced over at her, his expression playful but serious. "Well, you'll be coming to school with me, so I have to make sure I look good walking beside you.

Jules blinked, her heart beating faster at the sound of the speaker. There was something vaguely earnest in his tone, with a touch of levity.

"Just kidding, Xio added, flashing her a mischievous grin as he handed her the pile of clothes. "But seriously, try them on. You'll look amazing in everything."

Jules blinked again, her brows furrowing. "Wait, what? I'm not buying all this. You're kidding, right? This is way too much!"

Nonetheless, Xio just chuckled, an eye twinkle dancing in the wrinkles around his mouth in amusement. "Don't worry about it. There's no charge for trying things on. Just go and have fun. It's all on me."

Jules hesitated but finally walked into the trial room, the weight of the garments pressing down in her arms.

As she stepped out of the changing room, one outfit after another, Xio's gaze never left her. He watched her dance before the mirror and his chest throbbed with delight at the sparkle reflected in her eyes and the joy of her mirth and the way which the garments seemed to contrive her perfectly.

"How do I look? she asked, a playful edge in her voice as she modeled the final outfit.

Xio's eyes softened, his breath catching in his throat. "You look. he trailed off, lost for words for a moment. He finally managed, "Absolutely beautiful. How can someone look that good?"

Jules laughed, her cheeks tinged pink. "Thanks, but seriously, I'm not buying all this. You're wasting your money."

Xio, with a stack of Gucci shopping bags, smiled. "Actually, I already bought it all."

"What? What did you do? Jules said, Astonished.

I bought it all just because I liked things you tried," Xio said calmly. "I didn't want to leave without them."

Jules stared at him, her mouth slightly open in shock. "But... why would you do that? You didn't have to."

Xio smiled and produced a black credit card, a smirk on his face. "Why not? It's all on me."

Jules blinked, her thoughts swirling. "That's. a black card? she asked, her voice filled with confusion and a hint of recognition.

Xio chuckled, with a pride there that is seeming casual. "Yep. It's a gift from my uncle. That one he (knew) just gave to me when I (came to) here from Siberia.

Jules's heart skipped a beat, as a forgotten past came back to life in her mind. She didn't voice it, though. She bottled it all and shut up, instead considering the cards she had in hand. "One lucky person, you are, she said with a light chuckle, trying to push the unsettling feeling away.

Xio's smile grew. "Yeah, I guess so. But it's not about the money, Jules. It's about us—just having a good time together."

Wandering through the mall with people still looking at them with admiring glances, Jules got lost in the experience. There was something so natural about being around him, even though there were so many unanswered questions.

He, of course, gave her the shopping spree but it was much more than that. It was his presence, his laughter, the way he made her forget for a moment everything she had been through. The future, the danger, the whole thing—all taken out to the shed for the same reason she was there with him.

As soon as they reached the game zone and Xio jumped right into the claw machine, Jules just smiled. There was something about him, something familiar but different, a feeling that set her heart racing for the first time in a long time.

And as Xio tried his luck with the claw machine, she couldn't help but wonder. could this really be the same person she had lost? Could this young boy really be the one she had loved?

Only time would tell.