Chapter 169 - Familiar

Even when Lena left, she was still texting Kris. The traffic was slow getting out of the city on a weekend.

Lena: I'll be home Monday night.

Kris: Ok

Lena: OMG

Lena: don't forget the candles

Kris: K

Lena: Just get the numbered candles

Kris: K

Lena: Good luck <3

Lena stared at the heart she sent and pounded her head on the driving wheel. She looked back at her phone and saw that Kris was typing. But then he stopped. After a few minutes, he finally sent a message.

Kris: <3

Traffic was already moving and Lena did not see that. She drove carefully to the safe house. She made sure that she was not followed and Tye was already notified of her arrival.

When Lena arrived at the mansion, she parked her car and quickly got out. She ran toward the baby-faced man that was waiting outside for her. She gave Gary a long hug.

"I miss you, noob!"

"I missed you too, dweeb."

Lena lets go of the man. "I don't know what that means."

He swung her ponytail and smiled. "It's okay. You got me my scones?"

"Yep!"

Lena went back to the car and took out the box of scones. Gary quickly took the box and opened it. He stuffed one into his mouth.

"It was so hard eating vegetables!!"

Lena laughed and they both went inside the house. Kris texted Tye that Lena did not have dinner yet so for him to cook something. Tye made sure to make lots of meat dishes for Lena.

Lena greeted the doctor. It has been a while since she saw any of them. They had a large dinner with the rest of the medical team. They chatted about how stubborn Gary was with his treatment. They had some brownie and Lena's scone for dessert.

After that, both Lena did not stay up late... she did not sleep well the previous night. Seeing Gary healthy and alive, she felt better. She went to the same room as she slept in last time. After a good shower, she went to sleep.

The next morning, Lena woke up early to go exercise with Gary. They ran for 3 miles and came back for breakfast. Gary would usually go for more but Lena was not used to the terrain there. The path was mostly grass or dirt and many slopes.

When they finished their breakfast, Lena went up to Gary's room with him. Lena spotted that his room already had several computer screens in it. Gary walked to his desk chair and spun around in it.

"So... are you going to tell me?" Gary asked when he stopped spinning and faced Lena.

"Tell you what?"

"Who's the man you like?"

Lena gasped. "How did you know? Am I that obvious?"

Gary snapped his finger and put his hand like a gun and shot it Lena. "Aha! You just told me."

"AHH!! You a**hole!"

Gary laughed. "So who is it?"

"You don't get to know until I ask him out."

"You are not dating yet?"

"You think I am stupid?" Lena pulled a cushioned chair and sat on it. "It's not like asking a guy to dance, it's asking him to be my boyfriend. I should at least increase my chances of a "yes" before I ask him out."

"My Lena is all grown up."

"And what about you? You definitely attracted the doctor?"

Gary sarcastically gasped and covered his chest. "Lena! You know I am straight, how can I love him?"

"Stupid. I am not talking about Tye, obviously, it the female doctor."

"Oh.. her?" Gary stopped joking around. "She ain't my type."

"You talk differently now." Lena spoke. "Do you know how to speak a different language too? I read in some articles that when people wake up, they can speak another language."

"Nope... still the same old noob." Gary smiled at Lena.

"It's okay. When I get my boyfriend, I'll rub it all over your face so you find yourself a girlfriend."

"Yeah... IF you get one."

"Are you doubting my skills?"

"Tell me, what's your plan?"

"Obviously, I will --"

--------- Scene cut off for no spoilers -------

Lena told Gary about what she planned to do. In the end, she got a knock on her head and a laugh from him. Gary snapped his fingers and did the shooting with the gun finger again.

"I got it! You can just take him to bed and show him your amazing bed skills."

Lena threw a book at Gary. "GARY! I got no bed skills."

"What about the stuff Hazel sends to you? It's all up and down motion. Then, you just have to grab the ba---"

"AHHH!!! I can't hear you, I can't hear you." Lena covered her ears and ran away to leave the room.

She slammed the door shut. She can't do that to Kris, it would traumatize him. He does not need forced love.

Lena started walking back to her room. She tilted her head and copied how Gary snapped his finger and does the gun motion and fling it. Gary never did that before... but somehow, she felt like it was familiar to her. Where has she seen it before? From Hazel? No... maybe Tye?

She got in her room and texted Kris. It was almost noon so he should have his cake done already.

Lena: Cake done?

Kris: Yes

He sent a picture of the cake, neatly in a box. Lena laughed at the decoration. Kris did a simple white frosting layer and then wrote Happy Birthday in purple on it. However, his handwriting for birthday was too large so "day" was extra tiny compared to the rest.

Well, at least Madam Li will know that the cake was made by Kris. Kris also sent a nice selfie of himself. It took him a while to take one because he had never done one before. But he recalled how Lena did it once in the speed elevator and copied that.

Kris: How's my outfit? Mom will like?

Lena: *thumbs up*

Lena also sent a selfie of her frowning.

Lena: Noobie Gary bullied me :C

Kris: Go kick the man's d*ck

Lena: He has none

Lena: Tell me how it goes btw. ttyl

Lena tossed the phone on the bed. She was leaving in the afternoon around 4 and should get back home just when it turned dark.