"Gosh.. sorry, I was startled." The woman waved her hand apologetically. She was suddenly reminded that it was rude to stare at other people the way she did just now. "I didn't know someone was standing there. I felt stared at."
Loriel's heart skipped a beat.
It's HER VOICE!
Gosh.. maybe he had indeed gone mad for missing her too much. How could he remember her voice? It's been such an awfully long time.
"It's okay," Loriel replied dryly.
His throat felt choked. Gosh.. how badly he wanted to jump on her and gave her a bear hug. He wanted to kiss her all over and told her how much he missed her.
I must be out of my mind, he thought bitterly.
This couldn't be her. He still had to wait fifty-five more years until she arrived here. It's not impossible for someone to look like another person. During his time on earth, he had met many people which could be said to look like each other's doppelgangers.
Sometimes, they were actually direct descendants of people he knew from the past. Sometimes, they could be cousins. Just look at Tsar Nicholas II from Russia and his cousin, King George V from England who uncannily looked very similar.
Wait, why was he thinking about those people?
They didn't matter. Only Elise mattered.
"I-I'm sorry... I thought you are someone I knew," Loriel immediately made an excuse. "That's why I have been looking at you. I am sorry if it was rude."
"Oh... is that why?" Somehow, his words made the girl look sad. She sighed and looked away. "I guess, so many people look alike in this world."
"Do you think so?" Loriel knew she was right, but he loved her voice so much that he wanted to hear her speak again.
Sadly, the girl seemed dejected and no longer wanted to engage in a conversation with him. Now, Loriel became confused. He was wondering which part of his words had offended her.
"Ahh.. the rain has stopped. I should get going."
After a while, she turned to him out of politeness and bid him goodbye. However, Loriel noticed that the way she said the rain had stopped didn't sound excited.
She seemed sad that the rain had ended.
Loriel was wondering if he should create another rain for her. This girl seemed to like it very much.
Just like Elise.
"Ah.. where are you going?" he asked. At this point, he no longer cared if he came too strong.
He would follow his gut. He must know who this girl was.
"We might be heading in the same direction," he hurriedly added.
The girl narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Now, she must think he was a pervert or a stalker. Even though Loriel looked like a perfect gentleman, it was no guarantee that, in her eyes, he was one
These days, many criminals were wolves in sheep's clothing.
"So, where are YOU going?" The girl asked back.
Uff... she was smart, Loriel had to admit. Now, the ball was in his court. He must pretend to go somewhere too.
"I want to go to Central Park," Loriel replied carelessly. "I mean.. I'm new in this city and I don't know the way. So, if you happen to be going around that area, I would love to tag along. That is... if you don't mind."
"Don't you know how to use GoogleMaps?" the girl furrowed her brows.
Lauriel shook his head innocently. This girl must not believe him when he gave a sign that he didn't know how to use GoogleMaps, but how else could he explain the reason why he didn't know how to get to Central Park from here?
"Do you have money?" the girl asked him again. "You can just hail a taxi and pay the driver to take you there."
Loriel found himself sink deeper into a web of lies. His mouth easily uttered, "I cannot afford a taxi. I don't have the money."
He could buy New York City if he wanted to. Yet, just now, he easily claimed to be poor.
"Oh..." The girl batted her eyes and slowly her expression turned into sympathy. "Then it makes the two of us."
"Oh?" Loriel didn't understand what she meant. "You cannot afford a taxi too?"
She nodded sadly. "Yes, and I also cannot use GoogleMaps. People keep saying I have to use it but I don't know how."
WHAT?
Loriel was baffled when he heard her reply.
She... was joking, wasn't she?
How was someone not able to use GoogleMaps in this day and age? Technology had become part of everyone's daily life now.
Surely she had a phone, right? It was a piece of cake to use. With her phone, she could call and text and definitely use GoogleMaps.
Loriel said he couldn't use GoogleMaps and couldn't afford a taxi as an excuse. He was obviously lying and he thought she would easily catch him on that lie.
However... she didn't?
Loriel's heart sank as he looked at her deeply, and a crazy thought was suddenly raging in his mind. Maybe she was really Elise. She was from the past, so it must be really difficult for her to adjust to modern life.
That's why she couldn't use GoogleMaps... right?
"Ahaha.. I'm glad I'm not the only one," the girl's nervous laugh moved him from his reverie. "I thought I was so stupid."
Loriel felt his heart ached for her. Elise was the smartest and kindest woman he had ever known. Yet, today she thought she was stupid for being unable to use simple modern technology.
"No.. no, you are not stupid," he said with a hoarse voice. "I also think it's a bit too complicated and unnecessary. I'd prefer to ask people for direction. You know, it's nice to talk to other people and have a human connection. I believe technology has made people become more individualistic and selfish."
Damn, he was such a good liar. Of all the people who loved using technology to avoid talking to other humans, he was the most individualistic and selfish one.
"You think so too?" Now, she was finally smiling, looking relieved. "I agree with you."
Aksara