Chapter 12 Not Welcome

When Louis finished the report on the case study regarding an abandoned victim who is now under the care of an orphanage, he found his mind wandering back to that irritating person who had not been showing himself or even calling him for a week now.

He scowled upon remembering that person.

So what if the person don't want to call? So what if he didn't want to show himself? Yeah, he did not care.

Louis stood up from his swivel chair and stretched slightly while walking around his office. But he stopped after a while.

He breathed deeply.

What is the problem of that guy? He had not done anything bad for him to avoid him, right?

He tilted his head before sitting on his desk. He took the sandwich that had been on his table and started eating it, but then, he put it back down after a huge bite.

Strange. That's the first time that everything he eats taste like rubber.

Argh.. this is all that guy's fault. Thanks to that dickhead, his system was upset thinking that maybe, he really did something wrong to him to make him not want to see him.

He gulped from the bottle of mineral water that's also on his table. It was a good thing that the wound on his head is a shallow one and doesn’t need stitches. After three days, he could already move about without a bandage around his head.

"Did I really do something wrong to upset him?" Louis asked himself again after a couple of seconds.

In the short span of time that he's known Liam, he is somehow confident to say that Liam is not the type of guy who suddenly gets mad without any reason. If anything, Liam was the most rational person he had ever met. He was very business-like, there's always a reason behind the guy's actions. That's why he's sure that there's a reason as to why Liam was mad at him. But what is it?

Louis sighed. It would be too shallow if the reason was because he saved him. To completely ignore him like this was just too much!

For the nth time, he sighed again. Does he need to apologize?

His cellphone rang. It was already past twelve and as to what he remembered, there's only one person he knows that has no care to disturb and call him that late. He quickly answered the phone without looking at the caller id.

"Yes?" There was excitement in his voice.

"Hey, it's me, Cara."

"Oh... Cara." Disappointment was obviously heard in his voice.

The girl talked to him for a few minutes about the last minute details of the small gathering with their high school classmates. Then someone knocked on his door, so he ended the call.

"Boo, are you done? Everyone's already at the function hall. They're packing already." Zayn said as he peaked his head inside his office.

"Yes, I'm done. Are you on your way there? I'll go with you." Louis fixed some of the documents on the table.

"That's why I'm here."

"Thanks Zee." Louis smiled as he went out of his office and walked with Zayn towards the function hall.

*****

Louis was talking and laughing at Zayn's jokes as they walked down the corridor toward the function hall when his eyes caught a familiar figure.

He smiled widely when he finally made sure that it's really Liam that El had been talking to. Liam had that business smile while talking to his friend and Louis thought it was a good thing. At least Liam's in a good mood.

"Hey, Li. It's..."

Louis trailed off when Liam turned his head towards him. He clearly saw how Liam's smile disappeared when he looked at Zayn before their gazes met.

The smile froze on Louis' lips. So, Liam was not happy to see him after all... So much for wishful thinking, huh.

"What are you doing here?" Louis asked wearily.

Liam's expression hardened. "Why? Am I not welcome here?" His tone was accusing, but Louis did not pay attention to that. He was not in the mood to argue.

"What do you need?" Louis asked flatly.

"Your father is worried sick about you. So I'm here to pick you up." Liam's voice is void of emotion.

So it was only because of his father, huh? What does he expect?

"I'll stay here. There are still a lot to do here. I'll just call Dad. You can go. Zee or El can take me home." He said without looking at Liam's eyes, not seeing how Liam's eyes became deadly sharp at the mention of Zayn's name.

"I'm staying too." His gaze went straight to Liam. "Eleanor said that you lack volunteers, so I'll stay and help with the packing."

All of them are busy for their annual operation to different orphanages and they need help with packing different things to be brought to the orphanages as gifts to the children. It's true that they lack people. Yet, he found himself unwilling to let Liam help.

"You can't..." He tried to say but Liam already went inside the function hall.

"Boo, it's okay. He's an additional manpower. Besides, he'll just pack some things." El said, shrugging her shoulders, then entered the function hall too.

Louis could not believe it. Had Liam already charmed El, too? To think that he already explained their situation to her that night of her birthday.

"She's right, Boo. We really need a hand here. Just let him do it. Besides, it seems harmless." Zayn's second the motion.

"But..."

"Louis," One their officemates called from the other end of the corridor. "Can you give me a hand here? I'm finishing the logistics for our operation next week."

Zayn tapped his shoulder and hugged him from behind as he kissed his cheek. "Go." He said before entering the function hall.

Louis annoyingly threw a glance inside the function hall. That Liam person is already feeling at home, laughing with his co-workers. After a few seconds of death glare towards the man, he irritatingly turned back and walked towards their other officemate.

*****

"Ehem." Louis cleared his throat when he saw Liam laughing with a group of volunteers who he remembered to be one of his co-worker's cousin.

They're already done with the packing and is about to go home.

"Lou, ready to go home?" Liam casually asked him.

"Me, yes. I don't know about you though." He said drily.

Liam subconsciously reached out to touch Louis' hand but stopped short. Louis did not noticed that he was already glaring at Liam. They said their goodbyes then walked towards the building's exit.

"Hey, are you okay? You don't look good."

Liam placed his hand on Louis' forehead. Louis avoided him like he was burnt. But Liam held his shoulder and repeatedly felt his forehead amidst his protests.

"You have a fever." Liam said with a voice and face laced with concern. "Do you have medicine with you? Have you eaten already?"

"I'm not hungry." But that's when his stomach growled.

Liam scowled. "Are you eating properly? Are you sleeping well? You really don't look good, Lou."

"I'm okay. I don't need your concern." He quickly walked towards Liam's car.

"You're not okay. What time was your last meal? And what did it consist?" He continuously quizzed him.

"I said I'm okay." Louis snapped as he went inside Liam's car.

"What is your problem? Stop acting like a kid." Liam told him when he's settled in the driver's seat. Liam started the car.

Louis answered with silence.