CHAPTER 292: WHAT’S YOUR NAME?

(Elio’s POV)

’I guess you won’t be able to fulfil your promise to Nora this time, Eli,’ Leo remarked, exhaling an exhaustion filled sigh. He and I were the same in this aspect: both introverted and didn’t like socializing much. We were into tranquil, deep conversations, more than shallow, grandstanding and self centered talks.

’I don’t think there is someone with whom we can have a ’normal’ conversation here. I don’t want to indulge in tiresome discussions.’ I replied, looking at brother Brave, who was surrounded by top business delegates. ’If I go to him now, I will be wrapped up in those chats too. So, let’s just go and find brother Dion for now,’ I replied. As I was walking away, my eyes wandered over to the catering station.

A girl in a flaxen colored dress caught my attention. Of course, not in any indecent or inappropriate way. She looked too innocent, too out of place to be at such kind of event. Unbothered by the people around her, she was relishing a plate of what seemed to be an apple pie, I suppose. Her mouth was stuffed with it, and a look of pure, unadulterated joy was quite evident on her face. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her reactions. She looked like a squirrel.

And for some weird reason, I felt like I had seen her somewhere before. But I can’t remember where. She piqued not just my but my wolf’s interest as well. So, I decided, if I had to fulfil my promise to my twinnie, Nor, and have to make a new friend regardless, why not approach someone like her? At least, I won’t feel exhausted or bored.

As I moved forward in her direction, quite a few people tried to get close to me or speak to me, but I gave them no heed. I just politely bowed and kept on striding forward.

She was in the middle of sipping her fruit juice when I got beside her. With a curious look on my face, I asked, "Is the pie that delicious?"

My all of a sudden interruption totally blindsided her. As she looked at me, her doe shaped eyes widened, and she couldn’t help but start coughing a bit too violently. I became concerned and gently patted her back out of habit, "Easy there. Relax."

After a few more seconds, she eased a bit, and her coughing stopped. Then, she again gazed at me, her face was red. I felt guilty for surprising her like that. But I am really bad at socializing, so I had a really hard time starting a conversation.

Nevertheless, I was quick to apologize for my mistake, "I am really sorry, Miss. I shouldn’t have done that."

She didn’t give me any reply, just kept on gazing at my face with her mouth wide open. Her shocking expression not going away. She was like an open book. I once again apologized and asked her, "Are you alright?"

As if this time, my words brought her back to reality. She straightened her back, blinked at me and then calmly said, "I am alright. I was just caught a little off guard, sir. What did you ask me again?" Her voice was melodious and a bit childlike.

I scratched the back of my neck and said, "You are really someone who enjoys their food, hmm? Seeing you eat the pie so wholesomely. I wanted to have some too."

Her face turned crimson, and a look of embarrassment flushed her face. She bit her lips and was probably thinking about how to give me a reply. Leo, inside me, commented, ’Why are you embarrassing the girl with your words, Eli? One time was enough. Why did you say it twice? Now say something else, before she runs away. We need to make a new friend today.’

Clearing my throat, I changed the topic, "By the way, my name is not ’sir.’ I am Elio, Elio Everests," Saying this, I extended my right hand.

She cleared her throat as well, then kept the plate aside and dusted her hands with her dress, not bothering if the dress would get the crumbles or a syrupy texture on it.

With a radiant, sunshine like smile, she shook my hand back and said, "I know. I saw you on the stage, si~r ...... I mean Mr. Everests."

"Just Elio would be fine. Don’t make me sound so old and stoic, please," I stated in a matter of factly tone.

"That wouldn’t be appropriate, I guess,’ she said, making me confused. As I countered her, "And why is that? Why isn’t it appropriate?"

She was once again lost for words. In a very small voice, she said, "I just thought~ ... it wouldn’t be respectful to call you by your name."

"I have my name so that people can address me with it, right. Feel free to use that," I insisted.

She seemed to have relaxed while listening to my words. Her stiff shoulders eased slightly, "Okay, Mr. Elio." Although this Mr. and sir seemed a little icky to me, I didn’t push her this time.

This time, she was the one who questioned me, "May I ask you a question? If you don’t mind."

"Go ahead," I gave her the green signal.

"We are not acquainted. You must have tons of people you know in this place, unlike me. And we don’t know each other. So why~ ..." she said, but I cut her off.

"Why did I approach you? Is that what you wanted to ask?" I completed her words. She nodded, and I answered her, "It’s simple. Yes, we are not acquainted, but just like you, I don’t have anyone to talk to apart from my brothers. And they~ ...... they are clearly busy right now." I glanced at Brave and then at Dion as she followed suit.

"Don’t joke around, how can someone like you have no one to talk. I guess, a few of your friends~ ..." she pointed with her eyes. At some distance, those girls, who were trying to speak to me earlier, were glaring in our direction. A look of envy was clear on their faces. "~ they seemed to be waiting to talk to you."

"Them? ... I don’t know them. Those ladies are all from the entertainment industry or business organisations, or politics. An intern doctor like me wouldn’t understand their words," I remarked.

"You are not into business, despite your family owning Everests Corporation?" she inquired.

"Ahhaa~ .... I prefer medical equipment and healthcare volumes more than business studies and strategies. You see, studying medicine is my passion and saving as many lives is my goal." I became a little enthusiastic.

"Woah! .... That’s sooooo~ ... cool. Coming from someone with a social status like you," she complimented me, making me feel embarrassed this time. But she didn’t stop there, "Saving lives and studying medicine, that’s inspiring, goated stuff. You must have started early if you are already an intern doctor?"

"Uhhh~ ...... I guess," I gave her a brief reply.

"That is even more awesome. When I was in my senior year, I was still confused about what courses to take in college. I was a little bit good at science, and my parents and sister thought that I would pursue engineering, as I wanted to do that, but on the day of my entrance exam, I saw someone drawing the school entrance on their canvas. It was lifelike and spellbinding, so much so that I couldn’t help but want to make one myself. Pretty reckless, right?" She went on and on.

"Reckless, a bit, maybe. But from the look on your face, I think it is worth it," I commented.

"Totally. You see, I wasn’t that good of an artist, but my sister used to teach me sometimes. She is someone very gifted, a genius, but hardly ever touches the brushes, as her nose is always into her economics books, as that’s her major. If you meet her, you won’t be able to tell that she has some serious skills in that field," the girl was all praise for her sister. "There is hardly anything my sister won’t be able to do.

At her sister’s mention, I felt a slight itchiness in my chest. Maybe because her sister is also an economics major, just like Myra.

Thinking about Myra, my mind reeled back to the time spent with her in Kimberg. Where is she now? What is she doing? Why has she run away? Why is she hiding? Was she that hurt after knowing our true identity that she doesn’t even want to be associated with us? These thoughts have pestered me countless times in the past year. But I haven’t gotten a single answer.

’Myra Miracle, I really wish to see you once more. I want to tell you what I couldn’t at that time, that I LOV~ ......’ my thoughts were interrupted by the girl I was talking to.

"Mr. Elio, your mind seemed a little preoccupied," she commented. I sighed and replied, "Just thinking of one of my close friends... Anyways~ ... You haven’t told me the most important thing yet. Your name~ .... What’s your name?"

She smacked her forehead and muttered, ’Stupid me.’ Then she replied to my question, "My name is ~ ....."

To Be Continued . . . . . . . .