Their eyes met.
Anson didn't look away, nor did Annie. They stared at each other, letting their gazes linger as their thoughts silently swirled.
Then...
Anson broke the silence first, gently lifting his chin, "So, this is how you see me in your eyes. Are you confessing your feelings to me now?"
A small joke.
But this time, Annie didn't smile. "Now I understand—that was just an illusion. You have your own troubles in your world, just like me."
"I don't want others to judge me by my appearance or prejudices, so the first step is for me not to judge others based on theirs."
"The law of conservation in the universe, right? Everything is fair."
Her words dropped into the air like pebbles falling into a clear spring.
Splash.
Ripples spread in Anson's heart.
He smiled again. "Wow, this is new. Thank you for defending us 'vases.' We have souls too."
Ha, hahaha.
Annie couldn't help herself; a smile crept back onto her face, fully blossoming.
However...
Her smile faltered, and Annie's expression turned embarrassed.
This time, it was Anson's turn to be confused. "What's wrong, Annie?"
Annie's eyes shifted away. "I, uh, need to... touch up my makeup."
Makeup?
Anson blinked, slow to realize what she meant.
Touching up makeup—a polite way women signal they need to go to the restroom.
Anson: ... "Of course."
Annie noticed Anson's look and wished she could disappear into the ground.
Why? Why do such embarrassing things keep happening to her? And this wasn't the first time—like that time on the plane when she drooled in her sleep. That was a memory she'd rather erase forever. But today? There's a second wave.
Oh, for crying out loud!
But she couldn't dwell on it now. Mortified, Annie turned and hurried away.
After taking just two steps, she stopped again. "You, you don't have to wait for me. You can go. We'll meet another time. No, actually, let's not."
Rambling nonsense, Annie had no idea what she was saying.
Oh god, this is so...
She covered her face with both hands and ran away, hoping she could disappear at the speed of light.
"So embarrassing, so humiliating. Ahhh..."
In the end...
Anson stood there, dumbfounded, utterly lost in thought as the wind swirled around him. What just happened? What was that? What did it all mean? A whirlwind of confusion was left behind, leaving him standing there alone.
But watching Annie flee, he couldn't help but smile, the corners of his mouth tugging up. He quickly realized he needed to stay low-key and avoid drawing attention, so he lowered his head to hide his grin.
It seemed like a long exchange, but the brief conversation between them lasted less than five minutes. Meanwhile, "the girl with the flaxen hair" continued playing in the background as shoppers gradually exited the mall.
Suddenly, Anson remembered something and looked around.
Where's Jack?
He wondered if Jack and his buddies had figured out a way to sneak into the midnight show. But scanning the crowd, there was no sign of the middle schoolers. They were likely hiding in some secret corner, waiting for the right moment to make their move.
Smart kids—they knew this couldn't be rushed. Patience would help them find the perfect opportunity.
Standing alone next to the aquarium, Anson felt a bit conspicuous. He could sense some eyes glancing his way, and if he stayed any longer, he might draw too much attention. Just as he was about to start looking for Lucas, he saw Lucas heading his way.
"The situation's better now," Lucas said. "Let's not wait for the full clearance. It's safer to blend in with the crowd and avoid any commotion."
Lucas had made up his mind.
Tomorrow, the Woods would be coming to San Francisco to vacation with Anson. The last thing they needed was paparazzi discovering his whereabouts.
Lucas was a little concerned about Anson. He'd noticed Anson had been tense and on edge since arriving in San Francisco.
But now, looking at Anson again, Lucas saw that he had relaxed. Even with people coming and going, Anson seemed at ease.
It looked like coming to the movies tonight had been a good choice.
Anson nodded, ready to head with Lucas to the underground parking lot. But just as he took a step, he remembered something—
How was Annie getting home?
From the way she had entered earlier, it seemed like she had come alone. And when she headed to the restroom, she didn't look too well.
So, was Annie driving herself? Or planning to call a taxi?
This was San Francisco. Like Anson, she was a visitor here, not as familiar with the city as New York or Los Angeles.
Thinking of this, Anson signaled to Lucas, "I need to go to the restroom."
Lucas gave him a questioning look.
Anson explained, "I ran into a friend here. She wasn't feeling well and went to the restroom. I'm just going to check if she's driving herself or if we can give her a ride."
Lucas nodded in understanding. "I'll wait here. Be quick."
Anson gave an "OK" sign and quickly walked toward the restroom.
Wait—
Stopping in front of the ladies' restroom, Anson hesitated. He decided against going inside, instead politely calling out from the entrance.
"Hey, ladies' room! Excuse me, is anyone in there? I'm looking for a friend, sorry to bother you. Can you help me? I'm looking for Miss A..."
"Oh, A.H., that is."
Anson's polite voice echoed inside, and soon, there was a response.
"Anson, Anson!"
It was Annie.
Anson called back but stayed at the entrance, not stepping inside. "Annie?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you... while you're, uh, touching up. I just wanted to check if you're driving yourself home. If not, I can wait for you."
Annie, now even more embarrassed, mumbled through her hands, "Anson, you don't have to worry... I know how to get home... I-I'll figure it out. You should go, really. You should leave."
Anson stood there, sensing something was off. "Annie, are you okay?"
There was no response from Annie.
Realizing she had been in the restroom for a little while and recalling her earlier expression, Anson asked again, "Are you sure you're okay?"
Annie's muffled voice came through her fingers. "I'm... I'm stuck."
"What?" Anson stopped, raising his voice to confirm. "Is there anyone else in there? Can someone help my friend?"
Annie, frustrated and upset, responded, "No, Anson. It's just me. I've been calling for help for a while."
Oh no.
Anson finally stepped inside. "Annie, what do you mean? Do you need tissue paper?"
Annie, flustered and emotional, replied with a trembling voice, "It's just... there's blood on my skirt. Not what you think, I'm fine. I'm not hurt."
"Oh," Anson immediately understood.
Annie, closing her eyes tightly in despair, said, "Could you... give me some tissue, please? Thank you."
Buzz.
Anson's mind went blank for a moment, but his experience helped him regain his calm quickly. "Of course, no problem."