Meanwhile, Leo strolled alongside Anna, their hurried steps clicked against the sidewalks of Fifth Avenue. The presence of police officers and even the military created a sense of dread in the area. Leo's attention was focused on chasing after Anna.
As he caught sight of her, a wave of emotions washed over him, causing his face to blush red. He couldn't help but feel an overwhelming desire to be close to her. Fidgeting, he tried to compose himself, wiping away the sweat from his brows, straightening his clothes, and running his hands through his short hair.
"Hey, I thought I lost sight of you,” he managed to stutter, his voice trembling and his words stumbling over one another.
Anna, with her characteristic calm and unyielding demeanor, turned her face toward him and simply replied, "Sure."
In her solitude, Anna found solace. The vastness of the city and the contrast it offered appealed to her. Leo, interrupting her trance, dampened her spirits momentarily.
"How long have you been here?" He asked, hoping to elicit more information from her.
"I arrived a couple of minutes before you," she responded, maintaining her stoic composure.
"Hey, would you like to grab something to eat?" Leo suggested, fidgeting. "What do you think?"
"I have nothing else to do but anticipate the worst," Anna replied, her detachment evident. "I don't mind going somewhere else."
"Perfect! How about some ice cream?" Leo suggested with a hint of excitement.
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"Whatever," Anna acquiesced, playing along. "I'm not sure if we'll be able to, though."
Confused, Leo followed her gaze as she pointed to the sky. Above them, a colossal Alban flew, carrying a war propaganda billboard. The sight served as a stark reminder of the impending war between America and Florida, with the former seeking to annex not only Florida but also the Island of Cuba and other Caribbean territories.
"This war will bring total annihilation," Anna expressed her concern. "Greedy individuals govern this country. It's one of the reasons I left."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Leo's sympathy was genuine. “You were born in this country, right?”
“In this very same city.”
“Oh, isn’t that great?”
“Not so much when you have no family left,” Anna said. "Let's go, I know a place hopefully is still there."
"Sure," Leo responded, determined to keep a smile on his face despite the weight of the circumstances.
Minutes later, Leo and Anna hurried through the bustling sidewalks, the crowd parting every time a squad of soldiers marched trying to clear the area. Without a care in the world, Anna licked her ice cream. Contrary to what one might expect, Leo couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy, the ice cream parlor was still open even with the commotion going on. ‘I’m not missing this opportunity,’ the owner told him when he asked. Leo took this as a small victory, a sign that he had managed to bring a fleeting smile to Anna's lips.
Anna, seeking solace, sat on a bench when they were back in Central Park. Leo who had lost sight of her amidst the crowds reached her after 10 minutes.
"I thought you got lost,” she said.
Leo giggled. Anna rolled her eyes, unamused by his antics.
"I have no time for your nonsense," Anna declared, rising from the bench, determined to distance herself.
However, Leo, in his static feeling of joy, not willing to let her slip away followed her.
"Where are you rushing off to?" he called out, trailing behind her until he caught up and stood in her path, placing his hands gently on her shoulders to stop her.
"Let me go!" she frowned. "If you don't, you'll regret it!”
Leo sighed, shrugging. "What do you suggest we do now?"
"Whatever, as long as you keep your distance... and don't test my patience," Anna growled.
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Leo positioned himself behind her and gently pushed, attempting to coax her into walking with him.