The anxious pulling of the little girl made Alban have no choice but to follow. Lili's short chubby legs run vigorously as if something is going to happen or as if she is afraid that what attracts her is going to be gone or going to run away.
Alban worriedly glance at her, seeing the effort she put as she tried to hurry, he felt helpless. He stopped Lili, bending down to carry her in his arms. Lili naturally put her arms around his neck and urged him. "Go Big brother, hurry! "
"Quiet. Stop squirming. "Said Alban as he held Lili while struggling to hold her with his small body.
Even though Alban is taller than boys his age, and his body is strong and resilient after the harsh training he received, but how big can the gap between the bodies of a seven years old to a five years old? Especially when that five years old is squirming restlessly and trying to make his body go faster.
The antique store is just next door. It has many antiques gathered through two thousand years and some smattering of antiques left over from the old Earth that some people are lucky enough to discover.
Ofcourse it is also very expensive, reaching billions of dollars as they are the evidence of the old Earth ,and some of them are priceless and cannot be bought and belongs to the existing government .
The two quickly arrived at the store, their parents hot at their heels. After entering the store, they saw lots of cluttered items, ranging from vases to glasses, clocks, cabinets and wardrobes, and a whole shelf of jewelries and watches.
Lili patted her big brother's shoulder, signaling that she want to get down. When her feet touch the ground, she was like a rocket released, launching towards the shelf of jewelries.Father Lu and Mother Lu was alarmed, their arms reaching uncontrollably towards their daughter trying to catch her and to avoid her bumping into the merchandises around the shop.
Lili was very fast, but Alban was even faster,catching her at the waist and stopping her from throwing herself at the shelf. Alban was angry. He swats her butt and asked her with gritted teeth.
"What's wrong with you Lili? Can you be more careful? "Lili came to herself, then look at him with apologies in her eyes.
"I'm sorry brother. I don't know what's wrong with me. It seem like something is controlling my action and I can't stop but want to go over here. "Lili pointed at the jewelry shelf. Alban frowned, perplexed. But he moved with Lilian his arms and walk towards the shelf.
Aldrich and Felicia breathe a sigh of relief, then turn around to look for the shopkeeper. They are assured to leave their daughter with their son.
Alban and Lili arrived at where the jewelry are placed, Lili directed her brother to go to where her feelings are the strongest . They stop at the end, both their eyes attracted by a shabby looking pendant.
The pendant is a YinYang symbol, but instead of being in their typical color of black and white,it is pale blue and red. It looks very old, and placed among exquisite and beautiful old antiques, it looks fake and something that got lost by somebody who had bought it in some thrift shops. But what is strange about it is that it attracted the eyes of the pair of siblings.
Alban's heart pounded, his heart going at a rate similar to Lili's. Something was urging the both of them to grab it. Unconsciously, both of their hands grab at the pendant, Lili's hand at the blue side and Alban is at the red side. The pendant, which was whole at the beginning, split into two parts.
The sharp edges of the torn pendants somehow managed to nicked both their hands, staining it with their blood.
Lili inhaled sharply, tears forming in her eyes as she blow at her wounds hand. She didn't let go of the pendant, her restless feeling settling down when she held the bloodstained pendant.
Alban worriedly glance at Lili, and when he saw that she is alright, he took his handkerchief on his pockets and wipe at her hands. Her wound is just a little nick,not serious. Not noticing that the blood on their pendants flash and dissapeared,Alban questioned Lili.
"Are you okay now? Are there something else urging you to find it? "Lili shook her head.
"If so, let's find Mom and Dad ."He said while looking around the shop to catch a glimpse of their parents. He saw them talking to a big bellied middle aged man, their mom holding a lovely pink rabbit lamp and an antique alarm clock in the shape of a leopard, clearly negotiating with the big bellied middle age man, the shopkeeper.
Aldrich stood behind his wife,acting like a bodyguard, an intimidating aura around him as he glared at the poor shopkeeper. The shopkeeper wiped his forehead, his sweat running down as he cried aggrieved inside .
"I'm just trying to earn a living here, not bullying your wife! So please stop killing me with your eyes! "He wants to shout at Aldrich, but keep his mouth shut as he had feeling that he will be beheaded the instant he did so, forgetting that law is prominent and Aldrich will not kill him in the center of the city where security is tight.
"Papa, Mama! "called Lili. Felicia stop her onesided negotiating ,turning her head towards her children, Aldrich following her actions. The shopkeeper breathe in relief, feeling he had been save from the death row. Earning a living nowadays is like going to war, so stressful! His thinning hair is testament to that.
"Lili, Alban! Have you found what you want? "Felicia asked. Lili nodded her head like a chicken pecking at rice, her lovely cute round eyes twinkling as she held up her hand holding her blue pendant and raising Alban's other hand holding the red pendant, she said
"Mama,me and Big brother wants these two, can we have them please? "Alban looked at Felicia, clearly also wanting to have the pendants. Felicia was taken aback by thier choices, She could not believe that Lili would choose an unremarkable pendant.
"Is that what you two really want? Do you want something else? "Felicia asked in concern as she thinks that these two just do not want their parents to spend more.
"No Mom, Lili and I just want these. "Alban interjected. Felicia hesitantly looked at them, and then at her husband. Aldrich nodded and said, "Let them, besides, you also bought them a lamp and a clock, so it's okay. "Felicia was satisfied,turning to once again onesidedly bombard the poor shopkeeper, who, at Aldrich threatening eyes, unwillingly lowered his price. Father Lu really spoiled his wife to the point of shamelessness, letting her do what she wants.
The Lu family triumphantly walked out of the store, their spoils of war in their hands as they discussed what to go next, to which Lili and Felicia wins by deciding to go shopping. Aldrich wince at the thought of the torturing long hours of shopping, symphatizing Alban, as he will learn the arduous task of accompanying the ladies in their shopping.
By the time they finish their outing and returned home, Aldrich and Alban was drained. Alban's gaze towards his mother and sister was unbelievable,like looking at strange creatures.
His smart mind can't turn around the fact that a strong man like Aldrich and a strong boy like him, both of them clearly trained and experienced battles, was like a wilting vegetable leaf after that tiring shopping, while the obvious delicate mother and daughter was glowing, their faces gleaming with smiles as they organized the shopping bags.
Aldrich chuckled when he saw Alban's eyes. He advised him, "Don't keep thinking about it. No matter how unscientific it is, it is hard fact that women are more resilient then men when it comes to shopping, especially when it comes to shopping."He stressed hard, laughing harder when Alban looked at him with eyes that shouted"Are you f**king serious?! "