When I Was a Wallflower (Leo and Amelie)

someone called Elyse. He only knew one Elyse, and that was Elyse Clayton. She was the one who

donated her cornea to him. Leo chalked the inconsistency between the doctors’ testimonials as a slip of

the tongue. Measure twice and cut once, though.

Elyse touched her eyes, which were her most beautiful trait. They glistened and gleamed all the time.

When she met Leo’s eyes-ones that were also filled with love-she would put on a timid, sheepish smile.

Leo took that smile in another way. He thought she wouldn’t want him to find out she donated her cornea

to him. That was why he didn’t tell her he wanted to verify that the donor was her. “You should go in

now,” he muttered.

Laura watched as her boss took Elyse away. She was still confused about the whole situation. She didn’t

hear the conversation Leo had with the doctor, so she had no idea that they talked about the donor, and

now, Leo was taking Elyse to the ophthalmologist’s room.

However, she did know that Elyse’s sight was almost perfect. Is he trying to find out who the donor is?

Dammit. Laura stood around and waited until Elyse had gone into the room alone, then she called her.

“Yes, Laura? If it’s alright with you, can this wait?” asked Elyse softly.

Standing before her were tons of machines that were built to check one’s eyesight. The ophthalmologist

was already waiting for her. The old Elyse would have flown into a rage just from this call, but now she

had to make herself out to be a polite and mature woman, so she spoke softly.

“Don’t hang up!” said Laura quickly. “This is important!”

Oh, is it? Elyse covered the microphone on her phone and apologized to the ophthalmologist, “Sorry,

doctor, but can I take this call?”

“Of course.” The ophthalmologist nodded. He was surprised that Elyse was so polite. She was a top

celebrity who had starred in popular dramas and appeared in many ads. Most celebrities like her would

be arrogant and insufferable, but not her. Thanks to that, the ophthalmologist was willing to give her

some leeway despite his packed schedule.

Elyse approached the window and whispered, “Okay, speak.”

Laura took a deep breath. “Elyse, Mr. Alston is looking for the donor of the cornea.”

Elyse was unfazed by the news. Instead, she said calmly, “Is that so? Well, that’s good, then. I shall

thank them personally if he manages to find them.”

Wait. Why isn’t she panicking? Laura’s heart was racing. “The donor is a high school girl, and it was a

living: donation.”

“What?” Elyse finally looked surprised. Living donations weren’t something most people dared to do.

Hmm, but then the Alstons did put up a huge bounty for it. Some people would even sell their kidneys for

that kind of money. A cornea’s nothing. Going blind in one eye is a lot better than losing a kidney. The

donor is a teenager, isn’t she? Teenagers will do anything for money, huh.

There was no time to analyze the whole affair, so all Laura said was, “This whole thing feels off. Be

careful.”

“Yeah. Why is Leo searching for her?” A frown furrowed Elyse’s forehead. Even if it was a living

donation, the Alstons must have spent enough money to keep the donor away from them permanently.

They have no reason to come back. Unless… something’s wrong with Leo’s eyes.

She denied that thought immediately. Leo goes for an eye checkup every year, and Laura has shown me

the results. They’re all normal.

“Listen to me, Elyse. Whatever you do, just make Mr. Alston think your eyesight’s gone bad. Really bad,”

suggested Laura. She might be Leo’s assistant, but she was also Elyse’s confidant. She was the one

who helped Elyse in her relationship with Leo.

“Why?” Elyse wondered why she had to do that. “I don’t want to lie to him.” She came back this time

determined to marry Leo and get her happily ever after. Furthermore, she promised herself that she’d

treat him well.

“Elyse, a white lie won’t kill anyone. Certainly not a relationship. In fact, it’d help you guys,” Laura

persuaded patiently.

Laura liked Leo as well, but Elyse was leagues better in the looks department alone, let alone everything

else. She envied the fact that Elyse was a celebrity. Dating a celebrity would be better than dating an

assistant, or that was what she thought. She knew she wouldn’t be worthy of Leo, so Laura expressed

her love in another way-by helping Elyse get Leo.” Just…” Laura took a deep breath. “Just do as I say.

Make him think you’re the donor.”

“But this is insane!”

Not even the old Elyse would do that, and she was properly crazy back then.

Laura gripped her phone tightly. “Elyse, listen to me. That girl donated her cornea without asking for

anything in return. If Mr. Alston finds her, he will return the favor. And think about it. Why did the girl

donate her cornea willingly?”

“Um…” Elyse gripped her phone tightly as a sense of crisis overwhelmed her. She was clear about the

implications. There was only one reason for that girl to donate a part of her willingly. Love. I used to be

young once I know how far crazy people can go. She opened her mouth, but her chest suddenly felt

heavy. It stopped her from saying anything.

Laura continued, “You finally got back with Mr. Alston after going through so much. There’s no need to

cause more problems. Just make him think you’re the donor, and he’ll stop the search for that girl. Then,

you can move on to the next stage of your relationship. You said you’re taking this seriously, so make

him forget the past. Take his attention completely Bring back the good old days.”

Oh, that was Elyse’s dream.

Laura struck a nerve, which left Elyse feeling that Leo wasn’t treating her as he used to, and she had

been

trying to make him look at her once more. Should I do it? She clenched her fists so hard that her nails

dug into her flesh and her knuckles turned white, and finally, she steeled her resolve.