Chapter 41: The Compassion
THE COMPASSION
ERIC’s POV
“How old are you again?” I asked and noticed her nibble on her lower lip before answering.
“Twenty-three.” She replied.
“You know Ice creams are meant for kids, right?”
She stared at the cobblestone ground, her pale cheeks instantly turning red as she did. “I’m not so big, I’m just twenty-three years old. At my age, a certain amount of sugar isn’t such a bad idea, is it?” She muttered, meeting my gaze briefly.
“You’re still a grown-up.”
“Yes, but I’m not as big as you. I’m small, you said that the other day. ‘Why do you have to be so little, wife?’ Remember?”
I listened to her quote me while trying to imitate my voice, and I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. She looked cute.
“I meant why you had to be so little in statute, not age.” I corrected her.
“But it doesn’t matter, or does it? I’m still little at something, which means I can have ice cream, right?” She asked, looking up at me with a pair of big puppy-like hazel cat-shaped eyes, and I couldn’t refuse her, not like I ever had any plans of refusing her at any time.
“Fine!” I sighed. “You can have anything you want.”
“Yippy!!” She flung her small hands in the air as she squealed in excitement and I couldn’t help but laugh at her self-effacing mannerism.
RAYNE’S POV
As we approached the end of the narrow road where the music was the loudest, my mouth dropped in stunned surprise. The street was lit all around with bulbs of various colors and was filled with thousands of people either holding hands while walking, sitting over a bench, talking, or dancing at the center of the crowd.
The sight in front of me was beautiful and to top it all, the aroma of various kinds of local foods coming from a variety of places whisked passed my nostrils, making my mouth water. I looked around for where the aroma was coming from and my eyes caught a food truck in the opposite direction and I couldn’t help but grin.
“Let’s eat ice cream first, then after that, we would have some street food and then continue with ice cream.”
Next to the food vendor was an ice cream truck. I squealed in excitement when I saw it, and I hurried towards it at once as if any little delay might snatch the opportunity from me.
ERIC’s POV
“Ice cream!” She screamed and ran off in the direction of the ice cream truck parked in the opposite direction.
Really? I couldn’t believe she had let go of my hand just for a few plates of ice cream. Did she have any idea of how many women wished and begged to be held by me, but I only gave her that privilege. Yet, she chose a plate of ice cream over me.
Wow! Just wow. She couldn’t even wait for me. How caring. By the time I crossed over to the other lane, she was already standing in front of the truck.
“Mom, look, it’s an ice cream truck.”
I turned around to see a lad scream in excitement and hurry off in the truck’s direction. In that kid, I could see Rayne and at that moment, I knew I had married a kid.
“I want one, Mommy.” The child said, bouncing in excitement.
“Hold on Lilly, just a second dear. Let’s just concentrate on the cultural display, mommy doesn’t have any money for ice cream.”
RAYNE’S P. O. V
I glanced at the kid bubbling up and down next to me in excitement, she was just like me. Enthusiastic about ice cream.
“Come on Lily, I don’t have any money for ice cream.” A freckle-faced woman said. I guessed her to be the child’s mother. Hearing those words reminded me of my childhood. Mom and Dad never really could afford these things for me, so I could understand how the kid felt.
“But Mommy, I want one.” The little girl pouted sadly.
“I know Lily, but Mommy doesn’t have any money for now. I promise to get you as many ice creams as you want next time. I felt my heart break at those words. On many occasions, Mom and Dad had said the same to me while growing up and I had had no choice but to understand.
“Okay, Mommy.” She nodded sadly, glanced at the ice cream truck one last time, then started retreating.
ERIC’s POV
“Wait!” She called back to the little girl and then walking up to her, she crouched down to her level.
“Hello pretty, do you want an ice cream?”
The lad glanced at her and pouted. “Yes, but Mommy can’t afford it right now, so it’s fine.” The little girl said. I noticed something flash across Rayne’s eyes as she touched the child’s cheek and then looked up at her mother.
“I’d like to buy Lilly a cup of ice cream, ma’am.” She said, smiling at the child’s mother.
“No, don’t bother, we are fine.”
“No, it’s not a bother, I’d really appreciate it if you let me do this for your daughter. After all, it’s a night of sharing in the City of love, I might fall sick if I don’t.”
The woman glanced in between her and the little girl who had her eyes fixated on the mother. She was reluctant at first, but then looking into her daughter’s eyes, she couldn’t help but agree.
I smiled inwardly as I watched them. I couldn’t quite explain how I felt at the sight in front of me. It was beautiful and emotional, but I found myself staring at Rayne. The way she had been with the kid earlier had me thinking two things at a time. What she had said that day at the park about her childhood.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.
And, what it would feel like to have little versions of us run around the mansion back in Los Angeles.