"You should go check up on her, shouldn't you? Hm. Dear?"
Said Alina with a smirk on her face as stares right into Gracie's face who was trying her best to not meet her eyes. Gracie's bowl of food was already cold while Alina's plate still left a puff of steam. Warm and still had the scent of delicacy.
Alina: Smirking. "Won't that show your caring persona?"
Gracie: Her body stiffened and Alina saw it, making her let out a low laugh in response to Gracie's reaction, and getting her even more stiff.
Alina: "Hey, dear. Why so stiff I see? Ha. Don't worry, I'm just teasing." She says as she leans closer, her chest touching the edge of the table.
Gracie: As she leaned close Gracie felt as if the table was too small and Alina was very close, she didn't see how close she was but could feel it.
Looking down at the bowl she took a spoon full into her mouth. It was cold.
[She's getting too close—]
Alina: Alina's eyes widened.
"Hold on. Is that cold? You can't eat it like that. No no. I don't allow it."
She shifted a bit in the chair, uncrossed her legs and reached her hand over Gracie's bowl.
"Let me."
Alina touched the edge of the bowl and the food suddenly let out steam. It was warm again. With that she leaned back to her chair, her back on the rail of the chair.
Gracie glances up to look at her and her eyes widen, to her surprise, Alina was pouting at her.
Alina sighed.
"Haa. Dear. You should've told me that it got cold. I know you like everything warm. Don't you…?"
…
Gracie: She was quiet. Her head still lowered but couldn't help and glance up to Alina, who was looking at her.
[... I'm surprised again… This isn't the first time yet whenever she does something kind it seems to always surprise me.]
The corner of her lips twitched and her teeth clinched, as if holding in a reaction that threatened to escape.
Alina: "Why so quiet?"
She crossed her legs and leaned back more to the rails of the chair.
"What? You're mad at me now that I teased you…? Bad girl." She pouts even more.
Gracie: She lowers her head, avoiding eyes with Alina. Right hand holding the spoon while the left hand under the table, fingers clinched.
[What was that? Was I… about to smile?]
She forcefully coughed and glanced up at Alina only to avert her eyes and bring it back down.
[She said I used to cry a lot back then, did I really…? Why don't I remember anything? It was only two years ago. I remember n–no–nothing! At least I should've recalled some moments. Even the bad ones and here I remember nothing.]
Alina: Seeing Gracie's silence she snaps her fingers loud. Too loud even for a snap like her. As if the sounds were also abnormal. Gracie's attention was pulled by the snap.
"Hey hey, dear. What are you thinking about? Is it teasing that got into your head?"
Gracie was about to deny with a no and shaking of her head but Alina didn't give her time to say anything and continued with her own words.
"Hm. Is it my teasing that got into your head? My pretty girl?"
She pouts even more and rolls her eyes as she lets a huff of air.
"It's just friendly teasing between me and you. Right… Between mother and daughter?"
Gracie: Gracie's eyes widened when she heard what Alina said and back straight.
"Wh–what?"
Alina: She leaned over with a smile both her elbow on the table as both hand cups her cheeks.
"What? You are my daughter aren't you? And I am your mother."
Gracie: She was stunned by the words mother and daughter echoing in her ears as her mind replayed the words Alina just said. Looking at Alina stunned with wide eyes no words came out of Gracie's mouth and it only seemed to make Alina even happier.
[Wh–what? Mother and daughter. No. Miss Alina… Isn't my mother. She cannot be…]
She pressed her lips as she again replayed the words of Alina.
[She never said anything like this before? No no, what if she meant something else and I... I just misheard it…]
Alina: Smiling with delight she reached her left hand out to Gracie and when she saw Alina's hand reaching out to her she freezed unable to move nor react to Alina's sudden advances.
Alina pinched Gracie's cheeks.
"Dear, Gracie. Why are you so quiet? Cat got your tongue?" She chuckled.
"Hey. I was a bit upset when I found out that girl is asleep, but now I'm kinda glad. You know why…? It's because we're here alone… Mama and… what would you be?"
She let out a low laugh as she leaned even closer, her chest pressed more on the edge of the table as she tried her best to cup most of Gracie's cheeks.
"Hm."
Gracie: She was quiet. Not even reacting to Alina's advances.
[Miss Alina. What are you doing? Miss Alina! Wait. Hump—]
Even her thoughts seemed to pause when she felt Alina cup her cheeks. It was a chilling warmth.
[Wh—what is this…?]
She subconsciously leaned more into her touch.
[This. It seems like I've felt this before. But when…? I can't seem to recall… Is it too, one of the moments I forgot? The ones I had with her?]
Gracie closed her eyes as she leaned more onto the touch, and the other hand of Alina, also came to cup the other side of Gracie face. And Gracie lets out a breath of relief.
The other hand. The right hand which she used to ate her food was suddenly all clean and there was no hint of it being used as a utensil for eating.
Alina: Her next words came out as soft and soothing the soul of Gracie. Her voice was the same as ever but what Gracie heard felt heart warming. In her ears the words were softer than ever. But in reality it was nothing but her own imagination.
"Gracie. Don't fall asleep my dear. Ha. You know. Back then. While you cried I always embraced you and you always, always peacefully fell asleep in my arms… Ha."
She got up from the chair and for a moment her hands left Gracie's cheeks and Gracie jolted awake, breath hardened and eyes widened.
Gracie grasped for air, her heart beating fast until Alina's hands again met her face. Alina now stood behind Gracie, leaning forward.
…
Her chest gently pressed at the back of Gracie's neck. She giggled.
"Hey now, don't fall asleep dear. I just reheated your meal. You seem tired, shall I spoon feed you?"
Gracie: She opens her eyes, blinked as her fingers let the spoon drop on the bowl, beside the fork she rarely used.
Alina: Her smile widens, and she bites her lip trying to hold in a laugh.
"Seems like a yes."
Alina picks up the spoon, taking in a spoon full of whatever she chose, she brings it up close to Gracie's lip.
"Say ahh."