There was dead Silence in Ryan's study. No one spoke. All Leonel did was glance at him from time to time, gulping hardly.
Finally, after what seemed like ages, Ryan spoke
"Have someone ever asked you to protect their child even when you haven't met them?" he asked out of the blue. His eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Leonel wondered where that came from. Who had such guys to ask Lord Ryan for protection?
"No, young master" he replied
"Then why would someone ask me to?"
"Maybe he or she trusts that you'll protect them" he had to be careful with his words. He's definitely not ready for a blow. Ryan brought his head down, tilting it to the side
"Really?"
"Y-Yes, young master"
"Hmm" he cold smile crept to his face.
*....*...*.....*...*....*....*.....*.....*...*
A young girl around eight years old sat on a bench by the road. Checking each sides as tears streamed down her face.
"Mummy, where are you?" She cried. No one was in sight to comfort her. She kept calling unto her mother, her head bent and her eyes closed.
"Mummy, where are you? Please come back" she cried so hard that her face turned red. She couldn't bear staying without her mother. Everywhere looked so empty like it 1was a different world with only her in it. The more she cried, the more her temperature increased.
"Ari" a sort voice called her. The little girl sniffed as she opened her eyes slowly. The moment she saw the person in front of her, her face beamed with joy.
"Mummy!!" She exclaimed, hugging her mother real tight, fearing that she'll disappear.
"Mummy, where did you go?" Why did you leave?"
"I'm sorry. I never wanted to leave you behind. Everything happened so fast" she said, rubbing her daughter's back.
"Well now that you're here, let's go home" Ari said "Promise you won't leave me anymore"
There was a moment of silence before the woman pulled away. She wiped Ari's tears and said "Ari, mummy loves you okay?" Ari nodded.
"And remember, I'll always be with you. But right now, mummy has to go " she said sadly.
"Mummy please" Ari cried while shaking her head.
"I don't have much time. I don't want to go but I have no choice" she hugged her tightly and then pulled away. Standing up, she walked away while Ari held unto the last grip on her finger before it slipped away. She watched her mother walk into the shadows and she cried bitterly, calling out to her repeatedly and begging her not to leave.
Arianna woke up panting. Her body drenched in sweat as her chest went up and down.
It was a dream. It was just a dream.
She hugged her legs and buried her face in it as tears formed in her eyes. She began to cry
"Mum. Why did you leave me? You should have stayed a little, that way I wouldn't be suffering like this" she cried.
After some moments, she lifted her head and wiped away her tears. She looked at the picture on the drawer bedside her and smiled.
"I hope you're happy there. If there's ever a next life, I'd still want to be your daughter" she smiled warmly. It's been twelve years since her mother died and she still haven't gotten over her. Her mother was her strength, her everything. She was told her father never wanted her. What a shameless man! If she had ever seen his picture, she would have hunted him down and skin him alive. A smirk appeared on her face and then there was a harsh knock.
"Arianna, are you still sleeping there?! Get up and go do the dishes" the person in the other side spoke curtly "oh, and you have to wash my clothes too."
"Aish!" Arianna cursed underneath "They sure know how to get on someone's nerves"
She got down from the bed and dragged her feet to the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and washed her face. Once she came out of the bathroom, she heard a loud shout.
"ARIANNA!" Echoing through the walls. All she did was pretend she heard nothing while she took out
comfy clothes for house chores.