"Say, have you ever truly loved me?"
The calloused brush of his hands skimmed past her fervent skin, settling perfectly behind her neck as he pulled her close, forehead against forehead with their lips hovering merely a breath apart.
Like the fractured wings of a butterfly, weak and trembling, her long lashes fluttered open, crystal-like tears clinging onto her wide, almond eyes as she studied the sharp contours of his flawless features.
The man was blindfolded, the strip of red muslin holding him sane failing to diminish the allure of his ravaging looks as it had instead highlighted whatever perfection lay in wait beneath.
"O-Of course, I do…"
She gulped, goosebumps running down her spine as her fingers crawled to reach the prominent arc of his jaws, only to touch something red.
"Lies."
Her heart fell. As if out of instinct, her hand rushed to wrap around her stomach, as if desperately protecting whatever was within.
"Slut! How dare you?!!"
Her scalp shot in pain. She wrenched and fought back and yet, the forceful grip on her hair didn't loosen.
"Whose child are you bearing? Say! Who's that bastard belong to?"
A series of kicks and punches were hurled against her body, sparking a throbbing pain everywhere, not even leaving a patch intact.
"I'm sorry." She could only apologize and beg. "Please, spare me and my child…"
But the abuse didn't stop. It was unrelenting. It was never-ending.
Until finally, she escaped.
She was finally free.
"What about me?"
The man's voice once again returned, sounding so weak and dying.
"Why did you lie to me?"
His voice, once sharp and demanding, shook and broke.
"Why did you… not want me anymore?"
Why… Why… Why…
Why… Why…
Why…
"Mommy!"
The tap on her shoulder woke her out of her restless dream. Ruby's teary eyes snapped wide, alarmed and confused.
Her trembling hands, still dotted with cold sweat, were soon enveloped with something soft and warm.
"Mommy…"
Blinking her tears away, Ruby slowly lowered her eyes, a doting smile blooming across her pale face as she took in the sight of her soft little baby struggling out of his seatbelt, planning to nuzzle his way into her arms.
Unable to hold the itch in her heart, she tousled the boy's fluffy head until it was an unredeemable mess, before landing a lipstick-stained smooch on the boy's fair cheeks to perfect her masterpiece.
"Oh my little Danny, how can you be this cute~"
She giggled when she saw the heat crawling onto her little Daniel's skin, painting them red and lovable as the little boy pouted in displeasure, "Mommy is crying in her sleep again. Mommy must've dreamt about Daddy again…"
"Why does Daddy always bully Mommy in her dreams? The Daddy in Danny's dreams is kind and likes to play soccer with Danny…"
Listening to the boy's begrudging mumbles, Ruby was stunned. The tears that had previously soaked dry once again returned, drenching her round almond eyes pitiful.
"My baby Danny, do you miss your Daddy?"
Daniel furiously shook his head, the frown on his chubby face serious and severe, "Daddy is a big bully! Danny dislikes Daddy!"
The little boy's childish antics once again brought a smile onto her lips as Ruby pinched his fuming cheeks, "Danny hasn't even met him once. How do you know Daddy is a big bully?"
"I don't care." Daniel said, his tone domineering. "Whoever bullies Mommy is a bad person! No matter what, Danny will always side with Mommy."
Ruby nearly melted in her seat at the boy's overload cuteness. "You're truly Mommy's little man, so dependable and lovable…"
"Dear esteemed guests, we will be landing shortly…"
If not for the flight attendant's sudden announcement of their landing, she would've made fun of her baby for at least another two rounds.
Ruby double-checked to make sure the seatbelts on her baby boy were secured before fastening her own belts, her mind drifting elsewhere as her sight settled on the drifting clouds lying beyond the tinted window.
It had been 6 years since she left the country out of desperation.
It had been so long. That man… should've long forgotten about her, right?
…
An hour later, Ruby stepped out of the airport with two suitcases dragged with one hand and little Daniel single-handedly carried in her other hand.
On the same right hand where she's carrying Daniel, a fully-loaded backpack was simultaneously strung on her back. With this kind of fully-armed equipment, and when coupled with an all-black fitting-sized bodysuit, leather jacket, and a pitch-black sunglasses framing her otherwise palm-sized face, she truly looked like the savvy super mother from the movies, attracting attention wherever she went.
Once in a while, a few gazes of pity were thrown at her, not knowing that Ruby hadn't even faltered a step, carrying the load all by herself as if they were but a bristle of the wind.
As they arrived at the cab picking point, the boy in her arms suddenly squirmed with discomfort.
"Mommy, nature is calling for Danny…" Little Daniel's voice was incredibly low and weak, sparking panic over Ruby.
"N-Nature? What's wrong, baby? Are you feeling any pain?"
Flustered, Ruby quickly dropped her belongings and reached for the boy's chest, rubbing it slowly as her other hand pulled the boy's hand, checking on the heart monitoring watch fixed on his wrist.
"Heart rate… normal…" Ruby let out a relieved sigh as she mumbled confusingly, not realizing how frustratingly red the boy had become.
"Silly Mommy, Danny wants to pee pee…"
The boy broke out of her grip with embarrassment, before rushing his way to the nearest restroom with the shuffle of his small feet. Ruby was left there stoning like a statue, not knowing what just transpired.
"Pee pee…"
Realization had only washed over her when the boy's figure entirely disappeared from her sight. Ruby raised a hand to cover her face, suppressing her helpless laugh.
"Nature's calling… so that's what he meant. Silly me thinking of something else…"
She shook her head at her own silliness, before pulling out her phone to dial her designated driver, informing the hired man of her location.
In the airport's restroom, little Daniel left his cubicle with a grumble, the heat on his cheeks stubborn and everlasting.
Despite having only turned 5 this year, the smart and independent him knew better than to leave the restroom without taking care of his hygiene.
He headed to the shortest sink and meticulously washed his hand with soap, before reaching out to pull at the napkin dispenser.
Finding himself too short and the dispenser too tall, he politely asked the silent man beside him for help, pausing shortly when he saw the man's peculiar appearance.
A cold ruler-like aura. Impeccable features. High-end black suit with sharp edges, and a blindfold that further enhanced his other excellence.
Daniel's round eyes suddenly sparked with interest, his voice turning bright and sweet as if he was talking to impress.
"Handsome Uncle, are you cosplaying for an event?"