Sweet Encounter (1.3)
Some years passed.
She was taking good care of me and also taught me every day.
Like that, a few more years passed, and I finally got into high school.
Though she never allowed me to go to school before, I convinced her this time.
I also started living in another place because I felt empty in that house.
Most of the people in that area knew me—and they often teased me, since I had rarely gone outside before.
My mother didn't say anything. She didn't care.
One day, when I came back from a school walk, I saw her standing there, smiling, with a cake she had prepared for me.
I asked her, "Why did you prepare this cake? You know I don't like cake."
She smiled and said, "Today is your birthday. You should try everything for the first time. And… to be honest, I don't have much to give you. I can't do anything grand for you, so I prepared a cake. Please try just one bite."
I couldn't reject her. So, I ate a small piece.
But after tasting it, I completely lost myself in thought.
How can a cake be this tasty?
Without realizing it, I started eating everything she made.
Watching me, she got this quiet, deep joy—something so personal it was hard to describe.
I praised her with a smile and then gave her the dress I had wanted to give her for a long time.
She was stunned at first, then softly said, "To be honest… no one has ever given me a present before."
Two drops of tears slowly fell from her eyes.
I hugged her and said gently, "It's okay."
Suddenly, I realized what I was doing and tried to let go, afraid she might misunderstand my feelings.
But then, I noticed something…
I wasn't the only one holding her.
She was holding me tightly too.
Inside myself, I whispered:
Please… don't leave me.
Please… hug me like this for the rest of my life.