"I promise I won't cry if you accompany me here." The boy replied with a face that began to glow.
"Dummy! How could I leave you, I have no friends except you." She chuckled as soon as she sat on the mattress with The Amazing World of Gumball pictures as the bed sheet.
"What were you doing?" Jazzlin's eyes looked around her, the room was like an abandoned room. It was chaotic and neglected.
He shrugged in a half shoulder, "I just keep playing with that." He pointed at his LEGO Games.
The little girl narrowed her eyes and nodded slowly, "I don't like playing that." She commented but it was more like ordering the boy to understand what she really wanted.
A sweet smile slipped on the boy's face as he approached the girl who had her arms crossed over her chest, "Then, what are you going to play with?" He asked in a light voice.
"Cooking? Um-no, my mom will be angry if I burn the plants in the yard again." The girl was deep in thought, her little fingers tapping her pink lips. "How about playing Barbie? Ugh! Big no no. You'll hide it again then pretending there are no toys left, so I have to play LEGO with you." She shook her head at the thoughts.
He grinned sheepishly, "Shall we go camping?"
He meant backyard camping not camping in the woods, mountains, or whatever.
"Come on." The girl's eyes sparkled, she immediately ran out, down the stairs and met Mr. Sumedh who was sitting with a newspaper in his hands.
"Hey kid, are you done getting Baby Bear's attention?" He put down the newspaper and responded to her excited gaze.
She nodded in a flash, "We'll be camping soon!"
"Wohoo, that's great!" He smiled, "Tell me what you need for your camp this year?" Even though, it was only a child's idea, Mr. Sumedh served them kindly and gently. What a beneficent man.
"I want-" She was cut off when Barra came down and took over Mr. Sumedh's gaze, which had already lit up seeing his only son finally leaving the room.
"There he is." Little Jazzlin shouted in her enthusiasm seeing Barra who had changed his clothes.
Mr. Sumedh's eyes now returned to the blonde-haired girl in front of him, "Thank you, Jazzlin."
"Hey, how are you pal?" He made fun of little Barra who looked a little embarrassed, occasionally he ruffled his hair.
"I'm sorry dad." That was the only answer came out of the boy's mouth.
"I'm the one who should apologize to you." He stood up to his only child, then crouched down. "Next time, tell me what you think or feel. We're buddies who can share stories with each other."
Seeing this memory my heart throbbed. The Ainsley's and the Ozza's were really good people. They were caring and protected each other.
"Hey." I snapped back to my true state. Warmness was enfolding my hand then I noticed his hand on mine. He gave me a worried look as well as confused, wondering what was wrong with me.
"I was just reminiscing about our memories when we were at Alia's age." Rubbing my neck shyly under his intense, interrogating gaze.
"Good old days." He chuckled, "Which memory sticks in your head?"
"Umm..." It was impossible for me to explain to him the part of my memory about his mother and when he locked himself in for almost a week.
"When we camped." I answered with alacrity. "Do you remember it?"
"Of course, I remember it." He laughed, "You held the camp when you were the one who cheated when night came. Secretly came back home and slept soundly on your bed."
"Hey!" I growled.
"Then you also trying to scared me by telling me that we got a ghost in our tent. Fortunately, I never fell into your trap. In fact, you were the one getting afraid about those ghosts thing." His laugh looked so loose, "I miss those times." His bewitching eyes were now glancing at me again.
"Dumb-ass!" I rolled my eyes.
"And, who was being scolded for accidentally burning her mother's favorite plant?" He teased me.
I mocked him, "Oh yeah? And who has ever cried when got punished for not doing homework?"
"It wasn't embarrassing to admit mistakes by crying." He smirked, "Now tell me, who threw away the next door neighbor's sandals and then acting all innocent?"
Jazzlin was once scolded by her neighbor, Mrs. Lidia. She was fierce and didn't really like children. But, she was dealing with the wrong girl.
In her annoyance, Little Jazzlin sneaked in and then took a pair of sandals from Mrs. Lidia's mansion.
Barra was her partner in crime. They used to do things together.
"If she finds out ... our story is over." Barra reminded the little girl next to him who was super stubborn.
"I don't care! I just pushed her accidentally, but she scolded me like I had set fire to her house." She insisted on her stance.
She stopped from her track, looking back. The boy behind her got startled, "And you." She pointed the boy's face, "Don't tell anyone!" She threatened him, but he was only smiled faintly seeing his little friend's behavior. "Or I'll throw all your toys away."
"I'm not gonna tell anyone." He was trying to get her trust.
"That's why I like you." She was blabbering, "Wait, don't get me wrong.. I mean-"
"I know." He quite understood this bossy innocent girl.
The two kids ran over to the trash can. Without feeling guilty, Jazzlin threw the pair of sandals into it. "What a shame." She scoffed at the pair of innocent sandals, "Let's get out of here." She grabbed the hand of the boy who only said yes.
"Where have you been?" My mother, Rose Ozza asked when she saw us entering the door. She looked younger than the version I had ever seen.
"We've finished studying." Jazzlin answered without hesitation.
Barra shook his head, but Jazzlin stomped his feet, "Isn't that right?" The girl was intimidating the boy who was in pain.
"Ah, Y-yes, auntie." He answered hesitantly.
Jazzlin was good at lying. Too good.
"I was shocked to hear this, so proud that my daughter finally wants to study." She rubbed little Jazzlin's head. "Thank you for wanting to help Jazzlin." Barra trembled with guilt at the sincerity of Jazzlin's mother. However, on the other hand, Jazzlin was sending her murderous glare, waiting for him to answer.
"It's nothing, auntie. I'm also happy to teach her." He said haltingly.
She smiled then left them, "Don't tell anyone or tomorrow you won't see where your favorite toy anymore." Jazzlin narrowed her eyes.
End of flashback, "While you're mentioning me about sandals. Do you remember how scared you were of me?" I smirked, "Two can play at that game."
"Shall I show you how the past can change?" His eyes darkened for a moment, bringing his face closer to me. The world seemed to had stalled. I gasped as his eyes now focused on my lips.
"Uh, I-" I stuttered.
"I know what you're thinking, principessa. You're so naughty." He said in a deep-husky voice.
I was speechless.
He smirked, irritating me more. "Don't forget there's a girl sleeping among us."
For Heaven's sake! I forgot that Alia was here.
"Take care of your dirty thoughts." I replied wryly.
"Me?" He chuckled, "Want to know how I think? And what I want to do to you so badly?" He sounded so fucking hot in those intense eyes.
Holy shit. My cheeks changed to one color. Freaking red!
The sweet and innocent little Barra had now turned into a deadly handsome devil.
"No, you jerk chicken!" I looked away, avoided him as trying to get myself on track.
"You had called me lamb, and now chicken?"
"Uh-huh, You're a lamb with a chicken's head." I mocked.
"Sounds weird but still, I like that."
I was squeezing my hands since earlier, "You're always looking for a war! I h-" He covered my mouth with his hand. This method really made me clam up. His eyes glowed under the passing street light.
"Don't scream, take a look, Alia is sleeping." He said softly as Alia moved, shifting her stance.
"Fuck." I cursed.
"Madam, please don't speak too harshly. Who knows Alia already woke up and heard it." He smiled triumphantly when I was cornered.
"Whatever." I answered with a huff then leaned my head back. "And, don't call me madam!" That day was tiring, my legs were tired from running, everything was just tiring.
My head started to go dizzy when Haytham's words were repeated. Revenge... but for what fault? He had been affected by his revenge.
Intrigued but what I felt was just wanting to back away from my curiosity. Afraid that my curiosity this time would bring an end to me.
The point was I had a bad feeling behind his revenge.
There should be every pieces of memory in my head, but the important parts I had never found.
Ugh! I hated solving puzzles, but this was a different story when it came to the people I was caring the most.
Haytham, whom I had known all this time, couldn't have turned out like this if there was no reason. I needed to know! After all this concerned the current me.
My eyes began to feel heavy, without realizing that sleep was approaching me.