Chapter 4 part 2
The way Ryzen tenderly bowed down to place a gentle kiss on my forehead spoke volumes about the respect he held for me. Never once did he ask for a kiss or dare to assume such an intimate gesture. I closed my eyes, savoring the warmth of his lips on my skin, feeling cherished and valued in that moment.
As I opened my eyes, I noticed a man standing outside the car, his gaze fixed upon us. Intrigued and slightly puzzled, I furrowed my brow, trying to decipher his intent.
Ryzen broke the silence, his voice laced with anticipation, "After we're done with our visit here, let's go see your old place. I have something I want to show you." I nodded in agreement, curious about the surprise he had planned. He gracefully exited the car, his actions almost unnoticed as my attention remained fixed on the observing stranger.
Unbeknownst to me, Ryzen was already calling me from the side of the car, the door open and waiting for my arrival. Lost in my thoughts, I failed to notice his beckoning until he softly called out, "Babe? Hey."
Snapping back to the present, I mustered a smile and responded, "Oh, yeah, sorry. My mind wandered for a moment. I'm feeling a bit hungry."
Concern flashed across Ryzen's face as he anxiously questioned, "Really? Should we grab something to eat first then?"
Reassuringly, I replied, "It's okay, we can eat later. I'll manage my hunger for now."
He hesitated, unsure whether to agree with my suggestion. Sensing his apprehension, I met his gaze with a comforting look, accompanied by a smile and a nod. "Okay then, we'll eat later. Let's go," I said, taking the lead. As he stepped back to allow me to exit the car, I turned to him once more, seeking confirmation, "Are you sure?"
Ryzen's hesitation melted away as he nodded and reassured me, "Yes, I'm sure. Your happiness and comfort are my priority."
After locking the car door, Ryzen attentively assisted me in fixing my dress, ensuring that everything was back in place. As I stepped outside, my gaze involuntarily returned to the man who had been observing us. He remained in the same spot, his eyes still fixed on me. A strange sensation washed over me, as if I had been awaiting his gaze, as if there was a familiarity between us, yet I couldn't be certain if these thoughts held any truth.
Shaking off the puzzling encounter, I redirected my attention to Ryzen, who stood patiently by my side. We exchanged nods, a silent agreement to proceed. With a gentle touch on my back and a firm grasp on my waist, he guided me forward. Although he often displayed this gesture, it never failed to elicit a gasp of surprise from me.
Approaching the gate, I couldn't help but sense the weight of curious eyes upon us. I voiced my unease, whispering, "Ry? It feels like people are intensely watching us." He responded with a hum, dismissing my concerns, "Let them look, we're here." His laughter danced in the air as I playfully pinched the side of his belly, eliciting an "ouch" from him.
"Pay them no mind, we've arrived," he reassured me, releasing his hold on my waist.
The guard at the gate gave me a wide-eyed look, clearly taken aback by our presence. Mr. Franklin, a familiar face at the orphanage, greeted me with delight. "Kiea? Oh, you're back."
Ryzen addressed Mr. Frank, his voice filled with courtesy, "Good day, Mr. Frank. May I accompany Kiea inside? Apologies for not being able to chat today; I have someone with me."
The curiosity evident in Mr. Frank's eyes couldn't be contained as he inquired, "Is he your boyfriend, Kiea?" Before I could respond, Ryzen stepped forward, firmly placing his arm on my shoulder, answering on my behalf.
With a broad smile on his face, Ryzen posed the question to Mr. Frank, "What do you think, Mr. Frank?"
Caught off guard, Mr. Frank's eyes widened, and a knowing grin appeared on his face as he looked back and forth between Ryzen and me. "I'd say the answer is quite clear," I finally spoke up, and Mr. Frank's smile widened at the confirmation, witnessing Ryzen's infectious joy.
Ryzen let out a chuckle, his voice filled with pride, "Indeed, Mr. Frank." I couldn't help but shake my head, amused by Ryzen's playful banter.
I interrupted Mr. Frank, concerned that Ryzen may have misunderstood his remark. "Yeah, though I was hoping that you and Sir Wil would come back here together, Kiea..."
With a broad grin, I shook my head, reassuring him, "We'll head inside now, Mr. Frank. It's great to see you again."
Mr. Frank nodded and replied, "Oh, yeah. Go on ahead. I'm happy to see both of you, even if you came here on your own."
His unexpected words sparked a momentary thought of Luke William, but I quickly dismissed it. I pushed aside those fleeting ideas and entered the room alongside Ryzen.
As we made our way down the hallway, Sister Ysa approached us.
"Kiea!" Sister Ysa called out with delight.
Joyfully, I embraced her and addressed her as "Sister."
"How have you been?" she inquired, squeezing my cheeks with affection.
I responded cheerfully, "I'm doing well, Sister Ysa. I was hoping to see Ms. Kleah today," but her expression shifted to one of sadness.
"Kiea, I'm afraid she's still not here," Sister Ysa said, looking at me with sympathy. "I'm sorry; I know you've been hoping for a while." My spirits dampened, but I mustered a smile.
"It's alright, Sister. There will be another opportunity, right?" I replied, attempting to maintain a positive outlook. Ryzen, who had been silently beside me, nodded and offered a smile in response to my resilient attitude.
Ryzen grinned eagerly and spoke up, "Oh, I apologize. Allow me to introduce myself." He extended his hand for a handshake and continued, "I'm Ryzen. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sister." Sister Ysa reciprocated the handshake, wearing a heartfelt smile. As people who inquired about Ryzen and me would often assume we were in a relationship, Ryzen's demeanor would quickly dispel such assumptions. I simply wished for others to know that I wouldn't outright reject him, as deep down, I knew I wouldn't.
Sister Ysa bid us farewell and started down a different path before suddenly pausing and turning back to me. "Oh, and Kiea?" she called out. "I should be going. I still need to call and gather the children."
"Yes, Sister?" I responded, her attention briefly shifting to Ryzen before returning to me. "Wil is on the swing where you used to play. I'm sorry, I just felt like I needed to tell you," she apologized. With a small bow, she then continued on her way to gather the children.
My body felt rooted in place as I stood upon the familiar ground. Just a few more steps would separate us from the swing, where I could already spot him.Why did Sister wait until now to inform me?
Ryzen's voice suddenly broke through my thoughts, filled with concern. "Babe? Babe!" he called out. "Hey, what's going on with you today?" His voice was audible, but I shushed him, my eyes beginning to well up.
"Shh."
"Shh? Are you really that hungry?" he whispered, glancing across the garden where a figure of a man caught his attention. "Babe? I told you we should eat first, but you said it's okay. Honey, hello! Just listen to me, okay? Let's grab some food, baby." I cut off Ryzen's sentence with a kiss on his lips, desperate to prevent him from raising his voice any further.