Chương 49: Ghost

Now there were two poutting kids, one temporary boy and one real boy, standing in horse stance in the backyard of the summer house under the blazing sun.

And next to them laid a woman with green hair on a deck chair and a parasol that protected her from the sun.

The heck!

What wanting to teach Emilié about survival skills and what not, Sera integrated the role of the bad cop onto her flesh, acting it out to perfection.

Taking the glass of ice-cold water in one hand and the chilled strawberry in the other, concluded that it was now her turn to watch and enjoy.

Now if only she could have some live drama to amuse herself with, then her day would be successfully completed.

"Aunty Sera, those are my strawberries" whined the boy named Aria.

Yet Sera took no heed of his whining and bite with relish in the strawberry, just as Aria did as he tried to pick on Emilié.

Why must this aunty be mean to him too? It is really childish of her and not fair! He only ate a strawberry! Have some pity, okay!

Aria was the nephew of Jane, of her sister's side.

His parents were volunteer doctors, who constantly traveled around the globe to care for people, who otherwise would never receive professional medical care.

Their wish was for the poor and helpless to have a good life and for that one needed to be healthy, those they helped around wherever they could.

So his parents had no time to spare for him, nor would have the frequent change of environment done him any good.

It would have just wore him out in the long run and that was why Aria was given to his aunt, who was living alone after her husband's death; to be taken care of.

It was for them like striking to birds with one stone, Jane wouldn't feel lonely and Aria would be in good hands.

But Aria had no one in his age to hang around with and his aunty was a person with a laid-back lifestyle.

He felt neglected by his own parents absence and his aunt's slackness, plus the absence of anyone he can relate to.

So as he saw a child of his own age, he was really elated, he was not alone anymore, hence he wanted to tease the newcomer a bit.

He wished to make friends and not sought out punishment!

The sun was looming over their heads, the air was dry and both kids throats were parched and a view of a maddened woman didn't make it any better.

Only five minutes later, Aria couldn't handle being bared unprotected to the rays of the sun.

"Aunty I know my wrong. Please give us a break." Came the pleading voice of Aria.

He learned he should not tease anybody, who is being tortured by this bad aunty. Next time he would run away by the slightest glimpse of this ice-block.

Alas, he did not now yet, that in the future how matter how far he'd try to run away, he would be captured by this cold-hearted witch and made an unwilling training companion for Emilié.

Where the both of them shared the horrors and scars that woman left in them for the following years.

But that is something for another time to write about, now back to the pleading little puppies.

Emilié contributed to the plea too, with widening her eyes like a little doe screaming,

Food! Please!

Sera put her drink back and the corner of her mouth twitched lightly by the word 'aunty'. "You're right." she said chilly.

Calling her 'aunty' and that two times was not a good idea. One she has ignored, but the second... well, count today as a bad one.

Before Emilié and Aria could sigh out of relief and take a break, Sera took out two sun hats and a bottle of sunscreen from behind the chair.

Seeing this, Emilié and Aria looked at each other exasperated knowing what she implayed and then back to Sera who stood in front of them now.

Right, they are 'mostly' complaining because of the sun. So when the sun is the least of their problem they should keep shut.

Even though Emilié is complaining because of food, but whatever. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sera pulled the sun hats over their heads, plopped open the sunscreen and took a handful smearing it on Aria's face and any other bared skin that was to be backed to a crisp.

He stood there stiffly allowing Sera access without complain, since that wouldn't bring him any good anyways.

Pff- a light snort escaped from Emilié.

Aria watched her bewildered. What was she laughing at? Doesn't she know that none of them would get a break?! It isn't that funny!

His thoughts written all over his face, Emilié said, "Ghost" with her hoarse voice, looking at him with laughter in her eyes.

It was really surprising to see that Aria loosened Emilié up a bit, after everything that happened in the mansion.

Must be the sun that fried her brain.

"Ghost your Mom!" Aria cursed, becoming even more bewildered.

What ghost! He wasn't scary looking ok!

Furthermore, her voice was more suitable for a ghost's, than for whatever reason she was calling him that for.

But the thing that he did not see was, that his tanned complexion of a healthy looking brown, was covered by a thick layer of sunscreen, making him switch to a milky-white as that of a ghost's.

Sera smirked lightly. "Rule Nr.1" She said raising a finger "Don't laugh at others expenses, things will turn around hitting you hard."

Then she plopped another handful of sunscreen on her hand, smearing it all over Emilié's cramped face.

And how predicted, Aria cracked up hard laughing his ass off.

So a ghost, ha!

"There is nothing more to complain about right?" Sera said, laying back relaxing on the chair.

"Now stop the stance and run laps in moderate speed. Your muscles should relax and loosen up from the strain."