章節 31: Chapter 29: Siegfried de Chauvegné
'Time flies so fast.'
The sun's rays entered through the tall window. They softly kissed the carpet floor, the bright streams of light enlightening the monotonous hue of the room.
Coincidentally, a pair of clear blue eyes shone like crystals under the light.
It belonged to a woman dressed in trousers. Her usual flowing brown locks were kept tight in a loose bun, a ribbon keeping it in place.
It was unlike her to deviate from her donned plain old dresses and skirts, yet the change of style wondrously made her appear taller and slimmer.
Diana twisted and turned in front of the mirror. She made a few poses - puffing her chest, raising her chin, even jutting her buttocks out. Her postures looked a bit provocative at a glance, but it was done simply to give herself a much-needed boost in spirit.
Nobody was watching anyways.
She flinched, her jubilant movements slowly ceasing.
Her gem-like eyes fluttered as she bit her lip. Her shoulders tightened along with her whole body. Her whole being expressed a frantic show of desperation, pessimism once again resurfacing in her mind.
In front of the mirror, a woman raised her head up. She held her hands tightly in her chest as tears pooling around her eyes, her chest heaving up and down.
Her once silent breaths became heavier, a suppressed whimper coming out of her mouth. Her frustration leaked out heavily, feeling like she was in the middle of the ocean, not knowing where to go.
Days have passed since then. She returned home with a troubled mind and a basket full of her belongings.
"As long as he refused to change, he will never accept it."
Change is something that is inevitable, and hard to accept at times.
'Many people fail to grow because they refused to accept change. Some linger on the unchangeable, and some have no choice but to do the unacceptable.'
The ground felt cold even with her soles on. The cold air squeezed in through the tiny gaps of the windows, the breeze kissing Diana's skin.
She shivered slightly, her fingers becoming chilled. Thankfully, the bright rays of the sun provided some consoling warmth to her whole body.
She breathed in through her nose, letting out the air through her mouth. Her face glowed brightly under the sun, her brunette hair depicting an amber-like hue.
No matter what, she still has something to do.
Stepping towards the window, she squinted her eyes, looking at the garden filled with tall weeds and unidentifiable herbs and grasses.
It looked like it was part of the forest if not for those huge metal walls.
She crossed her arms, a frown started to form in her lips.
With her brows furrowed, a frustrated sigh came out from her mouth.
'oh Diana, is it so hard to clean the house? '
Shaking her head side to side, she once again glimpsed at the disastrous garden. Clapping her hands loudly, her large frown started to lift up and was replaced with a helpless smile.
"Let's clean the garden!"
"Siegfried, get up."
A little boy can be seen underneath the window. He was sitting with his knees close to his chest. His hands firmly held the edges of the book, making his whole face hidden.
Meltif drummed his fingers on the wooden table, the loud taps heard across the silent room. His eyes focused on the boy, waiting for him to get up.
Seconds passed and the boy was still unfazed. Still sitting underneath the window with a book covering his face.
A pinched expression showed on his face. Meltif knew the boy heard him loud and clear, the boy's stupidly big ears functioned so well that at one time it could hear soft raps coming from the ceiling. They later found out that it was the rats doing all the noise.
'This little rascal.'
The called-little-rascal had a small pout on his face. He puffed up his cheeks as he glared hard at the book in front of him.
Siegfried wasn't really reading the book. As a matter of fact, he doesn't really like to read.
It was just a way to extend his break a little bit longer. Of course, he made sure to only do this once in a while.
He doesn't want Meltif to know of his intentions. That would be a stupid move.
"By the count of three."
Siegfried knew that his short break was slowly coming to an end the moment Meltif started counting.
"One."
He decided that he will stand up the moment it was about to end at three. He relaxed his shoulders and got comfortable on his seat.
Suddenly, he heard a loud thunk coming from the front yard.
"Two."
Meltif was surprised the moment Siegfried placed the book down and hoisted up from his seat. A smile slowly started to form on his lips.
"Well done. Now read this boo-"
"Mr. Meltif! Look here! Look here! I heard something from outside!"
The boy turned his body around and looked at the window, disregarding Meltif completely.
Meltif's eye twitched, an irked smile on his face. He helplessly stared at the boy shaking his head.
He stood up from his seat and headed towards the boy. Meltif towered over Siegfried, his silver eyes inspecting the tall trees and bushes of the forest.
"Where? What is it?"
Meltif squinted his eyes but he still couldn't find anything peculiar on sight. He decided to just look at the scenery in front of him. He marveled at the blue sky and at the thickness of the forest. The wonderful splash of colors gratified him greatly, the warmth on his chest increasing.
His face became serious once again, a certain woman flashed on his mind.
Suddenly, a small hand grabbed on his tunic and strongly tugged up and down. He shifted his gaze to Siegfried, the little boy's eyes twinkling with awe, his fingers pointing at something below.
"Look there!"
Meltif's gaze focused on the small finger pointing below. He followed it, his eyes peering at the sight below him.
'A wheelbarrow?'
His eyebrow raised once he saw a lone wheelbarrow on their bushy garden. On top of it lay several vines and plants, seeming like it was pulled out.
A splotch of soil suddenly flew to the barrow, making both of them freeze. Meltif and Siegfried slowly looked at each other, their gazes locked, questioning each other silently.
Flickering their gaze back at the window, they leaned forward, trying to have a wider view of the garden below.
Someone was there.
Brown patches of hair were all they could see from above, but they both instantly knew who that person was.
'Diana!''Ms. Diana!'
Little Siegfried was awed at what he was seeing. He did not know why but he was feeling very emotional, he felt like he could cry at any moment.
Siegfried blinked, a thought passing his mind. A devilish grin appeared on his face, his eyes squinting slightly. He shouted.
"Let's go help!"
He hurriedly sprinted to the door, opened it with a strong pull, then sprinted again out of the door.
Siegfried looked like a thief that was caught and was finally able to escape.
Meltif did not budge from his place, still staring at his lawfully wedded wife. She was currently standing, pulling a long vine from the ground. She was pulling it with all her strength, her whole body tilting in the opposite direction, putting itself to good use.
The vine snapped, sending her tumbling on the ground. She landed on her buttocks, cushioned by the plants and soft soil. The vine was stuck on her face, her hat falling on the ground.
Meltif could see her groan painfully, rubbing her bottom. He saw her holding the vine up high, her expression suddenly became horrified once she saw a worm. Her beautiful sparkling eyes widening, and her light confident voice shrieking out loud.
His lips lifted, opening a bit. A deep chuckle vibrated from his chest. He folded his arms, the corner of his eyes crinkled.
"Too silly."
It felt refreshing, to be able to see and look at her from afar.
He closed his eyes and sighed. Turning around, he proceeded to the door.
Diana was shaking off the dirt from her trousers using her hands. Sweat was trickling down her forehead as she bent over, her hands leaning on her knees.
Her heavy pants seemingly lightened while she rests, her breath becoming steady.
She stretched her arms up bending her spine back. She formed a fist with her hands, using them to beat at her aching lower back.
From the huge garden, a small piece of land was stripped off its patch of soil. On the pathway was a wheelbarrow full of debris and dirt, It was so full that it already formed a small hill.
There was still a lot to do, but Diana thought that she had to finish this part of the garden before sunset.
When she was about to take hold of the shovel on the ground, a bright energetic voice shouted out loud.
"Ms. Diaanaaa!"
Her head turned towards the voice, a boy with brown hair and hazel eyes was smiling at her. He was running towards her, holding a big, sharp pair of shears the size of his head.
Diana's eyes widened, her mouth agape. Shivers run down her spine, her hairs stood on its end. Her whole body unconsciously moved, running towards the boy.
Siegfried slowly came to a stop, his wide smile fading. The woman abruptly ran towards him, her expression horrifying.
The shears on his hands were suddenly gone, his hands empty. His head was buzzing, finding for the missing shears.
His eyes lightened up. He found the shears in front of him, held by the woman in front of him. He looked up with a bright smile, asking for praise.
"I brought your shears!"
He was smiling so happily that he failed to notice Diana's face. His smile irritated her more, the ignorance of the dangers of what he held made her panicked, rushing out towards him with great speed.
She yelled out of her frustration, her voice a pitch higher than before.
"What were you doing?!"
"Huh?"
Siegfried froze, his smile stiffening. His hands slowly fell to his side, gripping his clothes tightly at its sides.
She was back. Her voice was angry again. It invoked deep painful memories of the past. The hittings, the bullying, the blood- His eyes were shaking, his whole body sweating.
They hit him. Over and over again. They shout at him first then kicked him, and slapped him until he bled.
His trembling eyes opened wide, quickly darting towards the raising hand of Diana.
There it was. A slap, a punch- he did not know. But he was afraid.
He closed his eyes tightly, his head hung low. His clammy hands forming a fist with his clothes. His heart was beating wildly as he anticipated the heavy blow to his head, or maybe his cheeks.
He waited.
And waited.
And then it came.
"Ah!"
He felt a sharp pain on his forehead. His eyebrows furrowed as he shielded his head with his hands. Little droplets of tears fell from his eyes, but it was not because of the pain.
"Are you even thinking? What if something happened to you while holding the shears?!"
His raised hands gradually fell, his already opened eyes staring blankly at Diana.
Siegfried could see her watery blue eyes, almost as if tears will spill at any moment. Her flaring nostrils and intense stare looked all the more familiar to him. The same look that made him scared and terrified.
It was the same look he hated before.
But now, even if it was the same look she sported from before, it felt different.
It felt familiar, something that he had seen before.
After a while, Diana sighed. Letting go of the shears, she patted her chest while taking deep breaths, in and out. Bringing that shaky hand to her forehead, she rubbed her eyebrows, attempting to calm her erratic heartbeat. Her other hand rested on her hips, her shoulders hunched.
"You scared me you little rascal."
She muttered quietly. It did not escape Siegfried's ears, he heard it loud and clear.
"Oh."
Siegfried felt the warmth seeping in through his chest. His eyes glowed brightly, a sunshiny smile threatening to leak out.
He remembered.
The image of his mother overlapped Diana. With her dirty clothes and messy bun, and her shrieking voice that can be heard from miles away.
Always reprimanding him. Always worrying over him.
The little child Siegfried studied Diana intently. He had a longing smile on his face, expressing happiness mixed with melancholy. His clear wonderful eyes were becoming moist, his lips trembling.
Diana was flabbergasted. She did not mean to make the kid cry.
She helplessly blinked at him, sighing dejectedly. She knelt on her knees and grasped Siegfried's shoulders. She rubbed it tenderly with her hands.
Lifting her right hand up, she brushed the strands of hair away from his face.
Diana leaned forward, making Siegfried look at her in the eyes. Her eyes softened, putting on an affable smile, she spoke.
"It's not that I don't want your help. The thing that you're carrying was a little bit dangerous for you to hold. Next time, ask me first okay?"
She continued to rub Siegfried's shoulders using her thumb. Comforting him gently with this small gesture.
A mixture of emotions entered Siegfried's heart. He tried to speak a few words but later learned that he couldn't.
"I-I just..."
His voice quaked. His chest felt stuffy, his ears ringing.
He felt the words die inside his mouth.
Diana's violent behaviors reminded him of his mother.
His mother who always reprimanded him whenever he did something wrong, always shouted at him, telling him that she regretted raising his cute little self. But it was quite funny that whenever he does something worth praising, no matter how little, his mother would always boast about him to their neighbors.
He was once again reminded that he was now an orphan.
Warmth engulfed him. A pair of arms embraced him tightly, pulling him more towards its embrace.
Diana wrapped her arms around him, her other hand on Siegfried's head, stroking it gently. She rocked back and forth, shushing him gently.
"Hush now, don't cry."
Siegfried raised his hand and touched his cheeks. It was wet.
Diana cajoled him. Her voice started to sound desperate as she tried to make amends with the child in her arms.
'Was I too harsh?'
She sighed, smacking herself in her mind for her carelessness. She remembered that this child was already traumatized by the original Diana's actions. Her shouting will just make it worse - straining the relationship between this child and her more than she originally planned.
'He might hate me more.'
Diana silently cried, a frown appearing on her face.
Siegfried felt her arms hugging him tighter. Her soft hand stroking his head affectionately, comforting him wholesomely.
His heart felt painful, his whole shoulders trembling. Feeling ashamed, he shielded himself on Diana's shoulders, lifting his shaking arms to hug her back tightly.
Just like his mother, she held him tightly. Just like his mother, she worried about him greatly.
The loneliness and melancholy were starting to fade. Relief flooded him and the joy followed.
He suddenly had a thought. Siegfried recalled the past, the memories of when Diana always shouted at him.
'You problematic child! Can't you do anything other than to be a bother?! Put that knife down!'
'Get out! You're not welcome here. Why would I make you chop the vegetables when you can't even do things properly. Go read a few books to educate your stupid little head!!'
'Are you deaf?! Can't you use your head a little bit more?! It's already too dark and you want to go out? Do you want to die?!'
It was a bit harsh on the ears and the words can be too insulting and vicious. But Siegfried realized that if one listened carefully, the message can be entirely different from what it was supposed to be.
'Don't touch it! You might slice your hands.'
'It's okay, you don't have to help. Just go to the library and study okay?'
'It's too late, something bad might happen to you! Maybe tomorrow morning, you can go out then. '
He felt guilty. There was a thickness on his throat that won't go away. He rubbed his head on Diana's shoulders. He could feel her hair tickling his cheeks, the warmth of her embrace and the pair of hands that kept gently stroking the back of his head.
He now realized.
His trembling stopped, and the tightness on his throat was gone.
The pain slowly left, only a dull throb remained.
His half-lidded eyes that now had a tint of redness slowly closed. His lips turned upwards, forming a refreshing smile.
His tears did not stem from the pain.
It came from the realization of why he was in pain.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票