Chapter 8

• CHAPTER EIGHT
• HAZEL
• I sat on the bench and gently tapped my feet on the ground as I watched the kids playing a few meters away from me. Darius sat few meters away from me, too.
• I momentarily steal glances at him and in all occasions catch him staring at me. The sight of his eyes peering and boring into me makes me flinch and I couldn't help it but clench my fists against my laps.
• “Are you sure this is where you want to come?” His voice startled me from my thought, his eyes darting around in horror. I could bet that he has never been in this kind of gathering before in his life. He looked so uncomfortable and was drawing the attention of people passing by.
• “Yes.” I said gently. After what transpired between us in the car, he asked me where I wanted to go. I got a bit bold and told him I wanted to go to an amusement park. The look on his face was so hilarious that I had to bit my lip to refrain my laughter.
• From his facial expressions in the car, I figured I was seriously frustrating him, but it's not my fault. I know he may be trying to be nice, but no one has ever been nice to me before in my life. Except, of course, my mother, of blessed memory.
• I didn't know where I got the courage to ask the question I asked in the car. The questioning has been bugging me since he bought me at the auction. With the reputation he has of been cruel and merciless, I had expected he would claim me as soon as I set foot in his house. But he has been rather patient with me.
• Ever since my first encounter with Melissa at the dining hall, I had confined myself in my room and only went out when everyone is asleep. I wanted to steer clear of Melissa and Darius. I appreciated that he gave me the space even though it might just be that he was swamped with work and didn't even remember me. Still, I took great use of it.
• I was terrified out of my wits when he showed up at my door this morning and demanded I go out with him. Then Melissa showed up and acted so sweet to me Infront of Darius. I almost burst into a laughter when she said we were besties, but the way she glared at me compelled me to play along with her games.
• And what a pathetic liar could she be? She never sent any smoothie to my room! Aurora and Melissa, I don't know who would get the trophy for being the greater liar.
• “So what do you want to do now?” Darius voice interrupted my trail of thoughts.
• I broke my gaze from the children and stared at him. He still had his intimidating aura but I try my best not to show how terrified I am of him as it irritates him.
• “Let's go get ice cream.” I said and pointed to an ice cream cart.
• He nodded. We stood from the bench and walked towards the man.
• “Good after–” the ice cream vendor's eyes widened in shock as he noticed Darius beside me.
• “Your majesty.” He said and bowed quickly nearly knocking down his entire cart.
• “Rise.” Darius ordered harshly. I would have sworn he doesn't know how to speak softly if not that I witness him apologizing to me a few minutes back.
• The man raised his head, but lowered his gaze to ensure his eyes didn't behold that of Darius. And how can this man ask me not to be scared of him when everyone trembles at his sight!
• “I want ice cream.” I asked feeling stupid for saying the obvious. Why else would I be in front of him if not for ice cream?
• “What flavour of ice cream would you like, ma'am?” He asked as politely as anyone could ever be and it made me sick. No one has ever being this respectful to me. Except of course the maids in Darius' mansion.
• I turned to Darius.
• “What flavour would you like?”
• "Me?" He scoffed and kept a straight face. "Come on, ice creams are for kids" he added.
• I kept looking at him with shock and disbelief. How could an adult in this century think ice cream is for children?
• He noticed I was awkwardly staring at him, which made him sigh and finally spoke.
• “What flavour do you like?” He asked.
• “Uhm… mint chocolate.” I said, because that was the first thing that pop into my head and not that it was my favorite. I've never had ice cream before but I've always heard Aurora talking about father getting her mint chocolate.
• “Then that's what I want.” He said bluntly.
• He turned to the ice cream man.
• “I want the whole cart.” He said. The ice cream vendor's face lit up with excitement and disbelief.
• “A whole cart? That's too much.” I blurted out in protest. I bit my lips immediately. Gosh! Whenever I open my mouth to speak, it always appears it would put me in trouble.
• “You wanted only a cone?” He asked looking so confused.
• My God! Is he not supposed to know we're to get a cone and not the whole cart?
• I nodded bitting my lips hard in an attempt to hold my laughter. He looked genuinely confused and it was so hilarious.
• “Oh!” He said.
• I suddenly wonder how his childhood was that he doesn't know how to buy ice cream.
• “Two cones of ice cream then.” Darius said. I saw as the vendor's face fell, secretly glaring at me.
• But I don't really care, where I come from, money doesn't come easily and it must be used jealously. Because we definitely wouldn't be able to finish a while cart.
• The vendor had probably got excited thinking about the profit he will make today. I felt a pit in my stomach, feeling the man must have a family at home to fend for.
• I hasitated for a while, battling with telling Darius to get the whole cart again. I don't know if he would get angry with me or something. But looking at the sullen look on the man's face, I felt I had to do it.
• “How about we buy the whole cart instead?” I asked and prayed silently that he doesn't get mad at me.
• "Okay, if that's what you want" he replied, to my astonishment.
• He paid for it while he watched as I distributed the ice cream to the kids playing in the park. Darius stared at me with an undecipherable expression.
• We walked to a bench and licked our ice creams. Well, I licked my ice cream and Darius stared at his.
• “You've never had an ice cream cone before?” I asked.
• “I've never had ice cream in a cone.” He said “why do you ask to buy the whole cart only to share it to the kids?”
• “The vendor looked really happy when you said you were going to buy the whole cart, I saw the way his countenance changed when I said we should only by two cones. There are very little people in the park today and he is not going to make that huge profit unless he stays till evening.” I said.
• “My mother and I used to come here every time when she was alive. She loved been surrounded by kids and going on the merry-go-round. I haven't come to this park since she died three years ago.” I said and smiled sadly.
• He stared at me as if he was looking for ways to console me without any success.
• In the end, he simply said: “Rest in peace to the dead”
• “It's okay.” I said. We settled in a comfortable silence. While I licked mine, he stared at his and I ended up licking his as well.
• Surprisingly, I was beginning to feel somewhat comfortable around him, although with proper care and caution.
• The ringing of a phone pierced the silence between us. Darius brought out his phone from his shirt pocket.
• “Tell me.” He said immediately he answered the call.
• His countenance changed due to whatever it is the person on the other end said.
• “Okay.” He said simply and ended the call.
• Gone was the man who bought me ice cream and apologized to me, his face has been replaced with a terrifying expression.
• And I secretly took back the fact I had thought I was almost comfortable around him.
• “Is everything alright?” I asked in an almost whisper.
• He seem to hesitate for a few seconds before he spoke...
• “It's Melissa, she is unconscious.”