Words I Was Afraid To Hear

Though with a heavy heart, the foreign group left City T after two more days .

Well, for one, Vanessa cannot stay too long because she still needs to get back to her son .

Madeline shopped like crazy, putting the tab on Dan"s card as per agreement .

Dan held his wife every minute possible . He was like a spoiled brat who asked his mother to leave work to be with him .

Aoi Xiu was fine with having Vanessa over, talking about baby stuff and motherhood, sometimes scaring the sh** out of her daughter .

It was another day, but Midori insisted on sending Manta to school . It might be her hormones or she just missed the little guy, but she somehow wanted to be near him all of a sudden .

Mantarou Xiu had successfully transferred back to his school in City T . He was also enrolled back on his violin lessons on weekends .

Since he knew most of his cla.s.smates, he did not need to find new friends . However, the problem lied on these so-called friends .

"See you later, Mommy!" He waved excitedly towards Midori .

She had a bright smile on her face . She looked intently on the changes in him . He looked less chubby, but in fact, he had just became taller .

"I"ll pick you up later, okay,"

"Hmnn . " The little boy nodded, then turned around to hop towards his cla.s.sroom .

Kids who were being brought up spoiled laughed .

"He could even get his own mother wrong!"

Manta"s hazel eyes had a glint in them, but he did not bother to retort . He nonchalantly walked away and towards his cla.s.sroom .

When he arrived, he saw the familiar fair face of a friend .

She smiled at him, her eyes turning into slits, her bilateral dimples were deep .

"Ohayoo~ Mantkun!" Her teeth were white but there were obvious missing ones . They were starting to fall off .

"Ohayoo, Ayako-chan!" He had a warm smile .

"Mantkun, don"t mind them . I will always believe that you"re the smartest boy I know!" She was enthusiastic enough to wave her arms .

"Ayako-chan, can I tell you a secret?"

"Hmmn?" Her eyes transformed into larger round ones with dark pupils .

"Actually, my "Mommy" . . . "

"Isn"t she your aunt?" The girl was tactful .

Manta smiled . "I know . "

"If you knew, then I believe that you have a reason for calling her "Mommy" . " She flashed a bright smile despite the missing teeth .

To her surprise, he suddenly gave her a bearhug .

While burying his head on her small shoulder, he whispered, "Thank you . . . Ayako-chan . "

It did not long for her shock to turn into a warm feeling . Masking it with a bright smile and a tilt of her head, wobbling her pigtails, she gently pushed him away .

"So, why do you still do it?" She flashed her smile to hide her reaction .

"I made a pact with my uncle . " He started recalling that day as he told her the story .

Actually, after they got back to City T, Manta had started calling Midori "Aunty" again . However, to his confusion, during the latest visit of his uncle, he was told not to do it .

When Dan heard Manta call his wife "Aunty Midori" he called the little boy and talked to him in private .

"Since when did you start calling your aunt like that?" he asked with a look of concern .

Manta was confused . Was it a bad thing? But his father specifically told him to lose his habit so as not to confuse people . That was why it reverted back to how he called his aunt when his mother was still alive .

Dan sighed, not getting an explanation . "Anyway, I need you to do me a favor . "

The last promise that his Uncle Dan made with him was almost into completion . That is why, he could easily trust him and be at his command .

"Hmmm?" His eyebrows raised and his dimple showed on his subtle smile .

"I need you to protect your aunt . "

"I will, Uncle!" He declared almost immediately .

"You can . . . by calling her "Mommy" again . " Dan smiled .

"Why?"

"That way, you can keep bad people from getting close to her . " Dan was grinning .

Manta looked at him skeptically then nodded . "Okay . "

"That"s my boy!" He patted the little boy"s head, gently messing his hair .

.

Midori was initially glad that Manta improved the way he addressed her . However, he suddenly went back to calling her "Mommy" much to her surprise . However, thinking that he still needed it as a part of his coping mechanism for his mother"s loss, she let it be . She thought that coming back to City T brought him memories with his mother .

She would never imagine that it was the idea of her husband who had secured himself from punishment miles away .