"How about your Dad? Is he still in the living room?" The woman asked carefully. She was a bit afraid of Kevin's father as he was a cold and straight-faced man.
No. He is in the study now. He has some work to finish. Let's go." Kevin was still in his military uniform. He grabbed Leena's hand and walked out of the bedroom.
An empty living room welcomed them as they reached downstairs. It was to Leena's delight, even Claire was not there. That was the only time that woman felt relieved.
They walked out of the Gu's house courtyard. The houses in the neighborhood were all arranged perfectly. Obviously, the place was a high-grade area and all the house owners were decent people.
"Let's go! The playing field is over there. I used to play there when I was a child." Kevin and Leena were holding each other's hand as they walked. Several soldiers jogged pass them and she found them pretty interesting.
Kevin, I thought they were having a drill every morning. Why are they jogging now?" Leena asked curiously. She couldn't help but feel engrossed in everything there as that was the place where Kevin grew up.
"They are not having a drill. They are just exercising. See the poplar tree over there? I was taller than it when I was a kid. It's much taller than me now, though." Emotions overcame Kevin as he spoke. He had been a naughty boy and always had fights with his fellows during his younger years. His father had beaten him countless times because of that.
"Haha, you're so funny! Were you a little monkey in your childhood?" She made a face at him as she asked. She felt like she was on the top of the world while hanging out with him like this.
"Well, my fellows were as naughty as I was. We almost fought with each other every day but we wouldn't hate each other." Years had passed. His childhood playmates had drifted apart a long time ago. Kevin had also left this place after he had spent nearly twenty years here. It was not easy for him to have a gathering with them.
"Wow, sounds like you were good buddies." Leena sighed. It seemed that Kevin missed his childhood playmates. She didn't know how to comfort him.
Time will change everything. We haven't seen each other for so many years. I don't think we will be that close when we meet again." A bitter smile cracked from Kevin's lips. This was the truth and he couldn't deny it.
"Who knows? You guys may meet in the street but can't recognize each other." Leena looked at Kevin's eyes. She had a simple childhood without many playmates. She spent most of her childhood with her brothers, who treated her like a princess. As a result, she was unable to understand Kevin right now.
"I guess so. Let's go there, and take a seat." Kevin grabbed her hand and walked towards a little garden. There were many facilities there, including benches, a seesaw, and a swing.
"What? Are you going to play on the swing?" Leena asked in confusion as she wondered whether Kevin was going to relive his childhood.
I thought you would like it. Girls do like playing on the swing, don't you?" The man had spent little time with girls, thus, he knew little about them.
You're being sexist!" Leena pursed her lips while grumbling but then sat on the swing carefully. There was also a swing in their backyard which was made by Duke himself.
I don't understand. Do you like it or not?" Kevin asked and gave her a light push. The lady's words and behavior were simply a ball of confusion.
"Well, you said girls liked playing on the swing. And I'm also one of them. Of course, I like it!" She made a face and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Ah, so you are just an ordinary girl after all," Kevin said, smiling as he ignored the teasing grins from all the other soldiers passing by.
"Excuse me? Are you implying that I'm not good enough? Fine, go find a fairy!" The pretty woman puckered her lips as she faked anger. She honestly enjoyed staying with Kevin alone.
"You are my fairy." Kevin tried his best to please Leena despite being a man of few words.
"Bah! I don't believe your fancy words." Though she said she didn't believe Kevin, her flushed cheeks betrayed her. It turned out that Kevin could be a thoughtful husband as long as he had a thing for her.
"Time will tell." That was Kevin's earnest reply. There was no doubt anymore that he would fall for her sooner or later.
"Really? Then I'll wait and see." Their relationship was still a puzzle to Leena. They were definitely more than friends but less than lovers.
"Rest assured! We are married, and I will take our marriage seriously. You have my word." Kevin looked up to the sky as various thoughts flooded his head. Was there still a point to deny that she had become more and more important to him? "Claire's coming. Is she looking for us?" Leena blurted as she saw her sister-in-law running towards them. However, Kevin didn't see his sister as he had his back to where Claire was coming from.
"Yes. I guess she's here to ask us to return for dinner." Kevin turned and waved at Claire.
"Let's go. We shouldn't have your parents wait for us." Leena jumped off the swing but almost fell down to the ground. Fortunately, Kevin's reflex was fast enough to enable him to catch and steady her just in time.
"Be careful, Leena! Why are you in a rush?" blamed Kevin. She was not a rash person. Why was she suddenly in such a hurry on seeing Claire?
"I'm okay. Let's hurry up!" Awkward was all over Leena's face when she smiled at him. She didn't expect herself to fall down. It could be the nerve racks that she was getting whenever she was faced with Claire. After all, his sister was such a difficult person to get along with.
"Kevin, why did you come here? I've been looking all over for you." Claire complained with a dark expression.
"What's going on? We're going back home." Kevin replied as he grabbed Leena's hand and walked towards his sibling.
"It's dinner time, and mom asked me to look for you two." Claire gave a cold glance at Leena and immediately looked away. She then squeezed herself between the two so the couple had to let go of each other.
"Claire, thank you. I'm sorry for bothering you." Leena gave her a friendly smile as she noticed that Claire purposely separated her from Kevin. She must be very possessive of her brother. Needless to say, Leena could understand that.
"You should be sorry. I've looked for you for such a long time." Claire said in a cold tone. She just didn't like Leena and would do anything to keep her away from Kevin.
Claire, I don't want to repeat what I've told you." It was Kevin's serious tone that cut between the ladies' conversation. He knew that his sister was a willful girl. Nonetheless, that was not an excuse for her to be rude to his wife. Leena was even younger than Claire but she was more mature.
Got it. Kevin, let's go. Mom cooked your favorite dishes." Indifference was in Claire's voice as she didn't take his words seriously. She never looked at Leena in the eye for she believed that Leena was a person from a poor family. She didn't deserve her brother. She had pledged to show no respect to Leena at all.