It was evening, Angela and Leonardo were playing in the lawn. Leonardo was trying to catch Angela but she was too good at running and dodging at the same time. The boy was panting so badly that he laid down on the soft ground below.
"Huff! Huff! —time out! Huff! –huff! T-time out!", said Leonardo with great difficulty. Angela was standing next to him at a distance. Her breathing was also haggard but she was rather enjoying this feeling of victory. The cause of her happiness was really simple. Leonardo was good at virtual games and lacked in physical ones whereas, Angela was really athletic. Call it tag, baseball, soccer, swimming or table tennis; she performed really well in all of them, but virtual ones were her kryptonite.
Leonardo sat cross-legged and pouted, "I will beat you in the video games!"
Angela on the other hand giggled and flouted at him. She poked fun at him, "What a crybaby!"
Reading her hand signs Leonardo remarked, "How rude! I will not forgive you for this! I swear I will beat you today!"
To his response Angela kept gesturing him as a crybaby. Leonardo couldn't take it anymore and ran after her. "Ah!", Angela cried in surprise and ran opposite to Leonardo. Few minutes later, the result was same.
On the garden chair, Jennifer was enjoying the view of the duo, especially Leonardo, who was bellowing behind Angela. Seeing his agitated expressions, Jennifer laughed from time to time. Beside her, Rebecca was pouring tea in her cup; she sliced a piece of cake and served her. Jennifer took a bite of the cake. "Hmm~ the taste is so different today!", Jennifer remarked.
Rebecca somewhat predicted the outcome therefore, she asked, "Is it not to your liking my Lady?" Jennifer shook her head and clarified, "No, I mean—it's very delicious!", and asked because she was curious, "who made this?"
"It was Angela. She made it especially for you!", replied Rebecca with a smile. Jennifer brows raised; she was amazed. "She's really good at baking! She indeed inherited your genes, Rebecca!", Jennifer praised with a cheerful smile. "She would make a good wife in the future."
"Oh my! you are embarrassing me my lady." Rebecca chuckled. She looked at Angela, "I hope she'd find a good husband, who'd make her happy like that every day."
Jennifer gazed at Angela who was running at a distance in the garden. "You mean, she never smiled like that before?", asked Jennifer.
Rebecca sighed, "Ever since Angela lost her parents in the car accident three years ago, she became an emotionless doll. She just listens and obeys and never complained about anything. Even in school—"
Jennifer noticed that Rebecca ceased talking. She got the gist of the situation and said, "Please continue Rebecca. You know that I am not a stranger to you!"
"But my lady, it is our personal matter I don't think—"
"You've been serving my home since your childhood Rebecca. People look at us differently due to our status quo, but—to me you are still my friend. So, tell me, what happened to Angela." Jennifer cut in and cajoled Rebecca.
Rebecca directed her gaze downward and heaved a sigh of helplessness, "You always treated me so nicely. It frightens me that I'd never be able to return the favors you did for me in the past."
"Stop spouting nonsense Rebecca! And out with it already!", Jennifer reprimanded and frowned at her. Rebecca shrugged her shoulder weakly, "Alright. How can I defy such a strong woman like you?"
"Now that you know you cannot defy me, then do the opposite", Jennifer winked at her and laughed shortly. "Tell me what happened!"
"—may I sit?", asked Rebecca. From her sudden permission to sit, Jennifer sensed that the matter wasn't so simple as she thought it would be, so she replied quickly, "Yes! Yes! Sure! Please have seat with me! It's been so long since we spend time together like this."
"Thank you, my lady!", Rebecca sat on the other garden chair across Jennifer. "—it happened last summer, when I lived alone with Angela at my house. I didn't know what was happening with her because she had this terrible habit of keeping things to herself. She's very secretive!"
"We ate breakfast and dinner together at home. Angela never talked about what happens in the school with her. Even though her classmates bullied her a lot, that girl never mentioned it once—maybe because of my age—or maybe because of some other reason."
"A few days passed by, Angela came home and went straight in her room. She suddenly stopped spending time with me. At first, I thought she might be busy doing studies but when I received the report card— her grades dropped drastically. You might not believe it Jennifer but Angela is very intelligent; she always stood top in her class. But previously, she came last."
"I was really worried—I asked her but there was no response from her—one day she stopped going to school all of a sudden and locked herself in her room for two whole days. Her sudden behavior scared me—I went to her room but she had locked it from inside—after my several pleadings she opened the door."
"When I went in my grand-daughter was still in bed for more than forty-eight hours. I asked her the reason for not going to school so suddenly, even though she loved going to school but Angela didn't reply—Instead began crying. I was so afraid of her sudden crying—I thought I might get a heart attack. I held her in my arms, I noticed that she was shivering and burning in fever. I brought her some food and medicine—she slept in my embrace that night and didn't let go of me."
"I was agonizing over her conduct, so I called the school to confirm whether my grand-daughter was mistreated by a teacher—but they confirmed that it was not the case. It made me more worried—the next day I didn't open the bakery. I just waited for Angela to wake up—when she did, I asked her but she didn't say anything and began shedding tears."
"That made me more uncomfortable, therefore I begged her and so she told me—that their school recruited a new PT teacher and he bullies her when he finds the chance. The last time that bastard tried to…m-molest her…s-she's—just a—kid—sobs! Sobs! —how could that animal—do that to my Angela—sobs! Sobs!"
Rebecca couldn't hold it anymore and burst out in tears. Jennifer quickly got up and leaned her head against her chest. She gently rubbed her grey hairs, "Shh! Don't cry! It'll be alright! I will make sure to take extreme measures against him. How dare that bastard tried to abuse our Angela."
"Is being an—orphan in a society—is a crime?", Rebecca sobbed; her whole body was trembling.
"I cannot forget her cries—I can never—forget her cries—she made that night! I can never—forget her cries—I can never forget them!" Rebecca cried her eyes out while Jennifer caressed her back.
When Rebecca regained her former composure; she apologized to Jennifer.
Jennifer wiped her tears and served her some tea. She witnessed that Rebecca was feeling a little better Jennifer went back to her chair. Rebecca drank some tea and continued, "After that day—I gave up the shop on rent and came here with her."
"Why didn't you tell me?", Jennifer asked with concern. "I couldn't because when I arrived here, I learned our beloved Lady Jasmine had passed away. So, I just tried to live with it. Seeing Angela like that was killing me every day. I was afraid if I die what would happen to my grand-daughter. Her cries from that day haunted me every night—but luckily when young master befriended her and spent time with her, since then, Angela became so lively again. She often tells me the anecdotes she hears from young master. She had also informed me how she spent her time with your kind grand-son. Angela really loves how young master is so respectful towards her despite the difference between of our status—"
Rebecca got up from her chair and bowed to Jennifer. "—For that I am really grateful to you my lady for being so kind to permitting my grand-daughter to play with your grand-son even though we are just your servants."
Jennifer got up from her seat and stopped Rebecca from bowing her head to her, "Don't say that, Rebecca! You are my friend and—friends are equal no matter what family they come from or what cast they belong to. So never say that again!" Jennifer rebuked.
"And as for Angela, she's my grand-daughter too. So, don't you worry about her well-being. From today onwards, this is your home and your grand-daughter's too. Angela shall live here until she becomes an adult." Jennifer assured Rebecca.
Rebecca was so moved that she burst into tears again. "Thank you, my lady! —sniff! —Sniff! —Thank you so much! I am in your debt again." Rebecca expressed her gratitude.
"What are you thanking me for? Treat it as a favor." Jennifer said with a smile. "Now wipe your tears or Angela will get worried if she sees you like this!"
Rebecca quickly wiped her tears and requested, "Can I request one more thing my lady?" "Please say it. I will do my best to fulfill it!"
"Please don't let Angela know about this or I don't know how would she react! Besides me and Angela, you're the only one who now knows about her past—please keep it a secret for all I have done for you all these years!", requested Rebecca.
Jennifer grinned, "What secret are you talking about? I didn't hear anything!"
Rebecca heaved a sigh and got up slowly, "Would you like more tea my lady?"
"Yes! please serve it with strawberry pie!", replied Jennifer while she glanced at Angela who was playing cheerfully with Leonardo.
'And here I thought—only my grand-son was the one who was born with misfortune!', Jennifer thought and shook her head.
...….
On the other hand, Leonardo got caught by Angela again. "This is so unfair! Why are you so fast!", Leonardo complained. "I want a handicapped match against you!", he yelled. To his response Angela was laughing like crazy, even her cackle could be heard from afar.
"Stop laughing already!", Leonardo chided in annoyance while he turned around and walked towards Jennifer whereas, Angela kept laughing and followed behind him.
"Grandma! Grandma!", Leonardo stood before Jennifer. "What is it sweety?"
"I want fast legs!", Leonardo demanded with determination. Jennifer was taken aback so she asked to confirm, "I-I am sorry did, you just say that you want, fast legs!"
"Yes! I want fast legs so that I can catch Angela. She's so fast that I can't catch her!", he bounced up and down in anger. Behind Leonardo, Angela stood next to Rebecca; she covered her mouth with her hands to suppress her laughter when she heard the boy talking about legs after tasting consistent defeats by her. Angela lost control and a laugh slipped through, "…pfft! Hahaha!"
Leonardo turned and glared at Angela whereas, Angela hid behind Rebecca; she covered her mouth again and lowered her head.
Jennifer while she gauged the situation and asked, "Are you mad at Angela?"
"Yes! —N-no! I mean I am mad at myself for not being fast enough to catch her. So, bring me the fast legs."
Jennifer raised her brows after hearing his response and smiled earnestly, "Okay, I'll ask Amanda to bring it."
Meanwhile, Angela's cute laughter was heard by everyone around her. Leonardo stomped his foot in anger, "Stop laughing Angela! This isn't funny at all!" Angela immediately pressed her lips tightly and tried to cease laughing. She looked at Leonardo's annoyed expressions and broke into laughter again.
"Pfft! ...hahahaha!"
Leonardo was getting angrier therefore, he rebuked loudly, "Angela when Aunt Amanda bring me fast legs then I will catch you and I will laugh at you!"
Hearing him Angela made some hand signs and ran off in the garden while laughing. "Don't call me that you hear me!", Leonardo was so furious that he roared and chased her.
Jennifer noticed the hand sign made by Angela earlier. Since she was unfamiliar with the sign language, she asked Rebecca, "What did she say to him?"
"She's just teasing young master by calling him a crybaby." Rebecca replied apologetically.
Jennifer chuckled, "He is sometimes!"