101. Mom?
Lex and Maya went to Bentley's residence as promised.
There are six people having breakfast together. Lex, Kate, Ella, Maya, Layla, and Paul.
Layla came and hugged Kate from behind the chair.
"Fufufu~ how long since the last time I saw you like this. Since Lex left, you somehow lose your cuteness and childishness and become calm and mature instantly" She hugged her gently and poked Kate's puffy cheeks.
At the same time, Lex could feel a killing glare from Paul. "ha ha ha," he awkwardly avoided his glare and acted like nothing.
"Hmm!" Kate ignored her mother's action and kept pouting. She was sulking at her parents because they didn't tell her Lex was back. Only her who didn't know about it!
Watching her reaction, Layla smiled gleefully. Even the stoic Paul let out a slightly warm smile.
Dissatisfied by her parent's reaction Kate sulked even more. "It's fine for me to be like this," Kate said, "you have Ella for cuteness" She turned to Ella, calming her.
One look, and you can immediately see Ella was really enjoying her breakfast. It's not like she forgot table manners or is inelegant. The way she used utensils will never disappoint her parents but will make them Proud. The difference is her expression. Ella has a very rich expression even when eating, and She ate like she was having fun. The cooks were always happy looking at her, enjoying the food they made like that. They even sometimes put a small portion of pudding just in her share. Small enough not to get scolded by Layla.
Layla and Paul also turned to Ella. "Ara~ you're not wrong there," Layla said, then she exchanged glances with Paul. "But..."
"We saw her so many times like that, and we're bored," Layla said
*clang
Ella dropped her utensils.
"Mom…?" She looks at her parents in disbelief. Her expression showed them how shocked she was when she heard them.
"Fufu~ now that's new~," Layla said, then she came to Ella's side. "Of course, we're joking, dear," she patted her head.
"Mm!" Ella replied, beaming with a smile. And she resumed enjoying her breakfast as if nothing had happened. The maid has already exchanged Ella's utensils for a new one without anyone realizing it.
"Fufu~ How cute!" Layla said. Layla was the one who had the most fun at breakfast today. Paul also had a smile on his face for the entire morning.
(A/N: O Kawaiii Koto!)
On the other hand, Maya felt a bit out of place, even if she usually visited Bentley's residence before going to school to join Ella. This would be her first time joining their breakfast like this. For Maya, this place was like heaven compared to how she lived in an orphanage.
She glanced at Ella, who happily enjoyed her breakfast and elegantly. She almost can't believe the disparity.
(Haa~) she sighed inwardly (She's technically a wealthy daughter, too. It's hard to see it with how she acts in front of Lex). Maya turned to her breakfast but wasn't able to move.
She didn't know any table manners. She didn't know where to start and how to use them. She was also afraid (What to do?). Her mind was slightly panicking until she felt a hand on her head.
She turned to Lex, who patted her head. "It's okay, just eat like you used to" He started eating his breakfast crudely. It's not like Lex didn't understand table manners being friends with Bentley. His parents already taught him table manners. He did it to help Maya.
"Un!" Maya replied. It really helped her. It was her first-time eating this high class and this rich breakfast. She also becomes like Ella and has a rich expression when eating. No one watched it, but the cooks nodded merrily, satisfied looking at Maya. (Let's add a pudding on hers too!) they thought.
It was a little action from Lex to help Maya. "Hmm~" but it didn't escape Layla's observation.
***
They finished their breakfast, adults needed to work, and children needed to go to school.
Now that Kate knew who he was. He didn't need to hide in the school anymore. More like it's better for him to be known as Kate's friend, so he was able to be by her side at any time.
"Do you want to go together?" He asked Maya. He also didn't have any reason to go a separate way from Maya.
Maya turned to Lex. She was a bit confused with his question for a while and when she understood it "Un!!" she instantly nodded her head.
They might go to school together in the future. But today, Maya was a bit overwhelmed with Bentley's residence. So, Lex and Maya went separate ways with Bentley's daughter.
But before that…
"Kate!" Lex called. Kate and Ella were preparing to go to school by car. He approached Kate so closely that they might touch each other's faces. The new servant in Bentley's house immediately tried to interfere, only to be held down by the older servant. The older servant signaled them to stay put and watch!
Kate was surprised and took a step back, only to realize a car was behind her. "What?" she vehemently replied. She is still mad about him.
But Lex didn't say anything even. He still brought his face closer to her. Kate immediately closed her eyes. (Is he trying to kiss me!?) She was shocked. Usually, Kate wouldn't falter like this, but these two days were too shocking for her. It made her a bit unstable and unable to act Mature like she used to.
"Ah..." Kate let out a voice when she felt something touch her nose. She opened her eyes, staring at Lex very closely (this feeling…).
A few moments went by that she felt like hours. Then, finally, Lex released her. "See you later in school," Lex said and turned to go back to his home.
Kate felt the emotion she bottled up all these years burst out at once. She could hear Ella's giggling by her side, but she ignored it.
Looking at his back… Kate's rushed to him, unlike her usual self. "Stupid!!" she cried out. Lex turned back and was hugged by Kate in tears. "I miss you! I miss you! I miss you!!!" she cried in his chest.
Lex was dumbfounded at first and calmed down in the next second. He slowly put his hands on Kate's back. (This is the Kate I knew…) Lex thought and embraced her tightly. Once he met Kate face to face, he felt she was a bit different from what he knew. Even Lex himself didn't know that he was subconsciously afraid of seeing that change. It would be a lie to say Lex didn't feel sad about it.
"Kate, I…"
"Stupid, Stupid!! Daddy told me at most it was only three years!! So why would you extend it!!" She hit his chest again and again. "Did you forget about me!? Or you didn't want to see me anymore! Even when coming back, you avoided me!!" Kate kept complaining and complaining.
"It's not like that!" Lex tried to refute, but Kate no longer listened to him. He knew there was nothing he could do. He could only wait till Kate let out all her emotions buried all these years. "I miss you too," he said every time Kate voiced her feelings.
Before long…. Kate broke down in tears. She didn't say anything more, only hugged his chest tightly… very tightly.
The new servant was frozen in a daze watching the first miss, who was always elegant and calm, become like this. While the old servant watches them with warm eyes and slight tears.
The two gears are separated by distance, able to meet again. Only to find they already have a different frequency to clock together. But today. at this moment in this place. They finally clocked together and moved at the same pace… and….
They are late for school.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(A/N: Is this better?)
The two gears are separated by distance, able to meet again. Only to find they already have a different frequency to connect. But today. at this moment in this place. They finally connected and moved at the same pace… and….