Arlyn and Adrian

19

"Enjoy! U-uhuk, a-water.."

"Stop talking while eating. How many times have I told you?"

"Drink drink."

"Umi's. I want that."

"Let me get it."

"Hm.. ..thank you, uncle."

The six people who were on vacation were in the hotel dining hall. They sat around a round table. With the seating order Adrian, Arlyn, Abi, Riel, Azel, and Leta.

The one who was previously choking was Riel. The one who grumbled was Arlyn. The one who laughed while pouring water was Leta. The one who asked to get the omelette eggs was Abi. Then the one who took him in place of Arlyn was Adrian.

Arlyn frowned. He wondered why he felt like he was a family on vacation.

Adrian turned back to Arlyn. The woman was wiping the mouth of Abi who had a lot of sauce stains.

"Didn't I tell you to eat slowly? Lookyour mouth. You look like you just put your mouth in the food instead of the food that goes into your mouth."

Abi just smiled silently. Let Arlyn clean her mouth. Somehow Adrian felt it was precisely the thing that was deliberately done by Abi. The boy was happy when Arlyn noticed him. He remembered when they were still at the lunchroom. When they eat together. Abi accidentally dropped food. Dirtying his legs. Arlyn cleaned the kid's feet.

Riel saw. Then Adrian saw him blatantly dropping food onto his feet as well. Calling Arlyn to clean it up. But Azel first put a piece of lobster meat in the boy's mouth. Cleaning his sister's feet. Saying.

"Don't bother umi."

Riel was then pinched. Laughing at Leta. From Leta's reaction, Adrian guesses that such a thing is common. Riel and Abi are vying for Arlyn's attention. And Arlyn always gives it. Although accompanied by grunts. Adrian wonders if the woman is aware that she is being bullied or she actually views the children as ordinary careless children.

Adrian sees Arlyn not eating much. He always took food for Riel Abi and Azel but he almost never took food for himself. It makes his body tend to be thin and slim. Adrian wants Arlyn to eat more, but she doesn't seem to be a person who likes to eat. No one can force him.

As they were about to take the key card of the hotel room, Riel and Abi noticed the existence of the garden lamp. A hotel park that has many lights with various colors. Make it one of the attractions in the beach area and also the characteristic of the hotel. The lights are lit at night and attract the attention of visitors. Especially children like Riel and Abi. Also Azel. Who saw the existence of a flower garden glowed. The ground of flowers that were given sparkling lights on the ground. Making the flowers on it look like a lighted flower.

After they finish dinner, they'll be there. Arlyn complains but the coercion of Riel and Leta for her to join forces makes her unable to separate herself into the room.

In her head Arlyn had planned a full day where she could stay in the room without being bothered by anyone

Dinner was quite noisy. Riel and Abi call Arlyn. Expect attention from the woman. Either to feed them—or just get them a piece of food. Arlyn may refuse to comply with the request, but she will comply with their request to get food. Also clean their mouths.

Adrian smiling.

Then he saw Leta looking at him. Giving thumb.

Adrian smiled awkwardly and nodded.

"Come to the park!!" Riel jumped down from her stool. Jump around impatiently. He also pulled Abi down from his stool. Before then pulling the hand of Arlyn who was still sitting. Refusing to be harassed.

"Umi'm come!!" Riel tugged at Arlyn's hand but Arlyn, whose body was bigger, was certainly not affected by Riel's pull.

Arlyn frowned.

Aren't they tired? Unlike Arlyn who just sat on the mat, enjoying the peace of— which is not peaceful, the other five people move a lot.

Especially Riel. That boy. The power never runs out. He invites Abi and her brother Azel to play a chase on the sand. Leta just stood still but she laughed a lot at Riel's behavior. Adrian, standing next to Leta with the camera in his hand. Taking pictures of the three children playing. Also photo Leta, photo sea view, the,

even a photo of Arlyn. Which the woman did not realize.

Just by sitting quietly on the mat, Arlyn felt tired. He missed his room. Where he could drown in his sleep.

Arlyn remained silent. Before standing by Riel's will. Also Abi.

The group of six people arrived at the garden of lights. Riel's eyes immediately sparkled seeing the glitter of lights closer. He looked at his body which was also illuminated by lights of various colors. His right hand is yellow. The left hand is red. The right leg is green. And the left leg is blue.

Lots of color. He admired the color of his own body. Abi and Azel had never experienced such a phenomenon.

Arlyn frowned in the brilliance of the garden. Also the crowd that goes around him.

This place is really not the place for him. The place for Arlyn was a medium-sized room where she could remain silent only by herself.

Riel's attention was drawn to something. It was a monitor screen that became the main key of the park. A monitor screen that provides images of moving lights. The lamp that forms a horse from thousands of fireflies. The horse was running. Before the shape turns into a rabbit. Then it turned into a lion. The picture is constantly changing. Draw the attention of a child of Riel's age to see what other pictures will appear.

"Sister! Abi! Let's go there!" He took the hands of his two brothers.

Azel let his hand be pulled. But at the same time he looked back. Look at Adrian standing next to Arlyn. The adult looked at his earth that was frowning to see Riel again running around without saying anything.

"I'll keep an eye on them. You're the same as Adrian." chuckle.

Arlyn is unaware of Leta blinking Adrian's eyes. The woman gave her a blink. Adrian was aghast but still nodded.

Leta follows the three children whose attention is drawn to the moving monitor as much as the other children. Even Abi's attention is so distracted that she doesn't realize that she just let Arlyn be alone with Adrian.

Arlyn let out a tired breath. His face was frustrated. Thinking whether she should be grateful that Leta was with her. He had no energy watching the three children.

Behind him, a familiar voice sounded. "Arlyn."

Arlyn's eyebrows shot up. He forgot the existence of the young man. He gave a mutter.

"Hm."

"We can go to a quieter place. If you want." Adrian's hesitant voice sounded from behind. It caught Arlyn's attention. He turned around to be able to see the figure of the young man.

"Is such a thing in a place like this? Or do you mean to go back to the hotel?" ask Arlyn. Because if Adrian really meant to go back to the hotel, Arlyn could not do that. Even though Leta had said she would bring the three children, Arlyn could not just throw her responsibilities away. Arlyn is their guardian. As they see Arlyn as their guardian and mother.

Adrian shaking. "No. There are places that are more deserted visitors. But we can still see Riel Azel and Abi from there." she explained with a gentle smile. Convince Arlyn.

Arlyn. If so, then Arlyn wants to go to a place deserted by visitors.

"alright. Show me the way." he said. Adrian smiling. He led the woman to go with him.

It is the west side of the park. Where the lights are lit are not colorful lights but ordinary street lights. There's a seat there. And everything is empty. Everyone gathered where the colorful lights were. Not interested in going to the outskirts of the park that seems unattractive. Praise God for Arlyn.

He sat himself in the seat. Spilled all his body weight on that park bench.

Adrian did not sit with him. He stood beside Arlyn. Two hands behind his back. Arlyn had no interest in telling the man to sit down with her. The young man had grown up and he could sit down if he wanted to.

Amidst the silence that was only set against the faint glitter of colorful lights in the distance, as well as the thin crowd in the center of the garden, Adrian's voice was heard.

"Arlynn's.."

The empty-minded Arlyn raised her eyebrows without giving a single glance. Waiting for the young man to continue his sentence.

"I want to tell you something."

Arlyn's forehead is faintly wrinkled. Wondering what.

"Deliver what?" tanyanya. Not interested in giving his attention to the man when he was wanting to lie down in his seat.

Adrian figure moved position to the front. He who previously stood beside Arlyn was now in front of the woman. Slowly make a kneeling pose with one leg. Two hands in front of the chest. Holding a red velvet box. A red velvet box contains a ring.

"I want to marry you." The young man spoke. "Will you marry me?"

Arlyn's empty mind slowly filled in. His previously flat face and only had a faint frown on his forehead slowly changed. He who previously only sat with empty thoughts now could not think empty anymore. Adrian knelt in front of him. Showing a ring and proposing to her. Adrian proposed. The thing that Arlyn was most worried about since the first time the young man took her away.

He was too tired and frustrated to want to go to the hotel room until he forgot the fact that there was still the possibility of the young man doing something that he would not like.

Now it's happening. Arlyn let herself off guard. The young man was already kneeling before him. With a face filled with sincerity. His ears were red but the young man was earnest with his words. He gave Arlyn a marriage proposal.

"......" Arlyn, who was still in a daze, could not use her brain to think. His face froze until his tongue was twisted.

He clenched his hand.

"No. We can't do that."

Arlyn gave the answer.

Sadness fills Adrian's face. The tip of his lips went down. His eyebrows also formed a steep line. Fury filled his eyes. "May I know why?" tanyakanya.

Arlyn began to pucker her lips. He was thinking of an answer. When he felt himself seeing the appearance of a familiar figure.

That's Leta. Also Riel, Azel, and Abi. Leta was seen holding a smile in the distance. Flat-faced azel. But a faint smile formed his lips. Riel smiled broadly. Abi, with empty eyes.

Arlyn saw that. He closed his eyes. He moved his hand. Grasping the ring box in front of him with both hands, and closing the ring box slowly. It makes the sound of a heavy box being closed. Hiding the existence of things in it. "We can't do that, Adrian. I have no plans to marry anyone. I hope you understand."

He stands. Clapping Adrian's hands who grasped the ring box. Look at that young man. He told her to stand up through the look in her eyes. Adrian with his empty eyes saw that and finally got up to his feet in a slow motion. Seeing Adrian no longer on his knees, Arlyn patted him on the shoulder and left the young man. Arlyn walked over to Leta and the other three children who now both had faces of shock. Leta seemed to urge herself to say something but Arlyn did not let her.

"Let's go in. Playtime is enough." he ordered. He looked towards Abi. Seeing the boy looking at him with a stunned face. Arlyn ignored him and left everyone behind. Enter the hotel building alone. Go to his room without anyone. Leaving Adrian still standing still in his place with empty eyes.