Chapter 6 ~Confess your feelings~

"Mom! Did you know I got full marks on my test today? The teacher kept praising me." Feng excitingly shared, feeling proud as he rubbed the edge of his nose by his chubby hand, "Aren't I beyond cool!? I mean, I can't help it. I'm just cool. What do I even say now!" He giggled inwardly.

Kristi looked at her cute little son with content grin. "Ye—" but before she could say a word, Feng interrupted her while crossing his arm, above his chest. "I know! I know! I'm cool!! Enough of these and that. I'm not a kid anymore."

"Puff!" She burst out into laughter, heartily. She nodded her head, agreeing with him, "Okay! Okay!"

He giggled, "Hehehe!" He then saw an ice-cream cart on the way. "Mommmmmm!! Ice-cream!! He excitingly pointed out at the cart with a wide grin, his eyes sparkling and mouth drooling.

She glanced at the ice-cream cart and inquired, " You wanna have a ice-Cream? But—" again, he interrupted her while clearing his throat. "Ahem!! Ahem!! Ice-Cream is bad for teeth, so I was going to stop you." He glanced at her with those sparkling gaze that were pleading for ice-cream and suggested, "Got it? You shouldn't eat ice cream, no matter how much your heart and soul crave for!"

She chuckled inwardly, feeling hilarious in an adorable way. Her baby angel's favorite dessert was ice cream, so he constantly tried to look grownup whenever he noticed that she's about to refuse it. Really, it was endearingly amusing.

Every time he feels the need for something, he would always acts as though it's for his mother instead of himself. He would make an effort to act like an strict adult. Kristi could never get enough of his cutesy cleverness. She answered, "Okay! As you wish, young master! Now let's get home. Should we?" Knowing that he was hankering after ice cream, she decided to tease him a little more. Just a little more.

Witnessing his mother walking away, Feng's jaw dropped widely. It wasn't supposed to end this way after all. The ending was supposed to be something like, 'My dear son, you're my good son. I'll buy you a lots of Ice-Cream.' wasn't it?

"Ahem! Ahem! You see like, you shouldn't force yourself to stop your inner desires while your entire body is craving for it. I can plainly see that. So, don't worry. I'll let you have this time. So..."

She turned around and saw her son blink his eyes twice and smile adorably. "...So??" She acted ignorant.

"So, you can have it. Go on! Go on! I won't stop you. But only this time, alright? Your health is important after all." He admonished her in a strict yet endearing manner, causing her to blush in secret. She was trying her best to hold her chuckle.

"Hmmm..." She pretended to be thoughtful and serious. She turned slightly, began to giggled silently in secret, and then turned to face her adorable son, who was eager to hear her response. She chuckled softly and nodded her head, saying,"Okay!!"

He flashed a huge smile, but shortly, his broad grin was replaced by a serious expression. He then acted like a strict parent. "Alright then! Don't eat too much. I'm just letting you have it for today. Don't expect for next time."

She giggled silently and responded, "Sure, Young Master!!"

Both of them approached the ice-Cream cart while he was looking forward to have an ice-cream with a broad smile which was shortly replaced with a disappointment. She only bought one instead of two. She exclaimed, "Wow," while staring at the delicious chocolate ice-cream.

He peeked at the ice cream and gulped. He was waiting for his turn eagerly, but there was no any response from her.

"Alright! Young Master. Let's ho home now. By the way, thank you very much for letting me have this one. This," she said while showing the ice-cream near him, "Chocolate ice cream. It looks tasty, right?"

He gulped and acted, "Y-Yeaaahhhh!!" As though he was entirely hypnotized, his gaze were following the direction of ice-cream which was held by Kristi like it was casting a spell on him. The whole situation was just so hilarious.

"Mmmmm," she licked the tip of Ice cream like a kid with a broad grin, "It's so tasty!!

"M-Mom!" He unconsciously approached his hand closer to ice-cream, "I..."

"Yeah, What happened?" She acted ignorant.

"N-Nothing! Nothing at all." He instantly wrapped his hand around his chest while looking at other side. "I don't need that. No need to give me, okay? I mean it."

She covered her mouth, trying to hold back her laughter. She was doing her best to hold it. "But I never said I'll give it to you, have I?"

His whole body got stiff as he tried to avoid her gaze, "R-Really? I... I thought I heard that..." He nervously laughed, "He...he...he..."

She raised her eyebrows, "Oh, Okay! Okay! I was thinking of buying another for you since it tastes really good, but—"

"What!? Really?" Feng beamed, but instantly tried to stay calm, "Ahem! Ahem! O-Okay! Since you're persuading me so much to have the ice cream, I shall accept it. You're my sweet mom, after all. If it were anybody, I wouldn't be accepting it. I'm telling you just so you don't misunderstand. Okay?"

"Yes, young master!" His adorable little act made her truly hilarious but she hold her laughter quiet well with a sweet smile. When she brought his favorite ice-cream—chocolate, he was ecstatic. However, he made an effort to suppress his excitement in front of her and tried to stay cool as if he wasn't 4 years old kid but already an adult.

She adoringly gazed at her little son who was enjoying his ice-cream to his heart content. She was truly feeling grateful to God for sending him into her life who bought enormous happiness.

~At home~

Feng turned on the T.V and started to watch the life of wild animals. He had always been interested in watching animals and their lifestyle instead of cartoons. When he was changing the channel, he saw a big dinosaur which was like a huge mountain. It looked cool. "Mom," he excitingly rushed towards his mom and requested, "I want to see dinosaurs. Can we go and see them? Please!!"

"Dinosaur?" Kristi was taken aback.

He nodded his head excitingly, "Yeah! Yeah! I just saw the movie of the dinosaur. It was," He stretched his little hand as much as he can, "This Big!!" He stare at her with his adorable puppy eyes and pleaded, "Mom, pretty please."

"Al-Alright!" She nodded, unable to refuse him even though she wanted to. That was his hidden talent to whom, no one could dare to fight against it once they take a look at his cute little puppy eye which he was proud of.

Kristi thought, feeling helpless, 'Dinosaur? How will I show him the dinosaur now? What should I do now?' Just then, the place crossed her mind, "Uh! Museum!!" She grinned, "I'll take you on weekend then. Is that okay?"

He hopped on his little chubby leg, feeling excited, "Yes! Yes! Yahoo. I am going to see a dinosaurs now! Dinosaur! Dinosaur!"

She grinned warmly, "This little guy!!"

~At morning~

While Kristi and Feng were waiting for school bus at the bus stop, she suggested affectionately, "Be a good boy and don't give any trouble to your teacher, okay?"

"Yes, mommy," he nodded his head with a broad smile. Right after that, the bus came to pick him up. While he was about to enter, he asked hesitantly, "Will you come to pick me up today?"

The smile on her complexion slightly disappeared as she patted on his shoulder, "I'm sorry. Mommy won't be able to come today."

Nodding head, he grinned widely, "That's okay, mommy. You don't have to say sorry. Alright, I will go now. Bye, mommy. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart." She waved her hand with a smile , "Don't worry, aunt will come to pick you up like always. Be a good boy to aunt, okay?"

"Sure! I will." He waved his hand with a broad smile.

Kristi blankly stare at her son's bus go until it disappeared from her vision. There was trace of disappointment and dejection in her complexion. Taking a deep breath and making up her mind, she went to her workplace.

Right after getting into her workplace, she greeted everyone politely yet friendly with a smile. "Good morning everyone!!"

"Good morning!"

"Good morning, Kristi!"

"Oh, hey Kristi, Good morning!"

Everyone greeted her back with a wide grin. It was a restaurant known all over the city, especially among the high-class crowd who would come to try a delicious dishes. She held the title of Sous chef.

Getting the position of Sous chef was the results of her years of struggle. She had an above average income that allowed her to live a comfortable life, ensuring she could provide for her son's education and basic needs. However, affording extras like new clothes and leisure activities posed a bit of a challenge for her. However, it didn't mean she would let herself stop from anything like that from making her son's wishes come true.

That's why, she choose to work overtime just so that she could earn even a little bit more.

Simon, her head chef greeted her with a soft and warm grin, "Good morning, Kristi!"

"Good morning, Head chef! Good to see you after three days. How's your fever now?" She asked with a concern which kinda made him blushed. He responded with a slight smile, "Well... Yeah! I'm good."

"Oh!" She hurriedly took a three step back and said, "I'll have to go now. I need to prepare some dishes. There are many customers here already."

He nodded his head, "Sure!" She then rushed to the kitchen as his gaze followed her till it disappeared from his vision and he fell lost into a deep thought.

“...Chef... Head chef!!” The familiar voice summoned him by patting on his back which caused him to startled. He spun around and laid eyes on Nina, the restaurant's waitress.

“Nina?" He narrowed his gaze, inquired, "What happened?”

“Ah-hmm!!.” Nina teasingly grinned while glancing at his way, “Aren't you looking at her too much?”

"W-What?" His complexion turn red. Trying to avoid her gaze, he said, “Y-You're just... I-Imagining thing.” He shuttered.

“Oh..." She narrowly raised her eyebrows while leaning closer to look into his eyes, "Is that so?”

"Y-Yeah," he took a step back and gently pushed her head to the side while trying to avoid her gaze, "Would you mind not getting too close?"

She smirked, "Don't try to avoid me, Head chef! Do you even get that you aren't avoiding me but trying to ran away from reality? How about facing it?"

He lightly frown, "What do you mean?"

"Seriously?" She signed heavily, "Are you dumb for real or are you trying so hard to act dumb? It's about Kristi, obviously!"

His heart suddenly skipped a beat when she took Kristi's name. "W-What? What does it have anything to do with her?"

"Hehhhh!" She widely smirked, "Don't try to act fool now. Everyone here knows how head over heels are you for Kristi. Seriously, I don't get it. How could she be the only one who can't see it? It's so obvious and evident."

"What!!???" His eyes widened in disbelief. It felt like a jolt of electricity had zapped him mercilessly. He was definitely sure that he was hiding it very well. Seriously, how did everyone realized it. He had a lots of questions rumbling in his head.

"Don't give me that 'What' seriously!" She walked beside him and suggested seriously, "You would better confess her quickly before someone takes her away. Life is really something else. You have no idea what might happens in next second. So, before you regret losing her, make sure you confess your feelings, honestly."

It was already 9:45 P.M. Kristi anxiously glanced at the time and sighed heavily. 'Feng doesn't sleep without me. What should I do now?'

As her anxiety mounted, a sudden and unexpected gesture from Simon, grasping her hand, rendered her entirely speechless and caught off guard. "Head chef?"