Chapter 5. Rip up the past

He stopped abruptly again. This time she was more agile, slowing down to run up beside him. She giggled proudly: "Do you think I'm good? I won't touch your back this time."

He must have had another thought when he saw her smile. He didn't think that when she smiled, she was so beautiful, her dimples, and bright eyes when she smiled, brightened her whole face. That's what he says in his heart, but on the outside, he says otherwise: "I'm not wrong to say you're stupid."

"I'm not stupid."

"Ok. What do you want to say?"

She took his hand: "Can we go somewhere else to talk?"

He withdrew his hand and said: "Okay. Let's go."

She led the way, and he followed her. She led him to a large tree. There was a rusty swing near the base of the tree. The scenery here was beautiful during the day, now the sun going down the mountain is even more beautiful. This was the place she had accidentally discovered yesterday while walking.

She happily asked him: "Do you think this place is beautiful?"

She was smiling with wide eyes and turned to see him change his face, his eyes flickered with a pain that was hard to hide. She cares for him: "How are you? You don't like this place?"

His eyes aimlessly looked into the distance: "This is my favorite place when I was a child. But now I don't like it anymore."

"Why don't you like it anymore?"

He looked at her, and replied cryptically: "Everyone changes."

After that, he went back to the rusted swing, stood and stared for a while, then slowly sat down and said to her: "What do you want to talk about?"

"I see you out every day from morning till night. Do you go to work?"

"No."

"Where did you go?"

"It's my private matter."

"It's my private matter. If you're done asking, I'm leaving."

After that, he got up and wanted to go back. She panicked and said: "Wait. I'm not done asking yet."

He gritted his teeth: "You ask quickly."

"Where are your parents? Why haven't I seen your parents since I've been here?"

After a long time, he replied: "My parents and sister are dead."

She realized she had asked a question she shouldn't have asked, and she bowed her head apologetically: "I'm sorry, I didn't know that."

"No problem."

She boldly asked: "Are you sad?"

He looked directly into her eyes: "If your whole family died, would you be sad?"

"I will be very sad."

"Then why are you asking me?"

"Hmm. Do you have a particular favorite?"

"Not available."

Having received the answer, she sighed in frustration. She didn't expect his life to be so boring. If he doesn't love anything, what gift should she give him now?

She thought for a long time and finally thought of a gift for him. After dinner, she sneaked out and went around looking for a piece of wood under the trees. Usually, she sees a lot, but it's evening so it's a bit difficult to find. Luckily, she found some pieces of wood after a while.

Time is running out, she has to hurry back to her room to sculpt them into beautiful wooden statues.

Because her father is a carpenter, she was made by him from a young age to make various wooden toys. Her room was also decorated a lot, over the years she grew up, so many wooden items increased. She is skillful with her hands and also learned from her father how to sculpt from wood.  This is the time when she shows her talent.

If he doesn't like something, she will make him something she loves.

She carefully sculpted until late at night.  She was already very sleepy, but if she didn't finish work and went to bed, she wouldn't be able to give him a present tomorrow. She tried to overcome the sleepiness, little by little.

The wooden figure gradually appeared, it was the image of a boy and a girl sitting together. It was exactly her and him, she was about to go home, she wanted him to keep this gift as a souvenir so that he would never forget her.

She did not sleep all night, and it was not until morning that she finished the wooden statue. She looked at the statue with satisfaction for a long time. She worked hard to create it. This is a statue of her and him sitting next to each other, both smiling and looking very beautiful. She felt more satisfied than ever.

Her eyes could not be opened because of fatigue, it was still not bright outside. So she just went to bed for a bit. Early tomorrow morning she will present the statue before he leaves the palace.

However, when she woke up, it was already noon. She just wanted to sleep for a bit, planning to give him a present this morning. But now she sleeps until noon.

Rushing out, she found the hallway as empty as ever. She wondered, today is the birthday of the owner of this place, she should have arranged and organized a very lavish birthday party.

Going down to the kitchen, she saw the nanny cleaning. Seeing her, the nanny smiled: "Are you hungry? In the morning, she saw that you slept so well, so she didn't wake up."

She said shyly: "Yes. I'm bothering you."

"I don't mind. Sit down at the table, I'll warm up the food and bring it up for you to eat."

"Yes. Grandma. Is Mr. Jake out as usual?"

"That's right."

"Today is his birthday without having a birthday party?"

"How do you know?"

"I'm sorry. Yesterday I overheard you and Lily talking to each other."

The nanny is not angry, her face is slightly sad: "He doesn't like to celebrate birthdays."

She asked curiously: "Why don't you like it?"

The nanny sighed sadly: "Because his parents and sister died on his birthday. So from then on, he no longer celebrates birthdays."