Beautiful Disaster (Complete)

23. Sweet Memories

Chapter 23. 

       “Is something wrong?” Ace asked when he noticed her looks that changed from pleased to blue—in all of a sudden.

                “No, everything is fine.” Leanne looked at him, before tried to be more convincing. “I just thought that I should’ve prepared something.”

                Even though Ace not really believe in her answers, or maybe the way her looks at the outdoor is too mesmerizing him, Ace decided to give her some space to enjoying the moment. Rather than challenge her all the time.

                “Like I said, - - Today, no work for you. I got all covered.” Ace’s eyes softened in a very warm and soothing way. Leanne looked down before saying thank you to Ace.

                It turned out that Ace ordered the food from the pizza restaurant not far from the picnic field. The delivery man gave her two boxes of pizza, two pax of pastas, one bowl of salad, and a few bottles of juices. Leanne decided to arrange the meal, so that when Cheryl and Ace finished playing around with One, they can do the lunch right away—rather than just watching how sweet, charming, or breath-taking Ace is.

                  After Leanne finished arranging the meal, she lied down with one of her hand under her head, she then staring at the sky. To feel the wind, the grass, looking at the blue sky, white clouds, hearing Cheryl’s laughter soon makes her feels in sooth, peace, and every inch of her body just relaxing. Leanne closed her eyes enjoying the moment for a while.

                After a while, Leanne’s moment of piece was interrupted by One who just came on her and lick her face, made Leanne giggled and get up to sit.

                “One, come on, no slobbering the lady.” Said Ace, noticing how comfortable Leanne before One came, and how lucky One can easily jumped into her arms-- sniffing her face without being judged. Okay, why did I have to compare this kind of things in my mind? Ah, it’s because seeing her laying down blending in with nature, makes me want to jump on the top of her, that’s why! –Ace thought while ruffled his hair.

                “I’m hungry, Leanne!” said Cheryl.

                “Yes, let’s eat first.” Leanne gave her the pasta box, and a fork.

                “Yeah, make sure you eat too. I bought enough food for us.” Ace said to Leanne.

                “Okay, Sarge.” Said Leanne while raising her hand to her head—salute him.

                Oh, she dare to tease him now!—Ace thought inside, while smiling at her, even though his body stretch in reflex for feeling the urge to kiss her at the moment.

                After finished their lunch and spending a little bit more time enjoying the field, Ace is taking them to a beach carnival. Cheryl was shouting in joy the moment they’ve arrived at the carnival, because the carnival is so breath-taking beautiful decorated and merry. All the people there, were smiling for seems like having a bliss.

                Cheryl asked for a chocolate-ice cream she first glanced, when entering the carnival area.

                “You just ate. Are you sure you still want an ice cream?” said Ace.

                “Yes! Please, please, please uncle Ace!” Cheryl gave his uncle the puppy eyes look, that made Ace laugh and giving up that easy.

                Ace looked at Leanne before ask, “Do you want one too..?”

                “No thanks, I’m good.” Said Leanne weakly smile, while thinking how sweet he is inside her heart. After Cheryl got what she wanted, they started to enjoy several games in the carnival. Even Leanne can’t deny that she has a great time already. She often laughs and smiles casually with Ace and Cheryl. They’re like a happy family with a guardian dog, having a great holiday for the day.

                Ace running his hair with his fingers, when he noticed how naturally beautiful Leanne being outdoor, standing in the middle of a crowd, with her hair waving by the wind. Moreover, to see her hazel eyes with the sun as the light, and her always-neat-always-get-together-look. The Way Leanne is always look so clean, organized, fragrant—makes him wants to ruin and greedily taste her beauty. Gee! he’s definitely, lost his mind. – he thought inside.

                The next game that Cheryl want to play is the shooting game. A classic shooting the targets game, with a giant bunny doll as the prize. Which of course Ace can simply win the game. Considering, shooting is the man’s everyday job. –Leanne thought inside. Leanne even decided to occasionally look away when Ace was in the game, for she found the way Ace holding the shotgun, the way he shoots were too charmingly attractive.

                After two more other games, another two snacks for Cheryl, bought a few hat and glasses accessories for each of them, Cheryl found a photobooth and she asked for them to take a picture together. Like the common photobooth, from its outside—and Leanne’s pretty sure from the inside too—is small. It would make her to be so close with Ace inside, besides, should she be in pictures at all? Even though she’s using her real identity anyway.—she slightly thought inside her mind.

                “I’m gonna wait here with One, you guys just do it without me.” Said Leanne, when Ace and Cheryl had gone inside the booth, but the small-blue curtain is still open.

                “No, let’s take pictures Leanne!” Cheryl whined a little.

                “There’s not enough space, sweetie..” Leanne tried to persuade her.

                “It’ll fit for the three of us. Why, you don’t want to take picture?” Ace said briefly.

                “I-I just thought, it will be look better if only you and Cheryl in the photo. You know, if you want to put a frame or—” Leanne hasn’t finished talking, or explaining of how she’s not a part of their family.

When suddenly, Ace grabbed her arm, pulling her inside the booth, make her stumble and lean on his chest. Their eyes locked on each other, and Leanne can see his eyes darkened before he speaks.

                “You sure took a long time to give a reason.” His lips moving so close with her. “It’s just a photo, babe.” He said.

                “O-okay. Just don’t call me that.” Leanne said looking at Cheryl who’s smiling in excitement.

                The picture has been printed into six postcard-sized pictures, and they’re all very cute and adorable. Even though in a first two picture, Leanne was still gawky, but she soon got carried away by Cheryl’s joy that makes her freely had a great time too inside the booth.

                Leanne smiled, looking at the picture on her hand, the one that Ace and her kissing Cheryl’s cheek in the middle, with One who jumped beside Cheryl just so he got captured inside the picture.

                “That’s a good one.” Ace suddenly said from behind Leanne’s back, made Leanne quickly looked at him.

                “I-I thought so too.” she said gently. Her eyes met his eyes for a second, they’re staring at each other before Cheryl suddenly speaks.

                “Where to now, uncle Ace?” asked Cheryl while holding both Leanne’s and Ace’s hand.

                “Now, we go to the beach!” said Ace, guiding them heading to the beach.

                “I thought we’re only gonna swim..” Cheryl replied.

                “Yup! Swimming at the beach.”

                The beach is not too crowded since it’s not weekend. Ace took them to one of the gazebo -beach, they put their bags of extra clothes—that Leanne had prepared it back in the mansion. Leanne is in the middle of helping Cheryl who’s already had her swimsuit under her clothes that she changed it after she got off from school, when Ace just took off his shirt and jeans, left him with his boxer.

                Leanne took her sunglasses from her purse, and put it on, hoping that it would hide her glance, or her entire emotion. One thing that she worries the most is to show that she cares, to get involved, or worse—when someone particularly, Ace, can see through her, from her eyes.