BLAMELESS SORROWS

24. Play on the Rain

Axel's Point of View.

I sit by the window seat looking at the rain falling drop after drop beautifully while I drink from the huge cup, a steaming milk tea.

The wind blowing here and there shaking the leave of every tree, blowing in every direction. The water droplet sprinkling on every object they can touch. And strangely enough, I find this seemingly violent shake and noise so calm and peaceful. The look of this time, make me a bit nostalgic and remember us as a kid running around free as a bird not afraid of anything.

Flashback.

(Tilbe: nine years, Axel: 14 years)

I was sitting by my bed blankly looking at the rain fall violently through the window when Tilbe rush in jumping on my bed.

Tilbe: Axel, Iam so bored and have nothing to do even when I keep on thinking about it, so my thought is shall we go out?

I look at her in disbelieve, she dared said she is bored with that sparkle of excitement in her eyes. Actually she love rain and playing around it, but she always get sick doing so, so she is not allowed to go out.

Axel: But it's raining so much and besides grandpa won't agree even if I do.

As I said that she stand up with a cheerful smile on her little face.

Tilbe: Grandpa and Uncle Jo have went out. So now you are the eldest!

And her eye sparkle more and more. Actually grandpa to make sure she does not do any mischief make a rule that if he is not home, Tilbe has to take permission of the oldest person in the house, whoever that is which is either me or Uncle Jo as there is no one else here most of the time

And she is so excited because she know I will give in, I always give in to her anyway.

So before I see her pleading face and gave in, I quickly ran away after saying a quick excuse.

Axel: And I say no, so babye!

And with that I rush out but before I can, she caught my hand making me stop my rushing out.

Tilbe: Please Axel, I swear it will be just for a while!

The classic pout and her large black eye looking at me with cute expectation follow making me sigh to myself. I know I will give in again, but I tried once more trying to sound as stern as I can.

Axel: You will get sick again Tilbe, and besides grandpa will scold me if you get sick while I was looking after you. Do you want that?

I choose to blackmail her, I know it's low but this is the only thing I can do right now.

But the guilty look that is brought to her by my words make me regret saying so the second I said it.

And because of that right now Iam standing in the front porch of our house while Tilbe raise one of her leg and let the rain fall on it, giggling as it fell on her.

And Yes, I have gave in so here we are. But the one good thing is that, at least I have gotten myself a deal that we will play only for a short while, my thought on it is, it will be about ten minute.

While I was thinking so, I heard Tilbe squeal and rush out spinning around under the rain with her arm wide open as if she is hugging the rainwater with her happiness.

She jump up and down, her little dress raising and falling in rhythm with the rising and falling of the pooled water as she jump. She truly look happy jumping there giggling to herself and feeling every bit of the rain.

Although I don't know why and I will not understand it either, but Tilbe love the rain so much and of course even the snow. She is in love with anything that can make her sick, literally.

I sigh at the thought of persuading her not to go out in the snow when the time comes. I wonder why she can't have a body constitution that can make her enjoy all the rain and snow her little heart desire.

While I was thinking that I feel water sprinkled on me making me come back to my reality a little startled. When I look what it was, I saw a giggling Tilbe happily sprinkling all the water her hand can get, making me chuckle at her.

But seeing me just being there staring at her and not making any move to play with her, she gave me a cute pout and come to me herself and try to move me, which does not affect me at all.

But looking at her trying her best with all her might, looking so cute. I move acting like she had moved me making her grin in victory.

I went out and play around with her, running round the small foundation splashing each other with all the waters we can get our hands to, as if the rain is not enough for us.

Her giggles and squeals fill up the air while I run behind her and my own laughter shook me.

We continue this for a while that is till Tilbe ran away from the fountain running from me.

And that is when all hell broke loose, as she stumble by a log and rush forward pushing herself to the pile log of firewood making some roll down while some loose waiting to fall down.

I look at it surprised and rush towards her swinging her away just before a log fell on her making both of us fall down with me unable to support both of us.

I shield her as much as I can, scraping my arm in the process making me winch in pain.

I quickly stand up though, not paying a heed to it and look at Tilbe to see if she is hurt or not and thankfully she isn't. I sigh in relieve seeing as she is fine but apparently she does not think so, as just the next second she start to wail out loud startling me.

Axel: Whats wrong Tilbe? Are you hurt anywhere, is it paining anywhere?

She nod in a no but points at my hand and looked at me completely terrified.

Following her pointing I look at where she is looking and saw that the white long sleeve shirt I have been wearing has been torn by my arm and is covered in blood, this must have scared her.

Axel: Its okay, it does not hurt one bit. Don't cry, it's fine.

But her crying didn't stop and it just intensify, while once again she start to drag me again. This time I follow willingly not wanting to waste time.

She drag me inside the house completely rush out, and once we are inside she went ahead and quickly rush to a cabinet and bring a towel and a first aid box. While hiccuping here and there due to her cries, but weirdly even with her red nose and red cheeks, I feel like she is quite a mature kid by now because of her action.

She then tried to open the first aid box but unfortunately was not able to, making her once more cried in frustration while she hand me the towel at the same time.

I chuckled at her action and take the box away from her and open it myself while wiping her tears as well.

I tear my sleeve off and wipe it clean, and thankfully the water from the rain just soak the blood all over making it seem huge, but it was just a scrap and nothing too huge or deep.

But someone didn't think so, as Tilbe look at my wound and scream in fright, making me startled once again. But seeing that she is scared of my wound I tried to hide it from her vision which just intensify her crying.

Tilbe: Oh my god, there is so much blood and the wound is also so big. Are you going to die Axel? No, you can't do that, you can't!

And her cries once more intensify while I look at her completely shock. Where is her little mind going? I take back my words, she still is indeed a small kid.

Axel: Tilbe Shss! Shss, okay calm down. This is nothing big, and nothing will happen. I swear I just need to apply some ointment and I'll be fine okay?

She shake her head in a no, hiccuping violently due to her cries.

Tilbe: Let...s go an..d get hel..p, doctor? how do I cal..l a doc..tor?

Axel: Tilbe I swear, I don't need a doctor, Iam fine.

And I really am, but she still says no, fear clear in her eyes.

And during that time, we heard someone opening the door making Tilbe rush out towards the door.

And she came back with James, a worker here and point at me still crying.

Tilbe: Doctor.

James seeing me hurt quickly come to my side and examine my wound.

While Tilbe stand a bit away from us looking frightened, hiccuping and crying and wet all over, making my heart ache.

Axel: Come here Tilbe, come to me.

She trudge towards me while I hug her as much as I can with one arm.

Axel: See, uncle James is here and he is treating me now, so everything will be okay, alright? This is just a small injury anyway, we don't need a doctor okay?

She look unconvinced but nonetheless said nothing and just nod her head looking at James bandaging up my wound while finishing applying the ointment.

James:There done, it was nothing serious so it should be fine. Little Tilbe, don't worry anymore okay?

She hesitantly and slowly nod her head while I pat her head slowly while wiping her remaining tears, she has slowly stop crying by now.

Axel: People will think something serious has happen if they see you right now

She look at me and pout, her mood still sullen making me pinch her soft cheeks softly making her frown at me while I chuckle.

Axel: Let go get change now, shall we? If we remain wet like this, instead of the wound hurting us, we will get cold instead.

With that I pick her up and was on my way to our room when I remember.

Axel: Uncle James, can you please make us warm ginger tea? I dont want Tilbe or me to get cold.

He smile at me and nod.

James: Get change quickly and come down, there will be a steaming hot ginger tea waiting for both of you.

Hearing that Tilbe scrunch up her nose in distaste while I chuckle at her tapping her nose and we walk upstairs on our way to change.