Please, Love Me Again

Chapter 22: I Will Be Your Mother

Allen pouted. "Who knows what this kid is thinking? He probably just likes you because you're like his mother."

"Do I look like a mother?" Geneva jokes. She glanced at Allen seriously but in fact she was holding her laughter inside. How could she not like being called a mother? In fact, she had wished to be called a mother.

Allen chuckled, fist covering over his lips. "What do you want to hear? The truth or the lie?"

"What do you think?" Geneva gave him a mocking look. "Of course I prefer the truth."

"Eherm! Eherm!" Allen cleared his throat, giving up. "Alright. Alright. I will be honest with you. But you have to promise you won't get mad."

"Fine, I'll promise. As long as it's the truth." Geneva glanced at the kid and smiled. "How about we call the hotel service to serve our food firsthand? He must be hungry now. Darling, what do you want to eat?"

Geneva looked at the kid patiently and anticipatingly for his response but after a minute, just like the first time they met, she didn't hear any words from him except blinking his eyes and stared intensely at her again.

Geneva was disappointed. In fact she was anticipating to hear the little thing's sweet little voice. She was having thoughts and feelings like those mothers who were eager to hear their little babies calling them mother so sweetly and affectionately for the first time. But unfortunately, she didn't get what she wished for.

It caused a sharp pain in her heart but she could only maintain her smile and sighed inwardly. If he won't speak, she couldn't force him. At least, he granted her wish to see him again.

Allen sighed audibly. "If you're expecting to hear him speak, then I'm telling you now. Don't dream about that. He has never talked since he was young."

Geneva turned her eyes at him, frowning and shocked. "Why? Is he suffering from an illness? Is he that– you know what I mean."

Allen shook his head. "He is not. The doctor said he can talk. He is not an autistic kid actually but he really never talks. Of course, others said he is really autistic. They don't believe he is not since he never talks. Well, we can't blame them if they think that way."

"Why did he refuse to talk? Did he suffer some trauma before." Geneva took the kid's hands and held them tightly, looking at him sympathetically. "I don't believe he had a bad childhood."

"You can say that." Allen pressed a button that stuck on the side and continued talking, "Everyone in the family, especially his grandparents, regarded him as the treasure. How can he possibly have a bad childhood? Well, you can say he has a bad father because he only knows how to work and he is like a stranger every time they are together. Neither of them talk to each other. When he finally talks, he is so cold and stern which only scares the kid. Who likes to stay with him? But you can't say it's because of him because ever since, he really never tried to speak even just a single word."

"How about something else that really traumatized him? For example, an accident? But Allen, although I'm an outsider, I believe I should say this. Factors that can affect the kid's emotion are also important. So, his father should treat him a lot better especially now that he is on the stage of growing up and really needs parental love."

Allen sighed. "I can do nothing about that. Even myself is afraid of him, how can I tell him what to do when it comes to raising his son. Alright. Let's go back to business." Allen placed a folder in front of her. "Take a look at this."

"What is this?" Geneva furrowed an eyebrow.

"A contract."

"Contract? What do you mean by this?"

Allen looked at her meaningfully. "Didn't we discuss this already? How could you forget it?"

"Oh right." She knocked her forehead. "So this was what you actually meant. Tell me. What kind of contract is this?"

"Be his bodyguard."

"What did you say?" Geneva frowned, surprised. "You want me to be his bodyguard? Are you kidding me?"

"What? You can't do it? Geneva, don't pretend in front of me. I know how capable you are."

"Don't treat me like those villainous ruffians." Geneva chuckled. "I'm a woman. Will his family allow it?"

"You don't have to worry about that. We already discussed this with his father."

"How about his mother?"

"He doesn't have a mother." Allen said dejectedly. "His mother abandoned him right after he was born."

"What? How cruel she is! How can she leave her own son?" Geneva looked at the kid and subconsciously pulled him into her embrace. "What a pitiful little thing. Don't worry Darling. From today onwards, I will be your mother."

The kid initially was not showing any reaction aside from returning Geneva's embrace and staring at her closely. But upon hearing her say he could treat her as his mother, his face lit up, his dull eyes brightened, and a genuine smile appeared on his adorable face.

Allen pointed at him. "My God, he- he, he smiled. He actually smiled!"

Allen slammed the table in surprise and happiness.

Geneva glared at him, startled by what he did. "Why are you so noisy? Can't just talk? Allen, if I get annoyed, I can't promise I won't break that."

"You dare?"

Geneva raised a brow at him. "You want to try? I will be more willing if you'd like to."

Allen waved his hands hurriedly, swallowing his saliva anxiously. "No. No. I won't dare. I still need my hand to hold into my happiness." He grinned.

A knock paused their conversation and then the hotel service opened the door and served so many dishes on their table. When they were done and left the room, the conversation resumed as they also began digging.

"So, are you accepting the task?" Allen asked.

"Yes." Geneva smiled. "Why not?"

Geneva didn't ask the kid anymore if what he would like to eat since he never talks and never tells what he prefers. Hence, she just scooped the food based on her own preferences.

She placed vegetable salad, beef steak, and fish filet as well as rice on his plates. After she put them all on the kid's plate, the kid began to eat obediently and silently. None of what she picked was wasted. He ate them all without putting some aside.

"Wow, so he likes to eat vegetables?" Allen exclaimed. "This is such an eye-opener!"

"Don't tell me he doesn't eat vegetables too?" Geneva asked surprisingly.

"Yeah. This is the first time. You are the only one who made him eat that food. If you just know what he looks like when he sees vegetables on the dining table, you will get scared."

"What did he look like?" Geneva looked at Allen and to the kid curiously.

When their conversation took turn into the interest of the kid, the kid froze midway. He stared at Geneva nervously using his fearful gaze and then glared at Allen threateningly.

Allen immediately understood what he was trying to say with his gaze to him. If the woman disliked him, he would bear the consequences that were worse than death.

Allen wanted to laugh but was anxious at the same which was quite absurd since he was a grown man but afraid of the kid.

The kid wasn't saying a thing or two but he was anxious inside. He didn't want to leave a bad impression on the woman. What if she would dislike him because of his bad habit or attitude? He couldn't accept that. At the moment, his soul was crying inside and he slowly lost appetite to eat. However, he forced himself to resume eating in order not to make his impression towards the woman even worse.

Allen laughed. "Alright, I won't say anymore. But I'm glad you're here. I believe this kid will behave properly from now on with you beside him."

Geneva looked down to the kid and smiled, looking at him like a loving and understanding mother. "Darling, from now on, you can't be picky about food, especially vegetables. You have to eat a lot of them in order to grow faster and healthier. Do you understand me?"

The kid looked up at her, and nodded, then looked down, attention focused on the food.

Geneva noticed the discomfort that the kid's felt. Her six senses were telling her that the kid cares a lot about her opinion about him. She could also tell that he was anticipating her to accept the contract that Allen offered to her. If she would become his bodyguard, didn't that mean they would be together most of the time?

Geneva put down her cutlery and extended her hand on Allen.

"Give me." She said suddenly which confused the two. They both looked at her simultaneously, confused.

"What?" Allen frowned. "What are you asking from me? It's not Christmas yet, so obviously I don't have a red pocket with me."

"What nonsense are you spouting about?" Geneva's brow arched. "Give me your pen."

"Oh so you're looking for a pen." Allen grinned and pulled a pen out of his chest pocket. "Here."

Geneva unhesitatingly grabbed the pen and signed the contract which made the kid so happy the moment he saw it and he continued eating and eating nonstop.

Allen narrowed his eyes. "Wait. Geneva, are you sure you won't read the contract first?"

Geneva shook her head. "I won't. I don't think there's a problem inside. You're not trying to harm me right?"

"Of course. Of course." Allen smiled mysteriously.

"Good." Geneva smiled back mysteriously at him. "I don't you would dare to scheme against me. You don't want to remember that past right?"

Allen gulped. "Geneva, spare me."