Please Be Gentle

The Fool's Regret

"Two thousand seven hundred eighty-nine," Grace muttered to herself as she quickly counted the money in front of her. She picked up the stack of bills, methodically counting twenty-eight crisp $100 bills. After that, she rummaged through her purse for some loose change to make up for the extra amount, making sure every cent was accounted for. Finally, she solemnly tucked the money into her bag, securing her payment for the work she’d done.

Her lips, usually full and soft, were pressed tightly together now, betraying the frustration she refused to voice aloud.

Fired. It was official. Gabriel had made it clear he wanted her gone. And yet, was it really that much of a surprise? Fools could get upset, couldn’t they? Even an i***t could feel disappointment.

Gabriel's chest tightened with an odd, unfamiliar emotion as he watched her, brows furrowed. He wanted to say something—anything—but in the end, he remained silent, unsure of what to make of this strange situation. Grace wasn’t someone who deserved to be dismissed so casually. Not from him. Yet, somehow, here they were.

Grace bent down, slipping her shoes back on. It was almost time for her to leave. But before she did, she felt a sudden impulse to say goodbye to the children.

"Little Sakura, Little Peach!" Grace called softly.

"We’re coming, Miss Grace!" the voices of two little girls responded cheerfully.

Gabriel shot her a warning look. "What are you doing? I’ll tell them later."

He didn’t want to stir up any unnecessary drama. He was trying to get her out of the door before it could escalate, but the girls were already running toward her.

"What are you two still doing here? Miss Grace, we’ve already reviewed the lesson for tonight," Gabriel said, his voice colder than usual.

"Starting today, Miss Grace won’t be teaching you anymore. I’ll hire a new tutor. Say goodbye to her," Gabriel added sternly, his tone like ice.

"Why? Miss Grace is our favorite teacher! Why can't she teach us anymore?" Little Sakura asked, confused, still not understanding why this was happening. "I thought you two were just… talking. I didn’t know Miss Grace was getting fired. If I had known, I wouldn’t have left to hide with Peach."

Gabriel scowled, his patience wearing thin. "Because Miss Grace isn’t suitable," he replied curtly.

"Who says she’s not suitable? I think Miss Grace is the best! She’s patient, and we want her to keep teaching us!" Little Peach gripped Grace’s hand tightly, her small body acting as a shield for the older woman.

Gabriel’s face darkened. He didn’t like how the two girls were standing up for Grace. He hadn’t expected them to side with her so easily. His thoughts churned with frustration.

"Enough! Go inside!" Gabriel’s voice rose sharply, a rare tone of authority slipping into his words.

"Why are you telling us not to be stubborn? Does that mean adults can be stubborn?" Little Sakura yelled back, not backing down. "Uncle Gabriel, did you even ask us if we were okay with firing Miss Grace? We don’t like it! We don’t like you!"

Gabriel’s gaze turned icy as he shot Grace another glare. She had orchestrated this, hadn’t she? She had gotten the children involved to manipulate him, to turn them against him.

"Go now," he ordered coldly, a final warning.

Grace sighed, bending down to pull both girls into a tight hug. "You need to listen to the adults from now on, okay? Study hard, and don’t forget the stories I told you. I’m going to miss you both so much," she whispered.

The weight of leaving them pressed heavily on her chest. Her heart ached as she held them close, not wanting to let go.

Little Peach’s eyes filled with tears, the sight breaking Grace’s heart. "Uncle Gabriel is like a villain, a capitalist, he’s so mean! We don’t like him anymore!"

Gabriel’s brows furrowed in confusion and irritation. The girls had always treated him like a hero, like their protector. How could they suddenly turn on him like this?

His anger flared, but Grace could see that the words of the little girls had struck a nerve. Gabriel wasn’t accustomed to being criticized by children, especially not by these two.

But as Grace tried to comfort them, she couldn’t help but feel a small victory in her heart. His cold, detached nature, his harsh words—it was all starting to unravel. Even a small crack in his armor was something.

Gabriel’s face turned crimson with anger, but before he could speak, Grace spoke again, her voice gentle and kind. "Alright, Sakura, Peach, your uncle is only doing this because he thinks it’s for your own good. But, honestly, I’m not suited to teach you anymore."

"You’re not suited? You can’t even carry a bookbag without missing something! You’re too careless to be teaching us," Gabriel muttered, his frustration bubbling over.

Grace couldn’t help but feel the sting of his words. "Well, aren’t you careless yourself? How many times have you forgotten toilet paper when you went to the bathroom and made me fetch it for you?" she shot back, teasing him with a smile.

Her words hit a nerve, and Gabriel’s face flushed with embarrassment. For a moment, he was speechless, unsure how to respond.

And then, he noticed her laughing softly. The idiocy of it all—why did he even care? Was he losing control over her? His thoughts swirled into chaos as he stared at her, wondering if it was time to finally let her go or hold onto the last thread of his control.