Cold ✔

:::::Chapter 41:::::

I see Charles emerging from the study. When he sees me, he walks towards me and hugs me. I too wrap my arms around him. Over his shoulder, I see Alarick coming out of his study. We look at each other. There's no emotion on his face. Even I'm not feeling any emotion towards him. Not even emotions such as anger and hatred.

"It's so good to see you," Charles says while pulling away. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

I look at Charles and Daniel and tell them, "I'm here to invite you both to Christina's seventh birthday party."

I give Charles the invitation card. "What? She's already turning seven?" He asks while looking at the card.

"Yes," I reply.

"She's growing up so fast!" I laugh at Charles' words.

"I know," I tell him. "Please, do come for her birthday party. If you don't, then she's going to kill me first then she'll kill you," I joke. Charles and Daniel laugh.

"You know, I wouldn't miss her birthday party for anything in the world," Charles says with a smile.

● ● ● ● ●

Today is Christina's birthday. She and her friends are in the backyard along with the parents enjoying the birthday party while Matt, Darius, Charles, Daniel, Anne and I are in the living room having a conversation about never growing up. I can't help but notice how Matt is looking at Anne.

*You're acting like a love-sick puppy.* I mind-link him. He looks at me and throws daggers in my direction. I chuckle. He shakes his head and resumes staring at his mate.

"I wish we could remain children for our whole lives with no worries and tensions," I say.

"I completely agree with you," Charles says. "There are many stages in life and childhood is the best stage among them." We all nod our heads in agreement. "You know, whenever I look at Christina, I can't help but imagine Chriselda as a kid," he continues. He looks at me and says, "You both look so similar."

Before I can say anything to that, Christina comes running inside the living room. "Charlie and Chris, what are you doing inside? Let's go outside and dance," she says as she starts dragging me and Charles outside.

We are in the backyard now. There are kids dancing to the music playing through the speakers while the adults are watching them with adoration. Christina also starts dancing, urging us to dance along with her. Charles takes my hand and starts spinning me around. Then, I spin him around. Christina laughs at us. I don't blame her. Charles and I are terrible dancers. We're not even going along with the rhythm of the music. We're just shaking our legs, hands and head.

When I look at my friends standing in a distance, I find them laughing at us too. Charles and I rush towards them and make them dance along with us.

● ● ● ● ●

Christina's birthday party was a success. Matt, Darius and I are back at the pack house after bidding farewell to Charles, Daniel and Anne. "Thank you so much for inviting Anne today," Matt says to me. "It was really nice to see her after a long time."

"I just wanted to see you happy," I tell him.

He starts to say, "You know, when you were dancing with Charles today, you looked happy."

"He makes me happy. You can never be sad when he's around. He's a wonderful guy."

"You know what, you both would make a wonderful couple," he says before heading in the direction of his room.

"What?" I'm completely taken aback by his blunt words.

He stops in his tracks. "Chriselda, you've clearly heard me."