"True Love" Sequel

II

"Happy Birthday!" Me and Charity cheered in unison as the three colorful candles were blown off.

"Look at our Carol growing up so fast!" Said Charity as she took out the wax sticks from the lemon pie.

I put a small black box wrapped up in a red ribbon on the table and told the now three-year-old, "C'mon, open your gift."

I could sense the suspicious stare of the woman as the child pulled on the soft fabric. The kid's eyes trembled with impatience and when she raised the lift, they lit up with joy upon seeing the content of the box. Charity leaned over her shoulder and when she saw the so-called gift, she froze into place. Her eyes met with a single bionic one resting on the soft red cushion in the bottom of the box, preventing it from getting any damages. Its pale hue reminded her of my own artificial eyes, and that view triggered a sense of disgust as she stared into it with fear and hatred. She wanted to scream at me, I could feel it. But she didn't. It was her daughter's birthday and she didn't want to see her sad because her parents were fighting. Especially on that day.

"The gift to see ladybug!" The girl exclaimed happily as she took the eye in her hands and approached it to her face to take a better look.

"Careful with that. We don't want it to break before you can use it," I warned her before she did anything foolish.

She carefully put it back in the box and closed the lift, then turned around to hug me, "Thank you daddy!"

I smiled at her then looked up to see Charity glaring daggers at me. Unlike her daughter, she was very displeased by my gift. She was clenching her teeth and her nails were digging in her skin from how hard she was tightening her fists. She took the knife on the side of the table and started cutting the cake in multiple slices. She put the first one on the child's plate, then resumed cutting a piece for her. Since my system didn't allow me to eat anything, she put the knife back on the table fiercely, almost slamming it from the anger inside of her. She sat at her place, and the two of them began eating the pie. Me, I just sat silently on the other side of the table, Charity in front of me. We were staring intently at each other. She was trying hard to keep her composure while I still got my signature robotic poker face on. As soon as her daughter would be gone, all the wrath would be relished.