"Good morning!" She chirped as she joined them. Her father, mother, and grandfather were sitting at the table, enjoying their breakfast—the fragrance of tea mixed with the cookies' aroma made her tummy rumble.
"We will stay here for two weeks before Papa moves in together with us." Mr Bill said.
"Yeah, let's enjoy the atmosphere of this countryside before we return to the city." Add Mrs Bill.
"Papa, have you found anyone who wants to buy this house?" said Mr Bill.
"I've met a serious buyer who wants to buy this house. A small family; a father, a mother, a daughter, and a son. They took a look around this house, and they absolutely loved it." Said the old man.
"That's wonderful." Said Mrs Bill.
Lisa's eyes were focused on every single action they made, and her ears captured every word they said. Observing them while her mouth was busy chewing the chocolate cookies her grandfather baked. Her grandfather loved baking—his homemade cheesecake was her favourite. Joy flowed through her, warming her skin like the rays of the early summer sun.
"Your pink bike is still in the backyard. It's pleasant weather out now. Why don't we go biking?" Her grandpa asked.
"Yeah! I would like it too." She replied excitedly.
Her parents are wholly overprotective; they restrained her from doing any extreme activity—this was not the case when she was with her grandfather; there were no rules and restrictions. Her grandfather will take her to play various activities that she couldn't perform when she was just with her parents. Hence, she always looked forward to the school holidays so she can meet her grandfather.
The wind is fresh; the sun is bright, the fragrance cleaner than fresh laundry. The bikes moved down the trail, their legs moving up and down almost without effort over the flat ground. The ambience of the countryside was soothing, utterly different from the city. Not that she sought isolation, but the birds' quiet song, the trees, the grass, were all part of the music—she felt at peace. The more the wind blustered, the calmer her mind became.
"Let's cycle to the park. Do you still remember Uncle Dy? He sells ice-cream at the park every evening. Let's support him." He said.
"I thought Uncle Dy was selling Nasi Lemak in the morning. I miss his Nasi Lemak." She said.
"He did it for a living, sweetheart. He still sells the Nasi Lemak, and everything he sells is sold out every single day." He replied.
"Pa, do you think we can watch the sunset today?" Her legs were moving up and down, pressing the pedals slowly.
"I'm positive we can." He smiled.
As they head to the park, they leaned forwards on the pedals, pressing down with their body weight. She can see an old ice-cream truck; she could already see a glimpse of children and adults walking towards the truck. The small park was the heart and centre of this village—a pleasant place where villagers would walk, jog, and play every evening. They had benches, adorning trees, flowers year-round, and water fountains in clear lakes stocked with all kinds of fish. Also, a place where retired elderly looked for a quiet life, and somewhere the birds' chime can be heard clearly.
They stopped paddling and placed the bike in the parking rack provided in the park. She was delighted and ran to the ice-cream truck. The ice cream fills up her spirit, cold blocks in a legion of hues, each one of them frozen until a touch of warmth transforms them into sweetness.
"Pa, what should I get? I can't choose," She beamed. It was complicated indeed for her to know what to choose.
"Well," he said, "vanilla is always my favourite, perhaps with some sprinkles and chocolate shell on top?" She nodded; she grinned instantly.
They walked to the field. She bounced happily. As her grins get wider, her grandfather started to smile. Lots of people were sitting on the fields waiting for the sunset—couples, family, a bunch of kids having their ice-cream. All of them were waiting for the arrival of the magnificent sunset. The wind blew and sang its songs to stir the emotions. Each strand waves like people in a stadium, catching the light in a way that shows it wasn't one green but many.
"Pa! Look at the sunset." She said excitedly.
"The sun had set." He replied and smiled.
The sunset in the sky resembles a fresh painting spreading its pure colour into a grateful sky. Lisa's wide eyes witnessed the vibrant hues of crimson blended with orange, capturing a simple moment for the soul.
"Pa, are you okay, leaving the house and staying with us?" She asked.
As an 11-year-old kid, she knew the melancholy feeling when we need to leave the things we cherished, love, and adored. She could taste the sentiments because it was the emotions she would encounter every time they parted before.
"I am okay, sweetheart," he said, "Sometimes in life when someone leaves, it does not mean they are gone for good or that it is the final goodbye. They will always be here." He tapped his heart with his right hand, "Here, inside our very heart, they will never leave, and neither will you. Stay forever underneath, deep inside you."
"And you are always here." She replied, giggled, and tapped her heart.
"Ha-ha, moving and settling with you is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Though I love the house, many memories were kept in the house, but I choose to create beautiful future memories with my beloved granddaughter. Let the house keep new memories of others. I have no regret." He smiled and patted her head softly.
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Short Story"I am okay, sweetheart," he said, "Sometimes in life, when someone leaves, it does not mean they are gone for good or that it is the final goodbye, they will always be here." He tapped his heart with his right hand, "Here, inside our very heart, the...
