831 - I Love You

11. Melting Heart's Ice

"Bohai?" my stepmom asked at the other end of the line.

"Hmm," it was my first time calling her so naturally I was a bit hesitant and shy.

"What's wrong dear?" she asked nervously.

"Can I..." I took a deep breath before continuing, "come with Ghost for a dinner today?"

There was a silence for a second at the other end, "is everything okay?" she asked at the end. She couldn't even believe that I would ask for dinner without a reason.

"Yes, everything is okay... We learned the grades of the first exam and... I passed five of them so I thought that I should thank Ghost for his help, you know..."

"You passed five?" She exclaimed excitedly, "well done dear, now tell me what does Ming Wei like to eat? I will cook immediately."

I paused for a second as I didn't expect her to be that happy for me. "He likes Kung Pao chicken and tofu, but hates eggplant," I managed to say.

"I understand, so see you tonight dear."

"Hmm."

During the lunch time, I told Ghost not to do any plans as my stepmom was expecting us. He was hesitant like the first time but I caught a glimpse of a shy smile on his lips. I could see how he missed his family and how lonely he felt. Asking for affection was out of question for him as he was quite introverted, so I was determined to share what I had with him.

When Ghost came back God knew from where, we left the rooftop with my bike. Passing in front of the same market which Ghost bought fruit, I stopped the bike and Ghost smiled lightly. Like the previous time, Ghost bought some fruits and unlike the previous time, I bought a big box of Raffaello chocolate for my stepmom. I still remembered that she and my old guy argued on Raffaello because old guy didn't buy it for her, saying it was unhealthy. Well, one chocolate a day wouldn't kill and I had to buy it for her as she was helping me to make Ghost happy.

***

"So nice to see you again," my stepmom opened the door with the same enthusiasm she showed at the first time.

"You too, Mrs. Zhang," Ghost replied politely and earned a light slap from my stepmom on the arm.

"I told you to call me mom silly child," she teased him while giving him a hug. I noted that Ghost relaxed a bit in her arms, and she must have noticed that as well because she waited patiently until Ghost broke the hug.

While I was thinking how nice actually she was, I felt a pair of warm arms encircling around my shoulders. Startled, I jumped a bit but she didn't let me go. With a sudden act, I followed her lead and hugged back her fragile body. I don't know why or how, but I felt super safe in the same way I felt in my mom's arms.

"I bought you something," I told her when we broke the hug, "but you may want to hide it."

She got the Raffaello box from my hand with a huge smile, "thank you dear, how did you know it is my favourite chocolate?" she asked with an amazed tone.

I was shy so I just shrugged. God, was it that easy to make her happy?

She also got the fruit bag from Ghost with an equally happy smile and we all moved to the table. Seeing his favourite dishes, Ghost's eyes widened.

"Bohai asked me to cook your favourite food as a thanks to your help, I hope I cooked according to your taste," she said softly while adding one more dish on the table. While Ghost was thanking her for the food, I saw that dish was eggplant.

"He doesn't like eggplant," I said thinking she misheard me on the phone.

"I know, it is for you not for him. If I remember correctly, you like eggplant, right?"

I just gaped but managed to say "thank you."

She patted my arm lovingly, "you are welcome dear."

The eggplant dish wasn't the only surprise of the night as my old guy literally bought a cake to celebrate our grades!

It was such a long time that I didn't have that much fun in that house after my mom's death. I was eight when she died because of cancer and the next three years went in sadness. Then suddenly one day, my old guy came home with my stepmom who was his employee for six years. I still remember that day, the frustration, the feeling of betrayal...

After that point, my relationship with my father damaged. I was actually thinking there was no way to improve our relationship, but thanks to Ghost, not only with my father but also with my stepmom I started to build the bridges back.

Now, I felt stupid dragging the matter more than five years in vain. I accused my father for betraying my mom, and I blamed my stepmom for being fake. However, those two dinner trips opened my eyes. It was life, right? You have to keep going... and have someone beside you who is smarter than you to show you the beauty in the ordinary...

You already know who is this person for me...