A Four-Letter-Word Called LOVE (COMPLETE - ENG Translation On-Going)

Act Twenty-Eight

Chris:

Although I've already managed to tidy some bits and bobs around the cottage, Ate Mhairi offers her help to clean the rest of the place to make it up to me for being such a 'pain' last night. We started in the bedroom since it's the only part that we haven't tidy yet. We scrub the walls with a wet cloth and a bucket of hot, soapy water because it's quite mouldy. I did the floor next while she concentrates on the wall. We've changed the sheets and redone the curtains that we found on the big box sitting inside the closet.

We redo the kitchen and the living room afterwards. We put the rest of the curtains on each window, especially on the huge glass window overlooking the veranda and the Loch. Ate Mhairi's usual bubbly, cheery personality is glowing while she decorates the house. I sometimes find myself swooning at her flawless charm over and over while sneaking a secret glance at her. Our banter and teasing are still there like the old days, filling the whole cottage with our laughter and giggles from time to time.

It's quite rewarding to see her smile and laugh even though she couldn't remember me at all. The fact that she's very comfortable with me making funny faces is one thing that I've been yearning for since she left. And most of all, I can make her happy – even just for this moment – just like what I used to do ten years ago.

How I wish this beautiful moment never ends. You know, these moments where I'm with the woman I love while seeing her beautiful smile and hearing her infectious, intoxicating laugh.

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"Chris! Chris!"

I jolted from Ate Mhairi's loud voice coming from the attic. I paused from sweeping the veranda floor and rushed inside.

"What is it, Ate? Are you alright?" I clamoured back while peeping up the attic.

She pops her head from it while her cheerful, euphoric smile spreads across her lip.

"Come here! You'll be amazed by what I've found!"

"Huh? But I'm too heavy. The ceilings might fall once I go up there."

"Ugh! Don't be such a wuss, Chris! Come here!" She exclaimed while pouting.

I chuckle while shaking my head in amusement from her reaction to what I said. I strolled near the ladder instead and went up. The attic is quite huge, much to my expectations that it might be smaller. She immediately grabs my hand and pulls me that took me by surprise.

"W-Wait, Ate Mhairi!"

She ignored me and continued pulling me to the far-right corner of the attic instead.

"Look what I've found, Chris! Isn't it brilliant or what?!" She squeals in trepidation.

I beamed my gaze at this huge thing that she's looking at: the large bed hammock sitting beside the pile of boxes lying around. She let go of my hand and strolls near the hammock.

"Wow! I never thought I'd able to see a hammock again! I used to have one of this back in Chicago!"

I was all eyes on her while she continues chatting about her old hammock hanging outside the back garden of their old house in Chicago. Uncle George gave the hammock as her birthday present, and she misses it again when she found this old one. Still gazing both on her and the hammock, something from Graham's story quickly daunts me: