Sweet Devil [BL]

Chapter 14. Ice Cream Cones and Game Booths

After buying two ice cream cones, Gabriel strolled back to the bench where Misha sat. As the teenager approached, he couldn't help but throw a worried glance at the child, whose slouching posture made him look like an old, wilted tree. It was as if his small shoulders carried the weight of the world.

In a way, Gabriel felt like he wasn't looking at a kid but rather at a young man who had experienced the ups and downs of life. This strange feeling put him ill at ease, and unconsciously, he slowed down the speed at which he walked to observe the child a little longer.

The moment he met him, Gabriel immediately knew something was off about the boy, but no matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn't figure out what was bothering him. Even now, he still couldn't say with confidence what put him on edge whenever he looked into those crystal clear blue eyes. They had the same color as Masha's, but they appeared so much more profound. It was like looking into an abyss.

As if sensing his gaze on him, the kid lifted his head, and when he saw Gabriel, his small face beamed with joy. He then said with a childish yet somewhat hopeful tone, looking at the ice cream cones in Gabriel's hands as if they were a life-saving item, "I want the chocolate flavored one!"

Instantly, the heavy atmosphere surrounding Misha broke, making Gabriel's previous uneasiness look like a fleeting illusion.

Caught off guard, Gabriel raised his eyebrows, staring at the child with uncertainty. But he soon shook his head, determining that something was wrong with his eyes or maybe his brain. How could a boy of his age look so melancholic? It must have been his imagination.

Gabriel tossed the thought aside and walked up to the boy, handing over the ice cream cone he wanted before sitting beside him. For a moment, neither of them spoke, and only the sound of their tongues licking the ice cream could be heard.

They ate in silence. One was lost in thought while the other pondered what to do next—the "run-away" plan was a huge failure, and sadly, Misha had no backup plan. Oh well, he just had to figure out his next move before finishing his ice cream cone. He had plenty of time.

After swallowing the last bite of his ice cream cone, Gabriel glanced at Misha, who was also almost done. Then, a light chuckle escaped his mouth. He put his fist before his lips to stifle his laughter, but it wasn't very successful, and it didn't escape Misha's sharp ears, earning him a glare.

Chocolate stained half of the boy's face and his fingers, and even the tip of his nose had turned brown. He was currently frowning at his food as if wondering how to eat his ice cream cone without spilling it all over himself—it was already too late for that, but Gabriel thought it was better not to point it out.

It was somewhat a cute sight, softening the teenager's heart slightly. Masha often bragged about her little brother, telling the world that he was the cutest boy on earth. And at that moment, Gabriel almost thought she was right, completely forgetting the ominous feeling the boy gave off a few minutes ago.

Ignoring the teenager's stare, Misha went back to battling with his ice cream cone. A child's mouth and tongue were too small, and he couldn't eat well, frustrating him to no end. How come it was so hard to eat an ice cream cone?! It was just ice cream! And biscuits! And a few candies!

What Misha wouldn't admit, though, was that he had made it a habit to gobble up ice cream cones in two bites. Instinctively, he had tried to do that, only to end up with his nose buried in the ice cream. Misha quickly realized that biting the top of the ice cream wouldn't work. Thus, he could only eat it the old-fashioned way, which involved licking the ice cream all over. Then, he dejectedly discovered that his small tongue wasn't fast enough, and the ice cream soon started to melt, dripping onto his hands.