Mysterious Chime (Book #1)

C H I M E 16

¹⁶| ITALIAN GELATO

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"No No, is that you?" A symphonic voice broke out dispersing my fear of having her lost. I snapped my head in Kylie's direction and watched with impatience as her little feet rushed towards me. Kylie took me in to a bone crushing hug surprising me with her strength for a ten year old. "Missed me?" I asked once we pulled apart.

"Of course I did. For the last three days I visited the mall with a hope of finding you and finally here you are," Kylie answered bouncing from one feet to another.

"Are your parents fine with you coming here all alone?" Even-though it may sound nosy it's still about a kid's protection. What if someone kidnaps her?

Kylie giggled causing my brows to furrow with confusion. "My brother owns this place so he has his watchmen follow me everywhere I go." My mouth opened wider and wider with the kind of information Kylie fed me without a doubt. The string of words she used only portrayed two things in my head-Money and Power.

With my cheeks reaching high I stated, "It's good to know you are safe."

"So today is not about cloth advices?" Kylie questioned with a hand on her hip.

"No, not at all." A nanosecond past hearing my words of confirmation did Kylie commence her happy dance. Her quick little hands grasped my bigger ones with shrill excitement. "What are we waiting for? Let's go have some fun!"

"Kylie where-" The gush of air as we slipped past people made it challenging for me to speak. "...are we going?" As improbable as it seem, she responded my broken query with apprehension. Muttering a 'Wait till you get there' combined with a flippant grin she continued tugging us into the unknown.

"Voila!" After a five minutes of apology-filled journey we came to a halt. Harbouring my quick breaths I feasted my eyes on the parlour before us with a neon pink billboard on top that bore the name 'ITALIA GELATO'. Trudging our way further inside I paid close attention on how this place filled with lights, love and joyous souls is Kylie's first picked spot out of all. According to her, Gelato is originated in Italy with the meaning 'Frozen'. Judging by the looks of gelato, it simply reminded me of ice creams and I really thought they were but sadly there's a difference; the difference being that Gelato has many health benefits and is considered healthier than American-style ice cream due to the use of all natural ingredients plus it contains fewer calories and less butter fat. I was clueless until I discovered how, having a favorite spot could make one brilliant with facts.

Caught up in a trance I stood in front of the glass gelato display freezer, surveying the flavours. My heart picked up when my eyes landed on the caramel gelato tub taking me back to the first day I met Axel. Heaving a silent sigh with good hopes on his meeting, I turned to Kylie whose mouth was occupied as she kept stuffing spoonful of delicious looking Italian ice.

"Go on, have a taste of Italia," Kylie pushed me forward while dragging the pink spoon across her bottom lip. Declining the little one's offer I stepped back with a shake of my head because, even if I wanted to satisfy my heart's desire I had no way of fulfilling it.

"Don't bother about the cost, No No. The owner here knows me and since you are my friend, he'll treat you the same as he treats me." Although I should feel relaxed at this point, I completely felt ashamed. Ashamed that wherever I go to and whoever I meet with, I am always left to be treated as a charity case.

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"I don't think I could walk anymore," I groaned clinging to the nearest chair before placing myself on it. Every inch of the three storey mall was visited and as much as I'd like to appreciate the locomotion aid given via elevators and escalators, it still required my worn out limbs journeying ahead. The energy Kylie shared comparative to mine was incompatible, en masse.

Kylie pouted at my dead beat state and politely, took a seat next to me. Without delay, her face crossed with some untold emotion albeit, the quivering of her bottom lip gave away the thought that she's upset.

"Little one," placing my index finger underneath Kylie's velvet like chin, I elevated her head before continuing. "What is it that's troubling you?"

"Will I not meet you again after today? It's so lonely at home for I've got no one to play." Despite I was dead on my feet upon hearing the painful whimper Kylie let out I couldn't think of anything else as I rushed to her side engulfing her tiny frame into a long, consoling hug. My heart ached when she described herself lonely because I have been there in fact I still am suffering from solitude.

"What about your brother?"

I was caressing her rosy cheeks, affectionately, when her violent head shakes ceased my action. Confused, I stared at her sad brown eyes searching for answers and it was then did I get the picture of her brother being the one behind Kylie's sudden change of mood.

"He's away from home most of the days-occupied, by his business. My papa told that momma is in heaven. She must be happy there, right?" Tears welled my eyes at the mention of Kylie's deceased mother. Like a ray of sunshine, the blithely look Kylie sported on only deepened my melancholia, specially when she inquired about her mother's life on the other side. Sadly enough, it reminded me of my parents as well.

"I'm sure your mommy must be living happily with my mom and dad."

Eliciting a loud gasp, Kylie suggested something which swept me off my feet, out of the universe. "Why don't you come live with us? That way I don't have to worry about losing you." My heart melted upon hearing her innocent thoughts. She so badly wants a companion.

"Kids your age have friends, what about you?"

"I don't have any." I double took her face to see if she's fooling me but the worry line formed in her forehead told me otherwise.

"Why not?"

"They are scared of me."

"Do you know why?"

"Yes, because of my papa and my brother. It's fair of them to act that way, you know."

"You think your father and brother are scary, too?" She nodded puckering her bottom lip. That second, I hoped and prayed Kylie to experience a normal childhood with too many friends and best friends combined with healthy life events without any heartaches. It was hard to think how she's being isolated by her own class mates because of how her family appeared to be.

What's in them that give shivers to the kids and mostly, act unfairly to the point of making Kylie feel unwanted?
Not wanting to cause additional pain to the little one, I diverted the topic. "Where to next, ma'am?"

The grin that was long gone resurfaced on Kylie's face adorably, making my heart jump with joy.