Yawn

"Good morning," Bell said as she came to me, rubbing her eyes.

"Good morning, did you sleep well?" I asked her while preparing breakfast.

"Yes," she replied. I continued, "Bell, I've prepared most of the lunch. If you want anything else, just let me know."

"Lunch? Oh right, we're going on a picnic today!" Bell exclaimed, running towards me. "Can I help you with anything, Papa?"

"Nah, I've done most of it, so you don't have to worry. Go brush your teeth and wash your face, then I'll serve you breakfast," I said.

She looked at me closely and asked, "Are you feeling okay? You look tired," her voice filled with concern as she noticed the dark circles around my eyes.

"Don't worry, I'm okay," I assured her with a smile.

The truth was, I couldn't sleep last night. I was thinking about the price that would be deducted soon, and my previous experiences with it were not good. It could be something dangerous. I was worried that my wish might also pose a threat to others. Plus, Aisha's words were still unclear to me; I couldn't hear her clearly.

""Are you worried about the price?" a voice came from behind me. As I turned, I saw Alisha leaning against the wall, her arms crossed.

"This has nothing to do with you, and I'm not in the mood to talk to a person… no, a witch like you," I said ironically, with a serious tone.

"A witch? …huh… Maybe you're not wrong. A person like me, who doesn't exist in this world, must be a witch," she agreed. There was sadness in her voice, but she still kept a smile on her face.

Her tone troubled me. From the beginning, I had been cautious around her. I always thought she was the reason behind all the events that happened one after another. But as time went on, I never felt her motive was to cause me any harm. She always helped me in dire situations.

""You know, I…" I began, but Bell came in after brushing her teeth.

"Big sis Aisha, good morning," Bell greeted Aisha.

"Good morning, you look good and energetic as always," Aisha greeted back.

"Hehe, you know what, big sis Aisha? Papa prepared lunch, and there are sooo many dishes I've never seen before," Bell said with a happy face.

"Oh, I see. Maybe he's excited to go on the picnic with you?" Aisha said, sitting down and patting Bell's head.

"Hehe… Did you bring everything you need, big sis Aisha? Bell will bring everything there, like the ball…?" Bell asked.

"Sorry, Bell, I can't come with you this time. You know, I… I have urgent work I need to attend to, plus…" Aisha said with a smile and an apologetic tone.

"I don't want to ruin the mood," she whispered to herself.

The energy Bell had faded slowly as she felt gloomy after hearing this. "But… you promised Bell that you would go with Bell and Papa… why… wh…" Bell looked sad and angry at the same time as she lowered her head and was about to cry.

"Bell, you need to understand…" Aisha said, patting Bell's head while trying to calm her. I interrupted.

"Hey, you. I don't know what your urgent work is, but if you make a promise to someone, you need to fulfill it at any cost," I said to Aisha, who looked surprised after hearing this.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

As Bell held back her tears, she looked towards my direction as I continued, "Bell, you know the punishment I got before leaving you alone, as when I broke my promise, you also need to punish her if she breaks promises, right?" I winked at Bell with a big smile.

Bell wiped her tears with her sleeves as she ran to my side, facing Aisha.

"Right! Big sis, if you break your promise, then Bell will never talk to you," Bell declared while pouting and making an angry but cute face.

"But… Bell," Aisha tried to deny.

"We will never accept rejection on that, you hear?" I added.

Aisha thought for a moment and then nodded to Bell.

"Yay! Papa, we did it!" Bell jumped and hugged my legs, then ran towards Aisha and, while pulling her arm, said, "Let's go, big sis Aisha. We need to pack everything."

"You go, I'm coming," Aisha said to Bell as she rushed towards the bedroom.

After watching Bell go to the bedroom, Aisha looked at me before saying anything. I said, "If you're going to ask me why I'm doing this, then my answer is simple: I don't want to ruin Bell's day. She was waiting for the picnic. And as for you, I'm still not sure whether what you said yesterday about not knowing the price is a lie or the truth, but I know one thing: leaving everything aside, I know you will never do anything that will hurt Bell." I said this without making eye contact with Aisha and returned to preparing breakfast.

While stunned for a moment, she retreated to the bedroom, her mind swirling with thoughts.

Breakfast continued in an uneasy silence, broken only by Bell's excited chatter about the picnic. The contrast between her joy and the tension in the air was palpable.

We left the apartment and caught the train to the spot I had carefully chosen. It was a secluded area, perfect for avoiding unnecessary attention. The fewer people around, the less I had to worry.

When we arrived at the lakeside spot, I was relieved to see it wasn't crowded. This serene place, usually bustling with campers, was now a haven of tranquility, just as I had hoped.

As I spread out the mat and set up for the picnic, Bell and Aisha were already by the lake, their laughter echoing as they tried to catch fish with their hands. Seeing them so carefree brought a fleeting sense of relief, though a shadow of worry still lingered about the price of the previous wish.

Once everything was ready, I called them over for lunch.

I could feel the curious gazes of the other campers. I was the odd one out, talking to Bell, who they couldn't see. It was embarrassing, feeling their eyes on me, judging. I could understand their confusion; if I saw someone alone, talking to the air, I might think they were unstable too.

Lost in these thoughts, I didn't notice the two college students approaching until they were right in front of me.

"Excuse me… Sorry, we were wondering… If you don't mind, would you like to join us?" the girl asked, her expression a mix of pity and curiosity.

"Yeah, you can join us. We don't mind having you with us," the boy added, his concern evident.

I knew how strange it must seem, me being here with Aisha and Bell.

"Ah…" I stood up, fumbling for words. "Don't worry about… this… I… I came here to explore myself." The words felt hollow, even to me.

"Pfft…" I heard Aisha's stifled laughter. Frustration bubbled up as Bell looked at me, puzzled.

They must think I'm crazy.

"Ah… Well… This is interesting…" the girl said, trying to suppress her laughter.

"Okay… If you need anything, just let us know. Good luck on your journey of self-exploration," the boy said, clearly teasing as they walked away.

I sat back down, my face burning with embarrassment.

"I didn't know you came here specifically for e-x-p-l-o-r-i-n-g yourself," Aisha teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Don't say that! I know it's embarrassing, but I didn't know what else to say," I replied, my voice louder than intended.

Bell tugged at my pant leg, her innocent eyes full of curiosity. "Papa, what does 'exploring yourself' mean?"

I tried to hide my face, leaning down to the ground.

Aisha's laughter rang out, her eyes watering as she wiped away tears. I stayed hidden, feeling Bell's small hands gently patting my head.

After lunch I started finding a spot where I can play with Bell.

After finding a secluded spot in the forest where we could play with the bell without attracting unwanted attention, we spent the day immersed in games like volleyball, hide and seek, and tag. As the sun began to set, Bell fell asleep, exhausted from all the fun. I started packing up our things when I noticed a figure standing by the lakeside, gazing at the setting sun. The figure's eyes seemed hollow and empty, as if she was searching for her destination, much like the sun returning home after its daily journey.

I sighed, feeling a mix of curiosity and concern, and walked towards the figure. "Hey," I called out softly. She turned to look at me, her expression unreadable.

"Don't you act like your usual self," I said, my voice tinged with worry.

"What do you mean?" she asked, confusion and a hint of vulnerability in her eyes.

"I mean… well… never mind. Just act like your usual self," I replied, struggling to gather my thoughts, my heart pounding.

She smiled, a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. Leaning towards me, she teased, "How do I usually act? Can you tell me?"

I averted my eyes, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. "Like smiling wickedly all the time, causing trouble, and demanding unreasonable things… I guess," I mumbled.

She started laughing, and I felt a mix of embarrassment and relief. Sensing the moment was right, I bowed to her. "Aisha, I know this may be sudden…"

"No, rejected," she interrupted, her voice trembling slightly. I looked at her, surprised. I had never seen her so embarrassed before, her face flushed red as she tried to hide it.

"You didn't even let me finish," I protested, my heart sinking.

"And I don't want to hear it," she interrupted again, her voice firmer this time.

"But at least let me finish," I insisted, my voice pleading. "Aisha, I… I'm sorry for calling you a witch today! I know it must have hurt you, and I was furious at the time. Could you please forgive me?" I apologized, closing my eyes and hoping for an answer, my heart heavy with guilt.

She remained silent for a moment before laughing again, a sound filled with both amusement and relief. "Hahaha… You know, that's really funny. Why would I be hurt by you calling me a witch? I am a witch, after all, so it doesn't hurt me," she said, wiping away her tears of laughter.

"You forgive me?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, hope and fear mingling in my chest.

"I was never hurt or angry, so you don't have to worry," she replied, her voice gentle and reassuring.

I sighed in relief, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "I'm sorry for before, but I hope I can count on your help in the future. I don't know how to handle things properly," I admitted, my voice filled with sincerity.

She walked past me, and I turned to look at her, my heart pounding. "I will help you, but you have to fulfill my demand."

"Well, if it doesn't cost me much," I said, worry creeping into my voice.

She turned back, leaning towards me with a mischievous smile. "That's good. Now let's go back home, White."

After our conversation ended, we headed back home. Aisha said she would meet me there and disappeared, leaving me and Bell alone. I carried the sleeping Bell on my back, feeling a mix of relief, gratitude, and anticipation for what lay ahead.