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The sky had turned dark when they entered L City. After almost six hours of driving, Alex pulled over his AUDI in front of Mo's Residence. He turned off the light and the engine. Then, Alex looked at the girl who was sleeping soundly beside him.
Hazel's face was facing him and Alex took this chance to observe her look. His gaze trailed from her eyes, nose and then stopped at her slightly pouting lips. His throat bobbed as he continued to watch her sleeping face. He has been watching this face from his childhood and Alex thought that he had never grown tired of watching her face.
His hand stretched to touch her face, but seconds later, he retracted his hand and balled it into a fist. Alex closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes the look in his eyes earlier had disappeared.
Alex stretched his hand and touched her arms. "Hazel?"
The girl stirred in her sleep. Hazel opened her eyes and a faint, languid smile curled on her lips when she saw a face that she recognized. "Alex. Why are you here?"
A chuckle escaped him. "We've arrived at your uncle's house. Aren't you going to come down?"
Hearing his words, Hazel turned her head and stared at the entrance with a dazed look on her face. A few seconds later, Hazel took off her seat belt and rubbed her eyes.
The front door opened from the inside. Alex then alighted his vehicle and smiled when he saw Edith. "Auntie Edith." Alex greeted.
"You're here." Edith watched the two kids who had grown up in front of her and then, peeked into the vehicle to see that Hazel was scrambling to gather her stuff. From the look on Hazel's face, Edith could guess that the girl had just woken up. Her gaze went back to Alex. "How was the traffic?"
"Not bad. Sorry. We stopped by for a quick break a few times and was delayed."
"It's fine. As long as you're safe. Have you had your dinner? Would you like to come in?"
Alex glanced at the SUV parked at its usual spot. "No. My mom should be waiting for me at home."
Edith chuckled as she was expecting to hear his answer. Whenever Neil was at home, Alex would usually reject her invitation to go inside. She then stretched out her hand with a bag in her hand. "We received fresh crabs from Z Town this morning. Give them to your mom. Tell her to come over during the new year."
"Alright." Alex nodded politely.
At this time, Hazel finally alighted from the car. She adjusted the straps on her shoulder and leaped forward to hug Edith. "Auntie Edith, I missed you."
Edith laughed helplessly when as she patted the girl on her back. "Alright. I missed you too. Let's go inside. I made your favorite food."
Hazel's eyes brightened upon hearing the words. It has been a few months since she came home and she was missing her Auntie Edith's cooking. Although she had learned cooking from Edith, Hazel found that she could not replicate the same taste.
"Un. I'll go in and wash up first." Hazel then turned to Alex. "Alex, thank you for the ride."
The boy nodded. He watched as Hazel walked inside and shifted his gaze. When he noticed the way Edith was looking at him, Alex quickly lowered his head and coughed. "Auntie Edith, I should get going now."
"Hmm… Safe journey." Edith watched as the car disappeared from her sight and a helpless sigh escaped her.
When she walked into the house again, Hazel was talking with the two siblings with her daughter, Hailey hugging Hazel tightly. A faint smile curled on her lips upon seeing the three of them in good relationships.
"Alright, don't disturb your sister. She just arrived. Let her have a rest. Your sister is on a break for a month. Whatever it is you can discuss later."
Hailey pouted when she heard her mother's words and slowly released her arms. "Mom… Sister Hazel said she's going to take us shopping later."
"I still haven't shop for new clothes," Hazel said. "It's better to have Hayden and Hailey come with me this weekend. We haven't spent our time together for a while."
Edith walked over to the kitchen and came out with a few dishes. Hazel peeked at the dishes on the table and was surprised to see her favorite crab dishes on the table.
"Everyone has eaten. I specially set aside the biggest crab for you."
"Un. Un. Auntie Edith, you love me the most." Without wasting time, Hazel started to dig in. She peeled out the crab flesh and sighed when the food entered her mouth. This was the taste that she was familiar with. Suddenly, Hazel thought that her tiredness after rushing around to complete her assignments before their break had disappeared.
Home-cooked dishes are the best!
Edith continued to chat with Hazel about her life in B City as she accompanied the girl to eat her meal.
A while later, someone showed up at the dining area with a slight frown on his face.
"Hazel, you're home," Neil said.
"Uncle!" Hazel stared at her dirty hand and nodded at her uncle.
"Your auntie said you got home with Alex," Neil said. "Why don't you take a flight? It would save you a lot of time."
"It's fine. Alex needs to drive his car back anyway," Hazel said. "I don't feel good to let him drive alone. It's better if he has someone to talk to. At least he would not feel bored."
The frown on Neil's face deepened as he thought of various things that the two of them could do when they were alone in the car. Neil was aware that the boy had tricked his niece to accompany him on a drive. Driving the car back was his reason to spend some time alone with Hazel, wasn't it?
Sensing the way his wife was looking at him, Neil quickly looked away and left.
"How are you planning to get back to B City after the break?" Edith asked in a low voice.
"I promised Alex that I will accompany him," Hazel said. "Coincidentally, he's returning to B City around the same time to meet his partner and he would not mind someone to accompany him."
"Alright. Just don't tell your uncle about this first."
Hazel cocked her head but did not ask why. "That's right. Auntie Edith, you said you have something to tell me. What is it?"
Edith flashed her a mysterious smile.. "Let's talk later."
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