The sun was up high by the time both of them left the cemetery. Alex helped Hazel into the passenger's seat and slid into the driver's seat. When he put the keys into the ignition, Alex noticed the way Hazel was looking at him and turned to look at her.
Alex let out a chuckle. "What is it?"
"Do you have to go to the office after this?" Hazel asked.
"No. I told my dad that I won't be coming in today," Alex said. He grasped her hand and planted a kiss on her wrist. "Today, I'm going to accompany you. What do you have in mind?"
Hazel lowered her head for a few seconds, then spoke, "Do you want to come home with me? Not the place where I'm staying with my uncle and Auntie Edith, but the place where I stayed with my parents."
Alex watched the person beside him and nodded. "Alright."
Based on Hazel's instruction, the two of them finally reached her house. As they stood in front of the house, Alex took his time to look at the house where Hazel had lived with her parents years ago.
This was his first time coming over and Alex could not help but wonder about Hazel's life when her parents were still around. If it was not because of the tragedy, then, Hazel would be happier.
Just as the two walked over to the house, the door swung open from the inside and an elder lady walked out.
The moment she saw Hazel, her eyes brightened up and her lips stretched into a wide smile. "Young Miss! You're back."
"Auntie." Hazel greeted.
The older lady looked at Hazel from head to toe and patted her hands a few times. Her eyes started to redden and her nose sour. "Did you went over to the cemetery?"
"Hmm… I just came back from visiting my parents," Hazel said. "Auntie, are you well?"
"I'm just the same." The older lady heaved a soft sigh. It was at this time that she noticed that a tall man was standing beside them. The elder lady looked at Hazel inquiringly and asked, "Young Miss… This is…?"
Hazel turned to Alex and her lips curled up into a smile. She stretched her hand and pulled him closer. "Auntie. This is my boyfriend. Alex He."
Alex tried to conceal the joy on his face as he exchanged her greetings with the caretaker. Every time Hazel introduced him as her boyfriend to the people around her, Alex became elated.
The older lady gave Alex a look and her head bobbed as if giving her approval. "That's right. You are old enough to bring home a boyfriend." She let out a sigh in content. "If both Master and Madame could see you now, they would both be happy."
Hazel replied with a faint smile.
"Come in." The lady ushered them in. "Have you eaten yet? How about staying around for lunch. Auntie will prepare your favorite food." She halted and there was a hesitant look on her face. "Ah… You're already this grown-up. Auntie did not know what is your favorite food now."
"Auntie, you can prepare anything. Alex and I… we are not picky."
The lady nodded. She left for the kitchen and left both Hazel and Alex alone. After all, this was Hazel's house and she did not need to stay around unless if Hazel needed her.
Hazel walked over to the side table and started to look at the letters. After she had sorted out all the important documents, Hazel turned around and found that Alex was staring at the big portrait of her and her parents from the time she was three.
"What are you looking at?"
Hearing her voice, Alex turned around and flashed a smile. "Mmm… Baby Hazel is too adorable."
Her cheek turned a little pink upon hearing his words. She hit him playfully on his arms and heard his laugh. Suddenly, she was pulled into his embrace with his arms around her waist and his chin rested on her shoulder. Hazel began to relax against his broad chest.
"You have your mother's look," Alex said as he looked at the woman in the portrait.
Hazel turned her head sideways to look at him and felt his lips brushed against her cheek. "I heard that a lot."
"But your eyes resembled your father the most." A thought crossed his mind and a chuckle escaped him.
"What is it?" Hazel narrowed her eyes at him.
"I just thought of something." Alex paused. He turned to look at Hazel and stared into her eyes for a long time. "Whenever you're angry, the look on your eyes would resemble your uncle the most."
Hazel frowned. "Uncle Neil?" She watched him nodded and started to touch the corner of her eyes, as she wondered if he was telling her the truth. She looked at the portrait again and thought that her eyes really did resembled her father. However, Hazel did not know how she would look like when she was angry.
After staring at the portrait for a while, Hazel wriggled out of his embrace. Seeing that it was still too early for them to have lunch, Hazel decided to take Alex around the house for a tour.
The house stayed the same, but some of her childhood memories had slowly faded away. The two of them finally stopped at Hazel's old bedroom and Alex began to look around. Just like the other room, Hazel's childhood room was full of pink and animal plush toys. There were a few old toys at the side and a small castle as her playground.
Alex could almost imagine Hazel as a little princess running around the place. "You like pink."
Hazel laughed at his words. She looked at the clean bed sheet and sat down. After a while, Alex joined and sat down beside her. He tugged at her hand and soon, the two of them fell on the bed together.
Because this was the bed that she used when she was a little kid, the size was a little smaller and the two of them had to stay closer.
Hazel stared into his eyes and felt her heartbeat grew faster.
Alex tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear and asked, "How are you?"
Hazel was a little startled upon hearing his question, but soon, a faint smile curled on her lips. "I'm alright. Just that… I haven't been sleeping well."
"I can see that." A deep frown appeared on his face as he traced the dark circle under her eyes.
Lowering her gaze, Hazel then shifted closer to his body. "I had those dreams again. About the scene that I saw in the hospital. And then, I woke up and could not fall asleep again."
Alex thought of the scene that Hazel had watched before his parents passed away and knew that the girl was talking about that one. He wrapped her body in his embrace and his hands caressing her back as if coaxing her. "It's alright. It's in the past now."
"I know. But when I dreamed about that scene again… I was scared. I thought that if I close my eyes again, I will be forced to see it again." A chuckle escaped her. "I was worried that the man was going to turn around and kill me in my dream."
Alex was distressed as he imagined how frightened Hazel was. "I'm here now." He continued to speak a few words to assure her that everything will be alright. Then, he leaned in and started to rain his kisses on her face. His fingers ran in her long tresses and soon, Alex saw that Hazel was staring at him with a dazed look. "If you're tired. You can sleep. Don't think of anything. I will stay here and guard you."
"You don't mind?" Her voice sounded a little lazy. After Alex had run his fingers in her hair and rained his kisses on her face for a long time, Hazel began to feel a little sleepy.
His lips curled into a smile.. Alex kissed her eyelid and whispered, "Just sleep."
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