Chapter 5
“Because…”
Jason swallowed what was left of the steamed bun he was holding as he waited for her to finish her sentence.
Grace struggled to find her words. As an attorney, she’d thought out every argument and calculated conversation to be convincing and compelling. But she wasn’t looking to sell him on something or to try and win him over. He either wanted her company or he didn’t.
She took a bite of one of the steamed buns he’d brought. The taste was subpar. In the past, she probably would not have liked them, but now, the taste was secondary. The most important thing for her was to fill her stomach.
A dozen different arguments filled her head, for ‘why’ she should be his sister, but in the end, she went for an honest explanation.
“Jay, we are the same kind of people. We’ve both been abandoned by others and can only look for a living on the bottom-most rung of society. No one will want people like us, and no one will care about us, but at least we can keep each other warm. I can care about you, and you can also care about me, right?”
“Is that so?” he said. She felt her smile wobble. If he were to describe her expression, what would he see? Hope, loneliness, desire, and also some uncertainty.
She’d been so guarded the last three years. She understood what she was feeling now: vulnerability.
“It seems that we really are the same kind of people…” he muttered. His gaze was like that of a hunter watching a small animal fall into his trap.
“Sister.” He nodded as if coming to some agreement.
In the blink of an eye, her smile turned as bright as the starry sky.
After dinner, Grace took Jason with her and left for the night market to buy some clothes. He was bemused by her efforts, but apparently, she was taking this whole ‘sister’ thing seriously.
Perhaps the days were really becoming too boring for him. He could easily get whatever he wanted with a wave of his hands, but now this game was becoming somewhat interesting to him.
So he indulged her, following behind her like some lost puppy.
thought, maybe he should just get her a
wasn’t his place to ease her
way her eyes widened as the cash register tallied his clothes.
said. “Put this
jacket was thick, but not
warmer now?” she
to buy these clothes
should be cold just because you’re used to it,” she said. “I don’t have much money and I
nice to me?” he asked
found that his hands were freezing, so she held his hands with her own, lowered her head, and
hands are too cold. Rubbing them like this should
body stiffened for a minute. Never had a
as much. Perhaps he was fine with her touch because, right now, she was an important part of
at her
she spoke, she quickly let go of
actually felt quite cold as well. Sister, why don’t you rub your hands on mine for a while
offered his
slightly stunned, but then she held his hands in hers again. Compared with
to time. Her nose had gone slightly red due to the cold.
***
that he was going to throw the album away today. It was not easy for me to ask him to leave the photo album alone. I want to give it to you. Can you come to get
she knew what Evelyn was referring to. It was the album that contained photos of her
you don’t come, then I might accidentally lose the album,” Evelyn said in a gentle voice. She
that Evelyn would never hand the
album contained almost all her memories
male voice rang
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