Memory of the Heart

Chapter 6: Another Request

"Philippine?" the little boy, George, tried to repeat what Dalena have just said.

"Philippines." Dalena emphasised.

George smiled as he nodded, fully understanding Dalena. "Oh... it's Philippines. It's my first-time hearing about that country."

Dalena smiled a little. It was expected. In London, there were only a few people who had the same ethnicity as her. All in all, they were part of the minority group. So for a 6 year old child to not even be aware of the country, it was not a surprise.

"You said there's a lot of nature and really good food where you came from right? I like nature. I want to go there!" George said excitedly.

Dalena couldn't help but let out a little giggle, amazed at the little boy's enthusiasm.

"Yeah. You definitely should go there someday." Dalena replied in a warm voice.

"Yes!" George replied.

Even though Dalena herself has not enjoyed the luxuries that her own country has to offer, she felt the obligation to promote it and talk nicely about it. After all, what she was saying was, true, right? Her country does present good food and has lots of natural resources.

"I almost forgot! How are you spending your time every day?" little George asked.

Since the start of today, he was never running out of questions. His conversation with Dalena just went on and on. But with so many questions, Dalena almost felt like she was being interviewed by the little kid.

The last question he just asked was a little bit tricky for Dalena. What does she do everyday? It's just work, work and work...

Dalena thought hard for a second, not giving an answer right away.

The little boy saw her little hesitance and said, "For me... I go to school, then sometimes I go horse riding, piano lessons, archery and a lot of other things... It's very fun!"

Dalena nodded at the boy's musings and gave him a big smile.

"Uh huh... that sure does sound a lot of fun." Dalena replied.

"Then what about you? Won't you tell me?" George pouted a little.

Dalena thought about it for a bit before finally listing down what she does everyday.

"Hmm.... Sometimes, I clean, take care of plants, work as a nurse assistant or take care of children. It varies everyday though so I cannot exactly tell what I do everyday. It's very boring compared to yours, isn't?" Dalena said in a solemn voice.

George immediately shook his head. He didn't want Dalena to feel bad! Moreover, his eyes widened at the last part of sentence that she just said. Taking care of children?

How lucky could those other children be, to be taken care by her?

And in that moment, an idea suddenly flashed through the little boy's mind.

***

Meanwhile, at the Grosvenor Estate, there was a tall, bulky figure standing in front of the large glass windows, staring at the sky with a melancholy expression.

He closed his eyes a little before puffing smoke out of his cigar once again.

'This is ridiculous. How can I not control my emotions?'

Even though the sudden meeting has ended a few hours ago, his heart was still beating wildly. He could not focus on anything, let alone do any work because of how tangled his brain was at the moment.

At the sudden realisation of why he was acting the way he was, he could not help but let out a bitter smirk.

'After all these years, it's really only her that can make me lose of myself, hmm? It was just a doppelganger but I almost lost my sanity if it wasn't for my son.'

With that, Luke took a deep breath and shook his head a little.

He knew he can't be in this state of mind for too long. He needed to get back to work right away and continue improving his influence and reputation. It would be a waste if he did not focus on that just at the thought of seeing a copycat.

'Maybe just for today... it's okay just for today...' Luke ultimately decided.

It's not like he had any choice anyway, with the sudden wave of pain crossing through his heart.

Even though he thought of it less often than the earlier years, the sudden pain was still the same. No matter how many years it has been, perhaps, it will always be a scar in his heart that he would not be able to forget.

"Papa!"

Suddenly surprised by a child's voice, Luke was sent out of his own world and looked at the little boy running towards him.

Quickly, he planted the blunt of the cigar into its container, so he can welcome his son's hug freely.

"How was today?" Luke asked his son, as if he wasn't just in pain earlier.

George gave a wide smile. Actually, the happiness on his face could not be denied. For Luke, it was actually the first time he had seen his son this happy.

'It was that girl's doing?' he couldn't help but muse.

George gave a thumbs-up to Luke before looking away from his eyes a little. With that response, Luke raised his eyebrows a little, signaling the little kid to talk.

He softly patted the little boy's hair, "It's okay. Tell me whatever you're thinking of."

George looked at Luke again although he was playing with his fingers, a bit nervous.

"Actually, Papa... I have another request."