Iris POV
The soft and cozy carpet under my knees felt nice and comforting as I leaned back against the comfortable sofa.
All around us, Dahlia's messy little world was filled with colorful pencils and exercise books scattered everywhere, like a colorful garden that had grown up around us.
As I looked at her, my heart filled with a warm, happy feeling that I hadn’t experienced in such a long time. It felt so right and easy to be with her like we were meant to be together at this moment.
“All right, Dahlia, let's go over this again one more time,” I said, keeping my voice cheerful and playful. I wanted to help her understand the idea better. “Can you tell me what ten minus four is?”
She furrowed her brow deeply, showing that she was focusing hard on what she was doing. At the same time, her little tongue was sticking out just a bit from the corner of her mouth, which made her look both cute and funny.
“Um…“ she said with a little hesitation, pausing for a moment. Her tiny fingers were busy working away, and then she finally exclaimed with a sense of accomplishment, “Six.”
“You did an amazing job,” I said with excitement, feeling so happy that I couldn’t help but celebrate. I raised my hand and gave her a big, enthusiastic high-five.
“Now, let's try another question! Here it is If you start with three apples and then you decide to give one of those apples to your friend, can you tell me how many apples you will have remaining?”
A soft and playful giggle, similar to the gentle ringing of little bells, came out from her lips. “I can manage two! If I am really careful, I will be able to hold onto my apples.”
“That's right,” I said, my tone becoming a little gentler. “Just like in our everyday lives, there are moments when we need to share what we have with others. However, it's really important to always make sure that you keep a little bit for yourself too.”
It may seem like a simple lesson, but I truly hoped she would remember it as she grew. It was a piece of wisdom meant for her, a precious little heart that deserved to be cared for and protected.
She enthusiastically nodded her head up and down, showing that she was fascinated and intrigued by the fun game we were playing together. After we are done with my math homework, would you be able to help me with my drawing?
“Absolutely! We can create a big, friendly monster that loves apples.” My smile grew bigger and bigger as this exciting idea formed in my mind. It was playful and lighthearted, and it seemed perfect for what we were looking for.
Without thinking much about it, I reached over to grab a healthy snack from the assortment of foods next to us. It felt like a caring, motherly thing to do, but at the same time, it was a bit surprising to me that I did that.
Below the light and carefree moments of our easy laughter and the smiles we shared, something deeper was beginning to stir inside of me. I felt a richer, more profound emotion that went beyond just simple fondness for Dahlia.
What I experienced was more like a blossoming affection, a warm feeling growing in my chest, similar to how a flower rises and opens up during the vibrant season of spring. Dahlia didn’t just need me she also seemed to awaken a part of myself that I had long forgotten, a gentle tenderness that I had been too afraid to recognize or embrace.
Then there was Raff as well. His quiet and steady strength had a unique way of capturing my attention. The way he looked at me was not just interesting but also a bit intimidating, as if he could see right through me.
I felt a strong sense of intrigue in his gaze. Deep down, I began to sense that there could be a potential entanglement forming between us, a complex web of emotions that I was uncertain about. It made me question whether I wanted to get involved in such a complicated situation.
Out of nowhere, the doorbell rang. It made a long and beautiful ding-dong sound that interrupted our little math session.
“I'll go get it,” Dahlia exclaimed excitedly, jumping up with so much energy that it seemed almost limitless. She hurried towards the door with enthusiasm.
I observed her as she dashed away, and I felt my heart grow warm with a mix of protective feelings and a growing sense of being part of something special. Her happiness and excitement filled the entire room with a vibrant energy that was hard to ignore.
“Dahlia, please wait for a moment! I want to remind you to say 'hello' in a polite manner.” I shouted after her, and a gentle laugh slipped out of my mouth.
The door opened slowly, and as it did, a woman appeared on the other side. She had a warm and friendly smile that made her look very kind. Her hair was a bright shade of auburn, which stood out beautifully. She was wearing a lovely dress covered in colorful flowers, and it looked as if the flowers were coming to life and moving along with her as she stepped forward.
“Miss Ashton,” Dahlia shouted with excitement, spreading her arms wide open as if she were about to give a big hug. “I have missed you so much.”
Miss Ashton went down on her knees so that she could get close to Dahlia, who was full of excitement. She wrapped her arms around Dahlia in a cozy, loving hug. As I watched this touching moment, I experienced a strange combination of thankfulness and a little bit of discomfort.
“I’ve missed you too, my shining star.” Miss Ashton said in a friendly way. Then, she picked up Dahlia and lifted her into the air for a brief, joyful moment before carefully bringing her back down to the ground.
As I walked closer to her, Miss Ashton suddenly looked in my direction and greeted me with a friendly smile. She reached out her hand to shake mine and said, “You must be Iris, the person I’ve heard so many good things about. I appreciate your help with Dahlia and the work she has been doing. It’s truly wonderful to see her so involved and enthusiastic!”
I reached out my hand and shook hers firmly, making sure to keep a big smile on my face. “She's good at picking things up fast,” I said, feeling my heart fill with warmth because of the woman's real kindness.
“The success of this engagement is all thanks to her.” I wasn’t completely certain if that was the complete truth, but deep down, I wanted to believe it.
“Do you think we should go to the study now?” Miss Ashton proposed with enthusiasm. “I have some really exciting lessons planned for today that I can't wait to share with you.” Upon hearing this, Dahlia couldn't contain her excitement and felt a rush of anticipation.
“Yeah! Let's go, let's go.”
As Dahlia happily skipped away with Miss Ashton in the direction of the study, I decided to lean back against the soft cushions of the sofa. I could feel my heartbeat slowing down to a more peaceful pace. The intense feelings that had been swirling inside me just a moment ago started to calm down and become more manageable…