Chapter 19
(Flashback)
– 16 years ago –
Little Alfred could be seen sitting on a apple tree, munching a apple.
“Mmm.” Alfred moaned at the sweetness of fruit.
A little girl walked towards the tree. She was putting in a yellow gown and a brown pair of sandals.
She sat down on the grass, resting her back on the tree, with a sad look on her face. The girl was unhappy to notice Alfred sitting on the tree. She just stared at the grassy field.
Alfred saw the girl, then he hurriedly finished the apple he was eating. He plucked five more apples and he climbed down the tree, sitting beside the little girl.
The girl didn’t seem to care about the person who just sat down beside her.
“Hi.” Alfred greeted the girl with a sincere smile across his lips.
The girl glanced at Alfred, then she took her gaze off him without giving him a response.
“Do you want some?” Alfred asked as he stretched an apple towards the girl. The girl glanced at the apple, then she raised her head to look at Alfred’s face.
“Why are you giving me this apple?” The girl asked with furrowed eyebrows.
“I’m giving it to you because you are my friend.” Alfred replied, with the apple still stretched towards the girl.
The girl scoffed, “I am not your friend.” The girl said sternly, “I don’t even know who you are and you don’t know who I am. So, we are not friends.” She added.
“If that’s the case, then let’s get to know each other.” Alfred replied, dropping the apple beside him on the grass.
“My name is Alfred.” Alfred introduced as he stretched forth his right hand for an handshake.
“Even though I tell you my name, we still can’t be friends.” The girl stated.
“Why can’t we be friends?” Alferd asked as he withdrew his hand.
“Because I don’t want to have friends!” The girl half yelled. Alfred was taken aback by her sudden outburst but quickly he composed himself.
“I… I am sorry for yelling at you.” The girl apologized without looking at Alfred.
“It’s alright.” Alfred smiled at her.
The both of them remained quiet as they both stared at the grassy field. The apple tree provided a nice shade for them from the afternoon sun. The breeze blew gently, making the atmosphere cool and friendly.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.
“You’re also from the orphanage?” Alfred asked after some seconds of silence.
“Yeah,” the girl nodded in agreement. “I came here because I wanted to be alone.”
There was a brief silence until Alfred spoke up.
“I understand how you feel. I also felt the same way when I was brought to the orphanage.” Alfred said.
The girl turned her neck sideways, and she fixed her gaze on Alfred.
“The first three weeks I spent at the orphanage, I had no friends. I was still drowned in the guilt of watching my parents getting murdered while I couldn’t do anything to save them.” Alfred said with a sober look on his face. His voice was filled with pain and guilt. Tears rolled down his face as he remembered how his parents were killed.
“Um. I am sorry for bringing back the painful memories.” The girl said in a apologetic tone.
“You don’t have to apologize. It’s not your fault they they were murdered.” Alfred shrugged.
“So, how were you able overcome the guilt of watching you parents die?” The girl asked.
“A very good friend of mine helped me overcome that guilt.” Alfred replied with a wide smile.
“What’s the name of that friend of yours?” The girl asked.
“Her name is Theresa and she is the only friend I have in the orphanage.” Alfred answered.
“She must be a nice person.” The girl said as she averted her gaze to the grassy field.
“Yeah, she is.” Alfred nodded in agreement.
“You still haven’t told me your name.” Alfred said.
“My name is Matilda.” The girl, whose name was Matilda, introduced herself.
“You’ve got a pretty name.” Alfred said.
“Thanks.” Matilda muttered with a slight blush on her cheeks.
“You still want the apple?” Alfred asked as he picked up the apple beside him, then he stretched it towards Matilda.
Matilda stared at the apple for a while before collecting it. Alfred took two more apples beside him and he started eating the apples at once.
“Seems iike you love eating apples.” Matilda said as she watched Alfred munching the two apples simultaneously.
“Yeah, I love apples a lot. I can do anything to get them.” Alfred replied with a mouthful of apple.
He finished eating the two apples within a minute, then he picked up the remaining tow apples beside him.
“Then I’ll nickname you apple boy.” Matilda said, smiling for the first time.
“Apple boy?” Alfred chuckled softly, “I love that name.” He added.
Matilda held her apple without eating it. She just stared at Alfred till he was done eating his apples.
Alfred faced her, then he said.
“I hope we are now friends.”
“Yes, we are.” Matilda replied, then she took a bite from her apple.
(End of flashback)
– present day –
Alfred was still in shock as he stared at Matilda. Although, he was shocked to see her but he was good at masking his expression.
“Alfred, I can’t believe it’s you!” Matilda exclaimed as she pulled Alfred into a tight hug.
Everyone in the room stared at the both of them with shocked expression in their faces.
“Yeah, it’s me.” Alferd said in a low tone as Matilda disengaged the hug.
“Hold on. What’s going on here? Do you guys know each other before?” Viper asked, standing up from her seat. She was obviously jealous at the closeness between Alfred and Matilda.
“Yeah, we do.” Matilda replied with a wide smile across her lips.
Viper scoffed jealously, then she walked off. Douglas gulped the remaining content in the bottle of whiskey down his throat, then he stood up and dropped the bottle on the table.
“Happy reunion to the both of you.” Douglas said with a mocking smile, then he walked away.
“Matilda, I have to go freshen up” Alfred said to Matilda, then he averted his gaze to Rose. “Rose, take her to a room.”
“Follow me.” Rose said.
“See you later, apple boy.” Matilda smiled at Alfred, then she stood up from the couch and walked behind Rose.
The both of them climbed up the stairs and they walked past different rooms till Rose stopped in front of a room. Rose twisted the doorknob, then she opened the door, and the both of them stepped inside the room.
“This will be your room and if you need anything, just tell the maids.” Rose said with an expressionless face.
“Alright. Can I know your name?” Matilda asked. Rose stared at her for awhile before answering.
“My name is Rose.”
“Okay. Goodnight Rose.” Matilda said, then Rose turned around and she walked out of the room, shutting the door.
Maltida dipped her hand inside her uniform’s pocket, and she brought out a phone. She turned on the phone and she tapped the gallery.
“Finally met you again after all these years, apple boy.” Matilda said with a knowing smile across her lips as she stared at a picture on the phone.