âNicole, I understand. I do.â
Davin, who usually did not have a care in the world, looked dejected. He lit a cigarette and took a puff.
He puffed out rings of smoke, shrouding himself in it. For some reason, the smoke looked like a barrier between him and the world, isolating him and making him look lonely.
Davin was no longer the jovial and cheeky guy. All of a sudden, he turned into a serious man who looked like he had experienced all the pains in the world.
âTruth be told, I fell in love with a girl once. She got pregnant as well at that time.â
Nicole frowned and listened attentively. She did not expect to see this side of him but was convinced that every person had a painful past he or she would never want to recall.
âOne day, I got drunk, fought with someone, and caused her to suffer a miscarriage. She almost lost her life because of it.â
As he spoke, flashes of memory starting to pop up in his mind like a film.
âAfter that, sheâ¦â
Davin found it difficult to continue with the story when all the gruesome details began to haunt him. Just when he was trying to phrase his sentence, he heard a loud bang.
The bedroom door was pushed open and Nina stormed into the room with a makeup box. Anger was written all over her face.
âMommy, Maya is too much!â
She then slammed the makeup box on the table.
Davin took this opportunity to pull himself together and hid away his emotions. In the blink of an eye, he reverted back to his usual jovial self.
âWhatâs wrong?â
Nina took all the figurines out of the makeup box and arranged them on the table.
âMommy, look!â
Nicole knitted her brows upon seeing all the figurines.
Maya walked into the room, looking abashed. She looked at Nicole and stuck out her tongue.
âMommy, I feel bad for them because Nina uses them for practice every day. I just want to be nice to them.â
âIs this the proper way to treat them? They all looked bloated! Their faces and tummies are as round as yours.â
âI fed them because Iâm afraid theyâre hungry,â Maya lowered her head to avoid Ninaâs angry stare.
âYouâre too much!â
Nina mumbled and removed all the items from the figurinesâ stomachs and mouths.
Chips, chocolate, lollipop, candied fruitâ¦
âMommy, look at it! Theyâre all like this. How can I use them?â
Like an angry little cub, she roared and blamed Maya for what she had done.
âMaya, say sorry to your sister.â
Maya kept mum and refused to say anything.
âThese are her things. You shouldnât have touched them without her permission.â
Nicole looked at Maya and tried to talk some sense into her.
Maya fidgeted her little hands and paused for a moment. She then turned around and looked at Nina, âIâm sorry.â
âThatâs it? You have to get me new ones!â
âAlright, Nina. Maya has already apologized. Mommy will buy new ones for you, okay?â
âNo! She has to pay the price! She needs to buy me new ones with her snack allowance!â
Maya tilted her head, looked at Nina, and said pitifully, âI donât have money. Why donât I give you some of my snacks?â
âNobody wants your disgusting snacks! I want my figurines!â
Upon noticing Ninaâs condescending attitude and Mayaâs remorseful expression, Davin took out a card, âIâll pay for Maya. Just tell me what you want to buy, okay?â
âI donât want your money. Iâd rather die of hunger than take money from the Seets!â In a fit of anger, Nina then stormed right out of the room.
Davin and Nicole were both dumbstruck by her words.
Why does this little girl hate the Seets so much?
âIâm so sorry for her behavior. I didnât teach her well.â
âPlease donât say that. After all, itâs not easy for you to raise three children on your own.â
âSo⦠can you keep this a secret from your brother?â
Davin was at a loss for words. He knew what kind of person his brother was. Since he had misunderstood Nicole, there was a high chance he would not allow her to take care of the children.