Chapter 4 - Encounter
Ib's PoV
When we entered the park, I saw 3 butterflies dancing around the flowers. They were beautiful ! I wanted to catch one to show Garry, who was looking at me. I waited for the butterfly to settle on a yellow flower, and caught it ! I turned over and ran for Garry.
"What did you catch, Ib ?" he said, kneeling down to be at my height.
"A beautiful butterfly ! Look !"
When I opened my hands, the butterfly flew away.
"I've never seen a butterfly like this before ! Good catch, Ib !" We watched the butterfly fly away until it exited the park, before I took his hand again so we continued walking.
It was big park full of trees with a little lake in the middle. Kids were playing with remote-controlled boats, and some were flying kites with their parents. I was amazed by the dancing kites, and always wanted one. Garry was following my sight, and finally told me :
"I see in your eyes that you also want to fly a kite !"
How did he know ? Just looking in my eyes ? I blushed and hid my face before shaking it, then looked up at him. He chuckled.
"Can you teach me how to fly one, Garry ?" I couldn't contain my joy ! I knew Garry would do it.
"Sure I will, let's buy you one." he said offering me his hand.
I was so excited I hugged his arm walking towards the little wooden house near the lake, which was a shop with various toys hosted by a tall man with a cap.
"What for your pleasure, sir ?" the man asked Garry. Before he could answer, I pulled his coat.
"Garry, Garry, I can't see." I told him, spreading my arms for him to carry me, which he did. "Thank you !" I added and kissed his cheek, before exploring the shop.
"You're welcome. Hello sir, we need a kite for this little lady." Garry told the shopkeeper.
"Everything is here !" the man said before showing the kite stall.
I know Garry was watching me, but I was too busy making my choice, until I saw the perfect kite. It had red roses on it. I asked it to the trader :
"The one with the roses, the roses please ! It's so beautiful !" He took it and gave it to me. "Thank you !" I added. Garry put me back on the floor to open his wallet and pay for the kite while I observed it walking away.
"10$, right ? Here, thanks a lot." he said, giving the money to the trader before joining me.
"My pleasure, sir. Take care of your sister !" the man finished, making Garry stop. His face was turning red, it was so funny !
"Garry, you're red like a tomato !"
I couldn't stop laughing and ran to the place without trees.
Garry's PoV
I didn't leave my gaze from Ib since she started to fly her kite alone. Chilling on a bench, watching her play for 15 minutes now. And I was impressed, she was really good at this ! She looked happier than any child in the world at that moment, she couldn't stop laughing. Then she looked at me :
"Garry, can you come please ?" she called smiling. As she probably wanted to stop, I joined her.
"What is it Ib, do you want to stop ?" I asked. She nodded and gave me the handles, then looked at me.
"I'm afraid of tangling the ropes !"
"That's what I thought. Let me show you."
I slowly rolled the ropes around the handles, her gaze was on my hands. When it was done, I gave her the kite back. "Here it is !"
"Thank you Garry !" She kissed my cheek and hugged me. I had no choice than carrying her, and I kissed her forehead.
"What do you want to do now, Ib ?"
"Play !"
So I brought her to the kids area, where she played for a good 30 minutes. It was a colorful sand area, with a slide, a playground and several swings. I watched over her for a while then got lost in my thoughts. What would I do for Ib and her mother in the near future ? If I stayed with them, how long would that be ? So many questions at once I started getting a headache and shook my head to forget them. And then she appeared, Ib was in front of me, her hands had already taken my left one as my right hand was supporting my head. I sat back and came to my senses, noticing how worried she was getting.
"Garry, are you okay ?" she asked with a sad expression on her face.
"Oh, excuse me Ib, I must have worried you. I was just thinking about the future." I joined my right hand with hers.
"Did you think about staying with me ?" she murmured, as cute as possible. She was becoming red again.
"Why do you ask, Ib ?" I asked with a surprised face just to see what she could answer.
She started to rock her body from left to right, biting her lower lip and looking down, unsure. I was 90% sure of the answer :
"I like you a lot, Garry."
When she realized what she said, she hid her head in her tie. I chuckled.
"You sure know how to be cute, Ib ! Your mother is the one who has to decide those things, though." I said smiling. She instantly looked at me and embraced my neck with her arms. I hugged her in return, before gently telling her the truth. "But you must know that I like you too."
I couldn't see her face but knew she was trying to contain her tears. She was getting warmer, and my shoulder began to wet where she rested her head. I asked myself one last time what I had to win if I left her to continue my lonely life in my little apartment. The answer was obvious. If I could help her appreciate the best in life, of course I'd stay with her. With Ib.
When she was calm again, I decided to bring her to The Merill. This was a surprise but she could easily understand.
Ib's PoV
We arrived outside the park after walking on a gravel path. Garry told me he had a surprise for me, I kept wondering what it could be until we faced it. We were just in front of the café he told us about before, The Merill ! We only had to cross the road to reach it !
"Really, Garry ?!" I asked, excited. He followed my gaze towards the name of the café and laughed, before looking at me again.
"So you remembered the name of the café ! I'm impressed !" he said. I was so happy !
After crossing the road, I couldn't handle my joy and released his hand to run in front of The Merill...
Garry's PoV
Everything shifted in an instant. A man caught Ib and started to run away, covering her mouth so that she couldn't scream. I instantly ran after him, roaring :
"Let go of my sister, NOW ! Somebody, stop him, please !" When Ib heard me, she bit the man's hand to shout :
"GARRY !" But the man went on for a few steps before something crazy happened.
A shady man had jumped down from nowhere, and landed right on the kidnapper's path. He took a sword, A SWORD out of his jacket and stopped the big guy, saying :
"Where do you think you're going with that young lady ? Release her, quick." The kidnapper let go of Ib with enough force to make her fall on her butt before running away, to the other side of the road and through the bushes of the park.
I rushed to recover Ib and hugged her as hard as possible while still letting her breathe.
"Garry, Garry..." she repeated, terrified. I carried her so she could relax and reassured her.
"It's over, sweetie, it's over... I'm so sorry I let you go, never run forward without me again, okay ?"
"I'll never do it again, I promise..."
"Thank you so much for your intervention, sir..."
"Mmh." the man let out, checking around cautiously before hiding his sword under his black leather jacket.
He was a bit shorter than me, had brown hair, sunglasses and a scarf with shades of grey covered most of his face. Under his jacket was a grey shirt, a brown belt and he was wearing black pants, gloves and shoes.
"Be more careful next time." he finished as he walked towards a back alley.
"Who was this man ?" Ib asked me, starting to calm down.
"I don't know but... he appeared as if he had jumped down from the roof of this house, what a crazy dude. Oh God, I'm so glad he saved you..."
Ib couldn't stop shaking until I sat down on a nearby bench after reassuring the people around... I used my sleeve to remove the tears I just noticed rolling down my face, and made sure she wasn't hurt before petting her back again. She mustered enough strenght to cover my cheeks with her hands and give me the best smile she could give, and I let her stay there silently.
She seemed to love watching my blue eye, with that curious look on her face. It felt as if my only presence was enough to let her calm down. When I shared her smile, she embraced my neck again, kissed it and whispered in my ear :
"You called me 'sister'..."
I fixed her hair to kiss her cheek in return and whispered in response :
"I'll never leave you alone, sweetheart. We'll go home now and come back with your mother later."
To be continued...