To be continued.

Leon also held Carla's hand as he smiled at her and said, " Carla, this is just a story, remember? "

" I.. I know but.... but Leon, the small Carla, I don't want her to be taken by the ugly toad. " tears are now forming from the corner of her eyes.

Seeing her like that, Leon can't help but sigh. 'Kids are indeed kids. ' he thought.

But Leon didn't want this girl to be sad so he said, " Okay. I will help little Carla later so just continue listening to the story okay, Carla? "

Only then did Carla let go of Leon's hands as she nodded at him and smiled. " Alright. Thank you Leon. "

Leon smiled back at her and with a nod, he continued.

" The ugly toad seized the small bed with little Carla sleeping on it and hopped off to a nearby stream.

" Ribbitt! Papa toad, is she the wife you promised me? " asked the son of the ugly toad while looking at the cute little Carla sleeping on the bed.

" Quiet son, you will wake her up " the ugly toad shushed as he set the bed on top of the lily pad in the middle of the stream to prevent the little Carla from escaping if ever she wake up.

Hearing this part of the story, Carla used both of her small hands to cover her ears as if she was afraid to hear more of the story.

" Bad Leon. Bad Leon. You're so bad, Leon. You let little Carla be taken away by the ugly toad. She... she will be sad there. " said Carla as she continue covering her ears.

" Hehehe. Since Carla think that I'm bad, then I'll just continue being bad and let little stay with the toad forever. " Leon also pretended to be a bad guy.

" Eh? Nooooo! Leon is not bad. Please help little Carla escaped. Please Leon. Please. " she's really afraid that Leon will really do what he said.

" Puff! Hahahah. "

Seeing Carla's reactions, Leon couldn't stopped himself anymore as he burst into laughter.

Carla on the other hand was confusedly looking at him. " Why are you laughing, Leon? Little Carla...please help little Carla. "

" Okay. I will help little Carla so let me continue the story now okay? "

" O... okay. But you promise you'll help little Carla right? Leon?

" Of course. The big Carla is my friend so I will definitely help little Carla as well. "

* giggles *

" Thank you Leon. " a smile once again returned on her face.

Leon can't help but wonder how kids can easily change mood. They are really gullible but super cute too especially this little girl in front of him. Leon felt really lucky to be able to meet this bundle of cuteness in this lifetime.

Leon then nodded at Carla and once again continued telling her the story.

" At daybreak, little Carla's mother, Pauline went to her room but didn't find her daughter there. She became worried. She looked all over the room but still didn't find little Carla. Tears started flowing from her eyes as she started crying due extreme sadness she's feeling for not seeing her daughter. "

" No, I can't just cry like this. I need to find my daughter. She... she's the only reason why I'm still living in this world. Without her, I... I don't want to live anymore. " said the mother Pauline. She wiped her tears away and once again resumed looking for little Carla. "

" Pauline then went outsi-... " Leon wasn't able to continue telling the story because he saw Carla in front of him looked so sad as tears continue flowing from her eyes.

* Knock *

* Knock *

Leon suddenly heard a knocking sound coming from the door before it slowly opened. Figures of his mother and Pauline entered the room.

" Leon, Carla, are you two awake already? Leon need to go ho-...hum? "

" Mommy! " Carla immediately stood up and jumped off the bed the run towards her mother. Carla hugged Pauline as tight as she can. " Mommy. Don't cry. I.. I will never leave mommy. I will always be with mommy and won't let the ugly toad take me away. "

"..."

"..."

"..."

" What happened, Carla? Did you...had a nightmare? " asked Pauline as she kneeled down slowly to level her height to her daughter. The first thought that comes to her mind was that her daughter, Carla might have had a bad dream while she's sleeping.

" No... no mommy. Leon... Leon he... * sob * " Carla can't even finish what she wanted to say before she started crying once again.

Hearing what Carla said, Christina who's standing on the side frowned a bit. She looked at her son, Leon and saw him sitting there on the bed while scratching the back of his head.

" Leon you... did you bully Carla? " asked Christina.

Leon showed a confused expression after hearing her mother's question. He was about to say that he didn't but..

" No auntie. Leon didn't bully me. Leon will not bully me. Right, Leon? " Still in her mother's embraced, Carla looked back over her shoulder to Leon.

" Of course. Carla is so cute. I'll never bully her. " replied Leon patting his chest.

Hearing their conversations, Pauline and Christina became even more confused.

" Then...why are you crying Carla? " asked Christina. She felt relieved after hearing that her son didn't bully Carla.

" That's right Carla. Why are you crying then? " added Pauline.

Carla slowly lifted her head and looked at her mother an said, " Because... because little Carla was taken away by the ugly toad and mommy Pauline became sad and crying. "

" Little Carla? Mommy Pauline? What do you mean Carla? " asked Pauline. She became even more confused now.

" It's the story I told Carla, auntie Pauline. She asked me to tell her a story but she just started crying as I did so. " Leon explained as he shrugged both of his shoulder.

" Story? What story? " asked Pauline. She seemed to finally starting to get what's going on here.

" It's about little Carla, mommy. She was taken away by the ugly toad. " said Carla once again.

" So it's like that. I'm glad you two are fine. " said Christina before looking at Pauline. " Pauline, Leon and I have to go now because it's starting to get dark outside. Thank you for everything and don't forget about your promise okay? "

" Promised? Ah! I won't forget about our promise, sister Christy. Don't worry. " Pauline then turned to her daughter. " You can tell mommy about the story Leon told you later, Carla. But for now, say goodbye to Leon first because he and sister Christy have to go home now. "

" Eh? Go home? But... but mommy, Leon still hasn't finished telling me the story yet. He has to help little Carla first... " Carla let go of her mother and went in front of Leon, saying, " Leon, can you stay, I... I want to.. I want to... "

" I have to go now Carla. I will continue the story next time? Don't worry because little Carla will be fine. "

" Really? Little Carla will be alright? Will she escaped from the ugly toads? "

" That's right. And her mother Pauline will also be fine so you don't have to worry, okay? "

" Al... alright. But you have to promise me, Leon. Let's pinky swear. "

" Sure. Let's pinky swear. "

The two of them then made a pinky promise making both Christina and Pauline that were watching them looked at each other and smiled. They are both happy to see both of their kids get along.

.....

In front of Pauline and Carla's house, Christina raised her hand in front of her and a jeepney stopped on the side of the road.

( AN: It's not magic okay? That just how it works in our country. )

" I have to go now, Carla. See you tomorrow. " said Leon before he went inside the jeepney along with his mother.

" Take care Leon, Auntie too. Take care. See you tomorrow. "

The jeepney soon started to move and slowly went away till Carla and Pauline can't see it anymore. Only then did they went inside their house.

...

More than an hour had past already since they arrived in their house. Leon and Christina are now sitting in front of the table as they eat their dinner.

As usual, there's a freshly cooked rice on the table along with two more viands such was a steamed fish and sauteed broccoli.

....

After they are done eating, Leon didn't leave immediately but instead looked at her mother who was currently collecting the dishes they just used in order to wash them in the kitchen.

" Mom, teacher Jennifer told me that she wanted to meet you and talk to you tomorrow in the afternoon. " Leon suddenly said while looking at his mother in front of him.

O.-.0

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