Meeting Her Sweetheart

The next day, after enduring a particularly dull day at the office, I found myself back at Sparkle Café, hoping a change of scenery might spark some creativity.

"Rihan?"

Startled, I turned to see Sia standing behind me, a playful smile on her lips. "Hey, Sia. Fancy seeing you here again."

"This place is becoming your second home, huh?" she teased, rummaging through her purse.

"Just opened last week," I shrugged. "What about you?"

Her brow furrowed as she dug deeper into her bag. "I could've sworn I had a chocolate bar in here somewhere."

I chuckled. "What?"

Sia glanced up, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I know it sounds ridiculous, but I have this thing with chocolate. Most people wouldn't believe it, but I actually restrained myself and only ate two."

"Noted: Sia has a thing for chocolate," I joked. "Want me to grab you one from the shop nearby?"

Her rummaging paused. "Actually, it's not for me."

Curious, I waited for her to explain. Silence.

"It's for my sweetheart," she admitted with a smile.

It was as if someone had taken a sledgehammer to my chest. Sweetheart? The word hit me like a lightning bolt. Stunned, I stammered, "Sweetheart?"

Completely unaware of my internal chaos, Sia finally fished out a chocolate bar. "See? I told you I didn't eat all three." She grabbed my hand, and a jolt of electricity surged through me. "Come on. I'll introduce you."

My mind was a whirl of confusion as I let her pull me through the crowd. Her hair swayed behind her, catching the light as we weaved through the bustling marketplace. Every step felt surreal, like the world had dulled into an indistinct blur, with only the sound of her voice cutting through.

We arrived at a playground. Sia gestured ahead. "There's my sweetheart."

I scanned the area, and my eyes landed on a tall, broad-shouldered man standing near a tree. My stomach dropped. "That… military guy?"

Sia burst into laughter, rolling her eyes. "No! Look closer." She pointed to a little girl sitting under the tree, lost in her own world. "That's Alaina."

Relief flooded through me so fast it was almost dizzying. I must've looked ridiculous because Sia raised an eyebrow. "You're acting weird, Rihan."

I let out a shaky laugh, feeling the weight of misunderstanding lift from my shoulders. "I just... thought maybe..."

"Thought the guy?" she teased, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

"No," I stammered, desperately trying to recover.

Sia's smirk was pure amusement. "Alright, Mr. Misunderstandings, shall we meet Alaina properly?"

A coffee stall caught my eye. "How about I get us some coffee first?"

"Sounds good," she nodded, pulling a bill from her purse and placing it in my hand, her fingers lingering for just a moment too long. "My treat. And don't even think about arguing."

I didn't. There was no point. Sia's tone left no room for negotiation, so I made my way to the coffee stall, ordered two steaming cups, and headed back.

Just as I returned with the coffees, I froze in shock. Standing beside Sia was the very same little girl I'd met a few days ago—the one who'd lectured me about littering.

"You?" Alaina blurted, her eyes wide with recognition.

"Hi," I said, plastering on a smile that probably looked more like a grimace.

Sia looked between us, clearly puzzled. "You two know each other?"

Alaina crossed her arms, eyeing me suspiciously. "Mister, are you the same guy who—"

Before she could finish and expose our past encounter, I cut in, forcing a smile. "Yep, Alaina. I definitely remember you. And don't worry, these coffees are headed for the bin, no arguments."

Alaina blinked, seemingly thrown off by my sudden cheerfulness, but she remained skeptical.

I handed Sia her coffee, hoping to change the subject. "So, how do you two know each other?" I asked, taking a sip. "Family?"

Sia blew on her coffee, the steam swirling between us. "She lives in my building. Isn't she adorable?"

"Indeed," I muttered, feeling a bit wary of what Alaina might say next.

"So how did you two meet?" Sia asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Well..." I hedged, scrambling for a good explanation. "It's hard to resist a kid with that much... charm."

Sia laughed, clearly enjoying the answer. "You like kids?"

I glanced at Alaina, who was happily munching on her chocolate bar, and smiled. "Yeah. Always have. It's their..."

"Eyes," Sia finished for me. "So full of wonder. Why can't we hold onto that as adults?"

The question lingered in the air, heavy with meaning. "Maybe," I said, after a pause, "it's the worries that steal it away."

We fell into a comfortable silence, sipping our coffees. When Sia finished hers, she looked around for a bin but didn't find one. I took the opportunity to offer, "Here, I'll take that."

"Thanks," she said, handing me the cup with a smile. "I should probably head out. Bye, Alaina!"

"Bye!" Alaina waved, her face lighting up. "Thanks for the chocolate!"

"Anything for you, sweetheart," Sia replied warmly. Then, turning to me, she added, "See you around, Rihan."

"Yeah, see you," I echoed, watching her disappear into the crowd.

Left alone with Alaina, I felt her gaze on me. "Your cleanliness standards are terrible," she said bluntly. "But your taste in women? Not bad."

Caught off guard, I stammered, "What are you talking about?"

Alaina crossed her arms, looking far too wise for her age. "Don't play dumb. I'm a girl. I know when a guy likes a girl."

"You're just a kid," I scoffed. "What do you know?"

Alaina shot me a knowing look. "And you're an adult who can't even throw out his rubbish properly."

I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, and I squatted down to meet her eye level. "How did you know?"

"It's written all over your face," she said, exasperated. "You look at her the way my little brother looks at the ice cream man."

I couldn't help but laugh. "So what do I do now?"

Alaina shrugged. "Papa always gives Mama presents. Maybe you should try that."

The simplicity of the suggestion hit me like a revelation. "Thanks, Alaina," I said, genuinely grateful.

As I stood up to leave, I hesitated, turning back to her. "And what should I give her?"

Alaina threw her hands up in frustration. "How should I know? You're the grown-up! Figure it out!"