Chapter 43: Chapter 43

"Are you sure you're alright, Cleo?"

I pinched Greyson's cheeks. "You asked that question a hundred times already. I'm fine, alright? I just had a hard time sleeping last night. Stop worrying about me."

Like I expected, I woke up with dark circles under my eyes.

He shrugged his shoulders. "If you say so."

After I finished packing his lunch, we headed outside where his father is waiting. Our eyes met, and I smiled at him. He also flashed a subtle smile.

Greyson and I hopped inside his car. Soon, he began taking the road.

The conversation that I had with him last night really helped me clear my mind. If it wasn't because of him, I wouldn't have been able to sleep.

We reached the school twenty minutes before Greyson's class started.

"Uncle Oliver will pick you up later. Good luck, buddy. I love you."

"I love you too, dad. Take care!"

We crossed the road. The day went smoothly. During Greyson's class, I received a text from my brother that made me smile. The doctors said that our mother can be discharged from the hospital as soon as tomorrow.

That alleviated my anxiety.

When their class ended, we waited in front of the university gate for Uncle Oliver. I was searching for the white Fortuner, but what I didn't expect was to see the blue sedan that Garren used this morning.

"Is that dad?" Greyson asked the same question running through my mind.

I thought it was just the same car, but when I saw him, my jaw dropped to the floor. He's leaning against the car, wearing aviator glasses, and gazing up at the sky. He seems oblivious to the number of girls drooling over him-and some of them are students... freaking students.

"That's really him!" Greyson screamed.

We crossed the street. He must have felt our presence and taken off his glasses. A smile crept between his lips after seeing his son.

"Dad! What are you doing here?"

He clutched his chest and feigned a hurt expression. He's being playful, something that used to be unusual and odd for him.

"Don't you want me to be here?"

His son giggled. "Of course not! I was just surprised because you said Uncle Oliver would be the one to pick us up."

"Well, I finished my affairs quickly, so I decided to pass by here. Anyway, these people are starting to get under my skin. Let's go."

I laughed inwardly. So he noticed their stares and was just acting oblivious. I see...

Greyson and I settled ourselves inside his car, and Garren began driving home.

"Since it's still early, why don't we go and wander somewhere else?"

Greyson excitedly agreed. Then he turned to ask me, and of course I also said yes.

"Where are we exactly going, sir? If you don't mind me asking."

"Amusement Park."

Greyson was over the moon after hearing that. "I'm excited! It's been a long time since I went to an amusement park!"

Garren smiled. "You'll enjoy the place where we are going, then."

I looked outside through the window and saw the sun's rays spreading various hues of orange in the sky.

To be honest, I'm really thrilled about this trip as well, but I don't want to be too obvious about it. I've never been to an amusement park before, not even when I was a child.

We don't have that many tourist attractions in Arranmore, and the closest place I've been to was the circus.

After an almost hour drive, Garren announced that we already arrived at our destination. We got out of the car. Garren told us to wait for him as he lines up for tickets.

I looked around, and the colorful motifs overwhelmed my eyes.

"Wow," I uttered breathlessly while staring at the magical place in front of me.

I can hear the joyous noises of the people inside. The massive kingdom knocked my socks off. I can't believe I'm now seeing this place with my own eyes.

"Is it your first time here?"

I nodded at Greyson's question. "I've only seen places like this on television before."

He smiled. "You'll surely have fun here."

As if on cue, someone called our name. I turned around and saw Garren running towards us.

"I already bought us tickets. Let's go."

We started walking towards the entrance. I became conscious of my appearance. They're wearing decent attire, while I look like a rag walking beside them.

I should've at least fixed my hair and applied a powder on my face.

"Stop giving a damn about these people around us"

I jolted when Garren appeared beside me. Did he really see through me? Or was I just being too transparent?

"You look good whatever you wear, so stop being upset."

He left me glued to the floor, with my mind in shambles and my cheeks burning red.

Did I hear that right?! Wasn't I just hallucinating? His compliment came out like a bolt from the blue!

Although this isn't the first time he has complimented me, that didn't make me less shocked.

"Cleo! What are you doing there?!"

I was snapped out of my trance when Greyson called me. I dragged myself towards them.

"Sorry. I stepped on something." I wanted to smack my head for the lamest reason I could think of.

It's a good thing that he bought my excuse. He tugged us towards the entrance of the park. After the guard checked out the tickets, we headed inside, and a massive Ferris wheel greeted us. I was awestruck.

"Do you wanna eat first?" Garren asked his son.

The latter shook his head. "I want to ride the Carousel."

His father nodded.

I just followed them since I really have no idea about this place and I might get lost. That will be a huge burden for them.

We stopped by a royal-inspired carousel and once again, I couldn't help but be astonished.

"Cleo, you should come with me," Greyson said while pulling the hem of my shirt.

I beamed jovially. "Sure!" I turned to Garren. "Are you going to join us, sir?"

"I'll come with you two inside, but I won't ride the horses, alright?"

The younger nodded fervently. "Sure!"

I shook my head. He's going to waste the money he spent if he doesn't get the thrill out of this day.

We entered the carousel. Greyson sat on the blue-vest horse happily. It's a good thing that only a few people are in here, because I got to sit on the horse beside him. Meanwhile, Garren really did what he said and just stood on the platform.

The carousel started moving. I glanced at Greyson, his eyes are gleaming with pure delight.

Suddenly, I heard the snap of a camera. I looked at Garren, who's holding his phone. He must have noticed my stare and frowned at me.

"What?"

I shook my head. "Nothing, sir."

He coughed. "I was taking pictures of my son."

I didn't even say anything. Why is he being thin-skinned?

The carousel ride lasted for almost fifteen minutes.

"What do you want to ride next, bud?" Garren asked.

He wandered his eyes around. "Oh! It's Dumbo!" he squealed while pointing somewhere else. "I want to ride that one!"

His father chuckled at how frisky he is. "Fine."

We began walking towards the attraction. Greyson and I are walking side by side while his father is tagging behind us.

"I'll watch both of you from here," he said as we stood in front of the entrance.

Greyson crossed his arms. "No. I won't let you be a party pooper this time, dad. You have to come with us.

I mentally burst out laughing when I saw how his shoulders fell down. He seems like he just heard the most distressing news.

"Sir, your son is waiting," I taunted him more.

He let out a sigh of defeat. "Fine. I'll go with the two of you."

His son exulted, and I did too, but inwardly. He might kill me if he sees I'm reveling at his conternation.

We showed our tickets to the guard and they let us in. Then we suited ourselves to a three-sitters cabin.

I heaved out a sigh and held Greyson's left hand.

"Are you nervous?" he asked with a grin.

"Kinda."

He tittered. "Don't be. This ride is not as extreme as the others."

When it starts moving, I firmly hold on to the handle. But contrary to what I was anxious about, it's indeed not that fast.

I looked down, and unexpectedly, I didn't feel like throwing up because of how high we are from the ground.

That chopper ride when we went on a vacation was a great kickoff to vanquish my fear of heights.

I suddenly felt the urge to raise my hands and scream like nobody's around, and so I did. I couldn't care less if I looked like a kid. This has been my childhood dream, and I want to relish the moment.

Greyson also threw his hands in the air and imitated what I'm doing. Then we looked at his father.

He hissed. "You're crazy. I won't do that."

He said that, but then after a while, he also threw his hands in the air which really surprised me because I wasn't expecting he would give in and ride our antics.

We look like lunatics, but who cares? This might be a once in a lifetime event, so I should enjoy it. Life has no rewind and replay, only flashbacks. Hence I want to make every moment memorable.

The three of us were smiling like fools as we got off the ride.

"That's actually... pretty fun," Garren said, a faint smile is still plastered on his lips. "Although a bit crazy."

I nudged him. "Told you, sir."

It was too late before I realized the rash move I made. I was expecting to hear an earful from him, but to my surprise, he didn't say anything.

He excused himself and went to buy bottles of mineral water. He came back after a while.

I wandered my eyes around. This day has been great so far.