Sweet Subterfuge

Larissa did not remember how long it had been since she last heard Aster’s voice. She kept thinking about it, to the point that int
that she was
close to hallucinating. She could frequently hear Aster calling her “Mommy,” repeatedly in happiness, joy, depression, sadness –
But she knew all too well that those were merely hallucinations.
However, it was different this time.
“Are you working? Aster’s voice held some confusion and tentativeness in it
Larissa stared at Kevan’s phone so hard that her vision actually blurred out, though she did not know if the staring was what
caused it to happen.
“Yeah.” Kevan peeked at Larissa out of the comer of his eye, his tone gentle as it always was whenever he was chatting with
Aster.
“Aw” Aster drew out the word with disappointment. “I call later then””
He video-called Kevan at this time almost every day, so naturally, he thought that Kevan was free right now,
“No need.” Kevan stopped him and took the initiative in the conversation. “Did anything interesting happen in school today?”
“Ms. Judy praised me today!” Aster’s tone pitched upward, the pride obvious in it
Kevan’s gaze softened a great deal, Cocking an eyebrow slightly, he asked with some curiosity. “Why?”
“I found a hurt little bird! its wing was broken, and it was so pitiful. It could not even fly anymore! I brought it to the infirmary and
got Dr. Mora to wrap its injuries. I even used some wood to build a little house for it! Ms. Judy said I was very kind, and that my
little house was very nice!” Aster giggled. “I took some pictures. I’ll send them to you!”
He had just finished speaking when Kevan’s phone vibrated, surely having received the sent pictures
Larissa’s heart was itching. She did her best to stretch her neck to look, but because she was too far away, she could only see a
blurry mess of colors.
“Daddy, did you see it?” Aster asked eagerly.

Kevan’s smile grew bigger. “Yes.” He gazed at the pictures Aster sent and did not look away for a long time.
“Is it nice?” Aster’s voice held a subdued hint of hope.
Kevan chuckled, his deep voice oh, so wonderfully soft and gentle. “Of course it is. You made it.”
Aster giggled again,
Their intimate and natural conversation made Larissa just a tad jealous. But at the same time, she was somehow a little
satisfied?
She figured that she must have gone mad.
Keeping Larissa’s health in mind. Kevan did not chat with Aster for long. About half an hour later, he found an excuse to hang up.
Turning back, he saw the complicated expression on Larissa’s face, who was clearly deep in thought.
“You and Aster video call every day?” she asked.
Kevan could not make heads or talls out of her emotions based on her expressions and tone of voice alone, so he answered
very carefully. “Sometimes.” She did not like him and Aster getting close before. Besides, Aster called him “Daddy.” earlier.
Larissa licked her chapped lips, and asked somewhat embarrassedly. “Could you let me see the pictures he sent?”
Kevan acted fast getting out of the chair and going over to crouch at the head of the bed. He then raised his phone before her.
In the picture, Aster was holding that colorful bird of a breed she did not know about with a sunny smile on his face. On the table
next to
him, there was a little wooden house. The structure was simple, likely made by sticking a few pieces of wood together, but it was
very well done. The walls were even painted with colors that the bird had.
Larissa kept looking until her tears started falling.
down in her heart burst out, and she could not stop it even if she tried.
Kevan could not stand Larissa’s tears. He would feel bad lar her whenever she cried.