Arturo jogged along the river. Last night, he came out to eat supper with his mother. After the supper, his mother took him around the neighborhood. He remembered the way around here very well.
Arturo wouldn't get lost.
After running for an hour, Arturo was still in good spirits. His handsome little face was a little red, and a few strands of hair on his forehead were soaked in sweat. He looked handsome.
Ever since Arturo was three, he had been learning free combat with Jeannie, and thus he had always been in good health.
The movie "The Boxing Boy" was a good chance for Arturo to present himself. He liked the character and could naturally relate to him.
Arturo took out his phone from his backpack and looked at the time. It was almost nine o'clock and he had to buy breakfast for his mother.
Arturo wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked around with his big clear eyes.
Marilyn said that Vogue Plaza was not far from here, and there was a lot of delicious food there.
But where should he go?
Arturo looked around, and a handsome man jogged over.
Arturo walked over with a smile and shouted, "Sir, excuse me. May I know how to get to Vogue Plaza?"
It was Malcolm, jogging in the morning.
Malcolm went out mostly because he wanted to meet Marilyn.
Malcolm stopped and looked at the familiar child in front of him. His voice was not as soft as other children's. Instead, it sounded vibrant and warm. His pair of clear and bright eyes were as confident and handsome as the ones in his picture.
Malcolm didn't expect that he could actually see the boy he kept thinking about last night.
Malcolm could barely sleep the whole night.
"Sir!" Arturo saw that Malcolm did not speak and called out again.
But strangely, Arturo found the man looking like him.
Malcolm came back to his senses in an instant.
Looking at the smiling child in front of them, Malcolm realized that their facial features looked even more similar when taking a closer look.
Malcolm's heart suddenly began to pound wildly, and a strange feeling arose in his heart.
Malcolm pursed his lips. Malcolm was usually calm and confident, yet he was a little nervous in the face of Arturo. His hoarse voice was a little dry and much gentler than usual. "You're Arturo?"
Arturo was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected to be recognized.
Arturo smiled politely. "Sir, do you know me? Do you think we look alike?"
Malcolm smiled elegantly and arrogantly. He wondered, "What is he talking about? He should have said that he looked like me."
"Arturo Chapman, six years old. Recently, you have become famous all over the country. You just won first place in the piano competition a few days ago. As long as people watch TV, they all know that you are a little star." Malcolm was so glad that Julian had told him some information about Arturo last night. Thus, he could leave a good impression on the boy who was very likely to be his son.
"Thank you for your attention, sir. Goodbye!" Arturo smiled humbly.
Arturo was in a hurry. Marilyn would get heated if she woke up and found Arturo wasn't home.
"Wait!"
Malcolm stopped Arturo quickly.
Arturo turned around, smiled at him, and waited for him to speak.
Malcolm walked over to Arturo and said with a smile, "Are you going to Vogue Plaza? I'll take you there. I happen to be going there for breakfast, too."
"Thank you, sir!" Arturo did not refuse. It would be faster if the man could show Arturo the way. Moreover, he looked very alike to Arturo, which intrigued Arturo.
"Let's go!" Malcolm had a strange feeling in his heart. He did not reject this feeling at all. On the contrary, he was very happy.
Malcolm saw that Arturo was not afraid of strangers at all. He came out alone to eat breakfast, but the adults did not accompany him. Thinking of Marilyn, he tentatively asked, "Why are you alone? Where is your family?"
Arturo raised his head with a smile. His pink lips had a faint luster in the morning light, which was very lovable. "My mother is too tired and is still sleeping. I came out to buy breakfast for her. I just came to Fielddell and am not familiar with the surroundings. Thank you, sir, for bringing me here."
"I see." Malcolm nodded. He wasn't very talkative. The sudden encounter made him even quieter. He didn't know what to say to leave a good impression on Arturo.
Arturo's phone suddenly rang. He took out the phone from his small backpack, smiled apologetically at Malcolm, and answered the phone.
Arturo softly said, "Grandma!"
"Arturo, are you going back to Goldmere tonight?" A loving voice came from the other side of the line.
"Grandma, we have to wait for Jeannie's decision." Arturo smiled happily.
"I see. Arturo, don't tire yourself too much. By the way, Laverne is going to participate in an art competition. If you can make it in time, bring two boxes of blue and purple colored paint for Laverne. I took Laverne around, but she wasn't satisfied with what she had found."
"Alright, Grandma. I'll go buy it in a while. Grandma, take care of yourself. Laverne is naughty. Don't always let her have her way."
Arturo chatted a bit more before hanging up.
Malcolm had been listening carefully.
Every word Arturo said seemed to be able to touch Malcolm's nerves.
This was probably because Arturo was most likely Malcolm's son.
But who was Grandma?
Who was Laverne?
Marilyn lived on her own.
All sorts of thoughts emerged in Malcolm's mind.
He wanted to know everything about Marilyn crazily.
In fact, what he cared more about was if Marilyn was Carolyn, whom he had always been looking for.
That meant Carolyn saw Malcolm but she did not remember him. That would be the worst.
Also, the most painful.
Every time Malcolm realized that Carolyn might have forgotten him, he felt heartbroken. He could feel the pain all over his body.
"Sir!" Arturo suddenly said, pulling Malcolm back to his thoughts.
Malcolm suddenly pursed his lips into a smile and tried to keep his tone as calm as possible. "Arturo, what's wrong?"
"Arturo?" Malcolm called Arturo by his first name, which caught Arturo off guard. It caused a strange feeling to suddenly arise in his heart. This feeling wasn't hateful yet hard to describe. It was very amazing.
Malcolm asked tentatively, "Arturo, can I call you this way?"
"Of course!" Arturo smiled.
Malcolm suddenly smiled happily. Looking at the little face that was so similar to his, Malcolm suddenly had an idea. He focused his gaze on Arturo's hair. Whether he was his son or not, a paternity test would tell.
But how could Malcolm get Arturo's hair?
Arturo suddenly stopped and pointed at the breakfast diner opposite. "Sir, thank you. I think I'll go there!"
Malcolm looked in the direction Arturo pointed, and it happened to be the place where he and Marilyn had breakfast together last morning.
Malcolm's deep eyes softened as he whispered, "Let's go there together. I'm going there as well."
With that, Malcolm went forward to lead the way.