Living together - the dinner (Part II)
"What are big sis and big brother Eric talks about?" little pumpkin asked all of a sudden. He had been eating quietly and listening at the same time. But, none was to his understanding.
"Well, we are talking about your big sis's new work," Eric Wu was the one who saved the day. He gave a signal for Bella Lim to remain silent as he knew she was occupied with everything he had said earlier.
"Hehe, I see," little pumpkin giggled. His big eyes widened when Eric Wu filled his plate with meat. Drool almost escaped his mouth. However, when the man hesitated and returned the meat to its original place, little pumpkin's face dropped to a disappointment.
Bella Lim wanted to say something but Eric Wu was already on the lead with his question.
"Little pumpkin, you want to be a pumpkin or a strong boy?" Eric Wu asked.
When Bella Lim heard his question, she shot him a look of warning, no longer thinking about what Eric Wu had been talking about earlier.
Such a rude question to ask a little boy? Bella Lim was on her guard. If little pumpkin cried because of Eric Wu's rude question, she wouldn't mind to battle him although she would end up losing. As long as little pumpkin wasn't hurt, all was fine for her.
"Strong boy!" little pumpkin answered, but his eyes were still looking at the meat in front of him. He wasn't affected by the question maybe because of his young age. Bella Lim exhaled and continued to listen to their conversation.
"Good answer! Do you love to eat?" Eric Wu asked another question.
"Yes! Big sis always give me a lot of food! Little pumpkin loves to eat," little pumpkin answered enthusiastically with the addition of his hands making a big circle, representing the lots of food Bella Lim had been feeding her. Bella Lim felt a pair of eyes were staring at her. She gulped but didn't dare to look up. She knew Eric Wu was judging her right now.
"No wonder she looks too mature *cough*," Eric Wu made a stern remark. He rose one of his eyebrows as he looked at Bella Lim whose blood was now rushing to her face as even her ears look red.
A half-smile was seen on Eric Wu's face as he noticed the changed in Bella Lim's face. As guilt took over the mood of teasing her, he focused on little pumpkin.
"Little pumpkin, if you wish to eat more in the future, you need to take care of your body. Understand?" he said as he added more meat into the little boy's plate.
Little pumpkin looked at him in confusion. His head askew as he was struggling with the thought in his mind. Then, he asked, "Eating a lot is not good?"
Eric Wu chuckled softly, surprised to hear such a direct question from the little boy.
"It's not that bad. But, if we don't use the energy we gain from all the food we ate, we'll get sick from overeating," Eric Wu explained as a matter of fact. Purposely using a grave tone to add weight on what he was saying.
In that instant little pumpkin became scared. He put the fork and spoon he was holding on the table in a rush manner. Seeing this, Eric Wu rose an eyebrow.
"But, there's a way to eat a lot and still be healthy. To achieve this, we need to work our body," he picked little pumpkin's utensils and fixed his grips on the spoon as well as the fork.
"Work our body? How to do that big brother Eric?" little pumpkin was interested, no longer fearful of the fact stated by Eric Wu earlier. His big eyes twinkled anticipatingly. Well, Eric Wu was his hero and a hero's words were wisdom to little pumpkin's ears.
"Jogging in the garden, cycling while chasing the butterfly and some workout would help. Are you interested?" Eric Wu asked. He added more food onto little pumpkin's plate.
Little pumpkin shook his head vigorously to show how much interest he had towards the topic.
"Good! feed yourself well for tomorrow we'll begin our healthy lifestyle," Eric Wu said as he took a bite of his own food as well.
"Yes sir!" little pumpkin responded with great vitality.
These exchanges were followed by Bella Lim with scrunched eyebrows. She was amazed at how the conversation turned out in such a way.
Similarly, she admitted her mistake. All these while, she hadn't thought about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. As long as they didn't starve, she was already content. It seemed that her lack of awareness almost made little pumpkin too plump for his age.
Bella Lim looked at the food on her plate. A soft sigh left her lips. Although this second life of hers was chaos, it paved the way for her to become a better person, especially to little pumpkin. She promised to make sure that her little pumpkin wouldn't suffer from her own negligence again.
As Bella Lim was immersed in her own thought, she heard little pumpkin's excited voice.
"Big brother Eric, little pumpkin can't wait for tomorrow!"
Following the event was Eric Wu's reciprocal enthusiasm. He even had a high-five with little pumpkin.
Bella Lim couldn't suppress her smile from blooming heartily only to realize that Eric Wu was staring at her with a puckish smile on his face.
"Bella, why don't you join as well. I believe your youth will come back to you," he spoke with a face that showed assurance.
A grim expression took over Bella Lim's face. She could tell that Eric Wu was up to something again.
"Yes, yes, yes! Big sis, please join!"
Little pumpkin's voice made it worst as Bella Lim felt that two people were making fun of her now. She looked at the devious man with eyes that could penetrate even the wall.
"W-what are you up to?" she warily asked him. The man's smile broadened in that instant.
"Well, who knows if exercising would help ease your anxiousness around me. Save me the trouble to tease you," she heard him chuckled.
"Big sis! Big sis! Big sis!" little pumpkin cheered, unaware of the pressure it put on Bella Lim. Not that she against the whole idea of improving her lifestyle. Only that, there was a better way of inviting her. No?
Bella Lim took a deep breath and exhaled. "Sure," a helpless voice left her lips and the two people cheered.
So, just like that. Bella Lim was plotted to join the healthy lifestyles of Eric Wu and little pumpkin.