An Interesting Kid

Arlo's POV 

"I need to speak with him, Santo. What the hell? I'm a busy man, you know?" I didn't care less if Santo liked me or not. He was my brother's new personal assistant and claimed I was always arrogant. Who was paying him to like and hate some people?

"Please sir, just sit over there and wait till Mr. Ronald is done." Santo insisted. 

I didn't want to embarrass myself as I was in a children's environment, "fine. I'll wait then. Why isn't there a VIP section to rest here? So I'm supposed to sit on that tiny bench with that poor kid over there?" I turned to look at the little cute kid with a cold frown on his face. 

Santo ignored me and stepped away from my sight. I was forced to sit beside the kid. "What did you do to get in trouble, kiddo?" I tried to start a conversation with the boy. He was too young to hold such a cold expression and I wonder if he was alright.

"I punched a kid who was mocking me." He answered plainly.

"Oh my goodness. Well, are you hurt?" I said in a sarcastic tone and caught on a slight smile from the kid. 

"I'm fine. The kid isn't. There was blood." He said. 

"Well, lemme see. We wouldn't want anything to happen to your strong manly hands." I joked.

His smile was brighter now. "I'm so glad you aren't looking down on me. Everybody thinks I'm the villain here, but I'm not. This isn't the first time that kid says hurtful things to me."

I nodded. "Well he got what came for him."

"I only worry about my mom. She must hate me now." The kid said, the corners of his eyes drooping. I couldn't help but feel bad for him. 

"Nah. Your mom wouldn't hate you. I'm sure you'd know that, kiddo."

"Stop calling me kiddo. My name is Richard." He said so boldly that I had to confirm if I was really talking to a kid or my grandpa!

"Of course!. I'm Arlo. And you shouldn't worry too much about your mom. She'll forgive you as soon as you explain what really happened. Unlike me, everyone hates my guts!"

Richard fixed his gaze at me. "Why?"

I just shrugged, finding it hard to believe I was telling a child my problem. "I'm like the black sheep of the family."

"You look nice." 

"It's all a disguise," I said in a whisper. 

He smiled. "Is it because of your green eyes? Wait, are those real? And do you really talk like that? You look like a model. Are you famous?" 

My brows arched up, "whoa, slow down. What do you mean by how I talk? And yes, they're real. I was born with my mother's sea green eyes." I smiled, forgetting about my accent for a minute. "And you mean the British accent?"

"Yea, it's amazing. I love it. And green eyes? You lucky bastard." He seemed suddenly excited that I was forced to laugh out.

"Did you just call me a bastard?" He imitated me, trying to use my accent that I just laughed even harder. "Now you're just mocking me. I don't talk like that! Okay, if you're not careful, you'll be getting one punch on the face, young mister." I couldn't believe I was getting roasted by a little kid right now!

"You just sound really nice, like an actor. Are you an actor?" Richard was still laughing, "and you're handsome too."

"Thank you, finally some good compliments." I felt so proud seeing him laugh like that, like I had just accomplished something great! It wasn't easy playing with kids, but it seemed like this one liked me so easily. 

"So why does everyone hate you?" Richard asked. 

I didn't keep much away. "Well, I'm supposed to get married but guess what? It's like they're only hookers left in the world. I just can't...I need to take my time, alright? But they're not getting me!"

Richard frowned. "What's a hooker?"

Damn you, Arlo! "Uh, ask your mother." I said quickly. "Anyway, do you think that's fair? I just don't want to get married now."

"If you don't want to, is that because you already like someone but she won't marry you?" He asked and I flinched right there.

Finally, I admitted. "Wow, you are so smart, aren't you?" He shrugged with a smile. "Yes. There's someone I like. She's strong, brave, beautiful. But she doesn't even know I exist! I'll have to tell her how I feel at some point, but I'm so stupid I don't even know how."

"You think you're stupid? But you look like you would have millions of girlfriends." 

"Me? Because of the tattoos and, what? The accent?"

"You just don't look like a nerd who wouldn't know how to approach a lady."

"What do you even know? You're just a kid." I felt foolish discussing this with some random child. 

"No. I know things, and I'm not a kid! I can give you some points."

I stare at him with a surprising look, "Okay. I'm all ears, Mr. not a little kid."

Richard sat up straight. "Okay, I'll tell you what all women like. But from my mom's perspective." I only watched, wondering how a little kid like that had a proper vocabulary! "My mom loves music, classical music, then food. Men who can cook, can you cook?"

"80 percent a great chef." I said.

"Good. Also, she hates flowers. She's allergic. Also to cat furs, or furs. That's why I don't ask her for a pet. Then, you gotta dress really well, and it seems like you do that just fine."

"Wow, thanks for the compliments." 

"Lastly, she loves bags. Get her lovely fashion bags, shopping bags, beach bags, office bags, every kinds of bags. She has a giant wardrobe only for bags alone."

"Wow." I said in amusement. "Bags, okay. I have all of these tips stored in my head already." I said to him and he gave a proud nod. 

"Also, if this works and you get your girl, you owe me a visit to the museum. Also, some caviar made dish, since you say you're a great cook. Otherwise, you owe me 100 bucks for lying to me!"

A chuckle escaped my lips as I acknowledged his smartness. "That's never going to happen! I don't need your help anymore."

"Ha! Too bad. You've already stored it in your head. If you reject my offer now, you'll be owing me one thousand dollars."

"What the hell! How do you even know up to that number? When I was your age, I only know five bucks-"

"--well I'm smarter! Have you met this guy?" He was pointing to himself, shoulders raised high in pride and I couldn't help but laugh at his humor. This kid was very interesting.

"Richard?" 

Our fun conversation was cut off by a lady's voice. Richard jumped up and called out, "mommy!"

I got up and looked towards the direction of his mother and my gaze just fell on her. I could only stare like a fool, unable to hide my shock! She was his mother??