Mashauva remembered the girl was as thin as Bruno. Although she was not as tall as him, she was slender, with makeup on her face and she smelled good.
Mashauva thought she was outstanding and wished to be like her.
Then, Mashauva went back to her closet to get a different set of clothes only to find all of them childish, like what a child would wear.
She contemplated for a long time and gave up in the end. She went downstairs dejectedly to meet Bruno.
"Bruno, it's a new year. I can't believe you're already 21. Time sure flies."
Bruno pursed his lips and smiled faintly. "Yeah."
"Mashauva was only this big when she went to your house, but now, she's already 17. In another year, she'll be of legal age."
Cassie was actually trying to hint at Bruno.
Mashauva was clueless with matters of the heart, but Bruno definitely wasn't. After all, the boy was precocious and steady; he'd figure out what she was trying to imply.
Indeed, Bruno could tell Cassie was hinting at something, but he wasn't sure exactly what.
Was she trying to tell him Mashauva would become an adult soon and that he should be aware of it, or was she implying something else?
"What is this girl still doing upstairs? I've already called her down, and she said she'd be down soon. Maybe she has fallen back to sleep. I should go get her again."
As they spoke, Mashauva came down. She was wearing a red dress and had tied her waist-length hair into a high ponytail with a big red bow, making her look particularly lovely.
"Mom, Bruno."
"Mashauva, come."
Cassie smiled and gestured for Mashauva to come to her, and she took the chance to nestle in her mother's arms. "Bruno said he wants to bring you to Winterland this year. Since we've already had our new year's eve dinner, you should go with him," Cassie said.
"Winterland?"
Yeah." Bruno nodded. "I've already packed my luggage. We will drive there ourselves."
He has already packed?! Mashauva was a little surprised. She thought for a moment before asking, "Will you go alone if I don't go?"
"Of course not."
Mashauva's face lit up. "Then wait for me, Bruno. I'll go and pack my luggage."
"Pack thicker clothes. It's cold there."
"Alright."
With that, Mashauva ran back to her room to pack for the trip. Cassie stood up after some thought and said, "Mashauva has never been to Winterland before. I'll go help her with her luggage; with her capability, she'll just freeze herself into a snowman."
A snowman?
The idea of Mashauva as a snowman appeared in Bruno's mind, and the smile in his eyes grew deeper. He then nodded. "Sure, feel free to take your time, Mrs. Taylor."
"Then I'll go up now."
Cassie went upstairs to help Mashauva pack.
Bruno's phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Freddy.
"What's up?"
"Bruno, I'm so sorry, dude!" Freddy's voice was filled with annoyance and frustration. "When my mom called my uncle last night, she let slip my trip to Winterland. Now my uncle's daughter wants to tag along."
"What now, Bruno? I don't want to take her with us. She talks too much."
Bruno did not answer him, silent.
"My mom suggests that we take her along since there are only three of us. If anything, Mashauva will have company. After all, she'll be sleeping alone when we get there."
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