I smiled and caressed my little bun's head once more.
He took another spoonful and ate it with delight. He even dipped the bread into the bowl and carefully ate it without a mess.
"Really yummy, Daddi!!" He exclaimed.
Seeing him enjoy things like this genuinely makes me feel relieved.
I know that Little Han is struggling as well… and I am always afraid that the things that happened to us, as his parents, would take away the joy of his childhood completely.
And seeing him enjoy the food like this made me feel grateful and relieved.
As I was watching him, he took another piece of bread and blew it gently. Surprisingly, he did not eat this piece but brought it toward me instead.
"Daddi, try it! Izz yum!"
Surprised, I momentarily looked at him, only to meet his expectant gaze. In the end, I seemed to have forgotten all the worries I had at the moment as I received the piece of bread my son gave me.
Just like that, the two of us ate while Eli watched us without a word.
Although I would want to turn my head to her side, I know that once I do, Little Han would come back to his old self and would act with restraint once more.
But I never would have imagined that my decision to simply focus on Little Han and allow him to eat in Eli's presence would elicit reactions from Eli!
Watching us from afar, Eli most probably thought that we were no longer paying heed to her side.
Perhaps, she was really hungry and thirsty as well. That is why her hand finally moved to get the juice in front of her.
The moment her hand touched the wooden cup that was surrounded by light and twinkling magic, I felt her movements.
But as much as I was excited, I held back everything and continued paying attention to Little Han.
Suddenly drawing our attention back to her might even stop her from taking a sip.
I also cast a glance toward Baobao and Wisey hoping that they would also not react for a moment.
We have to wait until Eli consumes the drink, perhaps even that would be great progress as well.
And so, with my efforts to draw Little Han's attention to my side, I let Eli grab the cup and consumed its contents.
The heavens knew at that moment that I was praying that she would finish it all, as what the cup contained could barely sustain the fluid and nutrients her body needs at the moment.
Holding back for a little while, I saw that Eli finally put down the cup, to which I sensed through my magic that it was empty.historical
Finally!
I rejoiced in my heart, for we have taken the first step.
I could no longer hold my joy as I trembled in elation while looking at Eli with tender eyes, "Did you like it?"
Eli seemed to have realized that I knew what she did and so she cowered once more.
But even so, I was still happy and I knew that we could only take one step at a time with her. I shall not be greedy at all.
Clap clap clap!
Suddenly, I heard a series of soft claps on my side and realized that Little Han was smiling as well.
"Mommi, good job!" Little Han praised as he looked at the empty wooden cup. "She finished the dwink!"
I was shocked to see my son react that way and was I mediately nervous.
Eli would get triggered by sudden sounds and I am sure that the claps would disturb her in a way.
I held Little Han protectively, preparing for Eli's sudden flare but contrary to my expectations, she did not explode.
Following Little Han's giggles and praise, Eli only stared at us blankly and did not do anything at all.
"Daddi, maybe Mommi wants soup as well…" Little Han looked at me expectantly. "Let's give her food!"
"... Alright… but we must not force Mommy ok?" I sighed and agreed.
"Owkkay~~ Mommi will like it because it's yummy!!! It's Daddi's cooking!" My son proudly said.
I once again served the meal to Eli and delivered the food in front of her using the same method.
Unlike the first time, Eli followed our movements with her eyes. From taking the wooden bowl and serving the soup with it to bringing it in front of her. Eli's eyes did not leave our movements.
When the food came in front of her, the atmosphere in the room froze once more and my heart pounded in nervousness and anticipation.
Part of me knew that it is less likely for Eli to take the food now, but of course, part of me believed in Little Han's hope that Eli would take it.
"Daddi, I want seconds too… Johann is still hungwy~ hehe…" Once again breaking the long silence, Little Han rubbed his little tummy and looked at me with a hint of mischievousness.
'So that's your plan, little one!' I inwardly exclaimed upon realizing what Little Han is trying to do.
He seemed to want to use the opportunity to lower Eli's guard in eating by having her feel that she had companions to eat with her.
In that moment of realization, I could not help but be grateful for my son's innocent yet observant actions.
'Alright son, I support you all the way…' I decided in my heart.
"I am hungry too…" I said with a knowing smile while declaring, "Then let's eat together…"
"Yay~~" Little Han's smile grew infectiously bright as he watched me scoop the rest of the soup and divide it among us two.
Now Eli, Little Han, and I all had food on our plates. Whether or not Eli would eat, I would support Little Han's plan all the way.
"Let's eat while it's warm…" I smiled and initiated by breaking the bread and dipping it into the creamy soup in the bowl.
Little Han happily followed. His smile appeared to be simply enjoying the food at this time but his eyes revealed the intentions he had in his heart, which made my very own heart tremble in pain.
Behind his cheery appearance, was the longing to see his mother back.
Still, both of us choose to remain happy at the moment, after all, Eli already made a satisfying response earlier, though it would be even great if she would also eat with us as well.
There weren't any other sounds in the room other than the faint praises from Little Han's food. But the next moment, a miracle before we happened…
Soft rustles were heard in Eli's corner, followed by the slow dragging of the bowl in front of her.
Little Han and I froze in amazement as we watched Eli's movement.
My lungs seemed to have forgotten how to breathe when I saw Eli's thin hands reach out on the utensils and slowly scoop a spoonful of soup. My heart beats loudly as I watch her bring the food to her mouth.
Little Han and I did not make any sound and only watched her eat her first bite of the bread.
One spoonful was done, so as the first slice of bread, then she took the cup I refilled with juice once more and took a sip out of it.
My body trembled as my vision turned blurry. Maybe people would call me a fool for getting emotional at this moment, but only those who genuinely want Eli back would understand what I feel.
It was hope, it was happiness! It was the anticipation that one day, Eli would smile again and completely recover!
Just like before, I held back my excitement and emotions and tried to pretend that we did not notice her movements.
I looked at Little Han and saw him move to continue what he was eating. I was amazed at how he would act the same way I would as if he was already mature enough to be sensitive toward the situation.
I watched him eat with a wide smile on his face, his crystal blue eyes squinted into two cute crescent moons as he waved his wooden spoon to savor the taste of the meal.
Infected by his happiness and smile, we continued to eat.
For the first time in a while, we are finally eating as a family again.
It wasn't any fancy meal, just a vegetable soup and bread I quickly prepared and a pitcher of fruit juice. There weren't even any silverwares and we were even sitting on the cold bedroom floor.
Yet this was the most tasty and warmest meal we've had since we were out of the continent!
"Sniff… sniff… uwuwuuu…" Suddenly, I heard Little Han's sniffles beside me, his redhead lowered down as he quickly wiped his tears while holding the bread in his little hand.
"Son? Don't cry…" I called out, but my voice was already quivering and my eyes also started to warm up.
For I know that the very reason why he is crying is that his heart was deeply moved by this moment.
"En… sniff… Sowwy Daddi… sniff… Johann is just happi… sniff…"
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶