Chapter 46 - My Dear Hana (2) (1/2)

His Hana is growing up fast. At the age of four, she laughs easily. She runs around to make him chase her. Whenever he catches her, her eyes lighten up. She would demand candies. She runs her hands through his pockets if he doesn't give her any. She would argue with him with her tiny voice.

Instead of reading her colorful books, she prefers peeking at her father's case files. He likes watching her all the time. She has a rabbit now. A white flurry thing that her father got her. She likes feeding it.

”Do you like it more than me?” He asks her one day.

”No.” She shakes her head. ”I like you more.”

”My dear, what if you have to choose between him and me?” He picks up the rabbit. It is small and fluffy. He can feel its rapidly beating heart with his hand. She blinks at him several times, thinking hard with her little head.

”You,” She finally tells him.

”Then, you don't need him.” He twists the rabbit's neck. A short agonizing death. It is lifeless in his hands. She looks at it with curiosity. She pokes it when it doesn't move. They don't speak for the next ten minutes. He wonders if she will scream or cry. Whether she will run to her father and complain. It's a risk that he has taken. Nobody knows about his secret side yet.

It's also her first time seeing this side of him. He wants to test her. Is she like other girls?

”Do you hate me now?” He breaks the silence.

”No.” She smiles at him cheekily. ”Now, I only have you.”

He holds her face with the same hands that killed her favorite rabbit. ”You only have me. Remember that, my dear Hana.”

”Only you.” She sits on his ŀȧp and nods her round head. ”I will remember that.”