The Day I Kissed An Older Man

Francine blushed and replied awkwardly, “What do you mean by that? He was very diligent in tutoring me back then!”
Corinne neither explained nor rephrased her remark.
Chester did not seem to pay too much mind to that either. He grinned shyly and looked at the three little kids seated between the
two girls. He sighed. “Time sure flies. The children are all grown up now.”
Corinne tilted her head and looked out at the passing streetscape through the car window. She murmured, “Yes. Time flies...
Three years have passed in the blink of an eye...”
The city’s lush parks were the preferred destinations for spring outings and picnics. Many families brought their children here to
play on weekends when the weather was perfect.
Corinne and Francine led the children ahead, while Chester followed behind and helped carry their belongings. After finding a
suitable empty spot on the field, Francine pointed and said, “Let’s set up our spot here!”
Chester nodded. “Sure.”
The two of them busied themselves by spreading out picnic blankets on the grass and arranging the food and drinks they had
brought along. Francine took several photos of the food, beckoned the three children over so she could take pictures of them
with the food, and shared some cheerful moments with them.
The children loved their aunt dearly, and Francine felt the same toward them too.
Chester was not much into taking photos, so he stayed out of the camera frame. He retreated a few steps to the side and
observed quietly with a gentle smile in his eyes.
Corinne walked over to Chester and asked softly, “You’ve fallen for her, haven’t you?”
Chester was surprised by the sudden question. His cheeks turned red, and he nodded earnestly. “Honestly, I used to be biased
against her. I thought she was uneducated and had the temper of a spoiled young brat. When you asked me to tutor her, I had
the chance to interact with her more. That was when I discovered that she’s a very simple girl.”
Corinne agreed with that observation. “Yes, she’s pretty naive, especially in this department,” she said, tapping her forehead
lightly.

Chester understood her gesture and burst into laughter. He did not deny that Francine was not the most intellectually sharp
person, but that formed part of her charm.
As they chatted and watched Francine take pictures of the children, Corinne suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. It was
almost as if a thorn was pricking her back.
The sensation was an all too familiar one. It was the same feeling she got whenever a certain someone glared at her.
Corinne’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively turned to look in the direction of the eerie sensation. She spotted a man
gazing at her in a wheelchair beneath a parasol.
However, the man was wearing a sun protection mask and dark sunglasses, which concealed his true appearance. It was
unusual for men to be so concerned about ultraviolet rays, much less take such extensive protective measures against the sun.
“Mommy! Mommy!” Her son’s cry drew Corinne’s attention. Guided by maternal instinct, she immediately looked toward him.
Bryan was excitedly jumping as he pointed to the sky in some agitation.
Corinne walked over and asked, “What’s the matter?”
Bryan replied eagerly, “Mommy, I want to fly a kite too! I want that Robot Man kite!”
Corinne looked in the direction that Bryan was pointing toward and gazed upward to see a Robot Man-themed kite soaring in the
sky.