Bad Lady

It didn't take a genius to know who the person was referring to, let alone Kyle.

From the moment he entered, Kyle had already scanned the area and took note of the layout and people, including vulnerable spots and anyone whose body language may be indicating of any danger.

The spot he had chosen to sit was also a spot that allowed him to be able to continue surveying the place, so that he would be aware of the movements of people around and of anyone who entered (and exited).

So while it looked as if his attention had been 100% on Ariel, he was keenly aware of everything and everyone around him.

Occupational hazzard, so to speak.

It was second nature to him and he did it without really noticing he did, and it did not take much effort.

Right now, Kyle had already honed In on the person who had spoken. Hearing the voice, he had determined the location and he remembered who had been there. With a slight turn of his head, he managed to see confirm the speaker with his peripheral vision.

And that person was looking at them unreservedly, the expression of disgust quite apparent – obviously, she didn't think she had been heard by them, or that she was being looked at.

His thoughts were broken by the sweetest voice ever, asking ever so innocently – and loudly – "Daddy, what is a pead … pead…do? Whatever that lady said?"

Kyle smiled and placed his hands securely at her back, to make sure Ariel didn't bump onto the table as he explained in a slightly louder voice, "A peadophile, Rie, is an adult who does bad things to a child."

Ariel tilted her head, "What sort of bad things?"

"By saying, or doing things that makes the child feel uncomfortable or uneasy," Kyle told her.

"You mean, like that lady?" Ariel asked, pointing at the woman who had spoken.

Kyle looked at her and gently admonished her, "Rie, what did I say about pointing at people?"

Ariel quickly retracted her hand, clasped them together to her chest and looked up guiltily at her father, "I should not point at people. It is rude."

Kyle nodded.

"Sorry, Daddy," Ariel said, looking down at her hands.

Kyle rubbed her back comfortingly, and replied, "It's okay, Rie. Just try and remember next time, okay?"

Ariel nodded, "Okay Daddy."

"Well, before I answer that," Kyle continued, "Why did she make you feel uncomfortable or uneasy?"

Ariel twiddled with her fingers and answered honestly, "Because she looks ugly."

"Lots of people look ugly," Kyle responded, "Just because we're both so good-looking doesn't mean we can look down on ugly people."

There were a few faces that showed how flabbergasted they were upon hearing that, but when they looked at the father-and-daughter duo, they couldn't quite refute it either.

Ariel shook her head, "No, I don't mean that her face is ugly but that she had this really ugly looking face when she looked at us."

Ariel scrunched her face, thinking that her sentence was rather confusing but she didn't know how else to explain it.

Giving up trying to, she just fidgeted on her father's lap, pouting slightly and said, "She made me feel bad."

She looked up at her father, tears in her eyes as she asked slightly loudly as if in a panic, "Daddy, am I bad? What did I do? Is it because I ate ice cream so close to dinner?"

Kyle's lips pressed down tightly, unhappy to see his daughter so distressed, and replied, "How is my little princess bad? She's the best girl ever."

He kissed all over her face, making her giggle.

"You did nothing wrong, Rie," Kyle told her, gently wiping her eyes that were slightly wet though no tears fell yet, "She was the one that did something wrong. She said something that made you feel bad, and yes, you are right about her looking ugly. She is ugly because her heart is ugly."

"Huh?"

"When your heart is ugly, everything you see will be wrong," Kyle continued to explain, "And she will say nasty things that makes people feel bad. For people like that, you just ignore them."

"How, Daddy?"

"By not paying attention to what they say, because it is not important," Kyle replied, "Would you pay attention to a dog that is barking?"

"Yes, I would stay away from the dog," Ariel answered.

Kyle laughed and rubbed the back of her hair, nodding, "So you should, so you should. You are right, my mistake. Just like that, you should just stay away from such people."

Ariel nodded, "Okay, Daddy."

"But you must always tell me when such things happen," Kyle said, "Because such dogs can be dangerous. They bark a lot for a lot of reasons, and some have bad hearts and minds."

"Like that lady, right?" Ariel asked, lifting her hand and was about to point again. Remembering, she quickly put her hand down and looked up at her father, wondering if he saw.

Kyle pretended he didn't.

"Yes, Rie," Kyle said, "Just like that lady."

Throughout the entire conversation between the father and daughter, everyone within hearing distance were listening intently.

Mostly out of curiosity but also they were rather fascinated by the way the father was patiently explaining to his daughter.

Adults tend to just brush off such non-stop questions, partly because they didn't have the patience but mostly because they didn't feel children would understand or they would not actually be truly interested enough to follow the conversation.

Yet, not only was the father able to pay attention, the daughter was listening intently and asking more to understand.

Was it because the child was more intelligent than most her age, or was it because the father treated his daughter as such, allowing such curiosity be appeased and the intelligence be nurtured?

The only one that was not happy was the one who had spoken. However, as she now realised that she had perhaps misunderstood the situation, she couldn't get angry or confront the man who was talking.

It would be akin to having him saying it to her face instead of 'by-the-way', so to speak.

She was getting more uncomfortable – and angry – especially since she could feel some people sneaking glances at her and whispering amongst themselves. She half wanted to get up and leave, but that felt more embarrassing than staying.

As if she was listening to them.

Which she was, but she could pretend that she didn't hear them or know, right?

Still, she huffed to herself.

Although a small part of her had the thought that she may have misunderstood the situation, she didn't really listen to it.

In her heart, she believed truly that there was an indescribable and forbidden relationship between the two.

I mean, come on – just look at them!

What normal adult man would allow a small young child like that to sit on his lap?

Throughout the meal?

Wasn't it just to have that tender child sit close to *that*?

Acting all innocent and 'father-like'.

Yeah, right.

Daddy indeed.

Still, she couldn't underestimate the man.

Such a good looking man, it even made her look twice and have her subconsciously gulp. One could even see the slim, muscular physique underneath the shirt that was rather snug on his chest.

Even his voice was mesmerizing.

To think that he indulged in that sickening behaviour made her think the world was truly so dirty. The man could get any woman he wanted – with that face and body? And he only wanted a child?

She shuddered.

"Maybell," whispered her table companion, "Maybe we should leave?"

Maybell snorted, "Why should I? I didn't do anything wrong."

Though she said that, she didn't say it as loud as before and it was barely a whisper. Just enough for the other to hear.

Seeing her friend look uncomfortable and hesitate, Maybell smacked the table with her hand once, "Pam! We came here to relax after so long and you want to leave?"

Pam shook her head, shrinking back a bit on her chair. Being the timid type, she didn't want to cause any more commotion and have people look at them more.

It was bad enough when Maybell started on her little rant about how stupid men were, but when she made that comment about a nearby diner being a paedophile, Pam wanted to faint there and then.

But she wasn't brave enough to shut her friend up. Maybell always dominated the conversation and Pam was basically the 'yes' person.

Pam sighed and prayed that their dessert would come soon.

She grimaced when she remembered that the father-daughter duo hadn't finished talking as their voices came across clearly to them.

That sweet, milky voice of a little girl as she said, sounding rather indignant, "Yes, just like that lady. That bad, bad lady for making me feel bad."

An an indulgent soothing (and sexy) male voice replying, "Yes, Rie. Anyone who makes you feel bad, you must tell me or Mummy, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy!!"

Pam sighed, slightly envious.