A Sudden Request

Bella got to school very happy the next day. She got into the class but, Miss Selena wasn't in. Not worried, she walked to seat at the back of the class.

Selena walked into the class and began the lessons for the day. The kids were very cooperative, as usual and she felt very proud of them.

When lunch time came and the nanny came for the kids, Bella and Rachel didn't go with her. Selena was suprised. She felt Rachel's skin burn under hers and she rushed her to the school clinic where she would remain until the end of the day.

When she returned, Bella was reading a story book in her seat. She smiled and walked to where the girl sat.

"Hey, Bella," she greeted and sat opposite her. "How are you doing today?"

"Oh, Miss Selena," Bella smiled and put the book away. "I am fine. How are you?"

"I'm fine, Bella. Thank you." Selena replied. "What are you reading?"

Bella picked up the book and turned the cover page to Selena. "Jack and the beanstalk."

"Oh, I'll let you to it. Alright?" Selena said and stood up but Bella held her wrist.

"Miss Selena, my daddy says he's sorry. He said he was worried that's why."

Selena smiled and sat down again. "Aw, it's okay. I wasn't angry, I totally understood."

"Miss Selena, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure!" Selena shrugged, wondering what it was Bella wanted to ask her.

"Miss Selena, would you like to get married?" Bella asked with no trace of fear in her eyes.

Selena froze.

Her mouth hung open and she stared at the child in a daze.

"Miss Selena?" Bella called.

Selena shook her head and forced a smile. "Someday, Bella. You know, I almost got married once."

"Really?" Bella's eyes widened and she shifted in her seat when Selena nodded. "Will you tell me about it?"

Selena raised a brow. "Why do want to know?"

Bella smiled. "Nothing."

Selena shrugged and smiled. Telling the child wouldn't be so bad. She had gotten over the incident already and it no longer haunted her memories.

"I was supposed to get married one time. When I woke up on the day of my wedding, my groom-" she paused and looked at Bella. "Do you know what a groom is?"

Bella nodded.

Selena smiled and continued.

"When I woke up, my groom had left."

"To where?" Bella asked curiously.

"I don't know, I never saw him again." Selena muttered. There was a thin line of pain in her voice.

Bella stood up and hugged Selena. Anytime she was sad, her dad would hug her. She hoped it works on her teacher.

"Aw," Selena cooed and wrapped her arms around the child. She had this special kinda attraction to Bella when she first arrived the school.

Overtime, she believed that the attraction was because the child shared certain resemblances to someone she knew but couldn't quite recall.

When the feeling didn't subside, she decided she would embrace it fully. So, she and the child had been conversing lightly in class and before the driver came to pick her.

"Thank you, baby, I'm better now" Selena said to her and helped her up to her seat. "So, what's you mum's name?"

Selena could swear she saw a flicker in the child's eye. Something like want…?

"I only see her when grandmother comes visiting, Miss Selena," Bella replied, looking at the ground. "Daddy says she left when I was born."

"Oh, I'm sorry. But, who would leave a beautiful baby like you?" Selena said with a frown.

"She didn't want me," Bella said with a smile. "Daddy says I can have a new mummy."

Selena clapped her hands happily and smiled. "You should look for one who would love you, okay?"

Bella nodded. "Miss Selena, do you love me?"

"Of course, I do love you!" Selena replied with a wink. "I love you so much, Bella."

"Would you be my mummy, then?" Bella threw out the question like it was a simple 'how are you'.

Selena went still at Bella's question. She felt a shiver run down her spine and she had to take a deep breath to remain sane.

"W-why would you ask that?"

Bella shrugged. "Because-"

She was interrupted by the shrieks of the other kids returning to class.

Selena rubbed Bella's head with a small smile and returned to her seat, still in a daze at Bella's question.

'would you be my mummy?'

Those words kept playing on and on in her head as she taught for the rest of the day.

*****

"Megan!" Selena yelled and banged her hand on the table. "How can say that!?"

Megan flipped her stretched, black hair and shrugged.

"You can't blame me! The man is rich and he is single. At least from what his daughter said." Megan stated, desperately mixing a bowl of eggs.

"But, he isn't asking to marry me." Selena replied, as a matter of fact.

How the hell did Megan's brain even work?

She's been explaining to the crazy girl what Bella had asked her and also, what transpired between Timothy and herself. But, all Megan could say was to marry him.

"Remind me," Selena cocked her head. "How the heck did you ever become my friend?"

Megan smiled widely and flipped her hair to the side stylishly. "Love, baby. Love."

"But, let's be serious." Megan said, her face ridding of every trace of fun. "You could marry him, it wouldn't be so bad."

"I don't even know him! Plus, Bella is just a child, you can't trust everything a child says." Selena explained for the umpteenth time.

"He's handsome, yeah?" Megan asked and Selena nodded.

"He's rich?"

Selena shrugged. "I don't know. As far as I know, he's always busy, and came to pick Bella from mine in an SUV. Also, Bella has a personal driver. Does that count?"

Megan nodded. "He's definitely rich."

"So, let's see…" Megan sat down and thought for a while before breaking into a wide grin. "He wears a thousand dollar worth suit-"