Author's note: this poem is not mine. I was just searching it on the google and found it. And I had this sudden desire to write this thing which is not related with the story because of one interesting comment.

And that comment was written by

"Dear Mom

By Anonymous

Dear Mom, I said a prayer for you

to thank the Lord above

For blessing me with a lifetime

of your tenderhearted love.

I thanked God for the caring

you've shown me through the years,

For the closeness we've enjoyed

in time of laughter and of tears.

And so, I thank you from the heart

for all you've done for me

And I bless the Lord for giving me

the best mother there could be."

Altaira was definitely not laughing after he heard her reading that poem.

Charlotte Everest, the name of the girl who had died once and lived twice, or actually she had died twice and lived thrice if you read this author's other book, came looking for Khun with a paper on her hand. 25th Charlotte, the current name of the female protagonist in this book who spent years "waiting" a man who was slowly "paying more attention" to her, came to read him a poem.

The blue- haired boy was really confused.

'Why did you read this poem to me? Am I your mother?'

While pulling a knife from his lighthouse, Khun turned his head around to look at Bam who was standing by his right side. He smiled and looked proud at Charlotte. He was probably proud that Charlotte was capable of reading such a well- written poem that definitely did not belong to her. She may be able to speak languages that their pockets couldn't understand, curse them with the languages that they never learnt before, but she didn't know how to write a poem. She only knew how to remember and read them.

He was proud at his younger sister for managing to read such a poem in front of of the four of them. He clapped his hands and praised her again and again.

He turned his head around and looked at Noah. Noah who stood by his left side looked as confused and bewildered as him. The two of them shared the same thought:

'Why are you reading a poem for a mother for me/ Khun?'

And Altaira, though he didn't understand what made Charlotte suddenly read such a poem to Khun, somehow found that thing funny and understandable.

"Oh... God..."

The man was laughing until his stomach hurts and he can't even stand properly without leaning against the wall. The knife that Khun pulled earlier was definitely for Altaira, as he threw it towards his direction and nearly made a hole on his head if he was one second late to dodge it.

And Charlotte had this awkward and embarrassed smile on her face with blush on her cheeks as she had finally finished reading the poem for a mother.

"... why are you suddenly reading this poem for me...?" Khun asked. "Am I... your mother or something...?"

"Um... before I answer that question, can I ask you something?" Charlotte asked him back, looking afraid and scared.

"What is it?" He asked. His tone was getting more stern as the time passed. He had the feeling that this was definitely not nothing good.

"... If I tell you the truth........."

"If you tell me the truth...?"

"...... please don't kill me."

She said with a desperate smile.

"At least... please make it less painful and quick."

"I get it. Tell me the reason ."

Charlotte gulped. She looked at Khun's left and right. Both Bam and Noah looked very worried and curious while Khun was pulling another knife again.

She gulped twice and then walked close to him, tip- toed and whispered,

"Actually, I made a bet with Estrella. She said that if she loses, then she would read poem about dear mom to Raisin. And if I lose, I would have to read that poem to you."

"Then what is the bet?"

"........ we're betting who is better. Between you and Hatz, I mean."

"Did you choose me?" He definitely asked that question first as if it was his top priority.

Last time, he was pissed when she chose Hatz over him. How could the swordsman be better than him?

"..........."

When Charlotte didn't straightforwardly answer, it pissed him off that the knife he was holding was showing the signs of cracking.

'God... he's angry,' both Noah and Bam thought. And Charlotte was not stupid enough to ignore that.

If she answered it wrongly, she would be dead meat.

Charlotte extended her hand and held his white sleeve. Her head was lowered as she spoke in lower voice. Again, though her expression was trying to convince everyone that she was not embarrassed and she was very calm, the fact that her face became redder and she couldn't look Khun right on the eyes told them that she was actually feeling shy with her act holding his sleeve.

"Actually..." she spoke in low voice. "I chose you...."

That made him felt surprised.

"You... chose me...?"

He couldn't hide his smile.

Charlotte paused for a moment before she nodded her head and made a small hum.

The knife was thrown right at Altaira's direction again.

"Man! I haven't done anything yet! Why are you throwing this knife at me? Aren't you afraid being struck by lightning for being attacking your own brother, you ungrateful brat? Or do you want to be turn into stone?"

He was ignored by the four others.

"......... this is injustice."

"Charlotte, raise your head," Khun ordered.

"I didn't know that most of our teammates will think that Hatz is nicer in terms of personality. Perhaps I should make a bet of who looks better. They said that you are cold- hearted, hard to predict and extremely strict while Hatz is more honest and blunt. They said that his honest words may have been too cruel and straight- forward, but at the very least, he wasn't the one who gave Altaira ideas to scheme, plot and trick them. I really don't know that you would lose...."

"It's fine, actually."

Charlotte raised her head and tilted her head slightly, "Really?"

"Yes," he answered with a gentle and satisfied smile. "As long as you choose me, it's more than enough."

Charlotte lowered her head again and pulled back her hand. In embarrassment, she turned herself around and had her back face him.

'.... smooth,' the three others thought. They were both amazed and terrified with how fast Khun's mood could change. One second earlier, he looked like he wanted to swallow someone alive. And now, he looked like he had just eaten the world's sweetest dessert.

Charlotte was playing with her hair as she spoke, "I... I wanted to go and cook for dinner tonight. I- it's my turn now and I have to prepare it quick..."

She glanced at him shyly, "Would you go with me...?"

Whoever was standing there to watch that scene definitely did not believe that Khun wasn't blushing.

"Sure, if you insist."

The two of them walked away with Khun forgetting that the four of them still had to discuss what they were going to do with the upcoming test. They were just discussing about strategies and everything to consider until Charlotte arrived with the paper on her hands. From what just happened, they learnt one thing.

If you are having an important talk with Khun, make sure that Charlotte is not around. Otherwise, he won't be able to think properly like usual.

"Anyway, Charlotte, can I keep that paper?"

"What are you going to do with it?" She curiously asked while holding his hand.

"I just want to keep it," he answered, though his mind said something else.

'I'm going to burn it three times.'

"And who forced you to read me that poem?"

"Estrella?"

"Good. I'm going to thank her later."

--

Estrella sneezed.

"It feels so cold today," she said, hugging herself.

"But it's summer?" Estelle asked, putting her hand on her twin sister's forehead to check her body temperature.

"From what I see, you should probably get yourself a coffin and buy some flowers first," said Raisin who crossed his arms. His expression was telling the twins that he was sick with their never- ending foolishness. "Someone has prepared thousand ways to torment you."