You More than Anything in the World (Arissa)

That’s weird. I’ve been gone for so long, but they haven’t called me yet. Usually, they would be scrambling around to look for me already. Aren’t Mommy, Zachary, Oliver, and Jesse worried about me at all?

With that thought, Jasper checked his phone, which resembled a watch.

Uh-oh. The battery died.

“Gavin, your food’s ready!” Edwin called out when he noticed Jasper as he was about to bring the food over to Gavin’s room.

“Okay!” Jasper responded as he ran to take his seat at the dining table.

Seeing that the table was full of delicious-looking dishes, he quickly grabbed a fork and happily dug in.

“Gavin, pace yourself. Please chew your food more slowly!” Edwin urged as the way Jasper ate shocked him. What’s going on? Usually, he would chew more slowly before swallowing.

“Mm-hmm!” The boy was beaming with delight as he ate. Oh my gosh! These are heavenly! Jesse would definitely love this!

Suddenly, Jasper slowed down as he felt guilty. Did Mommy, Zachary, Oliver, and Jesse eat yet?

“Mr. Whitley, these are really good!”

“Hehe! I was afraid that you’d get tired of eating the same thing every day! Have some more if you like it!” Edwin suggested as he put more food on his plate.

Jasper caught sight of Benjamin walking toward them and started to eat quietly.

“Mr. Graham!” Edwin quickly prepared cutlery for Benjamin while the latter took his seat to eat with Jasper.

His brows furrowed deeply when he saw Jasper swallowing the food without chewing.

“Chew for thirty times before swallowing!”

“B-But I’m hungry!” Jasper exclaimed in surprise. Thirty times? That’s too tiring!

“Don’t eat too quickly! No matter how hungry you are, you must chew your food thirty times before you swallow!” Did he not eat well while I was away?

past few days! Maybe he’s eating so quickly today because he was

Benjamin and Edwin. Jasper paced his chewing.

few minutes, Benjamin would reprimand him whenever Jasper didn’t chew at least thirty times.

was done, Jasper continued to search the room as he looked for clues or ways to contact

I’ll definitely be exposed if they do. No, I must find a way

that instant, he heard someone knocking on

Whitley?” he asked as he opened the

time if you want to eat it in the

candy merrily and took a bite. Yay! I get to eat this every

for a little while?” he asked out of the

for his phone in his pocket and passed

the phone to an angle where Edwin couldn’t look at the

same thing before, Edwin smiled and waited patiently at the door without the slightest bit of

much difficulty, Jasper found Gavin’s number after scrolling for a while. After that, he quickly memorized Gavin’s number and changed the font size before returning Edwin’s

delicious!” Jasper exclaimed with a huge grin

teeth before you sleep!” Edwin reminded

night, Mr. Whitley!” Jasper waved and

looked in the direction of Gavin’s room before

to charge his phone. He took a few more bites of the cotton candy and finished it as he waited for his device to be fully charged. After that, he went to brush his teeth and

with Mommy, or is

 Are you Gavin? I’m

almost fell asleep, reached for his phone when he heard the familiar sound of an incoming message on his phone. When he read the message, his eyes

Jasper! He

Gavin. Gavin texted: Yeah. That’s me. Are you

his brows. Huh? How does he know that I’m at

did you know that? Where are you now?

Mommy. Daddy hasn’t

a breath of relief. So he really is with Mommy! That was quick. It

asked: Are

exactly the same!