"Yes, it's mine," Stephanie replied sharply, snatching the shawl from his hand. She instantly used it to cover her face. "Thank you," Stephanie replied before she walked away. As she walked away, she did not notice that the boy was following her closely. She was too sad to care about what goes on around her. Stephanie searched for her mum and sister in the large amusement park but she didn't see any signs of them. It was as if the both of them disappeared into thin air. The now exhausted Stephanie sat down on a bench she found after walking around the entire amusement park in search of her mum and sister.
Tears trickled down her face as she sat down dejected. She could not believe that her mum and sister had the heart to abandon her yet again although this time in a crowded place. This was her first time in a crowded place. She did not know how to get home. Even though she knew the way back home, she didn't have money for her transport fare.
She has always known that her mum and sister hated her very much but she didn't know the extent of their hatred for her until today. Her father Mr Smith was the only person who loves her in this world but the problem is he isn't always around to protect her from her mum, sister and everyone who bullies her. He was a soldier so he was always away from home. He rarely visits home. Stephanie could count the number of times he normally visits home in a year. Her tears were hidden underneath her shawl. Nobody except a boy heard her silent cries. The scorching sun beats her delicate skin but she couldn't careless about it.
Since she was lost in her own misery, she didn't realize that someone was sitting down beside her. The person sitting down beside her heard her continuously sniffing. The way she cried was as if she was afraid someone would hear her if she cried aloud.
"Is something wrong? You have been crying for quite sometime now," a boy asked, his voice showing that he was genuinely concerned about her. He moved closer to her. Stephanie who thought nobody gives a damn about a weird girl like her jolted back on the bench when she heard someone speak to her. She cleaned her tears with her shawl before she turned around to face him. Before she turned around, she had made sure she completely covered up her scar so that she wouldn't scare the person away.
Stephanie was shocked when she saw who the person was.
"It's you again," she exclaimed in bewilderment. The boy smiled when he saw that she recognised him.
"Mhm...," The boy responded, still staring at her with a worried look. Seeing that she didn't speak further the boy was forced to speak again.
"What is wrong? I have been watching you from a moment ago and you look lost. Is something wrong?" The boy asked. "How come you are all alone in this huge place? Where are your parents?" The boy asked yet again. Stephanie, who has been trying so hard to fight back her tears, burst into tears when she heard him ask her about her parents. "Where is her mum who brought her to the amusement park?" Stephanie thought. She continued to sob. Those passing by just threw her weird glares not bothering to find out what was wrong with the suspicious looking girl whose face was partially covered.
The boy pulled her in for a hug when he saw her crying. He felt so bad that he was the reason why she was sobbing. He regretted not leaving her alone when he met her earlier.
"It's alright. Stop crying hmmm," The boy comforted her, patting her back caringly. He didn't feel embarrassed or ashamed that his butler and bodyguard were watching him from afar. Little Stephanie felt so much warmth from his words of comfort. Apart from her dad, nobody else in this world has ever made her feel so loved and safe. She had only met him a few hours ago but she felt so comforted by his words. Stephanie pulled away from his embrace when she realized that she was being overly friendly with a stranger. She wiped her tears away and shifted far away from him. The boy was puzzled by her action. He didn't know why she was suddenly acting strange.
"Are you Ok now?" The boy questioned. "You can freely talk to me if something is amiss, who knows I might be able to help you," He said as he moved closer to her.
"Why are you being so friendly to me even after seeing my real appearance?" Stephanie asked the question which has been on her mind since the moment the boy picked up her shawl for her. "Are you perhaps pitying me?".
"What is wrong with being nice to someone? And what is wrong with your appearance? I don't get you," The boy acted as though he did not understand what she meant.
"You know what I mean. Stop playing dumb. If you are just pitying me then don't because I don't need your pity," Stephanie who hated being pitied because of her face looked away after speaking her mind.
"Pity you?" The boy snarled. "Why on earth will I do that?" The boy spatted irritatedly. He was not irritated by her look but by her word. Little Stephanie was taken aback. She gave him a puzzled gaze. She knew from his expression that he wasn't lying because she was good at reading people's expressions.
"Are you not scared of me like other kids because of my scar?" Stephanie asked. Staring directly into his eyes for the first time ever. "I am sure you heard all the horrible names they called me earlier".
"Scared of you? I don't even scream out in fear when I enter the haunted house in the amusement park so why should I be scared of a normal looking girl like you?" The boy asked bluntly. "If you are worried about what the kids said earlier you don't have to mind them. To me you are not a monster like they call you but they are the real monsters for picking on you. Besides the scar on your face is not that bad,'' The boy said, smiling at her as he patted her head. Stephanie for the first time in her life felt so happy that there was at least one person in this world apart from her dad who didn't see her as a monster or an ugly girl.
The boy took her around the park after making sure that her mood was stable. Any time he saw Stephanie get fascinated about any rides, he would tell her to ride with him. Lying to her that the ride was free so she shouldn't bother about the cost. The naive Stephanie believed his lie. Not knowing that immediately they climb the ride, the boy's butler will instantly pay for their rides. He tricked her into eating anything she wants with the same lie. Stephanie was so happy, she couldn't stop smiling. She wished the world would come to an end that day so she won't have to go back to the miserable life waiting for her out there.
They played in the park till late afternoon. His butler did not dare to reprimand. Anyways, how would they even dare to scold him when they can't even get closer to him.