I left early.
With my bag hanging around my shoulder and my long hair tied up into a top-knot, I walked straight through the front gates without anyone asking me a single thing.
I was in a mood to drink something cold and refreshing to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling in my guts.
"Heya, Fang," I said as I stepped onto the white tiled floor and glanced at the behind the tills. No sign of him.
I muttered, "Where is he…?" as I moved towards the aisles, looking longingly at the selections of instant food. I picked up a packet of microwavable pot pie and my mouth instantly started to water.
"That one sucks," Fang called from the opposite side of the aisle as he carried two cardboard boxes filled with product in his arms.
I put down the pie and turned on my heel.
"Need a hand?" I asked nonchalantly.
"Thanks," he said as he placed the boxes down with a thud, "but I got this."
With lightning speed, he stacked box after box into the empty aisles and soon enough, he was finished.
"So?" he asked as he stood up, holding the two empty boxes by hand. "Need my help with anything?"
I pointed with my head towards the line of neatly arranged clear fridges behind him. "Recommend a drink?"
Surprisingly, I left the store with a bottle of something called 'Sanguine Torrent', a blood-red cherry flavored drink Fang was really fond of but I had never heard of before.
"Cool name," he had said. "Cool color," he had said.
I sipped the blood colored beverage, surprised by how refreshing it actually was. But not as good as the neon orange drink. I regretted not buying that.
"Right," I said as I checked my wrist watch. 12:15 pm. "What else to do?"
My stomach wasn't feeling queasy anymore so I wondered if there were some other places I could go before heading home. I could go to an internet café but my eyes had already started straining easily due to excessive studies, and there was no way I could afford a pair of glasses. Going to the mall was a good idea, but it made me realize how poor I actually was when I saw all these lovely things on display that I just couldn't get my hands on.
I glanced at my watch again, wondering if Anran would be free by now. But even if she was, going to her home uninvited was plain rude, more so when she resided with her parents.
"Fine," I said out loud which caused several passersby to look at me funny. I decided to take a stroll in the nearest park which happened to be Century Park. Maybe while I was at it, I could people-watch too.
The guard welcomed me as I walked through the entrance, and I stopped briefly to return the greeting. Right, where to now?
I walked in further and turned left on the track, my feet thudding softly against the grey-brick path. It was like I was encased in a sphere filled with trees. There was so much greenery to my left and right that I couldn't see past to the other side. People surrounded me. I saw parents walking with their babies in strollers, or kids arm in arm. There were several tourists taking pictures against the exotic looking trees, posing with their fingers in a V. I saw single people and couples, all enjoying the light breeze of the early afternoon.
I checked my clothes to see if they were park-walking-appropriate and frankly, I looked pretty laid back in my open front plaid button down paired with a white levi's t-shirt underneath and a pair of comfy blue jeans. Normal student attire.
But ANRAN! Anran never cared about student attire norms. She was always showing up in neon pink overalls, fancy blouses paired with long pencil skirts, floral pants and once she even wore a navy suit-pant set. Technically, she didn't ever show much skin so the student body couldn't tell her off for breaking the school dress code, though I do believe they wanted to.
If you're wondering, she wore a pink long sleeved shirt with red hearts all over and grey sweats underneath, giving very much 'Jennifer's body' vibes, especially with her long black hair. Yes, both of us have got similar black hair. Many people have even approached us, asking if we're twins, or at the very least, long lost sisters, but sadly, we don't have the same pair of parents.
With my hands in my pockets, I took in the light, afternoon breeze. Nearby was a bench which I decided to sit down on and enjoy studying random people before I begin the long trek home.
Nobody quite interesting passed by and I was already contemplating whether I should just go back when suddenly, a young girl (younger than me, around 7 years of age) appeared on the track out of nowhere, sniffling and sobbing. I didn't see her parents around her and it was unnatural for a girl this young to go out to such vast public places unaccompanied...so I decided to approach her, find out if everything was alright. (Also because no one else was.)
"Hey," I said as I bent down next to her after I pulled her gently by the arm to the side of the path, "why are you crying? Where's Mum and Dad?"
I instantly regretted my words as a fresh wave of tears appeared in her eyes and she wailed much too loud for my liking. She was crying and sputtering so much I feared she wouldn't be able to answer my question.
"Hey," I repeated, trying to be patient. "Why are you crying, what's happened? Where are your parents? Are you here alone?"
She gasped as she tried to answer. "L-lost..."
I brought my ear closer. "What's that?"
"I think I'm lost..."
"Right," I said, standing up. "Well, not to worry. I'm sure I can get you home. Where was the last place you saw your parents?"
She started crying again. "D-dunno."
I furrowed my eyebrows. "Alright, what's your name?"
She hesitated for a moment before she spoke again. "Ran."
"Okay, Ran. Do you have any idea where you live?"
She thought about it and then nodded.
I tilted my head. "Where?"
"A few streets away from here...and then a couple blocks to the left...7th house in the row..." she murmured uncertainly. "Or was it the 6th house?"
I sighed and told her to lead the way. We'll see if it's the 6th or the 7th house when we get there.
I offered my index finger to her which she grabbed on to gratefully before she wiped up her face with her sleeve and started dragging me along as she walked toward the park exit. It was clear that this girl had been to this place more than once as she knew her way around. We walked out of the exit and on to the main road we went, still walking finger to finger in silence.
"So," I said awkwardly, "you come here often?"
"Yes."
"Do you have any siblings?"
She turned her suddenly colored face around which lit up at the mention. "Yup, I've an older brother," she said proudly.
As an only child, I wasn't able to feel any empathy towards what she was feeling but I still smiled and said 'how nice'.
Soon, we turned left onto a much quieter street and walked past many blocks till we turned into one near the very end. It was as if the whole atmosphere of the street had changed.
Suddenly we were met by large, glamorous houses like the ones in dramas. Everything was white, black or gold and my eyes shifted from gate to gate, admiring what I was taking in.
Oh, how I longed for a residence like this. But unfortunately with the type of money I made, it seemed like I'd be sticking to my tiny apartment for now.
Ran stopped in the middle of the street and did a 360° before she jumped giddily and ran like crazy towards a house at the very end of the street which I had long decided on as the most loveliest one.
We stopped at the gate.
"This one?" I asked as I looked down at Ran who nodded.
I rang the bell and suddenly, the little speaker-thingy near it started buzzing.
"Who is it?" a female voice inquired through it, her voice scratching with static.
"Yes, hello..." I said nervously, trying to remind myself that I was a composed adult. "I found this little girl called Ran at Century Park who seemed to be quite lost. With her guidance, we've reached here and she claims that this is her home. Would you please let her in?"
The speaker turned off. I stood back, not quite sure what to do now.
"Is this really your house?" I whispered to her.
She nodded.
Suddenly, the front gate of the house clicked open and an old lady with a stern expression on her face appeared before us.
"Miss Ran," she said, turning her attention to the little girl. "Come in. I got a call from your parents a few minutes ago and they seemed to be in quite a state because you disappeared off somewhere without them. How many times may I remind you to be responsible? I'll have to call your parents back and inform them that you've shown up, or else they might file a report to the police. Now go and change. Consider washing your face, too."
While this old woman chastised Ran, I stood there as if I was almost invisible. I was thinking about quietly slipping away when the lady turned her face to look at me and smiled, her face softening very briefly.
"Young lady, thank you so much for bringing back Miss Ran, safe and sound. Were all very worried. Do come in," she said "We can't possibly repay your kindness but what we can offer you is our hospitality."
I looked, horrified. "No, no, it's alright. I need to get back anyway..."
"Oh, do not refuse," she said, as she stood back to make way. "Come in, come in. Miss Ran, go wash up and join us in the sitting room."
And that is how I ended up with a cup of Earl Grey in my hand.