[12 years later]
Valenton City, Southern District.
"Hahahaha, dog poop sounds right!"
"Dog Poop! Dog Poop! Dog Poop!" The group of five hailed surrounding a pity guy. He fiddled with his fingers, peeling off his skin in distress as they laughed at him.
His distressed overalls matched his predicament as they mocked him, his hazel eyes tearing up when one of them pushed him harshly.
"Ahh," He tripped off, his hands hugging that bag tightly as he fell to the ground.
"Let's be kind and just take his bag. Okay, guys?" The leader smirked and at his nod, a guy bent down and grabbed the bag.
"I I I wo-wo-won't!" Leon trembled, his voice sounding like a puppy's wail and they laughed loudly in unison.
"He is sure brave." Praised a guy as he tried snatching the bag from his grip.
The harder Leon tried to hold it back, the stronger he tried to snatch it. With a sigh, the guy looked back and the remaining four rushed to harass him. Withering like a fetus, Leon endured their punches but when someone kicked him, he cried loudly in pain.
"OYEE!" That loud grim voice forced them to halt and they turned around, only to smirk at the young girl, who was beautiful but fragile to fight against them.
Leon slowly opened his misty eyes, and when they met her brown ones, he blinked off his tears as her face mirrored a chubby girl, a warrior from his childhood.
"Who are you?" The leader asked, taking a step forward so did his puppets giving a space for Leon to escape. But when he tried to run, the leader gripped his collar and pulled him back harshly so that he fell down at his feet.
"Someone with a pretty face." She answered cupping her face and blinking innocently, she smiled at them.
"This is between us and our dog poop, so better leave before we lose our sanity." One uttered, his eyes sure filled with lust.
"Dog poop?" She pondered pointing at Leon while her brows creased tight in confusion. She stared at the poor guy, then at the group, and smirked shaking her head.
"Since he is the dog poop, what are you?" Her eyes counted them and then landing at the leader, she sneered, "Pigs that fight to eat this poop?"
"What did you say?" The leader raged only for her smirk to widen into a cute grin.
"Ahh, too bad!" Shaking her head, the wicked girl added, "you aren't handsome like those pigs!"
"You bitch!"
And as expected, one of them ran towards her. But when he tried to punch her, she elegantly bent down and caught his other hand. Swirling it around his back, she held the guy's other hand which tried to punch her earlier and kicked his knee.
"Ahhh." The guy fell down on his knees while the others stared at her in shock.
"Not my face, dude!" She grumbled kicking the guy to the ground and the moment he fell, she stepped on his back and glared at the other four.
"This wench," Others cursed and barged at her. Even the leader pushed away Leon and rushed in her direction. He would kill this arrogant brat tonight!
Oh, Man! Wait, until she grills you into meatballs!
A few minutes later.
In a swish and flick, all were dusted to the ground, each of them struggled to get up and fight with her again. But too bad their broken bones didn't let them to even stand up.
"Huh, I warned not to bruise my face." She grumbled wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth.
She stared at the pigs which were trying to get up now and kicked the leader again in anger. She clearly warned them to not touch her face!
Looking at the guy, sitting on the ground hugging his bag tightly, she sighed and rushed to help him.
"Are you okay?" Liana asked helping him stand up but the guy didn't reply.
"Are you okay, kiddo?" She asked again supporting his arm but Leon stayed silent. He jerked away his hand, blinking and cautiously hugging his bag as the fight had mentally disturbed him.
"These, jerks!" He heard her curse and only then did he come out of his frenzy zone.
"Where do think you are running?" She yelled taking a step forward from him as the group was limping in the opposite direction.
"Stop while I am being nice!" She roared again but when they didn't stop, she growled, "I will beat the crap out of you, you fricking pigs! Stop right there!"
"Ah, ah, no no violence," Hearing her words, Leon looked around, flapping his hands and thinking of a way to stop her.
He rushed behind her and held her sleeve. Liana stopped chasing the group and turned around in confusion. Oh, she forgot people like him hated violence! Even Leon sometimes would cry if she started beating someone in front of him.
She sighed and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Those idiots could be caught through the CCTV and she first needed to take care of this kid. Taking a deep breath, she looked up at him and smiled.
"Are you okay?" Liana asked again touching his shoulder. With a gulp, he stared back at her but instantly looked away and nodded jerking away her hand.
"Where do you live?" She inquired but Leon just hugged his bag and fiddled with its straps.
When he stayed silent for a whole minute, she sighed and held his hand, "Come with me."
But to her surprise, Leon roughly retracted back his hand with a distasteful expression. He hated when other people touched him and holding his hand annoyed him the most.
"Fine! I won't touch you!"
"Just follow me! Will you?" Liana asked in a much calmer tone and Leon nodded, looking down at the ground.
"Great!" She smiled and turned around walking towards the pavement.
And as she walked ahead, the guy tailed behind her at a safer distance. He would slow down if she did and hurried if she walked faster, making her chuckle out loud. He was cute and reminded her of Leon.
"I won't bite you if you walk with me." She mumbled stopping in her tracks that the poor guy almost bumped into her.
Shaking her head with a silly smile, she turned left and entered the supermarket. Gesturing for him to wait at the leisure space, she went in to search for some ointment.
Bringing along two cans of coffee, she placed them on the table and sat on the stool beside him.
"I have arranged a cab, it will be here in ten minutes." She mumbled passing the first aid kit but Leon just continued to fiddle with his backpack straps.
"You cannot apply this on your own." Showing the band-aids, Liana continued, "So, can I help if you don't mind? The wounds will get infected."
Leon looked ahead at the pavement through the glass and blinked anxiously. Glimpsing at her from time to time, he took a minute to consider her offer and sighed out loud. She was right, his wounds needed to be covered. So, pursing his lips, he hesitantly turned his stool and faced her.
"Huh, thank god!" Liana sighed and opened the first aid kit. Cleaning the wound on his forehead, she commented, "Such a fool you are."
"You should punch if someone tries to bully you!"
Her comment made him blink and he stared at her. Liana always said the same thing. But when their eyes met, he immediately looked away and even turned his face making her sigh in frustration.
Silence prevailed as she treated his last wound near his lips and Leon moved back awkwardly. But Liana held his jaw and cleaned it with the cotton, her deathly stare made him sit quiet.
"Does it happen often?" Liana asked, mostly wondering if Leon also was bullied like this guy. She was dying to find him soon and check up on him.
"Sometimes," Leon for the first time answered her question properly. As she was done treating his wounds, he turned and face the glass again. "But it's bear bearable."
And his words clenched her heart. Poor guy, she thought tearing a band-aid and applying it on her bruise.
"But you should learn to defend yourself. It's your body and only you can protect it from such harm."
Leon gulped at her comment, his eyes awkwardly blinking in embarrassment as he stared at the coffee can in front of him.
"Let's go, come on!" The taxi arrived and Liana smiled pointing at it. He sighed getting up and wearing his backpack, he took his coffee can and tailed her out of the store.
Once Leon entered the taxi, Liana closed the door and smiled, "Take care, kiddo! I won't be there to save you next time, be careful. Okay?"
And her words puzzled him more, his eyes sparkled with curiosity that he didn't hold back and peeked out of the taxi to grab her wrist.
Liana turned around and blinked in confusion. He wanted to say something and she waited patiently.
"Do yo-you re-remember me?" He asked in all excitement.
Liana blinked and thought for a while. Could he be that same old chubby Leon?
She stared at him and questioned back, "Have we met before?"