As I stepped into the college cafeteria, sipping my coffee, I spotted Rena walking toward me with a knowing grin.
"Hey, Ashan! You forgot, didn't you?" she teased, amusement evident in her voice.
I froze mid-sip, scrambling through my thoughts. "Forgot what?"
Rena chuckled, shaking her head. "The elementary school visit! We're in charge of guiding them around campus today."
My eyes widened in realization. "Oh no, I completely spaced out!"
She laughed, more amused than annoyed. "Don't worry, I've got it covered. We've got twenty kids coming, and Professor Lee briefed me on the itinerary."
I rubbed my temples in embarrassment. "Thanks for covering for me, Rena. I owe you one."
Her expression softened, turning a bit more serious. "No problem. But... are you okay? You've been kind of off lately."
I waved off her concern. "Just stressed with work, I guess."
"Work? You actually work?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Nah, just wanted to sound cool for a second." I grinned. "Let's focus on today. What's the plan?"
She handed me a folder with the itinerary, and I scanned through it quickly.
"Looks solid. Let's get started."
Just then, the courtyard filled with the excited chatter of kids and teachers arriving. Rena gave me a confident smile.
"Right on time. Let's go make a good impression."
As we approached the group, Rena took the lead. "Welcome, everyone!" she said brightly, her voice cheerful and welcoming. "We're your guides for today. I'm Rena, and this is Ashan."
I waved, offering a friendly smile to the kids and teachers.
Rena began to lead the group through campus, but I hung back. "Hey, Rena, mind if I take the rear?"
She glanced back at me curiously. "Why the rear?"
I shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Just want to make sure no one gets left behind."
Rena smiled at that, her eyes warm. "Go for it."
As the group moved ahead, I found myself falling behind, my attention shifting to the kids around me. Most of them were laughing, chatting away, or marveling at the campus surroundings. But one girl stood out from the crowd.
At the very back, a petite girl with striking brown eyes walked quietly, her gaze fixed on the ground. Her dark hair was pulled into a neat ponytail, and her bright yellow dress seemed oddly formal among the more casual outfits of her peers.
I slowed my steps, closing the distance between us.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked softly, crouching beside her.
She flinched slightly, startled by my voice.
"N-nothing," she mumbled.
I offered a gentle smile. "I'm Ashan. What's your name?"
"S-Sophia," she whispered, barely audible.
"Sophia, you seem a bit... lost. Want to tell me what's going on?"
She avoided my gaze, her eyes falling to the ground again. "I... I don't like big groups," she admitted quietly.
I nodded, understanding. "I get that. Sometimes crowds can feel overwhelming. What grade are you in?"
"Fourth," she replied in a small voice.
"Do you like school?"
Sophia shrugged. "Math and science are okay, I guess."
I smiled, trying to ease the tension. "I see. What's tough about school?"
Her expression turned distant. "Kids think I'm weird. They don't understand me."
Her words struck a chord. I knew what it felt like to not quite fit in, to feel different.
"Hey, being different isn't a bad thing," I said gently. "It's what makes you special."
Sophia's eyes flickered up to meet mine, searching for sincerity. "Really?"
I nodded. "Really. Ever thought about making friends?"
She hesitated. "I like being alone... it's easier," she whispered.
Her response hit me harder than I expected. I saw a younger version of myself in her—a kid who found comfort in solitude.
"Sometimes I liked being alone too," I said softly, leaning in closer. "But today, how about we find somewhere quieter, just the two of us?"
Sophia glanced at me, unsure. "Where?"
"Don't worry," I replied with a reassuring smile. "Leave that part to me."
I turned to Rena, who was busy answering questions from the group.
"Rena, Sophia's not feeling well," I said quietly. "I'll take her to the nurse's office."
Concern flickered across Rena's face.
"Okay, be careful."
I nodded, and Sophia followed me as we slipped away from the crowd.
"Where are we going?" Sophia asked, curiosity filling her voice.
"Somewhere quiet," I replied with a small smile. "No noise, no people."
As we walked through campus, the sound of laughter and chatter gradually faded. The warm sunlight cast a gentle glow on the old brick buildings.
"Are we really going to the nurse's office?" Sophia questioned, looking up at me with a raised eyebrow.
I chuckled softly.
"No, I just needed a reason to get you out of there."
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Why?"
"Because I thought you needed a break," I said gently. "Plus, I wanted to show you something special."
We reached a secluded botanical garden nestled among towering trees, its glass walls shimmering in the sunlight.
"Wow," Sophia whispered, her eyes wide with wonder. "What is this place?"
"My secret hideout," I grinned, opening the door. "Welcome to the botanical garden."
Sophia stepped inside, the fragrant air filled with the scent of blooming flowers.
"Whoa!," she breathed. 1
As we wandered through the garden, I turned to Sophia.
"Do you recognize any of these flowers?"
Her face lit up as she glanced around.
"That's a Hibiscus, and there's a Sunflower! And look, Lavender!"
I smiled, impressed.
"You're a flower expert."
Sophia laughed.
"My mom loves gardening. She taught me a lot."
We strolled deeper into the greenhouse, Sophia naming more flowers—Dahlias, Lilies, even a rare Orchid.
"Wow, you're amazing!" I said, genuinely impressed.
Sophia blushed.
"My mom says I'm smart when it comes to plants."
"It definitely runs in the family," I nodded.
We stopped in front of a peculiar bloom.
"Do you know this one?" I asked.
Sophia hesitated, studying the flower.
"Um... no."
I grinned.
"That's a Slipper Orchid, one of the most unique flowers in the world."
Her eyes widened.
"It looks like a shoe!"
I laughed.
"Exactly! Some flowers even mimic the scent of honey to attract bees."
"That's amazing," she said, her eyes filled with awe.
We continued exploring, sharing fun facts and admiring the beauty of the flowers around us.
"Hey, Sophia," I said after a while.
"Yeah?"
"You really love botany, don't you?"
Sophia smiled brightly, her eyes glowing with enthusiasm.
"I do. I love learning about plants."
I returned the smile.
"You know what's even more amazing than the flowers?"
"What?"
"The people who care for them."
Sophia's gaze softened, and a gentle smile spread across her face.
"You really think so?"
"Absolutely," I said, meeting her eyes.
After exploring the botanical garden, I decided to take Sophia to the Digital Den, my computer club.
"Welcome to my little kingdom!" I announced with a grin as we stepped inside.
Sophia's eyes lit up as she scanned the room filled with computers, gadgets, and the quiet hum of technology. "Wow, what is this place?"
"This is where we explore the magic of computers and everything they can do," I explained, noticing her curiosity.
"Do you know much about computers?" I asked, half-expecting a no.
Sophia shook her head. "A little bit, just the basics."
I couldn't help but smile mischievously. "Did you know I can create something that can reveal a person's past and predict their future?"
Sophia raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but also skeptical. "really?"
"Why don't you give it a try?" I suggested, waving towards a computer nearby.
She looked unsure but sat down anyway. "What is it going to do?"
"First, let me make some adjustments. While I do that, you can watch some YouTube videos over there," I said, motioning to another screen.
She nodded and got distracted by videos while I tinkered with the program, making sure it would create the perfect experience for her.
After a few minutes, I called her over. "Alright, it's ready. Wanna give it a go?"
She hesitated, but curiosity got the better of her. "Okay, let's see what this is all about."
As soon as she typed her name into the program, the screen lit up with a message:
"Sophia, you are 9 years old, and today, you're wearing a yellow dress."
Her eyes widened. "How did it know that?"
I giggled. "I told you—it's magic."
Still skeptical, but now intrigued, she found a list of questions on the screen. She picked one.
"What's my favorite hobby?" she read aloud before clicking on it.
"Drawing and painting, especially landscapes with vibrant colors," the computer answered almost instantly.
Sophia's jaw dropped. "Okay, now it's getting scary."
I just smiled. "Keep going."
She scrolled to another question: "What am I afraid of?"
"Thunderstorms, especially the loud thunder," the program responded.
Sophia's mouth hung open. "This is so weird..."
She clicked on another: "What's something I do when no one's watching?"
"Dancing to your favorite song in front of the mirror," the program replied.
She let out a small giggle. "How does it know all this stuff?"
Next question: "What's something I used to believe as a kid?"
"That your toys came to life when you left the room," the program replied.
"Okay, this is just... amazing," Sophia said, shaking her head in disbelief, but grinning from ear to ear.
One last question: "How many true friends will I have in life?"
"You will have as many as you want," the program replied. "Your kindness, empathy, and heart will attract people who appreciate you for who you are."
Sophia's face softened at that response. She stared at the screen, her smile growing warmer, more sincere.
Finally, the program displayed a closing message:
"Sophia, you are loved, you are valued, and you are enough. Always remember to be kind to yourself and to others."
The screen faded to black, and Sophia turned to me, her eyes shining with emotion. "That was fun."
I smiled back at her. "I'm glad you liked it."
As we walked back to the group, Sophia's steps slowed, and I could feel the moment slipping away.
"Thank you, Big Brother Ashan, for today," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I crouched beside her, meeting her gaze. "Anytime, Sophia. You're really a special kid."
Her face lit up with a bright smile. "Bye, Big Brother Ashan!" she waved before skipping back to her classmates.
Watching her blend into the group, I felt a warm glow inside. Her happiness was contagious.
Rena approached, her expression curious. "Hey, what did you do with Sophia? She looks like she's on cloud nine."
I chuckled, trying to downplay it. "Just showed her some cool stuff."
Rena raised an eyebrow. "Whatever it was, it worked. She's beaming."
"Maybe she just needed someone to talk to," I shrugged, feeling a bit embarrassed but pleased.
Rena's tone turned serious. "Can you wait after class? I need to discuss something important with you."
"Everything okay?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"Yeah, just… something I want to talk about in person," she replied, her gaze thoughtful.
"Sure, I'll wait," I said, intrigued.
"Thanks, Ashan. I'll catch you later."
As Rena rejoined the group, I couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. What could be so important? But despite the questions swirling in my mind, Sophia's smiling face stayed with me, a bright spot in the midst of my thoughts.