After running away from Anning, Sizi went to the end of the bus and sat with a pair friends who were too busy at gossiping in each other's ears that they didn't even notice her.
She determinedly kept her eyes away from where Anning was sitting desolately, all alone. But she couldn't do anything about it, because if she stayed there and Anning kept meddling with her, then there was no guarantee of her outburst.
She even shouted at her for the first time, and now she was face palming herself for that. It's not like she is regretting it.
No, not at all.
But the look Anning had at that time, betrayed how much she was hurt because of her. As if regretting the action on behalf of her hand.
Sizi looked at her hand which was still bleeding and the touch, she felt a few moments ago still lingering there. She just bandaged her hand with her handkerchief and let it be on itself. Again looking at the two friends beside her, a memory passed in her mind of her childhood, which was buried who knows where.
She was just five then, and her mom took her to a children's garden newly built in her neighbourhood. She was a lively kid back then and kept befriending everyone she saw on her way. Saying hello to the cotton candy seller, asking him about his school, touching the cheeks of other children younger than her, and so on that she couldn't even remember correctly.
But that memory of a random girl she befriended is still vivid in her mind but with a blur, like it happened some ages ago.
Her mom was talking with her friend, who was from a different colony and came here just to meet her mother. She was not alone. She had a cute daughter too, maybe some years younger than her, but was not excited even a little after seeing the lively garden. Not even a smile was visible on her face, stoic at such a young age.
Interest picked Sizi's hand and she pinched her soft cheeks to form a smile on her stoic face. Both of their mothers were busy in chatting with each other and wasn't bothered by them.
Sizi quickly wanted to take her hand back after the pinch but her hand probably has it's own mind, because it didn't buzzed.
That little girl was first surprised by her sudden ridiculous behaviour then swatted her hand away from her face with seer anger visible on her little face. Sizi found it hilarious and laughed out loud, because that look only suited adults, not kids like her. In fact it just made her look extra cute.
Remembering that look on her face, Sizi smiled on her own like a fool. Those pair of friends beside her happened to notice her at that time and saw the wide smile on her face while staring in the space.
Sizi looked back at them and raised her eyebrows in askance, like saying, what are you looking at ?
They both went back on their chatting, a bit frightened from her creepy behaviour. Well , think what you want to think, I don't care.
After coming down from the bus, she took her bag and found some ointments in it with some bandages. A teacher has actually seen her hand and wanted her to bandage it but she refused their assistance and reluctantly found some from her bag.
Since she was late in snatching a place for herself, a situation like now was created. While searching, her eyes fell on someone who was going to eat a cake offered from her special someone.
Then, what ? She just couldn't take it anymore and thus snatched the cake before Anning could even touch it. Both the owner and receptor looked at her completely baffled.
Sizi leaned towards Baizhi's ear and whispered, " It was so sweet, thank you. You don't mind if I took a bite of it, right ?"
Baizhi was not able to retort anything and just gazed at her, the tips of ears slightly turning pink. She only came to herself when she was suddenly pulled by someone and harshly crashed into her.
Startled, she looked up and sees Anning's face, glaring at Sizi. Sizi was just smiling looking back at Anning.
Why am I in the middle ? I didn't even done anything.
Baizhi thought, now coming back to her senses and shoving Anning back to create some distance between them. She stepped back and went to Kritika and Raya, who were equally surprised and were looking at the drama unfolding there.
Anning, after gaining some calmness back to her, said, " Why are you here now ? Aren't you the one who just a moments ago said to mind oneselves own business ? What now ? The cake obviously will be tasty, since its from someone else's, right ?"
Sizi raised her eyebrows, coming closer to Anning and replied with equal calmness as if stating a fact, " Isn't it obvious, I am here because there are no seats available?
" And,..... about the cake, umm, actually it looked very tasty to me, that's why I was not able to control myself.
" Ahh, you can take mine. I still have an intact one. Want it ?"
Seeing the situation worsening, Raya stepped forward and separated them at a safe distance. After seeing that they are not going to take any more steps, she adviced them calmly, " Guys, look. There are really not many places here to sit and, uh, from your reaction it seems that you know each other, right ?
" Let's stop it and make peace, okay? Forget anything that happened earlier. "
Kritika also stepped forward and soothed, " Yes guys, it's a trip afterall. Let's enjoy. "
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