Closing her eyes and letting the song take control of her emotions, Zabrin pauses for a moment then takes a deep breath before she opened her emotional eyes and looked at the crowd that had encircled around her.
'But we're gonna try again
Cause the people are crying all over town
Searching for something nobody has found
And I'm just a guy to understand, ooh….'
As she began the chorus of the song, one after the other, voices accompanied her in singing the chorus of the song.
'What people are trying around and around
What is the meaning of this stupid fighting
We'll just keep falling in down, until we get buried in the ground.....'
As she concluded the song after the first verse and the chorus, Zabrin wiped her face off the tears that fell during her singing before she tidied herself up.
The cheers and applause from the crowd was so loud that it drew the attention of others in the park.
"Another one!"
"Again, again!"
The crowd eagerly cheered Zabrin to do another performance.
"Hello, please what was the name of the song you just sang?" A little girl in the crowd asked looking at Zabrin with curiosity.
"Hello. It is The town by Junha Park." Zabrin replied without feeling uncomfortable with the little interaction with the girl.
"Can you please sing another song? I love your voice." The girl asked again looking at Zabrin like she had just found a treasure.
"What's your name, little one?" Zabrin couldn't help her curiosity anymore, the way the girl's eyes shone took Zabrin by surprise so she had to inquire.
"Emma. I'm your number one fan!" Emma exclaimed holding herself back from clinging unto Zabrin.
"Hi Emma, I'm Za-" Zabrin paused as she was about to take her name. She didn't want to say her real name with so many people around.
"I'll call you Z-hero." Emma being a wise girl could tell Zabrin didn't want her name to be known to the world.
"Thank you, Emma. I'll never forget you." Zabrin smiled underneath her mask as she stared on at Emma.
She never thought she could ever feel such love from a stranger.
Was that how celebrities felt when they have real fans?
The feeling was not bad at all.
"Emma, this song is for you!" Zabrin called out as the crowd and Emma started to leave.
'I used to be so happy but without you here I feel so alone
I watched as you left but I can never seem to let you go
Cause once upon a time you were my everything
It's clear to see the time hasn't changed a thing
It's very deep inside me but I feel there's something you should know…hmm-mm'
Zabrin watch as Emma abruptly turned back and raced to her side grinning from ear to ear.
'I'll never forget you, you'll always be by my side
From the day that I met you, I knew that I would love you till the day I die
Cause I will never want much more but in my heart I would always be sure
I will never forget you….you'll always be by my side till the day I die.'
Closing the song with the company of Emma voice, Zabrin felt very emotional watching the little girl sing with excitement. In that instance as Zabrin continued to stare at Emma, Emma hugged Zabrin's body surprising her.
The hug was so comfortable and heartwarming. It lasted for three seconds before the four years old girl pulled away, blew Zabrin a kiss then hurried back to her mother's side as they left the park.
Zabrin stood there dazed for minutes before she got herself back together. She couldn't believe she had fallen in love with that girl in minutes.
And like the previous time, Zabrin thanked the crowd before she left. Videos of the performance were posted online causing a frenzy on the internet not just from the songs performances but also Zabrin's interaction with the little girl.
Comment 1: She is so cute!
Comment 2: I love her voice.
Comment 3: Can she just become a celebrity already? Is no one scouting her out?
Comment 4: Agreed. I don't mind seeing her on TV, she seems nice. Her interaction with the little girl says it all.
Comment 5: She was so gentle even when she didn't want to say her name and that little girl just made her more at ease. You're a star girl, both the little girl and our masked celebrity!
Comment 6: Did you see how stunned she was after the hug? She definitely loved it. I have more hug for you, Z-hero!
Zabrin sat in her room unconsciously scrolling through videos of her performance during the day. She felt happy seeing such love in the comments.
Feeling tired from the eventful day, Zabrin took a shower before going to bed.
Waking up the next day, Zabrin made her way to school as usual. As she watched each and every person that walked past her ignore her, she couldn't help reminiscing the past and her only friend.
She has never understood why people hated her. She had a weird shade of hair, she knew so she always covered it up so why the hate? She remembered how she lived showing off her luscious silvery-brown hair when she was younger but after finding out how people looked down on her, she started covering it up.
Getting a seat as usual in an inconspicuous corner, Zabrin sat before resting her head on the table. As she closed her eyes, some of her past memories played in her mind.
....
"Please, please spare me." Zabrin's aggrieved and broken voice said as blood slipped out from the corner of her mouth.
"You're a dog, Zabrin." One of the bullies said, his eyes burning with unconcealed hatred.
Smack
A slap landed on Zabrin's cheek followed by a series of kicks from five people.
"You're so ugly." A guy held Zabrin up by her hair looking at her in disgust.
"Repeat after me. Zabrin is a dog, personalise it!" The only girl among the five commands watching as Zabrin writhed in pain.
Mouth sealed and unwilling to say what she was told, Zabrin hung her head down.
"Not talking? Let's trash her!" The girl exclaimed as she raised her hand ready to land a tight slap on Zabrin when she heard the door of the room open.
"What the f**k is going on here?" A tall and handsome guy walks into the room with large steps and a commanding presence.
...
"Hah….hah." Jolting up and hyperventilating, Zabrin opened a compartment of her bag bringing out a bottle of pills and popping two in her mouth accompanied by a sip of water.
It took her a while to calm down and come out of the trance she was in after remembering a memory from her younger days.