Touch Of Solicitude

VEINTICINCO

15 years ago...

"Hey, Pig!" The bullies surrounded the little boy with curly hair, "I'm not fat, I'm just big boned," They just laughed at him, pushing him to a wall.

The scared boy had his knee to his chest, burying his head, "Stop it," He voiced out, but the bullies continued to laugh at him, calling him names, "Hey!" Sunny approached the group.

She ran up and looked at the little boy who was sniffing on the ground, "What are you doing to him?" She questioned the boys, pushing the one who looked like the leader, "You should stop being mean!" She continued.

"Bullying others won't make you look cool, the girl will not like you and will just hate you," She pointed out to the group of girls shivering from the side, "Really, boys are so immature!" She called out, looking at them as she flipped her hair.

The group screamed and left the two; as the little girl made sure that they were out of their sight, Sunny leaned down, facing the little boy eye to eye, "Are you hurt?" She questioned, worriedly, "I am fine, I'm not hurt, you should just leave me alone, or else they will come for you because of me,"

The child fixed her glasses, "It's because of my looks that they keep on teasing me-" Before the boy could finish, Sunny, with her arms wide open, shouted, "That's not true at all!"

She lowered herself on the ground, leaning closer and fixing the boy's hair to the side, showing his face, tucking his clothes, and arranging his glasses so they would not fall off.

"Look!" Sunny pointed to the mirror, showing their reflection; the boy slightly turned around, "I look good," He started to shed tears.

"You know, my Mother always reads me magazines about fashion, she would show me the pictures of handsome and beautifuls models who had their face and outfit styled," She explained, "They look handsome and beautiful, I want to be like them however-" The boy tilted his head to the side, trying to understand what she meant.

"I'm not that one of a catch to be a model that's why I want to work at a magazine company and work with models, that way I can still see them even if I'm not the one who will smile in front of the camera," With a smile, she kept narrating, "That's why when I grow up, I want to work in the publication industry,"

"Why?" The boy returned a question, "The answer is simple, I want to work with them and transform other ordinary models into big shot models, that's how magazines work!" She proudly answered.

The boy felt touched by what Sunny said, "I'm sure you'll work into one!" He managed to reply without stuttering despite his nervousness in front of the girl's presence, "Thank you!" Feeling flustered, Sunny smiled.

"What's your name?" The boy asked, "Sunny, you can call me Sunny," Somehow, her name made the boy laugh because of his thought that her name suited her.

She extended her arm, helping the boy to stand back in his feet, "Your bright and warm," He muttered, "Just like your name,"

--

"These are the latest magazine I could find, I put in some notes that I liked," The boy uttered, "This is the first time I'm giving you something despite what you helped me," His feet fidgeted on the ground.

"Are all of these for me?" With her eyes widened, Sunny opened the box, revealing a pile of magazines, immediately browsing on its contents, "Yes, we're going to graduate soon, I thought that this would be the best gift for you," He continued with his head lowered down.

"That's so thoughtful of you, thank you very much," As if she was in another universe, Sunny had her eyes sparkling because of the magazines that were in front of her, "It's fine because it's you that I'm giving these too,"

"We'll be high schoolers soon, we have to work hard and reach our dreams, now my only problem is how will I bring this home," Standing up, Sunny thought for a way to bring the heavy magazines home, "Oh, I know-" Before she could leave, the boy pulled her arm, making them face again.

"Sunny, wait!" He looked down, with his hands at his back, "Hhm? What?" She took her hand back and stared at the boy.

"I-" He could not bring the courage to talk about his situation, "Yes?"

"I'm leaving Ylury," Sunny thought 'ah, that word again,' "I'm leaving next week, after graduation,"

Sunny shook her head, composing herself and arranging his thoughts. Instead of venting out his anger, as he did once to Luigi and his Father, she just smiled, as if she was immune to people leaving her.

All she could do was smile and think that all relationships would eventually come to an end. Whether it was her Father, or a childhood friend, or someone you managed to save because she was already tired of looking at the boy crying all the time, her relationship with them will end.

"Is that so?" She faced the boy, "Enjoy your time there," It was all she could say. In the end, it will only be her and her alone. Everyone will eventually leave her.

"We've known each other for years now, and I am happy that I got to know you," He started, "You even saved me from the group that would always tease me, it was such a blessing that I met you, Sunny,"

"I promise I will come back to you, I will return after my Father settles down," He added, "Please wait for me, all right?" The little boy extended his hand, swearing for a pink promise. Another one, saying that phrase...

Before Sunny could reciprocate the pinky finger, someone called her from afar, "Sunny!" She looked back and saw her Mother, "I will get going first," She picked up the box that she could barely carry.

"Take care," She smiled at the boy, "I'll take my leave," She turned around without saying bye, making her way to her Mother.