Lost & Found

Chapter Three

Present Day
22-Years-Old

"So, what do you plan to talk about tonight?" Aera asked as she and Yoongi sat on the bus on their way to the park.

Yoongi shrugged. "I thought maybe I'd let her take the lead on that, since she kept saying how much she wanted to get to know me."

Aera sighed. "You have to have some things planned to say and ask. It's rude to just talk about yourself. You need to get to know her, too."

Now Yoongi sighed. "Well, then I have no idea."

"We'll figure some stuff out. Maybe we can get some ideas at the park."

Yoongi nodded. They then sat for a few minutes in silence, waiting for their stop.

Suddenly, Aera looked over and noticed a small boy sitting by himself near them. She cocked her head as she watched him. He looked terrified, looking around at the other passengers with wide, scared eyes. Aera began looking around to find his parents or an adult he might have been with, but there didn't seem to be anyone there for him. She elbowed Yoongi.

"Look at that little boy," she whispered. "Is he all alone?"

Yoongi looked over at the boy just as he looked back at him. Yoongi wasn't sure what to do or say, so he just shrugged at Aera. As soon as he did, the boys eyes shifted from Yoongi to Aera. Aera smiled kindly and the little boy's eyes filled with tears.

"Hey," Aera said quickly, jumping up from her seat and moving cautiously toward the boy. "Is your mom here with you?"

The boy didn't reply. Thick tears began to run down his cheeks, however, and Aera's heart broke. "It's okay," she said quietly. "Don't cry. If you're lost, I'll help you, okay?"

The boy nodded very slowly.

"Okay, can you tell me your name?"

Again, there was no response. Aera sighed internally.

"Do you know your name?"

Another small nod.

Aera looked around again, and her eyes met Yoongi's. Yoongi, reading Aera's mind, got up and approached the bus driver.

"Can you talk?" Aera asked carefully. The boy shrugged.

"But you understand what I'm saying?"

Another nod.

"He said he doesn't know anything about him," Yoongi said quietly, returning to Aera and the boy. "Said he never even noticed him get on."

Aera frowned. "Let's get off at the stop near the police station. We need to take him to someone who can help."

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Yoongi asked. "I mean, I don't want to leave him alone either, but are we sure he is? What if someone's waiting for him at another stop or something?"

"Then they shouldn't have let someone leave him all alone on a city bus. He can't be more than... How old are you? Are you five?"

The boy shook his head slightly.

"Are you four?"

The boy nodded. Aera sighed. "A four-year-old. I mean, really?!"

"Is someone waiting for you?" Yoongi asked, crouching down in front of the boy. The boy shrugged.

"Did someone put you on the bus?" Aera asked. He shook his head.

"Did you get on the bus by yourself?" Yoongi continued. The boy nodded.