Sentience

41

Every step they imprinted along the gravel sidewalk was different. Unlike Belle, who had some kind of excited footprints pasted as the plastic bag in her grasp was dangling in the air with every movement, Changmin was more to calm one.

Almost looked like he was unwilling to be in this setting.

Almost, because it wasn't what it was. He was happy to be here with Belle, obviously. It was just what he heard from Amy back at the campus was still sturdy playing around his head.

Arabelle, being a psychopath, had never crossed his mind. Maybe, Amy was exaggerating, he thought. But, that didn't mean that he had no curiosities at all. Now, only he was thinking how Belle could make up her mind to reconcile with her mother real quick leading for them both to trail this sidewalk leading to the neighbourhood where she used to be when she was little.

The last argument the two had at the playground, Changmin was very sure that Belle hated the woman so much. If so, then, what had been the trigger button to change her mind?

"You know," Belle suddenly spoke up, breaking Changmin's trance. She was pointing in a direction opposite from their position. "Back then, there was a hawker who sold toast here. Me and Brianna always caught our breakfast there."

"Oh..." Changmin trailed off, taking the plastic bag she held. "Don't you miss this place, Belle?"

There was a slight flinch of her body.

"I'm not sure either..." She pondered.

"Why so?"

"I don't know what I am supposed to miss here," she looked down at her shoes, taking steps further and further. "I don't have friends here either."

Changmin took an immediate halt. Belle didn't notice until she was two steps ahead, swiftly glancing over her shoulder to find the boy. He was in disdain.

"No friends?" Changmin pondered with scrunched brows. "How so?"

The girl shrugged, "I guess... They just refused to befriend someone who's from a broken family."

That was probably not the case, he thought alone.

Why should it be the reason? A child obviously couldn't choose their parents or whatever would happen within their household. Failed marriage had never been anyone's dream, so why must they use that as a reason for not befriending someone?

Then, what it is? Changmin's face faintly fell.

"Oh!" Belle then exclaimed for what seemed like she just remembered something. Which, the boy truly anticipated. "There was one kid who lived next door. I'm not sure whether he is still living here or not. He helped me a lot back then."

That's a relief, Changmin breathed out.

Eventually, the conversation concluded right there, when they finally arrived at the playground where Changmin would always meet Mother. But, today, he didn't stop there, and Mother wasn't in her usual position either. Instead, Belle led him further up to the nearest apartment in view; her old house.

The building was quite old; the white painting was now faded, making it look dull. In other words, this neighbourhood was far shabbier than the luxurious condominium where Belle currently resided with her father's new family. One who knew the detailed story about Belle, like how Changmin did, probably would slander Belle that she left her mother behind out of poverty because she wanted to live in luxury.

But, luckily, it was Ji Changmin. That thought never crossed his mind.

"Does your mother know we are coming?" Changmin questioned while they were standing in front of the elevator, waiting for the door to open.