Understanding Him, Thread By Thread

I

"Giraffe." I pointed out at the freckly long neck animal whilst holding the hands of the child I'm taking care of.

"Giraf...?" Hannah asked, struggling to finish the name I've utter. I repeat the animal's name slowly for three times until she can pronounce it clearly.

"Giraffe!" Hannah giggled as she pointed at the said animal, her naiveness is so cute, I couldn't help but smile. "I really like them!"

"Who wouldn't?" I asked her,

She pouts slightly and look up at me, "Dad though... cause his allergic to animals,"

I gave her a sympathetic look before patting her head.

"You can't really blame him," I reassured as I stroke her nose with my pointer finger, "You know he doesn't like to make you unhappy because of his allergy."

Hannah nodded slowly "I guess so..." she then looked up at the grazing Giraffe with wide green eyes.

We stayed silent for a good three minutes to gaze at the tall animal, before the child beside me asked, "Onee-chan, why do you like Giraffes?"

I gave her a sweet smile, my eyes closing by the process. "Because they are full of flaws,"

"Flaws?" She asked,

"Imperfection - something that makes something ugly" I explained, her green eyes slowly narrowing with disagreement with me.

"But they don't look to have 'flaws'," She retorted.

I chuckled softly at her response, "That is because these kind of flaws are the thing that makes them pretty and unique" I patted her head softly. "It only adds up that sometimes imperfection may have beauty within it"

"Ah!"

I look down at her, her circular face grinning up at me, tinge of pink are scattered over her cheeks naturally.

"Onee-chan, do you think I'm pretty?" She asked all of the sudden. I blink at her once then muster the most genuine smile I could give her.

"Of course, Hannah, You are," then pinching her cheeks, I added, "Cute and beautiful too"

Her ears slowly turn red, then soon, her whole face. She embarassedly look away and crossed her arms. "Ah well...!"

I smiled at her as she scrabble - similarly looking for a word to say.

"You too onee-chan! Your pretty!"

I blink at her - her face is so flustered I could compare it to the hue of a strawberry.

We stare at each other for more than 10 seconds before letting a soft chuckle escape my lips, and thank her with a pat of the head.

She giggles and grab my hand that I used to pat her head, and nuzzle it with her chilly soft cheeks.

I grinned down at her. I almost felt she's my daughter...

"Onee-chan! Can we please visit the zebras next?" She asked, her expression begging for me to approved her request.

Of course I couldn't say no with that face. "Sure," I smiled,

"Yay~" she cheered eagerly and happily.

Walking behind her, I grab the handles of the wheel chair, and slowly push it towards the Zebra's compartment.

Hannah was a Ghoul Victim. She lost her left leg on the same night she lost everything. Since then, she was under the CGG's care last year.

I'm amused of her strong will to live, not with hatred or revenge like any other children back in the orphanage.

I've never saw her frown, or show any negative feelings unless she intends to. To me, she's like a little bundle of sunshine that lost one of her rays, but netherless, keep shining brightly.

A lot of children like her back in the orphanage, almost each of them have helped her move around and reach things she can't.

In my situation, I could only help her by bringing a smile onto her face and guidance, hoping that it could her feel affectionate.

I'm only one of the few hundreds volunteer to take care of the lonesome children in the CGG. It maybe not enough to satisfy my will to help everyone under my care feel loved and forgot their revenge on the ghouls, but I hope I could do better.

However, before I could depart, I catch the eyes of two red orbs belonging to a young lady not afar from me and Hannah.

She seems to be staring at me, but I didn't jump in that conclusion first, so I turn my head on my left, and notice nothing but a single Cherry tree.

Maybe she was staring at the beauty of the tree perhaps? It's winter, although, it's still radiating a unique beauty within it.

I turn my head to look at her - to confirm she is staring at the said tree, not me - but she isn't,

She's staring at me,

Not the Cherry tree.

I didn't withdraw my gaze from her, but continued pushing Hannah's wheel chair slowly so she won't notice my sudden change of attention.

The stranger's red eyes seem to follow mine, her expression seems solemn... maybe a bit lonely too.

Although, it's hard not to notice a unique feature she have on her face and neck, maybe a red tattoo under her right eye and lips? She have some on her neck, they all seem so delicate , and the red line seems to make her pale complexion, less... pale. Almost as if those red lines were meant to be there.

I suddenly felt self concious, but netherless gave the pretty stranger a genuine smile and averted my gaze from her.

"Onee-chan! Can we go and have some of your home made hot cocoa after this?" Hannah squeal on her leather seat, catching my attention.

I thank God for a moment on why she didn't wonder why did I stop talking to her, nor ask about the speed I'm using.

"With marshmallows?" I gingerly asked while fixing the orange beanie on her short black hair.

"You know it!!" She squeal once again,

"Of course," I cant help but chuckle.

"You're the best, onee-chan!" She kudos, making the corners of my lips twitch up.

Walking away from the Giraffe compartment,
I can't help, but feel eyes staring hole at my back.

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((I hope you enjoy the first chapter ^3^))
(Yeah, my literature sucks ;-;)
(But I wanted to write this story out of the blue)
(And there's no proper plot distinguished in this story even ;-;)
(And I have no time to proof read this...)

(Maybe the average update this book will recieve is... 1 update per 2 weeks?)
(Very long indeed)
(But I hope this is interesting for you readers!)

(Btw, please help me improve and tell me any spelling errors!)
(My grammars may be shabby, but still, I hope you guys get the point of the story)

(Also, sorry if my way of writing is compared to a kindergarten's)

●1127 words used